EMDR Therapy and Addiction:

The New Frontier

Stephen Dansiger, PsyD, MFT
 EMDR AND ADDICTION

A
lmost everyone who has been touched by decreasing distress and dysregulation and lessening the inten-
sity of negative emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations. The
addiction has a story about a turning point therapy also seeks to bolster clients’ resources and incorporate
or revelation of new awareness. For those adaptive attitudes, skills, and behaviors, thereby boosting re-
siliency and lessening the impact of current triggers. So EMDR
of us who are in recovery as well as being in the therapy is designed to not only clear out the muck of the past,
but also to reduce the impact of current stressors and future
helping professions, it can be when the bottom fears and related negative beliefs (Shapiro, 2014).
dropped out, when we first sought help, or that According to the EMDR Research Foundation (2017), there
are at least thirty-six randomized controlled trials that have
first year of recovery. For those not in recovery, it demonstrated EMDR therapy as a treatment for trauma. The
might be the first time you ever considered be- American Psychiatric Association, Department of Defense, and
World Health Organization (WHO) all recognize EMDR as an ef-
coming a mental health professional, or the first fective therapy (Shapiro, 2014). From the beginning, Shapiro’s
EMDR and Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) models theo-
time you were faced with a person with addic- rized that the main cause of mental health disorders is maladap-
tion, or when you decided to make it a specialty. tively processed memories of earlier adverse life experiences.
In other words, Shapiro already understood that trauma was
Many of us are sharing a pivotal moment of awareness to- the main cause of distress, and that EMDR trauma therapy has
gether in the second decade of the third millennium. We are all implications to effectively treat a plethora of clinical symptoms
becoming aware, either a little or a lot, of the relationship be- and even to be a standalone therapy. In my book with Dr. Jamie
tween trauma, addiction, and recovery. In my trauma therapy Marich, we state that EMDR therapy can help people with trau-
trainings, I talk to my trainees a great deal about how we are ma-driven complaints other than PTSD, including problems of
writing the textbooks of twenty years from now by focusing on daily living and most of the diagnoses in the DSM-5, including
the role of trauma in mental health. Gabor Maté, Bessel van der SUD (Marich & Dansiger, 2018).
Kolk, and countless others are all sounding the alarm regard- Markus and Hornsveld wrote a journal article reviewing
ing trauma and addiction, and many have followed that call the literature on addictions and EMDR, stating that “. . . both
to add trauma training and trauma informed practice to their clinical and laboratory data suggest that EMDR can be useful
toolkits. We now stand not at a crossroads, but at a jumping- to reduce intensity of substance-related imagery and craving
off point. Now that we are in agreement about the relationship and might be a valuable intervention in addiction treatment”
between trauma and addiction, how are we going to provide (2017, p. 13). O’Brien and Abel, who wrote a book on the use of
the treatment that points at the trauma, bringing trauma reso- the stages of change along with EMDR therapy, determined
lution, symptom relief, and renewed internal and external re- that “EMDR is a very efficient addition to a clinician’s tool bag
sources that will give our clients agency to continue forward of interventions when dealing with addiction” (2011, p. 127).
into a life in recovery? In line with Shapiro’s early thinking and the years of research
It is time to treat the trauma directly as it relates to addic- that followed, we now see the treating of trauma as the main
tive disorders. There has been a major obstacle to pursuing vehicle for healing for almost all psychological maladies, in-
that goal: fear. There is fear—many times quite legitimate in the cluding SUDs. Therefore, we see EMDR therapy as more than
SUD counseling community and in the general mental health just an addition to clinicians’ toolkits, but as a primary modality
community—of approaching the trauma too quickly (or at all) and even a theoretical orientation for clinicians treating SUDs.
