Can EMDR Help First Responders Overcome PTSD?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, or EMDR, is a unique treatment that has been proven to be effective in helping people who are suffering from trauma-related disorders overcome debilitating symptoms. As part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes drug addiction treatment when necessary as well as traditional therapies and treatments, it can be of incredible benefit to clients who are dealing with trauma, including firefighters who have lived through significant trauma on the job.

EMDR

Depending on the therapist, the specifics of EMDR treatment may vary. Lights, tapping, or finger movements are employed while the client verbally shares the details of a trauma experience. As the tapping or lights continue, the therapist will then guide the client to calm and peaceful thoughts.

Sessions may last up to 90 minutes. In most cases, a finite number of sessions is agreed upon at the outset of treatment. Before treatment begins and at the start of each session, the client is asked to rate their level of stress. The same question is repeated at the end of the session and at the end of the group of sessions as a whole. The goal is that the client’s perception of stress and discomfort due to trauma lessen with each session and over time.

Firefighters and EMDR

Throughout the course of their careers, firefighters don’t just experience a single trauma; they are routinely exposed to the most traumatic moment of people’s lives. Shift work, midnight emergency calls, overtime and overtime shifts — all of this adds to physical stress and the toll that trauma exposure can take on the firefighter. In many cases, trauma disorders develop over time, and when this happens, many turn to drugs and alcohol as a first resort.

Ultimately, this “quick fix” only exacerbates the symptoms and causes a secondary disorder that is just as overwhelming as the trauma disorder. As a result, a range of directed therapies and treatments are needed to effectively address the problem, and EMDR is one of the most highly researched and evidence-based treatment options available.

Comprehensive Treatment Makes a Difference

EMDR can be an effective part of a comprehensive treatment program designed to meet the needs of first responders for firefighters who are living with trauma as well as a substance use disorder. At American Addiction Centers, our First Responder Lifeline Program has been created specifically to help firefighters identify all signs of mental health issues, safely stop using all drugs of choice, and learn how to manage both disorders in recovery. Our locations include:

• Recovery First in West Palm Beach/Hollywood, Florida
• Greenhouse Treatment Center in Dallas, Texas
• Sunrise House Treatment Center in Sussex County, New Jersey
• Desert Hope Treatment Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Laguna Treatment Hospital in Aliso Viejo, California
• Clinical Services of Rhode Island in Greenville/Portsmouth/South Kingstown, Rhode Island

Find out more about how American Addiction Centers can help you connect with a unique and intensive treatment program. Call (888) 731-FIRE (3473) today.