EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a comprehensive, therapeutic approach to address the experiential contributor of a wide range of pathologies. It addresses past experiences, which have led to pathology, current situations that trigger dysfunctional emotions, beliefs and sensations.
While primarily used in the treatment of trauma, research has demonstrated that clients at all stages of chemical dependency, sexual addiction, and other pathological behaviors - like an addiction to pain medications - have a decreased tendency to relapse when treated with EMDR therapy.
Preliminary studies have suggested that EMDR can be successful in eliminating or substantially reducing pain as well.
The American Psychiatric Association has recommended EMDR as an effective treatment of trauma. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense have placed EMDR in the "A category" as "strongly recommended" for the treatment of trauma for many individuals with pain medication dependency issues.
EMDR is now accepted as a treatment of choice by numerous mental health and trauma organizations.
EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain, releasing emotional experiences that are "trapped" in the nervous system. This helps the neurophysiological system, the core of the mind/body connection, to finally free itself of blockages and reconnect itself. This ultimately smoothes the road to recovery.
EMDR therapy is most effective when used together with other traditional therapy methods in treating emotional and addictive problems. EMDR can help patients replace their anxiety and fear with positive images, emotions and thoughts.
Since its first medical study in 1989, twenty years ago, positive therapeutic results have been reported with people struggling with a chemical dependency to pain killers.
