Texas Women’s EMDR Therapy for Addiction
Best Women’s EMDR Therapy Program for Addiction in Texas
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) can profoundly impact women suffering from a substance use disorder. This therapeutic modality was designed to help women with past trauma and other co-occurring disorders. It allows them to desensitize and reprocess events that have had a negative impact and re-store them appropriately. This approach can be a highly effective form of treatment for addiction.
If you or a loved one is a woman suffering from trauma and addiction, don’t wait. Call The Fullbrook Center’s women’s-only EMDR therapy program in Texas today.
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a highly specialized form of psychotherapy that has been proven an effective treatment for a range of mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, phobias, and other conditions. The effectiveness of EMDR is due to the way eye movement influences how the brain processes information in memory.
During an EMDR therapy session, the patient is asked to recall traumatic events while tracking the therapist’s hand as it moves from side to side. The patient’s eyes should follow the therapist’s hand; rapid eye movements are thought to help the brain disassociate the negative memories and emotions associated with the event.
The therapist may also use other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or audio tones, to further desensitize the patient from the trauma or memory. Once the negative thoughts and memories have been desensitized, the therapist can help the patient reprocess the traumatic experience with more adaptive and positive thoughts. By reprocessing the traumatic experience with EMDR therapy, women can gain a new perspective and eventually reach a place of emotional balance and well-being.
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What Are the Phases of EMDR Therapy?
The EMDR therapy process consists of eight phases:
- Preparation: The therapist will explain the eye movement therapy process and determine if it’s an appropriate treatment.
- Client History: The therapist will gather a detailed client history and assess the woman’s readiness for treatment.
- Assessment: The therapist will assess the woman’s symptoms, trigger points, and coping strategies.
- Desensitization: The therapist will desensitize the woman by providing her with bilateral, alternating stimulation. This can be done through eye movements, tapping, or tones.
- Installation: The therapist will attempt to help the woman install positive feelings or beliefs about the target event.
- Body Scan: The woman will hold the target event and the positive feelings in her mind while the therapist scans the body for lingering disturbances. Once identified, they will be reprocessed.
- Closure: The therapist will work with the woman to ensure that the memory is fully processed and that she feels safe and neutral about it.
- Reevaluation: In this final stage, the therapist will re-evaluate the woman’s progress and determine if further sessions are needed.
EMDR sessions can last 60-90 minutes, and most women need 6-12 sessions.
Benefits of EMDR for Women
An EMDR therapy program has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of issues, including addiction. For example, EMDR can help identify and address underlying causes of addiction, such as traumatic memories, and help to reduce cravings and behaviors that support the addictive process.
Here are some of the benefits of EMDR:
- Trauma Resolution: EMDR is highly effective in treating trauma. By targeting traumatic memories and their associated negative beliefs, emotions, and sensations, EMDR helps women process and resolve past traumas, reducing distressing symptoms and promoting healing.
- Reduced symptoms of PTSD: EMDR is very effective in helping women with PTSD. Studies have shown that it can reduce the severity of symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts.
- Improved self-esteem and self-worth: EMDR can help women view themselves more positively and develop a healthier self-esteem.
- Increased ability to cope with stress: EMDR can help women better cope with emotional distress.
- Boosted clarity of thoughts and feelings: EMDR can help women gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings, allowing them to better understand why they feel the way they do.
- Improved relationships: EMDR can help women establish more meaningful and constructive relationships with others.
- Enhanced self-awareness: EMDR can help women gain greater insight into their own behavior, thoughts, and feelings.
- Reduced anxiety and depression: EMDR has been proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression for many women.
- Improved decision-making: EMDR can help women make better decisions by providing clarity on their thoughts.
For women with substance use disorder, the benefits of EMDR can have a profound impact on their treatment plan. Often, women who have entered an addiction treatment center multiple times, or have had failed attempts at long-term sobriety, have specific trauma that must be resolved for them to overcome their addiction. EMDR is the perfect therapeutic modality for these women.
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How Does EMDR Help Women With Addiction?
EMDR treatment has proven to be effective in helping women with addiction issues.
- EMDR can help women suffering from addiction identify and process the underlying trauma that may have contributed to their substance abuse in the first place.
- EMDR is an effective form of mental health treatment for co-occurring disorders that are associated with addiction. For a woman to recover from drug and alcohol abuse, she must also heal from her mental illnesses.
- EMDR complements other therapies, like CBT, used in substance abuse treatment. This creates a combined treatment approach and provides a strong foundation for recovery.
- EMDR works well to desensitize drug or alcohol-specific memories. Allowing the woman to no longer carry these disturbing memories in the same destructive way.
- EMDR can reduce cravings for substances and behaviors that contribute to the addictive cycle. It helps women gain insight into their behavior and provides them with the skills to cope with cravings in a healthier way.
Through this form of therapy, women can gain the coping skills and insight they need to break free from drug addiction and lead more fulfilling lives. EMDR can help women become aware of their thought patterns and behaviors while providing them with the tools necessary to alter their future.
Overcome Your Addiction Today With Our Women’s EMDR Addiction Treatment at The Fullbrook Center in Texas
There is no denying the positive impacts that EMDR can have on women who are in addiction treatment. At The Fullbrook Center in Texas, we provide comprehensive care, including EMDR, so that women receive the needed tools to overcome their drug or alcohol abuse. Call today for more information. Our friendly admissions staff is happy to answer any questions you might have.