EMDR in the addiction continuing care process: Case study of a cross-addicted female's treatment and recovery

There have been suggestions in the literature since 1994 that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) may serve as an effective adjunct to the addiction treatment process; however, follow-up research in this area has been limited. This case study of a cross-addicted female includes a case review illustrating how EMDR was used in the continuing care process and a semistructured phenomenological interview conducted at 6-month follow-up. Prior to this course of treatment, the participant was treated 12 times with traditional approaches but was unable to achieve more than 4 months of sobriety at any given time. Following EMDR, the participant reported 18 months of sobriety and important changes in functional life domains. The phenomenological interview revealed six critical themes about the addiction and recovery process that can offer insight to clinicians treating co-occurring addiction and trauma.

Journal

English

Jamie N. Marich

Marich, J. N. (2009). EMDR in the addiction continuing care process: Case study of a cross-addicted female's treatment and recovery. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(2), 98-106. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.3.2.98