EMDR
EMDR Trauma Treatment at Augustine Recovery
As part of our trauma-first care model, we have specialized treatment in EMDR to help men unpack, process, and prevent future triggers from past trauma.
At Augustine Recovery, we offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as part of our trauma-first care model. We have seen the benefits firsthand of those who have engaged in this therapy and are consistently amazed at what our clients can overcome.
We also know that this type of treatment comes with a lot of questions. We want to get ahead of those to help you understand how trauma gets tangled in with substance use disorders and why we believe EMDR is life-changing.
Healing from a traumatic experience or other impactful life event is a complex process that requires a skilled mental health professional. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, therapy is a research-based practice that aids in the resolution of trauma and distressing life experiences.
Through the use of eye movements, sounds, or taps, a trained therapist guides clients through an in-depth discussion of triggering memories. There are safeguards in place if this becomes overwhelming, and a client can choose to stop at any point. However, most of our clients are pleased to find that EMDR reduces their reactivity to troubling thoughts over time.
Eye
Movement
Desensitization &
Reprocessing
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, therapy is a research-based practice that aids in the resolution of trauma and distressing life experiences, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Through the use of eye movements, sounds, or taps, a trained therapist guides clients through an in-depth discussion of triggering memories. While that sounds simple enough, there are eight phases of protocol that the clinician and resident work through together.
Here’s an EMDR treatment plan example.
- History Taking: Gathering information about the client’s background, identifying traumatic memories, and setting treatment goals.
- Preparation: Building trust and teaching the client coping techniques (e.g., deep breathing, mindfulness) to manage distress during sessions.
- Assessment: Identifying specific memories, negative beliefs about the event, and desired positive beliefs to replace them.
- Desensitization: Using bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements, tapping) to process and reduce the emotional intensity of the traumatic memory.
- Installation: Reinforcing positive beliefs to replace the negative ones associated with the trauma.
- Body Scan: Check for any lingering physical tension or discomfort related to the trauma and address it if necessary.
- Closure: At the end of each session, the client should feel stable and grounded, and relaxation techniques should be used as needed.
- Reevaluation: Reviewing progress and determining whether additional memories need to be processed in future sessions.
Did You Know? EMDR allows individuals to heal from trauma without reliving or detailing the event. Focusing on emotions and beliefs tied to memory reprocesses distress on a neurological level, making recovery less overwhelming.
History of EMDR
EMDR began when psychologist Francine Shapiro discovered, almost by accident, that rhythmic eye movements eased her distressing thoughts. Inspired, she crafted a therapeutic method blending neuroscience and psychology. Launched in the late 1980s, this groundbreaking approach unlocked the mind’s ability to reprocess trauma, transforming healing for PTSD and emotional wounds worldwide.
“Research has shown that about five hours of EMDR treatment eliminates PTSD in 84 to 100 percent of civilians with a single trauma experience, including rape, accident, or disaster.”
“For all of us, unprocessed memories are generally the basis of negative responses, attitudes and behaviors. Processed memories, on the other hand, are the basis of adaptive positive responses, attitudes and behaviors.”
EMDR for PTSD
Why is EMDR so potentially helpful for those with PTSD?
PTSD traps memories in a raw, unprocessed state, keeping the pain alive. EMDR helps by reactivating the brain’s natural healing pathways through bilateral stimulation, allowing traumatic memories to be reframed and integrated. This process eases emotional triggers, diminishes distress, and empowers individuals to regain control and peace in their lives.
Why EMDR Helps with Dual Diagnosis
Pairing EMDR with addiction recovery addresses the deep-rooted trauma often fueling substance use, helping individuals process painful memories without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms. This dual approach fosters emotional resilience and creates a stable foundation for long-term recovery by treating both the addiction and its underlying causes.
How Does EMDR Release Trauma?
“Get over it.”
“You don’t have it nearby as bad as…”
“That was so long ago.”
These are the words too many men hear when they try to open up about their pain—but dismissing trauma doesn’t make it go away. In fact, as many as 60% of trauma victims end up with a substance use disorder.