during the course of treatment, fearing that it will retraumatize
sufferers and lead to relapse. That is an important concern, but Treatment
it is only one of many issues that needs to be put into the deci- Individuals who enter treatment programs seeking help
sion tree regarding treatment. In addition, perhaps the prism for SUDs often leave treatment—either with or against clinical
or lens we are looking through to make these determinations advice—without receiving the treatment they need to maintain
needs a bit of cleaning and in some cases a full changing out recovery. Current treatment for SUDs, which varies in approach,
of outmoded parts. This is where trauma-focused therapy, and can rely on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and develop-
EMDR therapy in particular, enters our discussion. ing self-control, methods that have been proven inadequate
(Markus & Hornsveld, 2017). Treatment relapse rates are so-
What is EMDR? bering. Clinical treatment studies estimate that more than two
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of begin-
therapy, developed by Francine Shapiro, is an eight-phased, ning treatment and that 85 percent of individuals relapse and
psychotherapy treatment consisting of standardized proto- return to drug use within one year of treatment (Sinha, 2011).
cols and procedures to treat unprocessed memories of adverse While relapse rates and treatment retention may reflect how
life events by utilizing bilateral stimulation in the form of eye severe and chronic SUDs are, they also indicate a need for new
movements, taps, or tones. It is used to desensitize and repro- interventions. If simply treating SUDs behaviorally was the so-
cess these memories into a more adaptive and functional form, lution to long term recovery, SUD-focused treatment centers

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EMDR AND ADDICTION
would be much more successful. What Marich (2009) illustrated the impact that “the use of adapted EMDR therapy to target
is the missing link? EMDR therapy has had on the recovery nontrauma memory representations of
SUD treatment needs to catch up with process of a cross-addicted female diag- addiction” (2017, p. 6). The tenets of AF-
more current understanding of the pro- nosed with substance dependence and EMDR include desensitizing triggers and
found influence of trauma on the devel- PTSD through a case study. Prior to re- decreasing the emotions and/or cognitions
opment of addictive issues. As with most ceiving EMDR therapy, the longest period that prevent addicted people from reduc-
psychological issues, it should come as of continued sobriety that the participant ing the charge of cravings and urges to use
no surprise that trauma commonly co- achieved was four months after being substances. Additionally, the AF-EMDR
occurs with SUDs. The Substance Abuse treated twelve different times. The partici- protocols target the associated euphoria
and Mental Health Services Administration pant received treatment in a Twelve Step of addictive behavior through highlight-
(SAMHSA), reports that 90 percent of cli- facilitation program and then received ing positive nonuse memories as well as
ents in public behavioral health care set- fifteen sessions of EMDR therapy over a “increasing the stability of treatment ef-
tings have experienced trauma (Mueser nine-month period. Following the EMDR fects” (Markus & Hornsveld, 2017, p. 15).
& Rosenberg, 2001). Additionally, trauma therapy, the individual reported having T h e A m e r i c a n P s yc h o l o g i c a l
survivors are found in several studies to achieved eighteen months of sobriety. Association (APA) considers EMDR thera-
represent the majority of clients in human Marich (2010) presented a case series py to be a structured, individual therapy
service systems (Browne & Finkelhor, 1986; on ten women who had received EMDR (2017). Francine Shapiro, the founder of
Najavits, Weiss, & Shaw, 1997; Polusny & therapy as part of their continuing care EMDR, and others have also consistent-
Follette, 1995, as cited in Elliot, Bjelajac, treatment. All ten women credited EMDR ly touted EMDR as a complete system of
Fallot, Markoff, & Reed, 2005). Another therapy with serving as a vital element of psychotherapy rather than a technique.
