Frequently asked questions

About Aspera Therapy

What is Aspera Therapy and where are you located?

Aspera Therapy is a trauma-specialized group therapy practice located in Red Bank, NJ, serving clients throughout Monmouth County and greater New Jersey.

Our team of licensed therapists provides evidence-based, holistic mental health treatment for trauma, PTSD, complex relationship issues, couples, and families. We offer a range of specialized modalities including EMDR therapy, Sandplay therapy, Relational Life Therapy (RLT), Gottman Method couples therapy, and systemic family therapy.

Whether you are dealing with childhood trauma, relationship conflict, anxiety, or life transitions, Aspera Therapy offers both in-person appointments at our Red Bank office and virtual therapy sessions available to anyone in New Jersey.

Do you offer in-person and virtual therapy sessions?

Yes — Aspera Therapy offers both in-person and virtual (online) therapy sessions. Our therapy offices are located in Red Bank, New Jersey, easily accessible from the Garden State Parkway (Exit 109) and convenient for clients throughout Monmouth County.

For clients who prefer to meet remotely, our entire team of therapists provides secure online therapy sessions via telehealth, available to anyone located anywhere in New Jersey. Virtual therapy at Aspera is ideal for busy schedules, clients with mobility limitations, or those who live farther from our Red Bank location but still want access to specialized trauma and relationship therapy.

What areas of New Jersey do you serve?

Aspera Therapy is located in Red Bank, NJ, and serves clients from across Monmouth County and central New Jersey. Nearby towns within a short drive include Little Silver, Fair Haven, Rumson, Shrewsbury, Middletown, Freehold, and Asbury Park.

We also regularly work with clients traveling from further distances, including the Princeton area, Hoboken, and other parts of northern, central, and southern New Jersey.

For clients outside commuting distance, our full team of therapists offers virtual therapy sessions via telehealth — making Aspera Therapy's specialized trauma and couples therapy accessible from anywhere in New Jersey.

About EMDR

What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy with decades of research supporting its effectiveness in treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and a growing range of mental health conditions. It is recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association as a gold-standard treatment for trauma.

EMDR follows an 8-phase treatment structure. Early phases focus on building safety and internal resources — including mindfulness practices — so the client feels grounded before any trauma processing begins. The middle phases involve the active reprocessing of traumatic memories. Using a structured protocol, your therapist will guide you to activate the memory and then lead you through bilateral stimulation — most commonly left-right eye movements, though tapping or auditory tones can also be used.

After each set, your therapist checks in with you, and the process continues until the memory loses its emotional charge. Sessions end with grounding and reflection. The final phases of EMDR build resilience and coping strategies for future stressors, helping clients feel greater confidence and calm in daily life.

What conditions can EMDR treat?

EMDR therapy was originally developed to treat PTSD and trauma, and remains one of the most well-researched treatments for these conditions. Research has since expanded to support its use in treating anxiety disorders, childhood trauma, complex trauma (C-PTSD), attachment wounds, OCD, grief, and chronic pain.

Studies have shown EMDR to be more effective than some medications, including Prozac, in reducing trauma symptoms. If you are searching for therapy for trauma recovery, PTSD treatment, childhood abuse, or anxiety, EMDR is widely considered a first-line, evidence-based option.

How is EMDR different from traditional talk therapy?

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not rely solely on verbal discussion of your experiences. While talk therapy is part of EMDR — particularly in the early and closing phases — what sets EMDR apart is the bilateral stimulation component.

By activating the brain around a specific memory and pairing that activation with left-right eye movements (or tapping or sound), EMDR facilitates neurological processing that reduces the vividness and emotional distress associated with traumatic memories.

After successful reprocessing, clients can often recall difficult events without feeling overwhelmed in the body — allowing them to move forward with greater calm, clarity, and a stronger sense of agency. This is a fundamentally different mechanism than cognitive reframing or insight-based talk therapy.

How many EMDR sessions will I need?

The number of EMDR sessions varies from person to person, and no therapist can guarantee a specific timeline. That said, research consistently shows that EMDR can process traumatic memories faster than traditional talk therapy for many people.

From clinical experience: most clients need a minimum of 3 preparatory sessions before active trauma reprocessing begins. Reprocessing a single memory typically takes 1 to 10 sessions. A complete EMDR treatment plan generally targets three core memories — the earliest related memory, the worst memory, and a current trigger — though this varies based on each person's history and needs.

Factors that influence the length of treatment include how early and how frequently trauma occurred, the level of support available in your current life, and how much adaptive, positive experience you can draw on. Those with more complex trauma histories often benefit from additional preparation time before beginning reprocessing.

Is EMDR effective for complex trauma (C-PTSD)?

Yes — EMDR is an established and effective treatment for complex trauma and C-PTSD. Complex trauma, which often stems from repeated or prolonged traumatic experiences (such as childhood abuse, neglect, or domestic violence), requires a more individualized and carefully paced approach than single-incident trauma.

