The interplay of resourcefulness and resilience in recovery: A six session approach treating addictive behaviour, an extended EMDR protocol

A structured six-session group therapy has been developed and approved for overcoming craving. The six session protocol can easily be integrated to well-applied EMDR protocols (DeTur from Popky, CravEx from Haase) supported by systematic implementation of cue exposure techniques and guided imagery. The EMDR protocol supported by cue exposure catalyses the recovery process as follows: At the beginning the patients are taught a set of three ideodynamic resources for coping with the urge to drink; “Rewards of sobriety”, “Support of relatives and friends” and “Irrepressible commitment to sobriety”. The patients learn rapid activation of these resources by the use of the “Seven Cue Word Induction–technique” and kinaesthetic bilateral stimulation (SingleblAiR). Then they are exposed to alcohol until the urge to drink reaches it´s peak. At this moment they are taught to initialize resourcefulness - with continued exposure to alcohol. Subsequently, the power of one ideodynamic strategy diminishes the intensity of craving significantly. Craving symptoms finally disappear and are replaced by self-reinforcing thoughts and feelings due to state dependent learning. In addition to this new experience the patients acquire a high level of self-efficacy as well as greater and deeper knowledge about their personal drinking triggers. They also find out which strategy is the most effective one for each specific trigger. After regaining self-control over triggers, the patients are more receptive to working with their core addiction issues, which have now become easier to treat by especially using Desensitization and Reprocessing of the Standard- EMDR protocol. Workshop participants will become acquainted with the six-session protocol by the use of DVD-demonstrations and by practising. In addition they will receive a manual with standardised instructions. Finally they will also be given the opportunity to participate in a cross-cultural research project proving the effectiveness of the six-step program which starts in 2011. This approach is designed to improve the treatment of various types of addiction and can easily be integrated into existing EMDR treatment strategies.

Conference

English

Jorg Albers

Albers, J. (2010, July). The interplay of resourcefulness and resilience in recovery: A six session approach treating addictive behaviour, an extended EMDR protocol. Presentation at the 1st EMDR Asia Conference, Bali, Indonesia