EMDR Therapy

EMDR and Addiction Recovery

A Trauma-Informed, Integrated Approach to Substance Use and Behavioral Addictions.

Despite the frequency with which addiction shows up in mental health treatment, it’s often treated as a separate specialty. But with nearly 1 in 5 people with mental illness also experiencing a substance use disorder (SUD) (SAMHSA, 2013), and up to 75% of veterans with PTSD reporting past substance misuse, the need for integrated, trauma-informed care for the treatment of addiction is undeniable.

At Sub Rosa, we do not view addiction as a moral failing or a failure of willpower. We understand it as a deeply human coping strategy—one that often arises from unresolved trauma, emotional overwhelm, life stressors, and disconnection from self and others.

EMDR helps address the emotional material at the root of addictive behaviors, supporting clients in processing past experiences that drive the compulsion to numb, escape, or self-regulate through substances or behaviors. Whether the addiction involves alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, or digital dependency, EMDR can help create new internal pathways toward agency, regulation, and choice.

We work from a harm-reduction lens, meeting each client where they are. We understand that recovery is nonlinear, and we honor each individual’s pace and priorities. For clients who find value in structured and community-based recovery support, we recommend and support 12-step work and other peer-based programs.

Our goal is to help you build internal safety, work through the unresolved pain that drives addictive patterns, and support sustainable healing—whether that means abstinence, moderation, or redefining your relationship to coping entirely.EMDR is an integrative therapy that uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) to activate the brain’s natural healing process. Based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, EMDR allows the brain to update and integrate memories that were previously stored with high emotional charge or distorted beliefs.

This process helps you retain what’s useful from past experiences—while letting go of sensations, beliefs, or reactions that no longer serve you.

Instead of focusing solely on talk, EMDR invites the body and mind to release trauma at its roots.

Of EMDR Therapy results, clients often say: “I still remember what happened—but it no longer controls me.”

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?

Recent large-scale studies, along with smaller clinical trials and case reports, have shown that:

  • EMDR significantly reduces cravings and compulsive urges tied to both substances and behavioral addictions

  • Gains from EMDR are maintained over time

  • Relapse following EMDR is rare and does not reduce the therapy’s effectiveness

  • Clients do not need to be abstinent long-term before beginning EMDR

  • Shame, secrecy, and avoidance—common in addiction—can be addressed gently and effectively through EMDR's non-verbal, non-narrative processing

Additionally, the therapy's success is strongly linked to therapeutic safety, motivation to change, and the strength of the client-therapist relationship, which are core values embedded in our work at Sub Rosa.

What Makes EMDR at Sub Rosa Different?

  • Rooted in the body. We integrate EMDR with somatic practices to support your nervous system.

  • Trauma-informed. We prioritize safety, choice, and consent at every stage.

  • Addiction-attuned. We honor the wisdom behind the coping, while helping you find new ways to relate to pain.

  • Not about reliving trauma. EMDR doesn’t require full disclosure to be effective. You don’t need to tell the whole story to heal from it.

  • Not about managing symptoms. It's about resolving the root cause—so you can move forward with more freedom and self-trust.