study states that “Approximately half of their recovery continuing-care processes. It is currently best practice to recognize
individuals seeking treatment for SUD Several other studies exhibited the ben- EMDR therapy as “. . . a complete system
meet current criteria for PTSD” (Berenz efits of using trauma-focused EMDR (TF- of psychotherapy with a model (AIP), a
& Coffey, 2012, p. 469). It is also evident EMDR) to treat SUD and other addictive method (the various protocols for how
that adverse childhood experiences are disorders (Brown, Gilman, Goodman, EMDR therapy is delivered), and distinct
associated with substance dependence. Adler-Tapia, & Freng, 2015; Cox & Howard, mechanism of action” (Marich & Dansiger,
Douglas et al. found the following: 2007; Henry, 1996; Rougemont-Bücking 2018, p. 3). There are many studies which
Individuals who experienced sexual & Zimmerman, 2012). use EMDR therapy as one of the prima-
abuse or physical abuse, or who wit- Using the standard EMDR therapy pro- ry treatments for various disorders such
nessed a violent crime were significantly tocol, Perez-Dandieu and Tapia (2014) as addiction (Marich, 2009; Kullack &
more likely to be diagnosed with sub- targeted a specific traumatic memory, hy- Laugharne, 2016), PTSD (Zepeda Méndez,
stance dependence, consistent with pothesizing that this would lead to signif- Nijdam, ter Heide, van der Aa, & Olff,
prior studies showing that ACEs icant reductions of addiction symptoms. 2018), complex PTSD (Bongaerts, van
increase the likelihood of substance Over a six-month period, participants who Minnen, & de Jongh, 2017), generalized
dependence later in life (2010, p. 12–3). were diagnosed with substance depen- anxiety disorder (Gauvreau & Bouchard,
dence and PTSD were randomly assigned 2008), acute stress disorder (Buydens,
A study that recruited 402 people from to treatment as usual (TAU) or to TAU plus Wilenksy, & Hensley, 2014), and depres-
residential treatment programs with co- eight sessions of EMDR therapy. Despite sion (van der Kolk et al., 2007).
morbid SUDs and mental health prob- the results that the TAU+EMDR thera-
lems found that nearly all of their study py group did not show a significant im- EMDR for PTSD and SUDs
sample (95 percent) compared to about provement in addiction symptoms, EMDR With the implementation of trauma-
half (52 percent) in the primary care health therapy was correlated with a significant focused treatment, and by reviewing the
maintenance organization study, reported decrease in PTSD, depression, and anxi- aforementioned research, we can see that
having experienced one or more childhood ety symptoms, in addition to a significant a reduction in PTSD symptoms is associ-
traumatic events (Wu, Schairer, Dellor, & increase in self-esteem (Perez-Dandieu & ated with SUD improvement (Hien et al.,
Grella, 2010). Tapia, 2014). Although the reprocessing of 2010). Considering the evidence, it is no
For people with SUDs, trauma symp- traumatic memories did not alleviate ad- longer effective to ask whether or not to
toms also serve as both direct triggers diction symptoms, this study implies that treat PTSD in SUD treatment, but how
for relapse and barriers to developing EMDR therapy increases adaptive behav- best to treat PTSD in an effective way with
stronger resourcing and resiliency skills ior in the form of increasing self-esteem people who have SUDs (Ford, Russo, &
against future stressors. Some individu- and decreasing depression and anxiety. Mallon, 2007). Instead of wondering why
als are simply unable to enter recovery In addition to using standard TF-EMDR substance-use-specific treatment is so in-
until their underlying trauma is treated to treat SUDs, other studies have demon- effective over the long term, the question
(O’Brien & Abel, 2011). strated the application of adapted EMDR becomes this: How do we provide trauma
There have been many studies showing therapy to treat SUDs and other addictive treatment in a way that promotes healing
that using EMDR therapy within a SUD disorders. Markus and Hornsveld) describe from SUDs? From this jumping-off point,
treatment center benefits clients greatly. addiction-focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) as I see a clear case for using EMDR trauma

30 Counselor | February 2019

 EMDR AND ADDICTION
therapy infused with mindfulness and Possibly, this would mean taking addic- and addiction-specific EMDR therapy pro-
resourcing support as a primary modal- tion-specific EMDR protocols one step fur- tocols. Wise and Marich (2016) used the
ity of treatment. ther to base the entire treatment planning DeTUR, CravEx, FSAP, or a combination
EMDR therapy has been compared to system on the eight phase EMDR protocol. of them. All participants recognized a re-
other treatments for PTSD (Chen, Zhang, Hu, According to Wise and Marich (2016), the mission in symptoms of both disorders.
