Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment is an evidence-based therapy that has grown in popularity in the last ten years due to its efficacy as a therapeutic tool to help people overcome the lasting effects of trauma. In mental health and addiction therapy programs, EMDR accesses the brain’s healing capacity to restructure the way you remember past trauma and experience those memories. Instead of having power over you daily, your trauma is relegated to its rightful place in your brain’s filing system as a past event you do not need to relive constantly.
Learn more about the types of therapy for addiction treatment offered at Apex Recovery Nashville because we are committed to helping you attain lasting mental health and sobriety. The power of therapy treatment cannot be overlooked. If you are curious about addiction therapy options at Apex Recovery, reach out to Apex Recovery Nashville today by calling (877) 881 2689 or using this online form.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy?
The impact of traumatic experiences can deeply affect us. In fact, many people find it tough to bring them up and talk about them openly. At Apex Recovery, our licensed therapists are specially trained to create a safe and comfortable environment for patients to address their past issues. With EMDR, patients go through a structured process that helps them process and resolve their traumatic experiences, leading to healing and personal growth.
Trauma can have a lasting impact on a person’s life. It can cause negative psychological and physical responses. It often shows up as anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even self-destructive behaviors like addictions. Many people understandably try to bury traumatic memories. However, suppressing them doesn’t make the effects go away.
The Proof Is in the Outcomes
While the exact mechanisms of how EMDR works are still being investigated, the outcomes speak for themselves. One possibility is that the eye movement involved in EMDR resembles the eye movement during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. This similarity may be significant since REM sleep is known to facilitate information processing and reduce anxiety. It seems that the information processing that occurs during both REM and EMDR therapy allows individuals to gain a fresh perspective on their traumatic experiences.
At Apex Recovery, we understand that alcohol and substance use disorders are unique to each person. That’s why our qualified therapists combine EMDR with a range of evidence-based therapies, including pharmacotherapy, counseling, psychotherapy, holistic healing, nutritional counseling, fitness and recreation, and alternative experiential therapies. We believe that a comprehensive and personalized approach is vital for successful alcohol and drug rehabilitation in Tennessee.
Contact Apex Recovery Tennessee to check your insurance coverage levels for Therapy Programs.
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy: What Happens at Each Step
EMDR follows the same eight phases every time, so you always know what comes next. Your therapist starts with trust and coping skills, and only moves into trauma work when you feel ready. Here is what happens in each phase, and what you can expect along the way.
- 60–90 minutesLength of a typical EMDR session
- No retellingYou bring the memory to mind. You don't have to describe it out loud.
- Stable firstEMDR starts once you are stable in recovery, not in your first days
| Phase | What happens | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Phases 1–2Getting readyBefore any trauma work begins | ||
| History and treatment planning | You and your therapist go over your history, your goals, and the triggers linked to your substance use, and decide which memories to work on. | Conversation only. No memory work yet. |
| Preparation | You build trust with your therapist, learn how EMDR works, and practice the grounding and calming skills you will use throughout. | Usually one to four sessions. These skills are what keep you steady between sessions later on. |
| Phases 3–6Reprocessing the memoryWhere the change happens, at a pace you set | ||
| Assessment | You pick an image from the memory, the negative belief about yourself that goes with it, and the positive belief you want to hold instead. | You give your first two ratings: how upsetting the memory feels (0 to 10) and how true the positive belief feels (1 to 7). |
| DesensitizationThe core of EMDR | You hold the memory in mind while your eyes follow a light bar or your therapist's fingers, or while you hear tones or feel taps, in short sets. |
After each set you pause and say what thought or feeling came up. You never have to narrate the trauma.
Distress (0–10)
|
| Installation | You pair the positive belief with the memory, using the same sets, until the belief feels true and solid. |
The new belief gets stronger with each set.
