Nearly 1 in 5 Arizona residents aged 12+ reported having a substance use disorder in 2022. On top of that, nearly 1 in 4 people reported having a major depressive episode. If you or a loved one are one of these people, you’re not alone in this. There’s healing available for you.
Our team here at Pinnacle Peak is committed to providing up-to-date and evidence-based treatment options for our clients. We know that everyone deserves to find healing, and we’re committed to helping you achieve that.
One such treatment that we offer is EMDR therapy. It can help in many aspects of healing and recovery. Let’s talk about EMDR, what it is, and how it can work for you.
What We Treat: Trauma, Substance Use, and How the Two Interact
When you think of trauma, what’s one of the first things that comes to mind?
For many people, it might be someone who has PTSD. Perhaps their first thought goes to a veteran, but trauma is much more than that.
What you might not have thought of, was substance use. These two are often linked together, as untreated mental health conditions can easily lead to someone seeking substance use as a form of relief. On the other end of the spectrum, substance use disorders can put people into dangerous situations. This can also lead to experiencing traumatic situations because of their SUD.
Regardless of how they connect, both of these conditions can be life-altering. Here are just a few of the ways that trauma and substance use can alter your life:
- Weight loss
- Distancing yourself from family and friends
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Increased irritability
- Mood swing
- New or worsening aches and pains
- Nightmares
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased depression
- Increased anxiety
If you’ve noticed these changes in yourself or a loved one, it might be time to look at your treatment options.
How We Treat Trauma and Substance Use: EMDR Therapy
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was originally, primarily, a form of trauma therapy. It utilizes patterns detected between eve movement and certain areas of the brain to process traumatic memories.
So how does this apply to substance use treatment?
Oftentimes, people engage with alcohol and other substances as a method of coping with life and inevitable unpleasant experiences. This becomes especially true for people with untreated mental health, sometimes substance use can feel like a perfect out, even if it negatively impacts them in the long run.
In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, up to 45% of people with a substance use disorder also have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
When this therapy is used as part of the overall recovery process, it helps clients overcome traumatic or painful memories by helping them reprogram their brains. This makes moving forward into healing much easier.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Developed in the late 1980’s by American psychologist, Francine Shapiro, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is a fairly new type of psychotherapy. According to the EMDR Institute, it was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Over time, it has since been found to be effective in treating many other conditions, too, including substance and alcohol use disorders.
The main principle behind EMDR counseling, which sets it apart from other types of therapies, is that it is based on the idea that the mind has an innate ability to heal itself.
Deep within our brain is an area referred to as the information processing system. It is here that people can process information much like a computer. Information is taken in during experiences, compared to the data already available in the mind, and then a response is produced. When a negative experience occurs, the mind attempts to process the emotions that come along with it to resolve the experience so that it is complete. However, when a traumatic event occurs, the brain's ability to process the situation and the feelings that go along with it is often impaired.
This may happen because most people do not have prior similar experiences that they can compare the traumatic event to, and therefore they cannot process it like most other events. As each of us goes through life and experience different types of negative situations, our ability to cope and process the accompanying feelings will vary accordingly. For example, someone who grew up in a rough neighborhood where people were often killed may be able to manage death easier than someone who has never seen or known anyone who has been killed. The person who grew up in the dangerous neighborhood is familiar with death and their brain has already developed the ability to process it.
The EMDR process uses guided therapy to address these unresolved emotions, helping your brain process the information that it was not able to resolve earlier. When you are finally able to process the negative memories that you have been holding onto for so long, they no longer cause negative issues. The desire to self-medicate can be alleviated as the memories are resolved, allowing you to move on without substance use.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
The theory behind why EMDR is successful for many people is that the brain inherently wants to heal itself after traumatic experiences. This means that when a traumatic situation is experienced, the brain wants to be able to process it and move forward. However, oftentimes that processing is interrupted by the event itself and people may subconsciously “shut down” the brain’s ability to heal itself.
Until you revisit the experience and turn the healing process back on for that particular event, it can be buried in your memories and continue to cause future issues. These negative emotions can be re-triggered by things that remind us of the situation, even if these things are subtle and indirect.
But it is not only the major traumatic experiences in life that can cause these sorts of problems. A smaller, seemingly minor event during childhood or adult life could also impact behavior and social experiences. This leaves the individual with negative thoughts and feelings about themselves. Oftentimes there are feelings of guilt or failure associated with these past experiences as well. Negative beliefs and self-doubt can also ultimately lead to unhealthy choices in the future.
