EMDR Therapy for Substance Use Disorders

The EMDR Therapy approach to treating Substance Use Disorders

EMDR therapy uses an eight phase approach to treating patients suffering from trauma-related substance use disorders. Therapists will guide patients through each phase of the therapy treatment evaluating and assessing throughout, in order to make necessary adjustments based on the needs of the individual. Mainly used to treat patients suffering from PTSD, processing a specific traumatizing memory can on average be completed in one to three sessions. Multiple sessions are needed to treat multiple traumatizing events in a person’s life. Each patient is different and receives a specialized and comprehensive plan throughout the duration of their EMDR therapy. 

Phase One: History taking

In this phase, the therapist will go over a comprehensive understanding of your psychological history. Patients will identify distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional stress. All of these thoughts and emotions are associated with their addiction. It is helpful for the EMDR practitioner to have a thorough understanding of a patient’s history to create a completely customized treatment plan.

Phase Two: Client Preparation

During this second phase, professionals will inform the patient of what they may expect during their treatment sessions. Together, patients and therapists will evaluate and set tangible goals and realistic expectations for treatment. Therapists will also teach patients a few self-control or self-soothing techniques to practice and utilize if and when they become uncomfortable during the treatment process. EMDR can be a very emotional process and by ensuring patients have the right tools to handle the emotional stresses that may arise, the treatment will result in a more effective outcome.

Phase Three: Assessment Therapy

In the assessment phase, together with the therapist, patients will identify the events related to their substance use disorder trauma. Sometimes clients find the assessment intimidating, but this is mainly an in-depth examination by the professional to record precise observational measurements that may be beneficial to the treatment plan.

Phase Four: Desensitization

During this phase, patients work to desensitize past distressing and traumatic memories associated with their addiction. The goal of this stage is to alter the patient’s maladaptive sensory experiences when associating with this particular event. While processing these negative thoughts and emotions, patients are simultaneously engaged in a set of bilateral stimulation such as rapid eye movement.

Phase Five: Installation

Once the traumatic event has been identified and desensitized, patients will work on replacing those distressing emotions with position affirmations. Patients are instructed to think of a positive belief associated with that once distressing memory. The goal is to replace negative thoughts and behaviors with neutral or positive emotions when associating with that specific memory related to their addiction.

Phase Six: Body scan

During this phase, patients are assessed to see if there is still a physical bodily reaction to the areas of stress related to the trauma. Once assessments are made, professionals can decide upon the next treatment steps.

Phase Seven: Closure

Once a client reaches the closure phase of therapy, they have most likely made significant progress for substance use disorder treatment at Hotel California by The Sea. During this evaluation phase, therapists decide whether the tools given to patients to help alleviate the stress they experience related to the trauma is effective. This also helps remind patients to practice the new strategies they have acquired in order to cope with distressing situations.

Phase Eight: Re-evaluation of Treatment Effect

In the final phase of EMDR, the patient’s progress is examined and whether or not therapy has helped lessen their PTSD symptoms and traumatic stress responses. The goal of EMDR is to treat past and present distressing events and emotions, redirecting them to positive connotations and help create positive future feelings, thoughts and behaviors.