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EMDR for Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Use of EMDR in Evidence-Based Care at Changes Healing Center

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful and effective treatment for trauma disorders and other mental health concerns. The EMDR therapy approach is just one of the modalities used at Changes Healing Center. Like other parts of our comprehensive addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment programs, we’ve watched EMDR change lives.

So, what should you know about EMDR for addiction treatment? How do you know if it’s right for you, and what can you expect in EMDR therapy sessions? Changes Healing Center employs EMDR when appropriate for substance abuse and dual diagnosis clients as part of our whole-person, trauma-informed approach.

First, let’s talk about how EMDR is used to treat addiction, the basics of EMDR therapy, and what to expect in each phase of treatment. Then, we’ll talk about the connection between trauma and addiction, how Changes Healing Center uses EMDR, and getting in touch with our team.

Changes Healing Center accepts most forms of insurance to help you or your loved one cover the cost of trauma and addiction treatment. To verify your health insurance benefits for treatment at Change Healing Center, please call our admissions line.

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EMDR for Addiction Treatment

EMDR is a research-backed form of therapy most often used to treat trauma disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addiction treatment, EMDR can be used to treat co-occurring mental disorders and underlying causes of addiction. However, there is also some research on the use of EMDR for coping with addiction triggers.

Changes Healing Center provides personalized addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment, empowering every client to get the care they need. If you’re interested in EMDR treatment, we can likely include it in your treatment plan. Our team can help you determine whether you are a good candidate for EMDR.

Understanding the Basics of EMDR Therapy

How does EMDR therapy work? Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR therapy providers use eye movements to help clients reprocess distressing memories. If not eye movements, another form of bilateral stimulation, like sounds, can be used. After reprocessing traumatic memories in EMDR sessions, you should see benefits like symptom reduction, lower reactivity to triggers, and an increase in positive emotions.

EMDR for Addiction Treatment

The EMDR Treatment Process in Stages

EMDR involves eight stages (or phases). All eight phases of EMDR therapy are essential parts of the treatment process, and none should be skipped.

Phase 1: History Taking and Treatment Planning

During the first stage of EMDR, you will discuss your personal history with your therapist. For example, if you’re working on trauma in EMDR therapy, you might provide a verbal overview of your traumatic experiences. This will help you and your therapist create a plan for the next phases of the EMDR process.

Phase 2: Preparation

When you reach phase two, you will work to establish trust and understanding with your therapist. It’s important to have a strong therapeutic connection with a treatment provider. In fact, a positive therapeutic relationship is one of the biggest predictors of successful therapy. Your therapist will also prepare you for EMDR by answering your questions and discussing coping skills at this time.

Phase 3: Assessment

In phase three of the EMDR process, you’ll decide which traumatic experience you want to target first. Then, you will assess and rate the severity of your emotional distress using the subjective units of distress (SUD) rating scale and the validity of cognition (VOC) scale.

Later, your initial ratings will help you understand the progress you’ve made and decide whether to continue targeting this event in EMDR sessions.

Phase 4: Desensitization

During phase four, your therapist will start using bilateral stimulation while you concentrate on the traumatic event or memory you have decided to target. The goal is to decrease the level of distress you experience in response, hence the “desensitization” part of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy.

Phase 5: Installation

EMDR Treatment Process Phase 5 Installation

In phase five of EMDR, you will work to strengthen or “install” a positive belief linked to the target memory, trigger, or event. Traumatic events are often linked to negative thoughts like “I feel helpless.” An example of a positive belief you might install to combat negative thoughts could be “I am confident and assertive.”

Phase 6:  Body Scan

A body scan is exactly what it sounds like. During stage six of EMDR therapy, you’ll conduct a body scan where you notice how each part of your body feels one by one, starting at your head and moving to your feet or vice versa. Your therapist will then help you target any lingering distress via bilateral stimulation.

Phase 7: Closure

The closure stage of EMDR brings you back to the present moment and facilitates a sense of calm. Since EMDR sessions cover serious topics that can come with uncomfortable emotions and sensations at times, this stage is just as crucial as the rest of the process.

