EMDR Group Therapy for Addictions
This EMDR group therapy is for those who experiences addictive behaviours in their life. This group therapy aims to support them in their recovery from addictions by addressing the underlying traumas, stressors, and emotional challenges that often fuel addictive behaviours.
Addiction & EMDR Treatment
Addiction is often more than a struggle with substances or behaviours - it is frequently rooted in unresolved trauma, adverse life experiences, and overwhelming emotions that have not been fully processed. Many individuals turn to alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviours as a way of coping with painful memories, distress, or negative beliefs about themselves. While traditional addiction treatments focus on behaviour change and relapse prevention, they may not fully address these deeper emotional wounds.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers a powerful, trauma-focused approach that directly targets the underlying experiences driving addictive patterns. Originally developed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has since been adapted for use in addiction treatment through specialized protocols such as DeTUR (Desensitization of Triggers and Urge Reprocessing), CravEx (Craving Extinction Protocol), and FSAP (Feeling-State Addiction Protocol). These approaches help individuals reduce cravings, reprocess triggers, and detach from the emotional intensity that fuels addictive behaviours.
By working with both past trauma and present-day triggers, EMDR supports clients in building healthier coping strategies and envisioning a future free from addiction. When integrated with other therapeutic approaches EMDR provides a comprehensive path toward recovery, healing, and resilience.
How EMDR Helps in Addiction Treatment
- Targeting Underlying Trauma
- EMDR helps process painful memories that fuel addictive behaviours.
- By reducing emotional charge of triggers, cravings and relapse urges can decrease.
- Craving & Trigger Reprocessing.
- EMDR protocols specifically address cravings, relapse cues, and compulsive urges.
- Strengthening Coping Resources
- EMDR also builds internal resources (calm, control, resilience), which improves emotional regulation and support recovery and relapse prevention.
- Reducing Shame and Guilt
- Addiction is often tied to deep self-blame. EMDR can reprocess these negative beliefs (“I’m weak,” “I’m broken”) into healthier ones (“I can cope”, “I am resilient”).
EMDR helps addiction recovery by addressing unresolved trauma, reducing cravings, and strengthening coping skills. It is especially valuable when addiction is linked with trauma or adverse life experiences.
NB: Please note that clients must have achieved stabilization (nutritional and emotional) before attending this EMDR group therapy because this group work involves intensive trauma reprocessing.
Confidentiality and Privacy in EMDR Group Therapy Sessions
Within our EMDR group therapy sessions, strict confidentiality is maintained at all times. Participants are not required to discuss or disclose any details of their distressing experiences or past traumas during group interactions. Throughout the therapy process, clients do not share personal trauma histories with other group members, ensuring a safe and supportive environment focused on individual healing and emotional regulation.
Structure of EMDR Group Therapy Sessions
The group functions within a structured framework, comprising up to four participants and two clinicians. In the initial group EMDR session, participants will concentrate on developing internal resources to facilitate grounding and foster a sense of present safety. This approach is designed to enhance emotional regulation and provide effective support throughout their recovery process. In the later sessions, participants will focus on reprocessing their traumatic experiences connected with their addictive behaviours without disclosing any of its details to other group members. A clinician will provide assistance to any participant who may have difficulty managing the session, offering support for emotional regulation as necessary. In the final EMDR session, participants apply the techniques they have learned to enhance personal skills and resources, with the objective of increasing their capacity to manage future triggering situations and prevent relapse.
When:
Group 1: June 2nd to 30th of June – 2026
Every Tuesdays for 5 weeks from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Venue:
The Bealey Centre, 120 Hills Road (Wharfdale Room)
Fees for EMDR Group Therapy Programs:
Individuals $900 and Business $1300 (please note that this is partially funded by Aura Health).
Research participant’s rate: Individual $450 and Business $650 (Those who
are willing to participate in research need to complete questionnaires on a range of wellbeing measures
before and after participating in the EMDR group and this is funded by Aura Health).
Our Facilitators
Dr Jain Joseph PhD
Jain Joseph is a clinical psychologist, an accredited EMDR therapist and EMDR Case Consultant in training. He is currently working towards completing his advanced accreditation in Schema Therapy. He holds a Masters in Applied Psychology (Industrial Psychology), a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology (M.Phil), and a PhD in Psychology.
Ambily M Joseph
Ambily M Joseph is a registered social worker who will be co-facilitating this group. She holds a Masters in Applied Psychology (M.Sc.) and a Masters in Social Work (MSW), and is trained in EMDR therapy.
Please fill out this registration form or email us to aurahealthnz@gmail.com to register yourself. Once we have received your registration form a confirmation email and an invoice will be sent out. You need to make full payment before the start of the program.