Courtney Nahow, LMHC-D, LPC
Licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
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EMDR Therapist Online in Cherry Hill, NJ
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, offers a unique blend of suburban life with easy access to Philadelphia's vibrant city energy. From the natural beauty of Cooper River Park to the one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants downtown, there are countless opportunities to explore and connect with others. Yet beneath the beauty and routines of everyday life, you may struggle to navigate personal challenges. You may be carrying the lingering effects of trauma or struggling to manage attachment wounds that impact your relationships and self-confidence. You may feel stuck as you strive to overcome a painful experience that keeps holding you back. You may feel highly anxious or completely numb; you may even be experiencing panic attacks.
Your lived experience may make it difficult to trust your judgment and decisions. You may long for authentic connection while finding it nearly impossible to trust people. You may find yourself constantly tired in a way that more sleep can’t fix. Together, these things can leave you feeling alone and detached, even from the people you love most. The good news is that healing is possible, and the right support can make a dramatic difference.
I specialize in helping you process painful parts of your past and bring clarity to your attachment wounds. One of the latest evidence-based methods I use to help clients overcome these obstacles is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). With EMDR therapy, you can significantly lessen the intensity of feelings brought up by thinking about those difficult memories. This strategic approach addresses how painful experiences physically affect our brains and bodies. EMDR therapy has also become known for providing relief in a relatively short time frame, which is helpful for those who want to see results as soon as possible.
What Is Attachment-Focused EMDR?
Attachment-focused EMDR combines two evidence-based therapeutic approaches: EMDR and attachment-style therapy.
EMDR uses eye movements and gentle tapping on the arms or shoulders to help process painful memories that feel “stuck” in your body. It's particularly effective at softening the emotional intensity tied to past painful events. This helps make sure those memories don't influence your behavior and emotions.
Attachment-style therapy examines the relationship patterns you experienced in early life and how they shaped your adult relationships.
According to attachment-style therapy, people tend to be more anxious or avoidant in relationships.
The anxious partner needs constant reassurance that things are okay, while the avoidant partner creates emotional distance to feel safe.
Neither is right or wrong, but understanding these behaviors can show how you and your partner may reinforce each other's protective responses.
Therapy that combines Attachment therapy and EMDR addresses the emotional layer beneath cognitive thought, so you can process memories from before your brain was fully developed. It's an effective way to move past complex trauma.
Signs You May Be Struggling With Attachment Wounds
Self-abandonment is at the core of attachment style therapy. It’s because self-abandonment feels easier than being left by someone else.
This can look like saying yes to things you don't really want to do or taking on things you don't have the capacity for. So you manage the fear of rejection and abandonment by putting yourself last.
Other ways self-abandonment shows up in relationships are:
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Saying yes when you want to say no.
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Putting someone else's needs before your own.
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Making excuses for emotionally unavailable partners.
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Accepting the bare minimum and hoping they'll change.
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Avoiding difficult conversations out of fear of rejection.
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Ignoring your feelings to keep the peace.
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Staying in relationships that leave you feeling lonely or unfulfilled.
People-pleasing is one way self-abandonment can manifest in relationships. But what you don’t see is how these patterns are linked to childhood neglect. When your emotional needs weren't consistently met growing up, you may have learned to prioritize others' needs to feel accepted and stay connected.
In therapy, we look at how you show up in relationships now, how you'd like to show up, and what might be getting in the way. From there, we work together to find a path forward that feels right for you and your needs.
How Attachment-Focused EMDR Can Help You Break Repetitive Relationship Patterns
Attachment therapy helps you recognize your patterns and understand where they come from. It also gives you tools and strategies for changing your behavior.
EMDR works on a subconscious level and helps diffuse the emotional intensity beneath the patterns you want to change.
By combining the two approaches, we work on both levels at once.
On one hand, you learn to recognize your patterns and try new ways of responding. But you also process the deeper emotions driving them. EMDR targets emotions that formed before you had the language to make sense of what was happening.
This approach helps you create long-lasting change on both the conscious and subconscious levels.
What to Expect From Attachment-Focused EMDR Therapy
If you want to heal attachment wounds and improve your relationships, attachment-focused EMDR is a great option.
Attachment-focused EMDR combines trauma processing with attachment theory to help you work through early relational experiences, including childhood emotional neglect and attachment wounds.
As a therapist, I often see people choose emotionally unavailable partners. They tend to feel attracted to the version they hope the person can be, not who's actually showing up. This can look like believing that, given more time, more chances, and extra support, that person will become the partner they actually want and need.
And this isn't a result of poor choices. It's because inconsistent attention early in life can shape what feels “normal” in relationships later on. As an adult, receiving breadcrumbs or bare-minimum behavior can actually feel like a special connection. Not because it’s healthy, but because it’s familiar.
In therapy, we explore where those patterns come from and what they’ve trained you to accept. Ultimately, our goal is for you to show up differently in relationships, with clearer boundaries around what you will and won't tolerate.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer in-person therapy in Cherry Hill?
What is the length and cost of a standard session?
How do I get started?
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How Attachment-Focused EMDR Can Help You Break Repetitive Relationship Patterns
Attachment therapy helps you recognize your patterns and understand where they come from. It also gives you tools and strategies for changing your behavior.
EMDR works on a subconscious level and helps diffuse the emotional intensity beneath the patterns you want to change.
By combining the two approaches, we work on both levels at once.
On one hand, you learn to recognize your patterns and try new ways of responding. But you also process the deeper emotions driving them. EMDR targets emotions that formed before you had the language to make sense of what was happening.
This approach helps you create long-lasting change on both the conscious and subconscious levels.
What to Expect From Attachment-Focused EMDR Therapy
If you want to heal attachment wounds and improve your relationships, attachment-focused EMDR is a great option.
Attachment-focused EMDR combines trauma processing with attachment theory to help you work through early relational experiences, including childhood emotional neglect and attachment wounds.
As a therapist, I often see people choose emotionally unavailable partners. They tend to feel attracted to the version they hope the person can be, not who's actually showing up. This can look like believing that, given more time, more chances, and extra support, that person will become the partner they actually want and need.
And this isn't a result of poor choices. It's because inconsistent attention early in life can shape what feels “normal” in relationships later on. As an adult, receiving breadcrumbs or bare-minimum behavior can actually feel like a special connection. Not because it’s healthy, but because it’s familiar.
In therapy, we explore where those patterns come from and what they’ve trained you to accept. Ultimately, our goal is for you to show up differently in relationships, with clearer boundaries around what you will and won't tolerate.
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