EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It’s an integrative form of psychotherapy. This therapy helps people who are dealing with intrusive memories. Frequently, these individuals try to repress the memories of certain events, which won’t work.
To dull the feelings and thoughts, someone might try to achieve a high. Some individuals choose mind-altering drugs. Others reach for numbing agents that affect the central nervous system. For many, cognitive behavioral therapy is a good start. But, they often need more. This is where EMDR promises help. Through this therapy, individuals are able to process their memories with the aid of a qualified therapist.
EMDR in Addiction Treatment
When you seek help for a substance use problem, an intake counselor will assess you for co-occurring mental health conditions. Therapists will then work with you to determine the causes of the addiction. When you identify trauma as one possible cause, you’ll undergo treatment for it at the same time as your addiction. As you go through the phases of treatment, you will work with your therapist to address any co-occurring mental health conditions, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
When discussing this treatment against the backdrop of recovery, it becomes one of the tools therapists might employ. After all, what is EMDR if not a form of psychotherapy? As such, along with cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, it can provide relief. However, it can’t stand alone.
Other Forms of Therapy
There are plenty of reasons why people suffer from addiction. One of the common causes is trauma. Some individuals self-medicate because of past traumatic events they can’t forget. They spend a good portion of their lives thinking about them. Other therapeutic treatment options at Crestview include the following:
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a type of counseling that helps families deal with the stress and challenges that come with having a loved one struggling with addiction. It can help family members understand addiction and its effects, learn new communication and coping skills, and develop a plan to support their loved one in recovery. Family therapy can also provide vital support to families as they adjust to life after addiction treatment.
Family therapy allows people to tackle co-dependency issues, set appropriate boundaries, celebrate successes, and develop open and honest communication habits.
Group Therapy
Group therapy is a form of treatment that involves bringing people together in a safe and supportive environment to share their experiences and learn from one another. It can be an incredibly powerful tool for those struggling with addiction, as it can provide much-needed support and understanding from others who have been through similar experiences. Additionally, group therapy can help people to build positive relationships and develop healthy coping skills. If you are considering group therapy as part of your addiction treatment, it is important to find a group that is right for you and that you feel comfortable with.
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy is a type of treatment that focuses on helping people with addiction issues work through their individual problems. This type of therapy can be beneficial for people who want to address their addiction issues in a more private setting. It can also be helpful for people who want to explore their personal feelings and emotions related to their addiction.
Integrative Therapy
Integrative therapy is a type of treatment that takes a holistic approach to treating addiction. It views addiction as a disease that affects not only the individual struggling with it but also their family and community. Integrative therapy, therefore, aims to treat the whole person, rather than just the addiction itself.
I’d Rather Address My Addiction in My Own Way
If the methods you’ve developed for avoiding relapse are giving you results you’re happy with, you should stick with them. If you are open to trying an approach that requires more commitment and accountability, we’d like to welcome you to Crestview.
Change Is Possible in the Right Environment
Even if you are at your lowest of lows, recovery is possible. Your physical health will gradually improve as you move through our treatment program. Having a strong sober network around you has tremendous healing power. When you confront the reasons for your unhealthy history of drug use, you are in the process of ending the vicious cycle of addiction. You are not alone in this struggle. Healing from addiction takes work, but the results are worth the effort.
Living Sober Starts Here
Whether you have attended addiction treatment in the past or are new to the concept of recovery, our dedicated clinicians will be with you every step of the way. Even if you have tried EMDR therapy in Portland before, it may not have been the right time or the right place. Now is an excellent time to connect with the compassionate clinical experts at Crestview Recovery and apply to take part in the rehabilitation experience of a lifetime. Call 866.262.0531 to check availability.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
