Summit Malibu uses EMDR Treatment Therapy to support mental health and addiction recovery, and our treatment team evaluates each person’s emotional responses through a trauma-informed lens.
Trauma plays an important role in how we live our lives, and research shows that traumatic experiences during childhood can increase the likelihood that an individual will struggle with substance abuse later in life.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a nontraditional therapeutic method designed to reframe the mind to alleviate the effects of dwelling on past trauma.
Unlike traditional forms of therapy that focus on reshaping negative thoughts, emotions, and responses related to past traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy concentrates on the traumatic memory itself.
Rather than attempting to make sense of trauma, EMDR treatment targets the negative feelings that arise when memories of those traumatic events cross our mind.
This helps the brain reprocess the experience in a healthier way to overcome its emotional and psychological impact.
EMDR Treatment Therapy has shown to be extremely effective on its own for healing PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders of mental health combined with substance use dependence and addiction.
When combined with other evidence-based treatment modalities, EMDR can be even more powerful.
How Does EMDR Treatment Therapy Work?
EMDR Treatment Therapy uses eight phases during treatment that include history taking, treatment planning, trust building, assessment, and others.
During a typical session, the EMDR therapist instructs the client to concentrate on a traumatic memory while the therapist uses bilateral stimulation through coordinated hand and eye movements.
As the client’s eyes follow the therapist’s hand, it stimulates both hemispheres of the brain (bilateral) while focusing on the traumatic memory.
This technique activates the brain in a similar way to REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and helps to reprocess a distressing memory so it has less of an impact. Over time, the negative emotions and sensations of the past memories become more manageable and less stressful.
What Conditions is EMDR Therapy Useful for Treating?
EMDR Therapy was originally developed to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and different types of PTSD.
Because many mental health issues are associated with trauma, EMDR has been found to be effective for treating a wide range of conditions.
EMDR’s use of bilateral stimulation helps the brain to better process many types of negative emotions and behaviors.
Many people think it is only used for PTSD, but it is also beneficial for treating certain types of anxiety and other disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy is useful for treating:
- PTSD
- Trauma disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Substance dependence and addiction
- Eating disorders
- Chronic pain
- Grief and loss
At Summit Malibu, our comprehensive dual diagnosis addiction recovery program uses EMDR Therapy combined with other evidence-based treatment modalities to holistically heal the mind, body, and soul.
Working through trauma can be a challenging journey and we are here to support you as you heal from past experiences and establish a happy, healthy life in addiction recovery.
To learn more about EMDR Treatment Therapy at Summit Malibu, contact us at (310) 742-1882.