How true it feels (1–7)
|
| Body scan | You check in with your body from head to toe while thinking of the memory, noticing any tension still tied to it. | Physical tension linked to the memory is cleared before you move on. |
| Phases 7–8Closing and checking inEvery session ends safely | ||
| Closure | Grounding exercises bring you back to the present before you leave the session and step back into your day. | Your brain may keep processing between sessions: vivid dreams, sudden memories, tiredness, or a couple of days of raw emotions. Journaling and your calming skills help. |
| Reevaluation | Your next session opens by checking what held since last time and what to work on next. | Tell your therapist what came up. If distress rises instead of settling, they can slow the pace. |
Where EMDR fits in your recovery. EMDR is one part of your treatment plan. In early recovery, coping skills come first through approaches like Seeking Safety, and EMDR follows once you are stable enough to benefit from it.
Is EMDR right for you? Talk it through with our clinical team, and we can check what your insurance covers. Call (877) 881 2689 for a free, confidential assessment.
How Does Trauma Work and What Is an EMDR Therapy Program?
Researchers and psychologists have concluded that what many people have understood for years is based on science—mental health is intertwined with an individual’s physical state. The brain-body connection is the basis for numerous approaches to healing in both the physical and mental health arenas.
An EMDR treatment program addresses past trauma. Whether you have an official diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR can help you process any trauma you have experienced. Using eye movement—and sometimes sounds or tapping—an EMDR clinician allows your brain to reorganize how it stores traumatic memories.
Because of the assault that trauma commits against your brain, the brain uses its well-established defense strategy to ensure it is protected in the future. To make sure you recognize a traumatic event if it strikes again, your brain stores the memory right up front, which is why even long-ago trauma can feel as if it just happened or is happening right now—as in flashbacks. This means that endless triggers can make you think re-traumatized at any moment. For people with PTSD, these effects can completely derail their ability to function. They are also a big reason this population turns to drugs and alcohol to self-medicate—anything to dull the ongoing effects of trauma in daily life.
Using bilateral stimulation via eye movement, you can reprocess trauma and, as a result, desensitize yourself to the memory of it. The point is not to erase memory—re-file it where it can no longer hurt you.
Understanding EMDR Therapy
EMDR uses a set of standardized procedures that combine eye movement, attention focus, and visual, auditory, or tactile stimulation. By activating the distressing experiences and reprogramming them with positive associations, these procedures help reduce the negative response associated with the trauma.
During a typical session, the therapist guides the patient to follow an object with their eyes while recalling the traumatic experience. The patient then focuses on a positive memory and switches between the traumatic and positive memories. Instead of an object, light, auditory cues, or tactile sensations can also be used. It’s important to note that EMDR should only be done by a qualified professional due to the complexity of the process.
The success of EMDR in reducing adverse emotional, mental, and physical responses in individuals who have experienced trauma is remarkable. In fact, it’s possible to achieve results relatively quickly, sometimes even immediately.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Tennessee
Apex Addiction Recovery Center in Tennessee boasts two specialized substance abuse treatment facilities that offer Therapy Programs.
- Apex Recovery Brentwood: 209 Ward Circle, Brentwood TN, 37027
- Apex Recovery Columbia: 2710 Trotwood Ave STE A & B Columbia, TN 38401
Fill in the form below to request a call back from Apex Recovery Tennessee
EMDR Therapy for Addiction Treatment
EMDR treatment can help you accomplish many things on your recovery journey. For example:
- Positive belief systems and self-image – Your negative, hurtful beliefs about yourself and the world result from past painful and traumatic experiences. EMDR can help you feel hope and develop trust again.
- The end to spiraling thoughts – One of the effects of trauma is the endless circle of thinking that can spark panic, anxiety, and phobias. EMDR liberates you by breaking the cycle.
- Better relationships – Your renewed self-confidence and freedom from spinning negative thoughts allow you to enter relationships feeling safe, create healthy boundaries, and be assured of your own value.
- Quick results – EMDR is typically a short-term, goal-oriented therapy lasting eight to 12 weeks. EMDR has lasting effects, and your trauma likely will not require further treatment.
As a part of a full-spectrum addiction treatment program, EMDR is a powerful tool for those whose addiction is linked to past trauma and a diagnosis of PTSD.
Get the Help You Need Today at Apex Recovery Tennessee
Are you or someone you know seeking help for addiction or trauma recovery? If so, don’t hesitate to reach out to Apex Recovery. Our dedicated team of compassionate professionals is here to provide you with individualized care and support on your journey to healing and recovery.
