If you’re a young woman struggling with the emotional weight of trauma or addiction, you might feel stuck in old memories or painful patterns. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can help. At The Willows at Red Oak Recovery®, we offer EMDR therapy in North Carolina as part of our holistic, trauma-informed care for women ages 18–30.
Whether you’re new to therapy or returning to it, understanding what to expect from EMDR can help you feel more prepared and hopeful.
What EMDR stands for and how it works
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has since evolved into a widely used therapy for trauma and other mental health challenges.
The approach is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain. These memories keep their emotional intensity and continue to affect how you feel, think, and react. EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, like guided eye movements or gentle tapping, while you focus on these memories. This helps your brain process and reframe the experience, allowing emotional healing to take place.
Conditions EMDR treats—beyond PTSD
While EMDR trauma therapy in North Carolina is well-known for treating PTSD, it’s also used for other issues that affect young women, especially those tied to trauma. These include:
- Substance use and addiction
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Grief and complicated loss
- Eating disorders
EMDR therapy for addiction is especially effective when substance use is linked to unresolved trauma. By working through the root emotional pain, EMDR helps reduce the urge to numb or escape through substances, making it a powerful support in long-term recovery.
EMDR Session structure and phases
At The Willows, our EMDR sessions follow a structured eight-phase process. Each phase helps you prepare, process, and recover in a safe, supported way.
- History and planning: Your therapist learns about your past and helps you identify the memories or issues you want to address.
- Preparation: You learn calming and grounding tools to manage emotional responses during sessions.
- Assessment: You identify how the memory affects you, including what emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations it brings up.
- Desensitization: Using bilateral stimulation, you begin to reprocess the memory until it feels less distressing.
- Installation: You work to replace negative beliefs (like “I’m unsafe”) with positive ones (like “I survived”).
- Body scan: You notice any physical tension that may be tied to the memory and reprocess it if needed.
- Closure: Each session ends with emotional grounding and reflection.
- Reevaluation: At the start of your next session, your therapist will check how you’re feeling and help you choose your next focus.
EMDR can be emotionally intense, but clients often report feeling lighter, more at peace, and more in control after just a few sessions.
EMDR’s effectiveness in addiction recovery
Originally developed to address trauma, EMDR therapy is also used to support addiction recovery, particularly when emotional pain plays a role in substance use. For women who drink or use substances to cope with overwhelming emotions, EMDR helps by targeting the source of that pain. By reducing emotional triggers and reshaping how you relate to past events, EMDR therapy can lower the risk of relapse, build confidence, and support healthier coping strategies.
Some experts debate whether the eye movements themselves are key or whether it’s the structured memory processing that creates change. Regardless, research continues to show strong results for EMDR across many areas of mental health, including addiction recovery.
What clients feel during and after EMDR
During EMDR therapy, you may feel a mix of emotions as old memories surface, like sadness, anxiety, or even relief. These feelings are normal and a sign that your brain is beginning to process what’s been stuck. After a session, many clients feel lighter, calmer, or emotionally tired, similar to how you might feel after a deep conversation. In the days that follow, you might notice shifts in how you view the memory or feel about yourself. At The Willows, your therapist will guide and support you through every step, helping you feel safe, grounded, and understood during your healing process.
Understanding the training and certification for EMDR therapists
EMDR must be provided by clinicians who have received specific training and supervision. At The Willows, our therapists are fully trained in EMDR and understand how to support young women through trauma and addiction recovery. They are also experienced in integrating EMDR with other therapies, including DBT, ACT, and somatic experiencing.
Our center, located near Asheville in the heart of western North Carolina, is staffed by licensed clinicians with EMDRIA-approved training. As one of the few women-only programs in the region offering EMDR therapy in a residential setting, we serve clients from across the Southeast seeking trauma-informed, evidence-based care.
Call The Willows at Red Oak Recovery® and explore your options for healing
EMDR therapy offers more than symptom relief—it provides real healing. If you’re a woman ready to move forward from trauma, addiction, or both, EMDR therapy in North Carolina could be a turning point. At The Willows at Red Oak Recovery®, we support you with compassionate care and personalized treatment. Call 828.518.6941 or reach out online to learn more. Healing is possible, and it begins with one step.