& Liang, 2015; Graca, Palmer, & Occhietti, premise behind addiction-specific EMDR The use of EMDR therapy to effec-
2014). Chen, Zhang, Hu, and Liang (2015) protocols is to promote stabilization and tively treat individuals with SUDs has
found that EMDR therapy was superior to decrease the risk of relapse without re- been studied thoroughly (Marich, 2009;
CBT in the treatment of PTSD. Graca and quiring the direct targeting of traumatic Marich, 2010; Hase, Schallmayer, & Sack,
colleagues (2014) discovered that EMDR memories. Addiction-specific EMDR pro- 2008; Zweben & Yeary, 2006; O’Brien &
therapy and cognitive processing therapy tocols “show promise in promoting recov- Abel, 2011; Cox & Howard, 2007; Abel &
are clinically effective and complementary ery from addictions according to practice O’Brien, 2010). And as research across
treatments in treating PTSD in a residential knowledge in the EMDR therapy commu- the spectrum of psychological issues con-
setting. In a meta-analysis of randomized nity and the limited research that exists” tinues to show us, treating the trauma is
controlled trials (RCTs), Chen et al. con- (Wise & Marich, 2016, p. 232). the primary avenue to promote long term
cluded that not only does EMDR therapy Markus and Hornsveld (2017) identify healing and recovery across the board.
reduce symptoms of PTSD and subjective four different addiction-specific EMDR Therefore, viewing the EMDR trauma
distress, but that “. . . EMDR therapy can therapy protocols in their compelling therapy protocol as the primary avenue to
improve self-awareness in patients, change “EMDR Interventions in Addictions” treat SUD and co-occurring issues makes
their beliefs and behaviors, reduce anxi- article: sense. We can utilize the eight phases of
ety and depression, and lead to positive 1. The desensitization of triggers and EMDR therapy as a natural progression
emotions” (2014, p. 15). This evidence is urge reprocessing (DeTUR) protocol through the SUD treatment and recov-
reflective of EMDR therapy serving as a (Popky, 2005) ery process.
comprehensive psychotherapy. However, The first two phases of EMDR therapy—
EMDR therapy has not yet been studied as 2. T
 he craving extinguished (CravEx) client history and then stabilization and
a complete, standalone treatment system. approach (Hase, 2010) preparation—support the assessment stage
In my recent work with different treatment 3. An approach on dysfunctional posi- and building of resourcing and resiliency
centers across the country, I am making the tive affect (Knipe, 2010) with our clients. The third through sixth
case that EMDR therapy has the potential, phases of EMDR therapy, concerned with
when imbedded with mindfulness tech- 4. T
 he feeling-state addiction protocol reprocessing and adaptively transforming
niques, to be used as the comprehensive (FSAP; Miller, 2010, 2012) traumatic material, are useful in the in-
primary clinical operating protocol within Stemming from these protocols, Markus tensive therapeutic healing process and
a treatment center. and Hornsveld (2017) created a collection catharsis period. Finally, phases seven
EMDR therapy can support all of the of all resourcing, trauma, and AF-EMDR and eight of EMDR therapy provide the
phases of SUD treatment through its ability therapy interventions that can be used third stage of trauma treatment, that of
to promote the visualization of a healthier to treat addiction. Markus and Hornsveld personality reintegration, relapse preven-
future lifestyle, its resourcing capabilities, (2017) termed this set of fifteen interven- tion, and application of new insights in
and trauma resolution. Its three-prong tions “The Palette of EMDR Interventions day to day living. The eight-phase proto-
approach allows individuals to process in Addiction” (PEIA), which derive from col, when seen through the AIP model and
past experiences that are contributing to current protocols, theoretical consid- used in this way as the primary therapeu-
present-day symptoms, to cope with pres- erations, and clinical experience. The tic modality, provides a trauma-focused
ent day triggers that cause distress, and PEIA offers clinicians a toolkit of options solution that brings relief to sufferers of
to create a future for themselves that is to choose from when treating addiction a variety of maladies that include and
worth living (Brown, Shapiro, & Stowasser, with EMDR therapy, while of course taking accompany their struggle with SUD. The
2016). The resource development and in- into consideration clients’ histories and commitment to case conceptualization
stallation component assists individuals individual case conceptualizations. The through this lens leads to a broader and
in developing and strengthening internal PEIA is not to be used as a standalone deeper healing of our clients.
