Edwige Theokas, M.Ed, LPC
EMDR Therapy For Moms Navigating Middle-Age & Perimenopause 
Specializing in EMDR and EMDR Intensives for Trauma, Stress & Anxiety 
Online and In-Person in Bordentown, NJ

Perimenopause Support Group (Plus A Self-Assessment) By: Edwige Theokas, LPC | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ Somewhere in your 40s, something shifts, and you don’t quite know what to make of it. Maybe it's the increased impatience before your period (a flash of anger so sudden and so disproportionate that it almost feels uncontrollable). Maybe it's anxiety that used to be manageable and now shows up at 3 PM for no reason at all when you’re going to pick up your kids, or in t

Why Perimenopause Triggers Old Trauma | EMDR Therapy for Women in NJ Author: Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ Last Updated: July 31, 2026 (originally published May 18, 2026) For many women in their 40’s, it feels like life should be getting easier. You’ve done the work to establish your career, you’ve established friendships, possibly raising a family and having the resources to be financially secure. You went to therapy to address the th

Why Women Don't Rest (And the Case for Rest in Perimenopause) | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ Rest is necessary Author: Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ If you’re like me, you struggle with the concept of rest. Between work, kids, home, and all of the things, it almost seems that rest is a luxury we don’t have time for. And rest can look like collapsing on the couch, scrolling social media, and generating your to-do list for the next day.

EMDR vs. Talk Therapy for Perimenopause: Which One Actually Helps? By Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ One of the most common things I hear from women in perimenopause is some version of this: "I've done therapy before. I understand my patterns. I’ve done the work. I can explain exactly why I am the way I am. So why is this old stuff coming back up?” This is an important question to ask. Because if you've spent months or years in talk the

Perimenopause Rage & Anger: What's Really Underneath It By Edwige Theokas | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ Does this Sound Familiar? You snapped at your husband over a dish left on the counter. Not just an irritated comment, a full-on blow-up. You think about getting divorced. Even if it felt warranted, you scared yourself. You’re working and get interrupted for the 18th time by your kids asking what’s for dinner. A reaction rises up in you that was so disproportionate, s

Losing Yourself in Perimenopause: The Identity Shift No One Warns You About Planting Seeds Counseling NJ By: Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ There's a particular sentence I hear from women in my office, almost word for word, and it's rarely the one they booked the appointment to say. It comes out quietly, usually during the consultation call, and more openly in the first session. It sounds like a shameful secret they’ve been carrying

Perimenopause Anxiety Support: Why Standard Therapy Isn't Always Enough By: Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling in Bordentown, NJ *This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 covers how to tell whether what you're experiencing is anxiety, perimenopause, or both. So, you've started to piece it together. The anxiety that showed up out of nowhere in your 40s, the coping strategies that suddenly stopped working, the sense that your nervous system is

Is It Anxiety or Perimenopause? How to Tell the Difference By: Edwige Theokas, LPC, EMDRIA Certified | Planting Seeds Counseling NJ Maybe you've always been a little anxious. You've learned how to manage it, and you've had years of practice. But lately, something feels different. The anxiety is bigger. It's more physical. You're having heart palpitations when nothing stressful is happening. Or maybe something stressful is happening, but your mind and body are taking you somew

Like many mothers I work with, I found that perimenopause arrived quietly at first. Perhaps your sleep changed. Maybe your patience feels thinner than it used to. You might notice more anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, irritability, or emotional sensitivity. You may find yourself thinking, "Why am I suddenly overwhelmed by things I used to handle?" or "Why does my nervous system feel like it has no buffer anymore?" If you're seeking support, you may be told that you need to be

Weekly Therapy Does Not Always Work for Busy Moms: Why Intensives May Be a Better Option For many people, weekly therapy is the gold standard. It provides a standing appointment, a regular place to process, and a consistent form of support. In theory, it makes perfect sense. But in real life, motherhood is rarely that tidy. If you’ve experienced trauma or are going through a particularly rough season in your life, like perimenopause, a 50-minute session may not be long enough

Healing is a journey, not a destination. When life feels overwhelming, and your mind and body seem out of sync, it’s often your nervous system that’s calling for attention. You might wonder, how does this invisible network inside me influence my ability to heal? How can I regain control when stress and trauma feel like they’re running the show? Today, I want to walk with you through the gentle, powerful role that nervous system regulation plays in trauma healing therapy. Toge

Exploring the Benefits of EMDR Therapy By Edwige Theokas, LPC, M.A., ACS Life can feel overwhelming sometimes, can't it? When stress piles up and past hurts linger, it’s easy to feel stuck. But what if there was a gentle, effective way to help your mind heal and find peace? That’s where EMDR therapy techniques come in. They offer a path to relief, growth, and transformation. Today, I want to share with you how these techniques can support you on your journey to feeling whole

Online EMDR Therapy: Does It Work as Well as In-Person? How Effective Is Online EMDR Therapy? By Edwige Theokas, LPC, M.A., ACS So... Can You Really Heal Trauma Through a Screen? If you’ve been curious about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), but the idea of doing it online makes you skeptical, you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve considered trauma-focused therapy like EMDR and are having a hard time finding someone local who provides these services. Perhaps you’

You Can’t Think Your Way Out of Trauma: Understanding EMDR Therapy Why EMDR Focuses on the Body and How to Release Stored Trauma Introduction: What We Think Trauma Looks Like We’ve all seen the movies and shows. One moment, you’re enjoying dinner with friends. The next, you’re hit with a flashback, thrust back to a scary moment from your childhood. When people think of trauma, they often picture bad memories or intrusive thoughts. But trauma doesn’t just reside in the mind; i

Core memories are made with simple gestures Does She Wish She Never Had Us? What Bluey Can Teach Us About Core Memories, Stress, and Motherhood If you’ve ever watched Bluey with your kids, you know it’s not just a cartoon. It’s basically free family therapy in seven-minute bursts. As a mom who tries to enjoy programming with her children, I find Bluey incredibly relatable. It reflects many daily struggles of parenting while keeping kids blissfully unaware of adult topics. A

EMDR-Based Group Coaching vs. Group Counseling: What Is It, What’s the Difference, and Which One Is Right for You? By Edwige Theokas,...

Understanding the Aligned Motherhood Circle Joining a group coaching program—especially one as intimate and curated as the Aligned...

Curious About 1:1 vs Group EMDR Intensives? What to Expect from EMDR Intensives and How To Decide Journaling for therapy You’ve done the...

Groups are powerful The Healing Power of Group Support and Group Work By Edwige Theokas, LPC, M.Ed., M.A. When it comes to healing from...

Already In therapy? You could still benefit from an Intensive Retreat Already Going to Therapy? How an EMDR Intensive Can Complement...