With a client-centered approach, we tailor our treatment plans to meet your specific needs and goals. Our experienced clinicians and therapists will work closely with you to develop a personalized roadmap for your recovery journey. We believe in empowering our clients to take an active role in their healing process. Therefore, we equip them with the tools and skills necessary for long-term success.
Take the first step toward lasting transformation today. Contact Apex Recovery at (877) 881 2689 and let us be your partner in reclaiming your life and finding lasting recovery. You don’t have to face addiction or trauma alone. We’re here with you every step of the way with our therapy programs.
Contact Apex Recovery Tennessee to check your insurance coverage levels for Therapy Programs.
FAQs About EMDR Therapy
As a trauma therapy, EMDR is heavily evidenced by research as one of the most effective treatments. Sometimes it can be misunderstood, so have a look over the answers below that cover what the eight phases are, what you can expect, the side effects, and when it fits into addiction treatment.
What Are the Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy?
There is a structured eight-phase protocol with EMDR:
- History and treatment planning. You go over your personal history with your therapist and discuss any goals or triggers you have.
- Preparation. Building trust with your therapist learning more about what the method will involve. You may go to one to four sessions and learn the techniques they use.
- Assessment. You identify a specific image, a negative belief, you you associate yourself with that belief, and how you wish to change your thinking to be more positive.
- Desensitization. Bilateral stimulation, which means moving your eyes side to side along with a sound or tapping, as you hold the decided upon negative memory in mind until the distress subsides.
- Installation. You add in your positive memory into the process to pair with the negative belief until it feels true and solid.
- Body scan. You check in with your body from head to toe to clear out physical tension you may be feeling that is connected to that memory.
- Closure. You complete grounding exercises to bring yourself back to the moment and close out the session before you step back into your life.
- Reevaluation. The next session opens by checking what held and what is next
Phases one and two feel safer to interact with, and therapists only move slowly into phase four during trauma-informed care and never rush a patient to enter the phase unless they feel comfortable.
What Happens in a Single EMDR Session?
A single EMDR session can last 60 to 90 minutes, and uses two simple rating scales for progress tracking. First, you measure your emotional distress on a scale from 0 to 10. Zero meaning you feel zero disturbance, and 10 meaning the worst distress imaginable. Then, you rate how believable your new positive thought feels on a scale from 1 to 7. One meaning you don’t believe it at all and seven meaning you are completely sure it is true.
The core work is done in brief sets, and the rating scales are completed before and after. In session, you place your focus on the painful memory while your eyes track a light bar, moving fingers, audio tones, or hand taps. After each set, you pause to tell your therapist what thought or physical sensation surfaced. These concrete numbers are a way to bring the abstract feelings into a more concrete and understandable state. The point of the scales is to help you track your progress of changing your thinking about the hard memory you chose.
What Are the Side Effects of EMDR Therapy?
Can You Start EMDR While You Are Still in Early Recovery?
No, it is not recommended to begin EMDR in the first days of recovery. Your clinician will offer you advice on this judgment rather than a rule. Reprocessing trauma while you are in an already tense emotional state going through withdrawals or just getting stabilized would not be beneficial.
You need to be stabilized and have a set of coping skills built through the Seeking Safety protocol. The protocol is delivered safely when trauma and substance use are both active. EMDR will be a next step after you have enough stability to benefit from it. When you’re dealing with PTSD and addiction at the same time, the trauma needs to be addressed so that you can have a stronger power of will when faced with a return to use. EMDR is beneficial for treating trauma, but completing it at the correct time is also important.
Do You Have to Describe the Trauma Out Loud?
No. EMDR is specifically bringing a memory to mind and not being required to narrate it aloud to you therapist. Many times the reason an individual may enter this kind of therapy is that talk therapy stalled and did not bring them to the place of healing they wanted to be.
Reports between sets will be descriptions of an image seen, a sensation felt, a thought or a shift that happened within the session. So anyone struggling with putting their trauma into words or feels desensitized to the story will benefit from this kind of therapy. Experiential therapy serves a similar purpose from a different direction.
