EMDR Therapy for Addiction in New York
Trauma-Focused Treatment At Our Premier Rehab Center in NYC
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is an evidence-based and industry-respected psychotherapy practice that is designed to address post-traumatic stress disorders and traumatic and memories charged with negative emotions.
At Ascendant, our clinical and therapeutic teams help patients understand and address these negative emotions that have contributed to their sense of hopelessness, loss, and lack of clarity or confidence. Better than proven counseling protocols, our providers offer a serene and safe environment supported by compassionate care and holistically effective treatment.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR has been on the therapeutic scene since the late 90s. It’s been proven to help patients navigate mental blocks and relieve the symptoms of trauma-related distress and any associated triggers. EMDR is a widely respected practice by the American Psychiatric Association as an efficient and effective therapeutic modality for treating traumatic stress disorders.
One principle of this modality is that as the brain processes experiences and trauma, pathways in the brain take shape. These pathways form our natural response to the memory of the trauma and often result in undesirable symptoms and behaviors.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Focuses on the interaction between the brain and the memories it stores. In contrast, most other mainstream modalities focus on changing the physical, emotional, and mental response to those memories. These practices achieve this through long exposure to the traumatic event or memory.
EMDR therapy approaches treatment and recovery differently. The goal is to desensitize the patient to the effects of the memory, such as stress or anxiety. This trains the brain’s processing functions to create new associations of the memory while focusing on internal thoughts and feelings.
During EMDR, new pathways are built up in the brain. These pathways have been intentionally formed to arrive at the desired response rather than having been born from the trauma or the memory.
What Does An EMDR Session Look Like?
The therapist will help the patient revisit a traumatic event. They will assist the patient in reprocessing the memory in small increments of time, some as little as 30 seconds. They will engage the eyes while this is taking place by instructing the patient to follow some form of motion that’s unrelated to what’s taking place in their brain.
Tapping, vibrations, or tonal interference may also be administered to stimulate the patient’s other senses and engage the whole body in the process. EMDR patients at our NYC facility have found relief from mental, emotional, and substance abuse-related trauma, as well as improved overall health and well-being.
Who Should Consider EMDR Therapy in New York?
Despite the fact that EMDR is a fairly new modality, it is an extremely well-researched and respected practice to help patients overcome past trauma and PTSD symptoms. However, the effectiveness of EMDR has shown strong results with several other diagnoses.
There is no formula for the ideal EMDR candidate, but our practitioners have seen positive outcomes for patients with a range of other disorders. From certain phobias, anxiety, grief, depression, some personality disorders, and even pain management. In reality, it’s far more versatile than that.
Anytime that the patient is empowered to generate more control over the fight and flight responses of the mind and body is when recovery begins. As they gain more control over negative thoughts and emotions, this is when healing begins to take shape. EMDR is a helpful and effective solution to bring about recovery and healing for a myriad of struggles.
How Do I Get Started With EMDR in NYC at Ascendant?
Call Our Office Today For A Free Consultation!
Once a consultation has been completed, each patient we serve undergoes a detailed evaluation to determine the best path for treatment. A tailor-made treatment plan will be developed for each patient that fits their circumstances, their diagnosis, and their goals.
We believe that true lasting recovery is most successful when fostered by experienced and professional addiction treatment and compassionate care. Deploying innovative and evidence-supported modalities, we help each patient reach their highest potential through EMDR at our New York facility.