Using EMDR in Various Treatment Centers

 

 

 

Transcript

[INTRO]

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Scaling Up Your Impact, the podcast for trauma-informed therapists who want to grow their skills, serve more clients, and create lasting change without burning out. I’m Kelly Smyth-Dent, and today we’re diving into a topic that’s close to my heart: how EMDR can be used across a variety of treatment settings—from eating disorder hospitals to addictions recovery centers to inpatient and residential mental health facilities.

If you’ve only thought of EMDR as something you do in private practice, today’s episode might open your eyes to the incredible impact this therapy can have in more intensive, multidisciplinary settings.

Segment 1 – Why EMDR Belongs in Treatment Centers

Treatment centers are often serving clients with complex, layered histories—trauma, comorbid diagnoses, and acute symptom presentation.

These clients are often in an environment where:

• They have access to daily support and monitoring
• They may be away from their usual triggers and stressors
• They are already engaged in structured, multidisciplinary care

EMDR can fit beautifully into this kind of ecosystem because:

• It addresses underlying trauma that may be driving presenting symptoms like eating disorder behaviors, substance use, or mood dysregulation
• It can be adapted to the client’s stability level and stage of treatment
• The intensity of a residential or inpatient program allows for closer monitoring after sessions and coordinated support from other staff

Simply put—treatment centers often create the ideal containment for safe trauma reprocessing.

Segment 2 – EMDR in Eating Disorder Hospitals

Eating disorders are often deeply intertwined with trauma—whether it’s overt trauma like abuse, or more covert developmental wounds.

In eating disorder hospitals, EMDR can:

• Address traumatic memories that trigger disordered eating behaviors
• Help clients process body image–related experiences or medical trauma from past hospitalizations
• Reduce shame and self-criticism tied to adverse experiences

Clinical considerations:

The medical fragility of clients means pacing and timing are critical—sessions may need to be shorter or more stabilization-focused in early treatment

Collaboration with dietitians, physicians, and nurses is essential to avoid overwhelming the client during a period of nutritional rehabilitation

Target selection may start with smaller, contained memories rather than diving into the “worst thing” right away

Segment 3 – EMDR in Addictions Recovery Centers

In addictions treatment, trauma is often both a precipitating factor and a relapse trigger.

EMDR can be used to:

• Address the underlying trauma that led to substance use as a coping mechanism
• Reduce reactivity to triggers that could cause relapse after discharge
• Reprocess distressing events from active addiction (e.g., overdoses, losses, or interpersonal conflicts)

Clinical considerations:

Many clients are in early recovery—meaning they may have limited tolerance for emotional activation

Sessions may need to be shorter and paired with strong resourcing

Staff collaboration is key: EMDR sessions should be integrated into the treatment plan alongside group therapy, 12-step work, or other modalities

Segment 4 – EMDR in Mental Health Inpatient/Residential Facilities

Inpatient and residential mental health facilities often work with clients in acute crisis—severe depression, suicidality, PTSD, dissociation, or psychosis.

EMDR can be beneficial here when:

• The client is stable enough to tolerate reprocessing without destabilizing
• The focus is on smaller, recent traumas, or installing positive resources
• The therapist is collaborating closely with psychiatrists, nurses, and case managers

In some cases, the goal may not be full reprocessing during an inpatient stay. Instead, EMDR sessions might focus on stabilization, preparation, and target identification—so the client leaves with a roadmap for continued outpatient trauma work.

Segment 5 – Adapting EMDR for Structured Programs

Regardless of the setting, EMDR in treatment centers requires flexibility and teamwork. Some key adaptations include:

Shorter session blocks (20–40 minutes) if needed

• Group EMDR protocols (like EMDR-IGTP or G-TEP) to reach multiple clients at once in psychoeducational or processing groups
• Increased preparation work for clients with high dissociation or instability
• Frequent check-ins with other staff to ensure consistent messaging and containment

The more integrated EMDR is into the program’s culture, the more effective it will be.

Segment 6 – Why Specialized Training Matters

While EMDR is powerful in private practice, using it in high-acuity settings calls for additional skills:

• Knowing how to titrate processing for clients with high symptom severity
• Understanding medical and psychiatric considerations
• Working seamlessly in multidisciplinary teams
• Adapting protocols to fit program schedules and constraints

That’s why we recommend ongoing advanced training—especially in areas like complex trauma, dissociation, and group protocols.

Segment 7 – Final Thoughts & Invitation

If you work in—or want to work in—a treatment center, EMDR can be one of the most valuable tools you bring to the table. It’s adaptable, evidence-based, and addresses the root causes that often keep clients stuck.

And if you want to expand your skills for these settings, Scaling Up offers advanced EMDR trainings—like our EMDR GAP Training, which includes group protocols, and our specialized intensives training. You can learn more at scalingupemdr.com.

Remember—when we bring EMDR into treatment centers, we’re not just treating symptoms in the moment. We’re laying the groundwork for long-term healing.