At Augustine Recovery, we know true healing begins when men are given the space to process and recover.
Breaking the Cycle
The connection between trauma and addiction often forms a self-perpetuating cycle, where one issue fuels the other.
Trauma as a Root Cause
Traumatic experiences, such as abuse, neglect, or violence, create emotional pain, anxiety, or PTSD. These unresolved emotions can leave individuals seeking relief or escape.
Substance Use as a Coping Mechanism
Drugs or alcohol may temporarily numb emotional pain or distract from traumatic memories. This self-medication provides short-term relief but often leads to dependency or addiction.
Addiction Worsens Trauma Symptoms
Substance use often disrupts daily life, relationships, and mental health, exacerbating feelings of guilt, shame, or isolation. These feelings compound the effects of trauma, creating additional stress.
Reinforcement of the Cycle:The worsening trauma symptoms drive further substance use, deepening the addiction. Meanwhile, addiction can expose individuals to new traumatic events, such as overdoses, accidents, or abusive relationships.
Effective recovery addresses both the addiction and the underlying trauma. Therapies like EMDR, combined with addiction treatment, help clients process trauma, build healthier coping mechanisms, and reduce the risk of relapse.
Why Choose EMDR Therapy?
Quick, Effective Care
Each meeting may last longer than a typical talk therapy session, but the duration of treatment is usually shorter than traditional treatment.
Expert Treatment
Because EMDR is a unique therapeutic approach, clinicians specializing in this approach are well-trained.
Real Results
EMDR therapy aims to regulate the body’s stress responses. By committing to this process, you will learn to reframe past experiences and better prepare yourself to work through future events.
Why Trust Augustine Recovery’s Staff with EMDR?
When you choose EMDR therapy at Augustine Recovery, you will be partnered with an EMDR-certified therapist to guide you through this process. We believe in creating a safe, comfortable environment where you can fully unpack traumatic life events so that you can live a life free from the effects of life-altering experiences.
Our certified therapists provide much more than coping skills. We retrain the brain to process trauma, remove triggers, and improve mental health.
- Trauma Processing: EMDR therapy helps you confront and process—not suppress— traumatic memories fueling addiction, reducing their emotional impact in a safe, supportive environment.
- Desensitization of Triggers: EMDR therapy desensitizes drug-related triggers and rewires the brain’s response to triggers, breaking addiction patterns and reducing the risk of relapse.
- Rewiring Reward Patterns: By creating new neural pathways, EMDR therapy disrupts the brain’s reward patterns linked to substance use.
This process helps build healthier coping mechanisms and reduces reliance on substances for emotional relief.
FAQs
EMDR can feel intense, and occasional dissociation is possible during early sessions. However, Augustine Recovery’s long-term treatment approach provides the time and support needed to navigate these challenges safely. With skilled therapists and a steady pace, clients gain the tools to process trauma effectively, making the journey deeply transformative and worth it.
You don’t have to relive the trauma in EMDR. Instead, you briefly recall distressing memories while focusing on bilateral stimulation, like guided eye movements. This approach helps your brain reprocess the experience without being overwhelmed. At Augustine Recovery, therapists ensure a safe, supportive environment so healing feels empowering, not retraumatizing.
EMDR is not hypnosis. While hypnosis induces a trance-like state, EMDR keeps you fully alert and in control. It uses bilateral stimulation, like eye movements, to help your brain reprocess trauma. At Augustine Recovery, EMDR is part of a grounded, collaborative approach to healing, fostering clarity and empowerment through recovery.
EMDR is most effective for conditions linked to traumatic experiences. If your mental health challenges stem from inherited conditions, physical injuries, or other brain-related issues, EMDR may not be the most suitable approach. In those instances, Augustine Recovery has more than a dozen different treatment options, in addition to daily therapy in groups and individually.
Recovery Is One Phone Call Away
If you’re ready to face your addiction, or if you have questions about addiction for a loved one, give us a call at (904) 217-0480. You can speak directly to one of our treatment specialists and learn more about our facility, our professional staff, treatment options, insurance, and more.
