People who are battling a drug or alcohol addiction are often dealing with other issues, and they have turned to using substances to deal with emotional pain. In the case of someone who is dealing with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), eye movement desensitization can help to alleviate the symptoms of the unresolved trauma.
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Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing Therapy
At The Dunes, we understand that dealing with painful memories is not something that can be done quickly or forcefully. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment is conducted over eight stages:
Stage 1: Client History And Treatment Planning
An initial evaluation is conducted of the client’s history and a treatment plan is made.
Stage 2: Processing
The client focuses on a difficult memory for 15 or 30 seconds at a time. At the same time, the therapist initiates lateral eye movement. At the end of each set, the client is asked what information he or she recalls during the procedure. The new material is focused on during the next set. The personal association is repeated several times during a treatment session.
Stage 3: Assessment
At this point, the client will be asked to think of both a negative and a positive image to represent the disturbing event. He or she will be asked to point out places in the body where physical symptoms of discomfort are apparent.
Stage 4: Desensitization
The client focuses on the difficult memory and the disturbing image together. At the same time, the therapist makes gestures and asks the client to follow them with their eyes. The process continues until the client no longer feels as strongly about the negative thought in association with the image.
Stage 5: Installation
This is the point in the therapy where the therapist asks the client to focus on the positive thoughts developed earlier in the therapeutic process. The therapist makes the gestures and the client follows them with their eyes while focusing on the positive thought. Once the client feels the positive thought has replaced the negative one, the installation phase of treatment is complete.
Stage 6: Body Scan
At this point, the client is asked to identify any uncomfortable physical sensations present in his or her body. While thinking about the event that is the reason for seeking therapy, the client notes any areas of tension. These are dealt with using the techniques from Stages 4 and 5.
Stage 7: Closure
Not all traumatic events will automatically be resolved during the time allotted for EMDR sessions. Clients learn relaxation techniques to create a sense of emotional stability around memories of the event to deal with any strong feelings, images, and/or unhappy thoughts after going through the treatment sessions.
Stage 8: Reevaluation
During each session, the therapist assesses how the client coped on his or her own in between visits and decides whether to work on previous targets or to move on to the next one.
Multiple Recovery Therapies Offered At Our NY Luxury Rehab
Eye movement desensitization treatment is just one type of therapy we offer here at The Dunes East Hampton in NY. Our luxury rehab combines a private and comfortable environment with premier luxury!
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