Dr. Ann Marie Bescherer, PhD, MBA, NCC, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCTP

Preferred Name: Ann Marie

About Me

Since completing my Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in 1996, I have been fascinated with severe and persistent psychopathology that impacts human functioning in today's world. My passions are associated with assisting clients in attaining the highest level of well-being they are capable of in maintaining stability. Specifically, I enjoy working with clients with complex co-occurring disorders as well as personality disorders. My research interests are in measuring treatment outcomes within this treatment population as well as matching an individual's preferred learning style to treatment interventions that are consistent with how they can best process information. With over twenty years of experience specializing in co-occurring disorders, I combine various therapeutic approaches including Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, Humanistic, CBT, and EMDR, through which safety and trust are nurtured and cultivated for the journey ahead. Tailoring specific needs to specialized approaches leading to upward growth and development is the primary goal as well as overall stability in both mental health and addiction issues. With both mental health and addictive disorders, individuals may feel as though they may be silently suffering and misunderstood by others close to them. My role is to help clients make sense out of what they are experiencing, alleviate ambivalence, and apply viable strategies to cope, stabilize, and recover.

Education & Experience

Ever since 1996, I have been gainfully employed in various capacities within behavioral healthcare ranging from Master Level Clinician to Director of Behavioral Health. In addition, my experiences incorporate the following clinical treatment populations including adults with complex co-occurring psychopathology, geriatrics, and adolescents. Facilitating groups, individual, family, couples counseling, and individual EMDR psychotherapy for simple and complex trauma are all within my clinical wheelhouse to offer. I was originally trained in EMDR with Francine Shapiro, PhD when in the mid-1990s then returned to the EMDR Institute, Inc. to update my skills with completing Basic Training (Levels I and II) in 2022. From 2015 to present, I have been a solo owner and counselor in private practice called The Institute for Hope and Healing, LLC located in Cherry Hill. In this role, I have been able to serve as an independent consultant to larger facilities for special projects including writing policy and procedure manuals for state accreditation. I also have written and presented scores of original continuing education courses for both staff development and marketing purposes. With the ACS credential, I have provided individual and group supervision to Master level clinicians seeking licensure for independent practice in NJ as either LPCs or LCADCs. I especially enjoy collaborating with others as part of a team, managing complex clinical cases, problem solving, and seeing mutual good faith efforts translate to the greater good in caring for the holistic needs of each client.

Specialty Area

  • ADD/ADHD/Disruptive Behavior Disorders
  • Addictions
  • Alcohol/Substance Abuse
  • Anger Management
  • Anxiety/Panic Attacks
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Domestic Violence
  • Family Issues
  • Grief/Loss/Mourning
  • Marriage/Relationship Issues
  • Mood Disorders
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
  • Personality Disorders
  • Phobias
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Stress Management
  • Survivor's Guilt

Population Served

  • Adults

Language

  • English

Insurance

  • Does Not Accept Insurance