Clients with C-PTSD typically need a longer preparation phase before beginning reprocessing, as building internal stability and safety is critical to the work. It's important to seek out a therapist who is specifically trained in both EMDR and complex trauma treatment, as specialized skills are needed to support clients safely through this process. When done well, EMDR can be a profoundly effective path toward healing for those living with the long-term effects of complex or developmental trauma.

About Couples Therapy

What issues do you treat in couples therapy?

Aspera Therapy treats a wide range of couples and relationship issues, including infidelity, emotional affairs, and betrayal trauma; communication problems and chronic conflict; intimacy issues and sexual disconnection; attachment wounds and anxious or avoidant attachment patterns; porn addiction and sex addiction; financial infidelity; narcissism and codependency; family of origin issues; blended family and co-parenting challenges; premarital counseling; and separation therapy.

Couples come to therapy at Aspera hoping to rebuild trust after betrayal, restore emotional and physical intimacy, understand how each partner's attachment history affects the relationship, develop healthier communication and conflict resolution skills, heal from infidelity or intimacy ruptures, align on parenting, and build a stronger, more intentional partnership — whether that means staying together or separating with clarity and respect.

Do both partners need to attend every session?

The short answer - no. Some people reach out for couples therapy but their partner is not ready to engage. Relationship therapy does not require both partners in the room. You can come to therapy and work on your part in the relationship - set boundaries, deal with family of origin issues, learn better communication skills, become a more a conscious parent, begin to heal from ruptures of trust and betrayal, begin to forgive and let go, and find more peace and calm.

That being said, a couple that is strong enough to go through this process together, will just be stronger for it. Couples therapy is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard work, looks at everything that contributes to how each partner shows up in the relationship, challenges the negative patterns, makes judgements and takes sides.

Couples therapy also sometimes calls for the partners to engage in individual sessions in order to help move the process forward. These sessions can make it easier for individuals to be more candid, receive difficult feedback more effectively, or find motivation for engagement. As a practice, most couples therapy will begin with the couple together for the first session, then both partners will engage in an individual session each and then most of the treatment will commence with the couple together.

Can EMDR be used in couples therapy?

​​Yes — EMDR therapy can be a powerful complement to couples therapy, and at Aspera Therapy, we actively integrate both. While EMDR and couples therapy are each highly effective on their own, they work best in parallel rather than combined into a single session. Couples therapy sessions are intensive — with both partners present and processing together — so the deepest trauma healing often happens most effectively when each partner is also working with a therapist individually using EMDR.

At Aspera Therapy, we frequently recommend that one or both partners engage in individual EMDR therapy alongside the couples work. Our therapists collaborate closely with individual EMDR therapists — whether within our practice or outside it — to ensure all treatment is coordinated. When both partners are actively addressing their personal trauma through EMDR while simultaneously doing couples therapy, the couples work tends to accelerate significantly.

If you are looking for a couples therapist in Red Bank, NJ who understands EMDR and can coordinate trauma-informed care, Aspera Therapy offers that integrated approach.

About Individual Therapy

What does individual therapy at Aspera Therapy look like?

Aspera Therapy is a private practice offering specialized, evidence-based individual therapy in Red Bank, NJ, serving clients throughout Monmouth County and the surrounding area. We focus specifically on trauma treatment and complex relationship issues, including infidelity recovery, betrayal trauma, and codependency.

When you reach out for individual therapy, you will be matched with a therapist who specializes in the exact type of care you are seeking — not a generalist, but a clinician with advanced, focused training in your area of need. All Aspera therapists are required to complete advanced training beyond graduate school and participate in ongoing professional consultation to ensure the highest standard of care.

Our therapists are trained in a range of evidence-based and integrative treatment modalities, including EMDR therapy, parts work (Internal Family Systems), mindfulness-based practices, systems therapy, and sandplay therapy. We take a whole-person approach to healing, which means we also provide referrals to trusted allied health professionals — including registered dietitians, psychiatrists, chiropractors, reiki practitioners, and other body workers — when doing so supports your overall wellbeing.

If you are looking for a trauma-informed therapist in Red Bank, NJ or Monmouth County who offers more than standard talk therapy, Aspera Therapy may be the right fit.

Do you specialize in trauma from childhood or difficult relationships?

Yes — specialized trauma treatment and complex relationship healing are at the core of what Aspera Therapy does. Our therapists hold advanced training in both areas, and our practice is intentionally built around these specific needs rather than offering generalized therapy services.

People commonly seek care at Aspera Therapy for healing from childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), recovery from narcissistic abuse, overcoming codependency, and managing anxiety disorders rooted in relational or developmental trauma.

We also work with individuals and couples navigating complex and painful relationship situations, including infidelity and affair recovery, betrayal trauma, emotional abuse, grief and loss, blended family challenges, divorce, and co-parenting difficulties.

If you are searching for a trauma therapist in Monmouth County, NJ who specializes in childhood trauma, narcissistic abuse recovery, or infidelity counseling in the Red Bank area, Aspera Therapy offers the depth of specialization and clinical training that these issues require.

