Why include trauma therapy as part of a drug rehab program? Many people turn to drugs as self-medication when they are unable to deal with the emotions and memories of a past traumatic event. Successfully dealing with this event makes a full recovery and a new healthy life possible. There is a powerful and proven way of processing and moving on from trauma—EMDR.
What is EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a well-researched and proven therapy for reprogramming brain responses to trauma. It is recognized by every major psychological organization in the United States and has been found to be especially effective for dealing with trauma that may have contributed to a subsequent substance abuse problem.
EMDR focuses on changing the way the brain processes information related to the traumatic event. Rather than being overwhelmed with information, the brain is trained to reprocess the trauma in a controlled setting until people have learned to cope with the emotions in a healthy way. People who undergo this treatment learn to deal with their emotions directly and resolve the trauma so that they can move on.