and external positive resources to assist treatment, but rather as an adjunct to ad- By using EMDR therapy as the prima-
in coping with distress that might other- diction treatment, as the only interven- ry system for case conceptualization and
wise lead to relapse. EMDR therapy pro- tion in the palette that is evidence-based treatment, we are flipping the integration
vides resolution from the incapacitating is TF-EMDR. paradigm; rather than fitting EMDR ther-
effects of trauma, so that they no longer Wise and Marich (2016) assessed the apy as a technique into SUD treatment,
serve as a reason to self-medicate. lived experiences of nine participants with we fit typical SUD recovery exercises into
co-occurring PTSD and addictive disorders an EMDR, therapy-based, trauma-focused
EMDR for Addiction through a qualitative, phenomenologi- protocol. Based on the research of the last
So what would it look like to use EMDR cal study, following the implementation thirty years on EMDR therapy and addic-
therapy as the primary treatment protocol? of both standard protocol EMDR therapy tions, and the consensus amongst thought

www.counselormagazine.com 31
EMDR AND ADDICTION
twelve-month follow-up. Journal of EMDR Practice and
leaders in the world of trauma and SUD, Buydens, S. L., Wilensky, M., & Hensley, B. J. (2014).
Research, 10(1), 33–46.
Effects of EMDR protocol for recent traumatic events on
it would seem that a trauma-focused ap- Marich, J. (2009). EMDR in the addiction continuing care
acute stress disorder: A case series. Journal of EMDR
proach to SUD that is scaffolded using the Practice and Research, 8(1), 2–12. process: Case study of a cross-addicted female’s treat-
ment and recovery. Journal of EMDR Practice and
EMDR therapy and AIP model would be Chen, Y. R., Hung, K. W., Tsai, J. C., Chu, H., Chung, M. Research, 3(2), 98–106.
worth continued practice and certainly H., Chen, S. R., . . . Chou, K. R. (2014). Efficacy of
Marich, J. (2010). Eye movement desensitization and re-
eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing for
more research. processing in addiction continuing care: A phenomeno-
patients with posttraumatic-stress disorder: A meta-
In treatment centers or private practic- analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLOS ONE,
logical study of women in recovery. Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors, 24(3), 498–507.
es where primary clinical practices differ 9(8), e103676.
Marich, J., & Dansiger, S. (2018). EMDR therapy and
from this approach, but EMDR therapy is Chen, L., Zhang, G., Hu, M., & Liang, X. (2015). Eye
mindfulness for trauma-focused care. New York, NY:
movement desensitization and reprocessing versus cog-
utilized as an intervention, this reorien- nitive behavioral therapy for adult posttraumatic stress
Springer Publishing Company.
tation toward trauma resolution as a pri- disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The Markus, W., & Hornsveld, H. K. (2017). EMDR interven-
tions in addiction. Journal of EMDR Practice and
mary goal of treatment might still promote Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203(6), 443–51.
