Evidence-Based
Advanced modalities for trauma and recovery
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and trauma. It is recognized as a first-line treatment by the World Health Organization, American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
During EMDR, bilateral stimulation — eye movements following a therapist's finger, alternating taps, or sounds in each ear — is applied while you briefly hold a traumatic memory in mind. This dual-attention state allows the brain to reprocess the memory through its natural information-processing system, reducing the memory's emotional charge without erasing it.
Think of it like REM sleep, where the brain processes daily experiences. Trauma disrupts this process — the memory stays "stuck" in raw, unprocessed form. EMDR unsticks it.
Recovery Connection
SAMHSA data shows 70-80% of people with addiction have underlying trauma. Substance use often begins as a coping mechanism for unprocessed traumatic experiences. EMDR addresses the root cause — not just the symptoms.
Tap any phase to learn what happens in that stage.
This is the self-guided "resource installation" phase of EMDR. It is safe to practice alone and is used by EMDR therapists before processing begins. Use it before difficult conversations or when triggered.
Step 1
Close your eyes. Think of a place — real or imagined — where you feel completely safe. It could be a beach, a childhood room, a mountain, a cozy chair. Any place where you feel at ease.
Van der Kolk et al. (2007)
EMDR was significantly more effective than both Prozac and placebo for PTSD — 77% of combat trauma and 100% of civilian trauma patients were symptom-free after EMDR. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(1), 37-46.
Shapiro (2014)
EMDR therapy has been validated in over 30 randomized controlled trials. It is the most researched trauma treatment in existence. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 8(4), 177-211.
SAMHSA (2014)
Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative: 70-90% of individuals with substance use disorders have significant trauma histories. Treating the trauma is inseparable from treating the addiction.