How EMDR Therapy Can Be A Game-Changer in Treating Addiction
In my practice, I utilize evidence-based approaches like EMDR, Brainspotting, and Somatic work, which help your brain to re-pattern itself away from harmful habits.
EMDR is a type of somatic therapy, which means it’s body-based and helps support your nervous system while you process different memories and emotions.
EMDR can be a game-changer in shifting addiction. This is because EMDR targets the underlying trauma and stressors that can trigger addictive behaviors. Since addiction can be a coping mechanism to deal with unresolved pain or overwhelming emotions, EMDR can help change these patterns and break the cycle.
Hi, I’m Michele Ross LCSW, an addiction therapist with in-depth EMDR training. I’m based in Los Angeles and have over 25 years of experience as a therapist, including serving as Clinical Director at an addiction treatment center.
EMDR in simple terms
EMDR is a type of somatic therapy that uses bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess memories, feelings, and past events.
If you think of your brain like a filing system, EMDR helps to recategorize upsetting thoughts so that they feel less overwhelming. Instead of these memories having an “urgent” tag on them, they are moved into a “low-priority” storage system where they carry less intensity.
Bilateral stimulation involves both sides of the body, and can be accomplished with eye movements, taps, or tones (PTSD.VA.gov).
Research suggests that pairing memories with bilateral stimulation helps the brain to process these experiences, so they carry less emotional charge and feel less “stuck” (nih.gov).
EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, and the more it’s researched, the more we see that it can benefit those suffering from a wide range of trauma-related and stress-based mental health conditions (wiley.com).
How does EMDR Help Reduce Addictive Behaviors?
Since EMDR helps the brain to reprocess and recategorize the past, the emotional charge of these memories decreases, so they’re less of a trigger for impulsive urges.
EMDR can also help shift your neural pathways so that the same trigger can lead to awareness and different coping mechanisms. This doesn’t mean that you won’t feel the urge to turn to addictive behaviors, but it can change how quickly and automatically your brain jumps to using.
Moreover, many people with addiction feel a sense of shame, and have low confidence in themselves. EMDR can help shift internal beliefs into a more compassionate inner narrative. When critical self-beliefs soften, it can be easier to tolerate uncomfortable emotions without turning to substances or harmful habits.
This brain-based change is why EMDR can feel so powerful compared to “just talking about” the past. This means that you don’t have to relive the memory in great detail. Instead EMDR helps your brain move through the memory in a more stable and manageable way.
Scientific Studies on EMDR and Addiction
Researchers have been exploring how EMDR can support people recovering from addiction, especially when trauma is involved. Growing research suggests that integrating EMDR into addiction treatment can improve long-term outcomes.
For example, a research study out of Smith University found that addiction symptoms decreased with EMDR therapy. What really is impressive is that the positive results continued in the long-term.
A research review of psychotherapeutic interventions and substance use disorders found that EMDR helps to improve impulse control and stress-response regulation. It’s especially helpful for those with histories of trauma, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation.
What to Know About EMDR and Addiction Treatment
It’s an integrative approach: EMDR works best as a complimentary treatment – meaning it’s not a replacement but instead is meant to be integrated with other forms of treatment.
It works best after some stabilization: EMDR therapy works best when you’re not in a crisis or feeling severe withdrawal symptoms. This doesn’t mean you need to be fully sober, but it’s most effective when you’re not in acute danger.
You can go at your own pace: Many people fear “opening a can of worms” once they start to dig into their trauma. EMDR allows you to slow down, and is designed with plenty of grounding and support.
How to Get Started with an Addiction-Informed EMDR Therapist
If you find yourself turning to addictive behaviors and are feeling stuck, EMDR could be a good fit for an inner shift that supports long-term recovery.
Click here to learn more about having a free 15-minute consultation call with me, where you can share your goals and explore if EMDR Addiction Therapy can be supportive for you.