Research, 11(1), 3–29.
more competent care and improved out- Cox, R. P., & Howard, M. D. (2007). Utilization of EMDR
Miller, R. (2010). The feeling-state theory of impulse con-
in the treatment of sexual addiction: A case study.
comes. This important clinical dialogue Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, 14(1), 1–20. trol disorder and the impulse-control disorder protocol.
may result in the easing of suffering for Douglas, K. R., Chan, G., Gelernter, J., Arias, A. J., Anton,
Traumatology, 16(3), 2–10.
so many, whether they have been strug- R. F., Weiss, R. D., . . . Kranzler, H. R. (2010). Adverse
Miller, R. (2012). Treatment of behavioral addictions uti-
lizing the feeling-state addiction protocol: A multiple
gling for years or are at the beginning of childhood events as risk factors for substance depen-
baseline study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research,
dence: Partial mediation by mood and anxiety disor-
their difficulties. I look forward to con- ders. Addictive Behaviors, 35(1), 7–13.
6(4), 159–69.
tinuing to practice in this way, to research EMDR Research Foundation. (2017). Research lists.
Mueser, K. T., & Rosenberg, S. D. (2001). Treatment of
the results, and to walk forward into new PTSD in persons with severe mental illness. In J. P.
Retrieved from https://emdrresearchfoundation.org/
Wilson, M. J. Friedman, & J. D. Lindy (Eds.), Treating psy-
frontiers together with other researchers emdr-info/research-lists/.
chological trauma & PTSD (pp. 354–82). New York, NY:
and practitioners. c Elliot, D. E., Bjelajac, P., Fallot, R. D., Markoff, L. S., & The Guilford Press.
Reed, B. G. (2005). Trauma-informed or trauma-denied:
O’Brien, J. M., & Abel, N. J. (2011). EMDR, addictions, and
About the Author Principles and implementation of trauma-informed ser-
the stages of change: A road map for intervention.
Stephen Dansiger, PsyD, LMFT, is vices for women. Journal of Community Psychology, 33(4),
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 5(3), 121–30.
the creator and founder of the 461–77.
Perez-Dandieu, B., and Tapia, G. (2014). Treating trauma
Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Ford, J. D., Russo E. M., & Mallon, S. D. (2007). in addiction with EMDR: A pilot study. Journal of
Template for Agencies or MET(T)A Integrating treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder Psychoactive Drugs, 46(4), 303–9.
Protocol. Dr. Dansiger is an EMDRIA- and substance use disorder. Journal of Counseling and
approved consultant and certified Popky, A. J. (2005). DeTUR, an urge reduction protocol
Development, 85(4), 475–90.
therapist who provides EMDR train- for addictions and dysfunctional behaviors. In R.
Gauvreau, P., & Bouchard, S. (2008). Preliminary evi- Shapiro (Ed.), EMDR solutions: Pathways to healing (pp.
ing and advanced topic workshops as
dence for the efficacy of EMDR in treating generalized 167–88). New York, NY: WW Norton and Company.
senior faculty for The Institute for Creative Mindfulness.
anxiety disorder. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research,
He is the author of Clinical Dharma: A Path for Healers Rougemont-Bücking, A., & Zimmermann, E. N. (2012).
2(1), 26–40.
and Helpers (2016), Mindfulness for Anger Management EMDR-based treatment of psychotraumatic antecedents
(2018), and the coauthor (with Jamie Marich) of EMDR Graca, J. J., Palmer, G. A., & Occhietti, K. E. (2014). in illicit drug abusers: A report of two cases. Swiss
Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care Psychotherapeutic interventions for symptom reduction Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry, 163(3), 107–15.
(2017). In addition to maintaining a private practice in in veterans with PTSD: An observational study in a resi-
Shapiro, F. (2014). The role of eye movement desensitiza-
Los Angeles, he travels internationally speaking and dential clinical setting. Journal of Loss and Trauma,
tion and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in medicine:
teaching on Buddhist mindfulness, EMDR therapy, the 19(6), 558–67.
Addressing the psychological and physical symptoms
MET(T)A Protocol, trauma, and clinician self-care. Hase, M. (2010). CraveEx: An EMDR approach to treat stemming from adverse life experiences. The
substance abuse and addiction. In M. Luber (Ed.), Eye Permanente Journal, 18(1), 71–7.
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32 Counselor | February 2019

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