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EMDR Therapy for Mental Health and Addiction
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that helps you face painful memories without feeling controlled by them. If you live with anxiety, depression, or substance use tied to past experiences, EMDR offers a safe way to process those memories and begin to heal.
Many people find that EMDR eases triggers, flashbacks, or negative thoughts that once felt overwhelming. With time, those memories become less disruptive, making it easier to focus on the things that matter to you today.
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What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is designed to help you process painful memories in a safe and structured way. Instead of avoiding the past or feeling stuck in it, you learn how to face those experiences without becoming overwhelmed. The goal isn’t to erase what happened, but to lessen the hold those memories have on your daily life.
EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for PTSD, helping reduce flashbacks and nightmares. For example, someone who avoids driving after a car accident may find that reminders of the crash no longer bring the same level of fear.
Many people find EMDR helps them move through painful memories more quickly than traditional therapy because EMDR directly targets the brain’s natural healing process. This can make it easier to notice real changes—like fewer triggers or less anxiety—in daily life.
Because unresolved trauma often fuels anxiety, depression, and substance use, EMDR addresses the root causes. By easing the weight of those memories, you’re better able to focus on treatment and build healthier coping strategies.
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR is designed to help you process painful memories in a safe and structured way. Instead of avoiding the past or feeling stuck in it, you learn how to face those experiences without becoming overwhelmed. The goal isn’t to erase what happened, but to lessen the hold those memories have on your daily life.
Phase 1: History Taking
Your therapist learns about your background and what you’d like to work on. For example, you may share how certain arguments bring up memories of past abuse or how stress has led to drinking or drug use.
Phase 2: Preparation
You learn calming strategies—like deep breathing or grounding exercises—so you feel steady during sessions.
Phase 3: Assessment
Together, you choose a target memory and the negative belief tied to it. After a car accident, for instance, you might notice the thought “I’m not safe” and begin working toward “I can handle being on the road.”
Phase 4: Desensitization
Through eye movements, tapping, or sounds, your brain starts to reprocess the memory. Over time, it feels less intense. Someone who once turned to alcohol to numb painful memories may find the urge to drink isn’t as strong.
Phase 5: Installation
Your therapist helps strengthen a healthier belief. For example, someone healing from childhood neglect may begin replacing “I’m not worthy of care” with “I deserve love and support.”
Phase 6: Body Scan
You check for any lingering stress in your body. Many people notice tension—like a tight chest or clenched jaw—easing as the memory loses its grip.
Phase 7: Closure
Each session ends with grounding techniques, making it easier to stabilize your emotions. If difficult feelings remain, your therapist helps you work through them until you're comfortable ending your session.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
At the next session, you and your therapist review progress. A memory that once felt overwhelming may now feel distant and manageable, showing how your brain is healing.
Meet Your Licensed EMDR Therapists
EMDR is most effective when guided by a trained professional. The licensed therapists at The Haven Detox understand both mental health and addiction. They’ll move at your pace, making sure you always have tools to help you feel comfortable and safe throughout the process.
Clinical Director
- 15+ years of experience
Primary Therapist
- 5+ years of experience
EMDR Certified Therapist
- 6+ years of experience
What Conditions Can EMDR Therapy Treat?
EMDR was first developed for trauma, but it’s now used to treat a wide range of challenges. If painful memories or stress keep showing up in your daily life, EMDR may help lessen their impact so you can feel more balanced.
EMDR Therapy for Addiction and Substance Use
It’s common for people to use alcohol or drugs to cope with unresolved trauma. EMDR works on the root causes of those urges, helping you face triggers with less need to rely on substances.
EMDR Therapy for Grief and Loss
Losing someone you love can leave deep pain that lingers. EMDR allows you to carry the memory of that person without being overwhelmed by it, making space for both remembrance and healing.
EMDR Therapy for Depression
For some, depression is connected to painful life events or long-held negative beliefs about themselves. EMDR helps reframe those beliefs, making room for healthier thoughts and less emotional weight.
EMDR Therapy for Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks can feel overwhelming and unpredictable. EMDR helps your brain process the experiences or memories fueling those reactions, so everyday situations don’t trigger the same level of distress.
EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
EMDR is especially effective for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of trauma. It can reduce flashbacks, nightmares, and the constant sense of being “on edge.”
EMDR Therapy for Phobias
Phobias often stem from specific events or learned fears. EMDR helps reduce the emotional intensity behind those fears, so situations that once felt impossible become manageable.
EMDR Therapy for Relationship and Childhood Trauma
Painful relationships, neglect, or abuse can leave lasting emotional scars. EMDR helps you process those experiences so they no longer control how you see yourself or relate to others.
EMDR Therapy Within Your Treatment Plan
At The Haven Detox, EMDR is offered as part of inpatient treatment. Beginning EMDR in this setting allows you to focus on healing without the distractions and pressures of everyday life.
Inpatient care also gives you access to other therapies for mental health and addiction as part of a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs.
EMDR Therapy Session
Calm Space for Opening Minds
Holistic Approach to Treatment
Locations Offering EMDR Therapy
EMDR is available at select locations of The Haven Detox. When you contact us, our team will let you know where EMDR is currently offered and help you schedule treatment that fits your needs.
The Haven Detox - Florida
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
EMDR Therapy Offered
The Haven Detox - New Jersey
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
EMDR Therapy Offered
The Haven Detox - Arizona
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
The Haven Detox - West Memphis
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
The Haven Detox - New England
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
The Haven Detox - Little Rock
Space Available
Insurance Accepted
Real Stories from EMDR Patients
Here are a few experiences from people who have taken part in EMDR treatment.
Matt V.
The day is structured and built to accomplish healing and recovery. The trauma therapist is exponential at her skills. As a vet, her EMDR sessions were extremely helpful.
Michael T.
I can tell you that it 100% helped me, no question. … It took about 9 months, but EMDR made those flashbacks go away.”
CuriousResearcher00
EMDR has changed my life. With helping me identify my emotions. I could never name what was wrong, only knowing that something was wrong. It helped me take ownership of my body. I got to recognize how emotions sit in my body and how that manifests outside. It helped me trust in someone else and feel safe with sharing my deepest traumas with another human being but most of all, EMDR gave me hope, to recognize incremental progress and believe that my past doesn’t have to haunt me.
Insurance Coverage for EMDR Therapy
EMDR is included as part of inpatient treatment at The Haven Detox. Most major insurance plans cover inpatient care for mental health and addiction, and our team can check your benefits so you know exactly what’s covered before starting. You can check insurance now to get answers quickly, or we can walk you through the process step by step.
EMDR Therapy FAQs
Is EMDR safe?
Yes. EMDR is backed by decades of research and is considered safe when guided by a licensed therapist. Sessions are structured so you don’t feel overwhelmed, and your therapist will always make sure you have tools to stay grounded.
How many sessions will I need?
There’s no set number. Some people notice improvements in just a few sessions, while others benefit from working through multiple memories over a longer period. Your therapist will work with you to set a pace that feels manageable.
Do I have to talk in detail about my trauma?
Not necessarily. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to go into every detail of what happened. The focus is on how your brain stores the memory and helping you process it in a healthier way.
What does a typical EMDR session feel like?
Sessions are structured and guided, with moments of focusing on a memory paired with eye movements, tapping, or gentle sounds. Many people describe feeling lighter or calmer afterward, though it’s normal to feel tired as your brain does the work of reprocessing.
How long is each session?
Most EMDR sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes. Your therapist will let you know what to expect and ensure each session ends with time to regain a sense of calm.
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