Sunrise Rehab and Recovery Alcohol & Drug Treatment Center, located in San Marcos, Texas offers EMDR Therapy for our clients.
Our highly trained staff of clinical professionals provides our clients with comprehensive and therapeutic treatment addressing the core issues of alcoholism, addiction, and trauma. Our clients meet with Certified Addiction Counselors to address their chemical dependency as well as Masters Level Therapists, and access to Psychologists, and Psychiatrists for their mental health issues.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy began as an accidental discovery in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro of the possible effectiveness of rapid eye movements in desensitizing bad feelings. As she researched, theorized about, and further developed the therapy, it became evident that more than that was happening – those memories were being adaptively reprocessed, bringing enduring relief for people who sometimes had been suffering sometimes for decades. It is now among the most researched therapies of any kind and particularly regarded as one of the most effective evidence-based therapies available for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder according to the World Health Organization and countless other clinical bodies. This includes being one of only three therapies recommended by all branches of the military and the VA for the treatment of PTSD in Veterans.
Over the last 25 years, many clinicians and researchers have joined Dr. Shapiro in exploring how this therapy can help clients not only with PTSD but also with addiction, depression, and other dilemmas, as well as in dealing with any ill effects of adverse life events, even those that are not inherently traumatic. Until recently, these conditions were difficult and time-consuming to treat. EMDR is considered a breakthrough therapy because of it effectively treats trauma as well as less deleterious adverse life events, all of which are known to contribute to the problem of addiction.
What Kind of Problems Can EMDR Treat?
Scientific research has established EMDR as evidence-based for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, researchers and clinicians also have reported success using EMDR therapy in the treatment of the following conditions:
- Panic Attacks
- Complicated Grief
- Dissociative Disorders
- Disturbing Memories
- Phobias
- Pain Disorders
- Performance Anxiety
- Stress Reduction
- Addictions
- Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
- Body Dysmorphic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
EMDR is the most effective and rapid method for healing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) as shown by extensive scientific research studies over the last 30 years. There are a number of theories as to how and why EMDR works, including right/left brain integration, mimicking the mechanics of REM sleep, recreating the orienting response, mindfulness, and other possible mechanisms of action. The therapy essentially releases emotional experiences that are trapped in the nervous system, allowing them to be reprocessed. Memories that have been maladaptively processed are reprocessed to an adaptive resolution.
What Problems are Helped by EMDR?
The studies to date show a high degree of effectiveness with the following conditions:
- loss of a loved one
- injury of a loved one
- car accident
- fire
- work accident
- assault
- robbery
- rape
- natural disaster
- injury
- illness
- witness to violence
- childhood abuse
- victims of violent crimes
- performance/test anxiety
- trauma
- depression
- anxiety or panic
- phobias
- fears
- childhood trauma
- physical abuse
- sexual abuse
- post-traumatic stress
- bad temper
- overwhelming fears
- panic attacks
- low self-esteem
- relationship problems
- brooding or worrying
- trouble sleeping
EMDR therapy is most effective in an addiction treatment setting when used in conjunction with other methods of therapy in treating these and many other emotional disorders, especially mindfulness-based approaches.
EMDR therapy can help clients replace their anxiety and fear with positive images, emotions, and thoughts.
What are the Symptoms That Can Be Helped by EMDR?
• High anxiety and lack of motivation
• Depression
• Memories of a traumatic experience
• Fear of being alone
• Unrealistic feelings of guilt and shame
• Fear of being alone
• Difficulty in trusting others
• Relationship problems
For more information and detailed information about our program, contact us at 877-302-4333 and check out our website at www. sunriseVeteranshealth.com.