Phase 8: Reevaluation

During the final stage of the EMDR process, you’ll discuss recently processed traumatic experiences with your therapist to ensure that your distress is still low and your positive cognition is still high. If your emotional distress is not as low as you want it to be, or if you have further negative beliefs to work through, you can repeat phases 3-7.

Once your level of distress related to the traumatic event is low and your positive cognition is strong, you can start working on another traumatic experience, memory, or trigger.

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How Traumatic Memories and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Contribute to Substance Abuse

Why is addressing underlying trauma such a crucial part of addiction treatment? First, trauma is a known risk factor for substance use disorders. If you have been through traumatic events like adverse childhood experiences, war, domestic violence, or sexual abuse, you are more likely to face substance misuse and addiction.

It’s not uncommon for trauma survivors to experience co-occurring substance abuse as a mode of self-medication, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Addiction research persistently shows that addressing co-occurring mental health conditions like trauma disorders leads to better treatment outcomes when applicable. For example, improved quality of life, better psychiatric functioning, and reduced symptom severity in both disorders.

In some cases, treating past trauma can even help with physical symptoms linked to PTSD and traumatic events.

How Changes Healing Center Uses EMDR Therapy

How Changes Healing Center Uses EMDR Therapy

The American Psychological Association (APA) lists EMDR as a possible therapy for PTSD, alongside other treatments. Prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication management can also be used to address traumatic memories and PTSD.

At Changes Healing Center, EMDR therapy is utilized as part of a combined approach to effective behavioral health treatment. Our team uses multiple therapies in conjunction with one another to help clients like you or your loved one heal from traumatic experiences, triggers, and dysfunctional behaviors, such as the use of drugs and alcohol. Our clinical team will work with you to establish a customized care plan, which can be modified as you progress in treatment.

The therapists at Changes Healing Center are trauma-informed, which is critical for mental health professionals working with trauma survivors. EMDR requires specialized expertise, meaning that only qualified providers can conduct sessions. Our EMDR therapists have extensive experience and will guide you through the process in a way that promotes feelings of safety and security.

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Changes Healing Center provides integrated addiction and mental health treatment for people overcoming addiction and co-occurring disorders, including but not limited to PTSD and complex PTSD. With inpatient and outpatient programs available, our treatment center in Arizona is a trusted healing space.

Call Changes Healing Center today to discover how our team can help you or your loved one overcome addiction and unresolved traumas.

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FAQs About EMDR for Addiction Treatment

What is the EMDR craving protocol?

Research suggests that EMDR therapy may help reduce cravings in people with substance use disorders. The “EMDR craving protocol” refers to EMDR therapy adjusted to target triggers and cravings in people experiencing substance abuse.

What therapy is good for substance abuse?

More than one type of therapy is good for treating substance abuse. Research-backed treatments that could be included in an addiction treatment program include CBT, motivational enhancement therapy (MET), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family therapy.

If someone also has past trauma, an integrated approach addressing both trauma and substance use is ideal. Treatment centers with the resources to do so can use treatments like EMDR for clients with traumatic memories.

When is EMDR not appropriate?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

While it’s a valuable treatment approach that helps many people, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is not recommended in certain instances. For example, if you’re in an active mental health crisis, EMDR might not be the right fit for you at this time.

Does EMDR work for alcoholism?

Yes. While it is not the right fit for everyone in active addiction, EMDR can be used for people experiencing alcoholism. Our providers will evaluate you to determine whether EMDR treatment protocol is suitable for you.

Does EMDR help with obsessive thoughts?

Yes. EMDR is most known for its efficacy in treating PTSD symptoms, but it can also be used to address obsessive thoughts in people with other mental health disorders. For example, EMDR can be used for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

How long does EMDR take for complex trauma?

When it comes to how long EMDR takes to treat any mental health concern effectively, it is almost always dependent on the individual. Factors that affect how long EMDR takes for complex trauma include but aren’t limited to your therapy goals, current level of distress, and how many memories you choose to target during the EMDR process.

References

  1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7839656/
  2. https://www.emdria.org/blog/the-eight-phases-of-emdr-therapy/
  3. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/11/ce-corner-relationships
  4. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11592247/