EMDR Therapy is psychotherapy which makes use of the lateral movements of the eyes as a tool to ease distress. This process was formulated by Dr Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. The patients’ eyes are allowed to move from either left or right or vice versa while the therapist applies talk therapy.
Dr Shapiro applied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with Eye Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR). This combined approach proved to be useful in alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now, EMDR therapy has gained popularity due to its effectiveness for many people.
Furthermore, it has been used to help a lot of patients recover from stress caused by negative past experiences, which is the main reason why it is widely adapted in rehab treatment programs.
How EMDR Therapy Works
You’re probably wondering how EMDR Therapy works. What happens and what should you expect in this type of treatment approach?
In EMDR therapy, the therapist must learn about your history as a patient to have a better understanding of the situation. Compared to other psychological therapies, EMDR entails more actions because the therapist instructs you to make lateral eye movements.
Below are the eight major steps on how EMDR therapy is undertaken:
- History of Patient and Formulating Treatment Plan
The certified therapist will interview you to learn about your medical and family background for better analysis. Once sufficient data has been gathered, the therapist will craft the right treatment program suitable for you.
- Prepping the Patient for Treatment
Here, the therapist will increase your self-awareness regarding the relationship of your traumatic experience with substance abuse and addiction. You are also made to understand the importance of the treatment program in achieving a sober life.
Additionally, the therapist will establish goals which you will need to achieve for the entire treatment program.
- Self-Assessment
You and the therapist will have a one-on-one session to identify certain events in your life which are associated with a negative feeling. You are allowed to express yourself regarding the said traumatic event.
Afterwards, the therapist will guide you in developing self-control and forming a positive thought to counter the negative feeling associated with a negative experience. This is done every session with the therapist.
- Desensitization or Incorporating EMDR
While you try to reminisce about the traumatic event, the therapist will guide you in making varied eye movements. As you try to focus on the event while making lateral eye movements, this can help you cope with the negative stress associated with that traumatic experience.
- The Installation
This phase involves the overlapping of positive thoughts on the negative stress accompanied by the reminisced experience. As you continue to practice this, later on, only the positive thoughts will surface once you remember that specific life event.
- Examining Body Stimuli
As you recall the traumatic experience, the therapist looks for distinct body stimuli exhibited that serves as a strong sign of distress. Once these body sensations are present, the therapist will reprocess and re-establish your positive thoughts.
This is repeatedly done until you no longer exhibit negative thoughts and reactions upon remembering that certain experience.
- The Closure
There is never a fast and easy track towards recovery, so you must continually use the learnings and self-control methods learned from EMDR therapy to achieve sobriety.
During the entire therapy sessions, you will also be asked to keep a journal where you will need to write down important developments or difficulties experienced along the way. This is done so your status can be transparently assessed under the EMDR therapeutic sessions.
- Re-Evaluation
Before the therapist performs follow-up sessions, a re-evaluation of your progress is done. This is necessary for determining the success rate of EMDR towards recovery. If you have shown consistent recovery, then the therapist proceeds to other areas which require treatment.
What are The Principles of EMDR and its Functions
This therapy was first used for patients suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, and Adjustment Disorders. For many years, it has shown significant improvements towards the recovery from stress due to these dreadful past experiences.
When you suffer from addiction and substance dependence, you may also experience emotional distress. EMDR therapy aims to reduce these negative emotions by helping you gain self-control and establish positive thoughts to counter traumatic stress.
Furthermore, here are some of the essential aspects incorporated in EMDR therapy:
- Transparent and Strong Therapist-Patient Relationship
Establishing a strong relationship between you and the therapist is important for long-term recovery. Allowing you to be comfortable can help you be more open and transparent. This is essentially important for better analysis and treatment.
- Giving Homeworks to Patients
EMDR is never a stand-alone therapy for it also adapts the best practices from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy such as learning new skills and giving homework to clients. When you learn new skills, the therapist will provide you with practical assignments to apply their learnings.
- Adapting Behaviorism
To be holistic and more effective, EMDR adapts some of the best practices of behavioral science or behaviorism. This is good because each patient is unique to one another, so you would require a customized treatment program.
- Adapting the Cognitive Paradigm
Like any other psychological therapy, EMDR also looks into the cognitive abilities of patients. It aims to establish a correlation between your attitude and your behavior. Your ability to think affects your chance for long-term recovery.
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
If you are someone who is looking for long-term sobriety, then EMDR could serve as a good complement to your drug addiction treatment program. This is because it helps you develop self-control while also dealing with the emotional stress that may cause you to relapse in the future.
However, it’s important to remember that every addiction case is unique. You must carefully assess your situation and seek expert help to determine whether this therapy is a good fit for you.
If you want to try EMDR, then don’t hesitate to look for an addiction treatment center near you. With the right guidance and support, you can find the best treatment program that can help you achieve long-term sobriety.
