Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Healing trauma through reprocessing
EMDR therapy is designed to help clients process traumatic memories that fuel substance use and mental health struggles. Through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sound), EMDR helps the brain “unstick” disturbing experiences so they can be stored like normal memories
- Effective for PTSD, complex trauma, and anxiety disorders
- Reduces emotional distress tied to past experiences
- Helps regulate emotions without needing to retell painful stories
For young adults, EMDR is especially powerful in breaking the link between unresolved trauma and addictive patterns.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Balancing acceptance and change
DBT equips clients with skills to manage intense emotions, tolerate distress, and build healthier relationships. DBT is widely used in addiction and co-occurring treatment.
Core Tenets of DBT:
- Mindfulness – staying grounded in the present
- Distress Tolerance – surviving emotional storms without harmful behaviors
- Emotion Regulation – identifying and shifting overwhelming feelings
- Interpersonal Effectiveness – improving communication and boundaries
DBT is particularly effective for young adults who struggle with self-harm, impulsivity, or difficulty regulating emotions alongside substance use.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Changing thoughts, changing behaviors
CBT is one of the most effective and widely researched therapies in addiction and mental health care. It focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, helping clients replace negative thought patterns with healthier coping strategies.
Treats:
- Depression and anxiety
- Trauma and PTSD
- Substance use cravings and triggers
- Stress management and relapse prevention
Structured, goal-oriented, and collaborative, CBT empowers young adults to take actionable steps toward recovery.
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)
Replacing self-criticism with self-kindness
Many young adults enter treatment weighed down by shame and self-judgment. Mindful Self-Compassion offers a powerful antidote by teaching clients to approach their struggles with empathy and acceptance.
Core MSC principles:
- Self-kindness instead of self-criticism
- Recognizing shared humanity instead of isolation
- Mindfulness instead of over-identification with pain
MSC builds resilience and emotional stability, helping clients sustain recovery with compassion rather than punishment.
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Releasing trauma held in the body
Somatic Experiencing is a body-based therapy that focuses on resolving trauma by tuning into physical sensations rather than reliving traumatic events.
How SE supports healing:
- Restores balance to the nervous system
- Releases “trapped” survival energy through safe movement and awareness
- Builds resilience through gradual exposure (titration and pendulation)
For young adults with trauma underlying their addiction, SE helps restore a sense of safety and autonomy in both body and mind.
Mindfulness-Based Sobriety (MBS)
Staying present in recovery
Mindfulness-Based Sobriety teaches clients how to observe cravings, emotions, and stress without reacting to them. Instead of fighting urges, young adults learn to “surf” them like waves, building tolerance and self-control.
MBS practices include:
- Meditation and body scans
- Urge surfing and mindful inquiry
- Compassion-based relapse prevention strategies
This approach is especially valuable for young adults who have struggled with relapse or who feel disconnected from traditional recovery models.