Practical & Logistics

Do you accept insurance?

Aspera Therapy is an out-of-network therapy practice, which means we do not bill insurance directly. However, many clients with out-of-network (OON) benefits are able to receive partial reimbursement for their sessions through their insurance provider.

Here is how it works: clients pay for sessions upfront at the time of service. Aspera Therapy provides a superbill — an itemized receipt with all the clinical codes your insurance company requires — which you can submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement. Reimbursement rates vary by plan, so we recommend calling your insurance provider before your first session to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits and your deductible.

If you are looking for a therapist in Red Bank, NJ and are unsure whether out-of-network therapy is affordable for you, we encourage you to reach out. We are happy to discuss session fees and help you understand what reimbursement might look like for your plan.

What is your cancellation policy?

Aspera Therapy requires at least 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule any appointment. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice, or miss your session without notice, you will be charged the full session fee to the card on file. This fee is not reimbursable through insurance. We understand that life happens — true emergencies and extraordinary circumstances are always taken into consideration.

Cancellations due to illness or inclement weather

We are committed to continuity of care. If you are unwell or weather makes travel unsafe, your session will automatically shift to a telehealth (video) session rather than being cancelled. The 24-hour notice requirement still applies if you need to cancel or reschedule entirely, even for illness or weather.

How do I get started at Aspera Therapy?

Getting started at Aspera Therapy in Red Bank, NJ is straightforward. You can reach us in three ways: through the Contact Us form on our website, by calling us at 732-982-7068, or through our Psychology Today profile. We respond to all new inquiries within 24 hours.

When you reach out, you will connect directly with a therapist on our team — not an intake coordinator or administrative staff. We will answer your questions, learn a little about what brings you in, and match you with the therapist who is the best fit for your needs and preferences. You are also welcome to schedule a free consultation call with your therapist before committing to a first appointment.

Once you book your first session, your therapist will send a confirmation email with appointment details and office location. You will also receive electronic intake paperwork via email, which we ask you to complete before your first session. If you are unable to complete it beforehand, it will be available for you to fill out in person when you arrive.

Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes — Aspera Therapy offers a free phone or video consultation before your first session. This is a brief call directly with your therapist (not an intake coordinator) so you can share a little about what brings you to therapy, ask any questions you have, and get a sense of whether this therapist feels like the right fit for you.

There is no obligation to book after the consultation. It is simply an opportunity to make sure you feel comfortable and confident before committing to your first appointment. To schedule your free consultation, contact us through our website, call 732-982-7068, or reach out via our Psychology Today profile.

Do you have sliding scale payment options?

Each of our therapists has a limited number of sliding scale slots as part of our goal to make treatment as accessible as possible to those who are unable to afford our full fees. Please inquire about sliding scale options when you reach out and if available please note that you will be asked to sign a financial hardship fee agreement.

For Clinicians

Do you offer EMDR training or supervision for therapists in New Jersey?

Yes — Aspera Therapy offers EMDR consultation services for therapists across the United States through Stephanie Godwin, a certified EMDR therapist and approved consultant through EMDRIA (the EMDR International Association). Stephanie provides both individual and group EMDR consultation for therapists working toward their EMDR certification.

Because EMDR consultation is not restricted by state licensing laws, Stephanie is able to work with therapists anywhere in the US — not just New Jersey. If you are an EMDR therapist looking for consultation hours toward EMDRIA certification, you are eligible to work with her regardless of where you are licensed.

Stephanie's clinical expertise centers on complex trauma, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders, approached through a holistic, evidence-based lens. If these areas align with your own clinical focus or professional interests, she may be an especially strong fit as your EMDR consultant. Therapists who work with clients healing from developmental trauma, complex PTSD, disordered eating, or chronic anxiety will find her consultation particularly relevant to their caseload.

If you are searching for an EMDRIA-approved EMDR consultant, EMDR supervision for certification, or EMDR consultation hours online, contact Aspera Therapy to inquire about availability.

Do you offer supervision for therapists in New Jersey?

Yes — Aspera Therapy offers off-site clinical supervision for Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (LAMFTs) in New Jersey. Both of our owners, Stephanie Godwin and Elizabeth Scudder, are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) in New Jersey and provide supervision for associates seeking hours toward full LMFT licensure.

Supervision is offered on a fee-for-service basis and is conducted off-site. Please note that at this time we are not able to supervise practicum students or pre-degree interns — supervisees must hold their associate-level license (LAMFT) prior to beginning supervision with our practice.

Both Stephanie and Elizabeth specialize in trauma treatment and relational issues approached from a systemic therapy perspective. If your clinical interests include working with trauma, couples, families, or complex relational dynamics, their supervision may be a particularly strong match for your professional development goals.

If you are a New Jersey LAMFT looking for clinical supervision to advance toward your LMFT license, contact Aspera Therapy for more information about current availability.