Addiction affects millions of people every day. Sadly, many of these people may feel like they can never change and leave their drug and alcohol use behind. Addiction can trick the mind into thinking that there is no hope for a different and healthy way of life. In fact, this idea cannot be further from the truth. With proper support and treatment under the supervision of experienced addiction treatment specialists, long-term recovery from drug and alcohol use is possible. Once someone has made the courageous decision to enter into addiction treatment, the next step is to decide which form of therapy would be best for their recovery. One option for addiction therapy is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).
At Santé Center for Healing, our team proudly provides an array of therapy options, including EMDR therapy, to help our clients find the inner strength to embrace life and leave drug and alcohol use behind. First, it is crucial to answer the questions “What is EMDR therapy?” and “What is EMDR therapy used for?”
If you or someone you care about is interested in learning more about EMDR therapy, contact our Santé Center for Healing team either online or call us at 866.238.3154.
What Is EMDR Therapy? What Is EMDR Therapy Used for?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that is specifically focused on easing the emotional pain of past trauma. In order to heal the psychological toll of traumatic experiences, a trained and highly-qualified therapist will first establish a supportive relationship through conversation with the client. Once the client and therapist have created a trusting rapport over several sessions, the therapist will begin the EMDR therapy process. The client will choose a traumatic memory to process, and this memory will usually trigger post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD).
As the client relives the trauma, the therapist will guide them to notice the thoughts, feelings, and sensations associated with this painful memory. Then, the therapist will ask the client to move their eyes back and forth from side to side, much like in REM sleep. This technique is where the “eye movement desensitization” term in EMDR therapy comes from. The therapist will then use their hand or a light bar to move back and forth to help guide the client’s eyes.
From time to time, the therapist may stop the client from moving their eyes and ask about the emotions and sensations the client is feeling. Over time and repeated EMDR therapy sessions, the impact of these negative thoughts and emotions will be eased and eventually overcome. Once this has been achieved, the therapist can then teach the client healthy coping mechanisms to deal with trauma moving forward.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
Clients who have committed to their EMDR therapy sessions tend to experience various benefits. Some of the benefits of EMDR therapy include:
- Enhances mental health due to acceptance
- Improves ability to heal from trauma
- Increases communication about thoughts, emotions, and memories
- Reshapes past events
- Helps with stress management
- Encourages continuing self-improvement
Heal from Trauma with EDMR Therapy at Santé Center for Healing
Santé Center for Healing is a safe environment where people can begin their recovery journey from trauma, addiction, or both. Our team is committed to treating each of our clients with the support, respect, and dignity they deserve as they pursue a better quality of life. We provide a range of treatment and therapy options. These include EMDR therapy, so that each of our clients can be as successful in their recovery as possible. So, what is EMDR therapy used for? Find out more information about EMDR therapy or our other therapy options by calling our team today at 866.238.3154 or filling out our online contact form.
