The programs listed below are intended for current clients. If you would like to become a client, please first fill out the Intake Form. Thank you
WELLNESS AND TRAUMA AMELIORATION SERVICES
Pathways to Emotional Healing
Emotional healing is the foundation for rebuilding a stable and fulfilling life. Our wellness and trauma amelioration services are designed to help victims of crime and others coping with trauma find healing, stability, resilience, and hope.
We provide Professional assessments, emotional support, and short-term, evidence-informed therapeutic treatments, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Creative Arts Therapy and Equine-Assisted Therapy. These services focus on reducing trauma symptoms, developing healthy coping strategies, enhancing self-esteem, and improving employability.
By addressing trauma recovery alongside workforce readiness, WRIC provides a holistic, dual path to healing and independence. These efforts not only transform lives but also reduce the long-term costs of trauma on public systems like law enforcement, healthcare and homeless services.
We are proud to be the only nonprofit in Bergen County offering these trauma recovery resources. Our mission is to ensure equal access to high-quality, specialized mental health treatments for all. Through this program, WRIC provides hope, healing and the opportunity for a better future. For more information contact Erin Shimkim at eshimkin@womensrights.org .
“Sharon” had been through extreme emotional pain throughout her life. She shared how equine-assisted therapy became a turning point in managing treatment-resistant depression. During a session, her therapist asked her to guide a horse without a lead rope. Each time she looked back, the horse stopped walking. At one point, the horse nudged her forward, as if encouraging her to keep moving.
Reflecting on the experience, she realized, ‘I don’t need to worry about my past anymore. Each time I looked back, I lost focus and was held back from moving forward.’ Through caring for and bonding with the horse – walking, feeding, and grooming it – she discovered a sense of empowerment and a renewed ability to focus on the present. ‘I stand tall, as if walking my 1,000-pound horse, and continue to look forward to where I want to go.”
