Today, alternative therapies are an increasingly popular way to support healing. Advances in our understanding of addiction show that trauma, mental health, and stress all affect addiction. EMDR therapy is an increasingly simple and powerful tool for recovery. While therapists and trauma specialists are still studying the science behind EMDR, this evidence-based therapy can help you and your loved ones in the therapist’s office or from the comfort of home.
If you or someone you love needs support for trauma, anxiety, and other co-occurring disorders, call San Antonio Recovery Center today. Our comprehensive addiction treatment center provides EMDR therapy alongside other modalities for addiction and co-occurring disorders. Call us now at 866.957.7885 to learn how our EMDR therapy program can help you and your loved ones.
EMDR is a therapeutic modality that helps people process past trauma and traumatic memory through eye movements. Also known as “eye movement desensitization and reprocessing” EMDR processes traumatic events and memories that contribute to addiction, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders.
While scientists don’t quite understand why EMDR works, they know that during REM sleep, the body undergoes rapid eye movement. This rapid eye movement is connected to memories and trauma stored in the brain and body. By changing a person’s visual experience through simple exercises, EMDR can rewire the brain to release trauma and reduce trauma triggers.
EMDR therapy takes place over eight standard sessions. During each session, a trained EMDR therapist works with clients to safely recall traumatic memories. While this might sound difficult, clients and therapists work together at a pace that keeps clients feeling safe. As clients recall these memories, the therapist provides different images and visual stimulation. Some use EMDR machines, while others simply use a pen and ask clients to follow the pen with their eyes as they recall memories. This may sound simple, but EMDR can be highly effective in a few brief sessions.
While there are no major side effects of EMDR, the therapy can cause clients to experience more emotional upset between sessions as their body and mind continue to process work from therapy. This is temporary and therapists can provide tools to help clients in-between sessions.
Overall, EMDR is a safe, effective, and easy therapy. For those in addiction recovery, EMDR is a perfect choice because it is a medication-free, individualized therapy that also provides techniques for stress reduction. Over time, EMDR can provide the tools clients need to heal and process trauma in fewer sessions than therapy alone.
It’s hard to believe something as simple as EMDR can be so powerful. EMDR is safe for most people and easy to do through in-person and telehealth therapy. If you or your loved ones are struggling, EMDR therapy can help. At San Antonio Recovery Center, we believe in a continuum of care and holistic recovery from addiction, trauma, and mental health. Our programs include:
With two treatment centers in San Antonio, our therapists provide EMDR, as well as:
With IPO, PHP, and residential treatment programs, San Antonio Recovery Center is here to help meet your flexible schedules with comprehensive addiction treatment rooted in trauma therapy for holistic healing.
Still not sure if EMDR is right for you or your loved ones? Call San Antonio Recovery Center now at 866.957.7885 to learn more about the benefits of EMDR therapy and what to expect after treatment at SARC.
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