By identifying these moments in life and then systematically processing them with the help of a qualified therapist, the brain can finally let go of the feelings that the memory was holding onto.
What’s It Like to Be Treated by a Certified EMDR Therapist?
Each session can last up to 90 minutes and will take place with just you and your therapist. The process will begin with the therapist asking about your history. They will take a very thorough and detailed account of your life and what exactly it is that brought you to treatment.
Next, the certified EMDR therapist will prepare you to properly deal with the emotions and feelings that will likely surface during the rest of your therapy. This includes giving you some coping tools such as relaxation exercises and guided imagery techniques. When this is complete, your therapist and you will have identified a memory of yours that you will begin to work on. This memory will be one that left a lasting negative impression on you and probably left you with an equally negative feeling about yourself. Some examples include feelings that you are unlovable or unworthy. You will be guided through recalling the event while the therapist helps you begin to develop more positive beliefs about yourself.
The therapist will then guide you once again through a specific memory while performing specific eye movement exercises, tapping on your hand, or playing specific audio tones. After each of these sessions, you will be asked to clear your mind as much as possible, and then share whatever feelings or thoughts you have. Depending on the result, a new approach may be used during your next session. Over time, the traumatic experience eventually loses weight in your mind, loosening the hold it has on your daily life.
When the event that was once traumatizing begins to decrease in impact, the certified therapist will begin guiding you through changing your overall feelings of the event to something more positive. This new belief will be strengthened, and it should replace your former negative feelings about the memory. Eventually, you will once again be asked to recall the specific memory that you worked through with your therapist to see if your body has any noticeable reactions to it.
Sometimes when recalling a memory, especially a painful or unpleasant one, the body reacts without the mind even realizing it. You may tense up when telling the story when you first begin treatment, but eventually, your body should not show any signs of reacting when you think or talk about the event.
Your therapist will check in with you at the end of each session to ensure that you feel better than when you first started it. You may also identify accomplishments made during treatment and reinforce the positive new beliefs you have been working on.
The final phase is the first step of every therapy session that will follow. The therapist will summarize what you have worked on so far, the progress you have made, and check in with you to see how your feelings have changed outside of your sessions. This is where the therapist can determine where future work still needs to be done.
How Long Does It Take for EMDR to Be Effective?
It is important to realize that each individual is different and their responses to different types of therapy will vary. Treatment is an ongoing process that takes time, though several studies have shown how swiftly EMDR therapy can begin to make a change.
According to the EMDR Institute, some patients have found that they can work through a negative experience in as few as 3 sessions. This isn’t to say that they resolve all of their concerns overnight. Being able to safely navigate these memories so they no longer hold power over you is just one step in the process. These results, however, highlight how effective this treatment is.
Healing isn’t a race. You deserve to have a process that works for you, and that is worth all the time in the world. Your specific response and the time it takes you to process each of your traumatic events may vary depending on the severity and number of events you and your therapist decide to work through.
Finding EMDR Therapy Near Me in Arizona – Get Started with Pinnacle Peak Today
EMDR is still a fairly new type of treatment but it is available to you or your loved one who wants to find healing from their substance use disorder, trauma, and more. If you are in the Scottsdale, Arizona area or are interested in attending treatment in this region, Pinnacle Peak Recovery is proud to offer EMDR as one of many available treatment options.
Whether you are looking for an inpatient facility, an intensive outpatient program, or something in between, we have what you need to get started on your journey. We offer a variety of treatment programs including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs at our Scottsdale facility, which is led by licensed and trained staff who genuinely care about your success. We provide the highest level of care for each and every one of our clients.
At Pinnacle Peak Recovery, we believe in a holistic and evidence-based approach to overcoming substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and any combination of the two. Our goal is always to see you become your best self, and we will work with you to help you achieve that. This is why we work hard to provide care in a safe, supportive, and comfortable environment.
When you call our 24/7 hotline, you will speak with an intake specialist who will ask you questions about your situation. We know that no two people are the same, and neither are their specific situations. That is why we take each and every individual and build a custom treatment plan around what will work best for them.
Whether you need individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, EMDR, or treatment for a co-occurring mental health concern, Pinnacle Peak is here for you. You don’t have to do this alone. Call our hotline at 888-786-5590 today so that we can help you begin the journey to the rest of your life.
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