EMDR, Attachment & Addiction: A Revolutionary Approach — Dr Laurel Parnell
Oct 24, 2024
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Dr. Laurel Parnell, a leading authority on EMDR therapy, dives deep into the complexities of trauma and addiction. She discusses the innovative 'Connecting to Consequences' protocol for breaking unwanted habits. Parnell also sheds light on her Attachment-Focused EMDR approach, emphasizing its revolutionary impact on addiction treatment. The power of 'Resource Tapping' for fostering secure attachments is explored, alongside the neural mechanisms that make EMDR effective. Tune in for transformative insights on healing and recovery!
Dr. Laurel Parnell emphasizes the importance of integrating both brain hemispheres to effectively address emotional and trauma-related roots of addiction.
The groundbreaking Attachment-Focused EMDR approach targets unmet emotional needs, reframing addiction narratives to foster healing and inner strength.
Resource tapping is a supportive technique that enhances emotional regulation, helping individuals manage anxiety and reduce reliance on addictive behaviors.
Deep dives
The Limitations of Traditional Therapies for Addiction
Many therapies for addiction excessively rely on cognitive approaches, often neglecting the underlying emotional and trauma-related roots. Individuals can be knowledgeable about their addictions yet struggle to apply this understanding during triggering moments, which highlights the disconnect between informed thinking and emotional regulation. To address this gap, effective treatment requires integrating both hemispheres of the brain, thereby fostering communication that leads to behavioral change. When trauma is targeted directly through methods such as EMDR, the compulsive behaviors associated with addiction can diminish significantly.
Dr. Laurel Parnell's Expertise and Approach
Dr. Laurel Parnell is a renowned clinical psychologist specializing in EMDR, focusing on the connections between early trauma and addiction behaviors. Her insights emphasize the significance of understanding what drives addiction, advocating for a trauma-informed perspective rather than conventional labels like 'addict.' Her attachment-focused EMDR has been developed to effectively treat the underlying emotional wounds that fuel addictive behaviors. This innovative approach illustrates that often, the behaviors labeled as addictions may instead stem from unmet needs and feelings of unworthiness.
Connecting Trauma and Behavior Through EMDR
EMDR works by engaging both hemispheres of the brain and utilizing bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories, promoting emotional healing and reducing compulsive behaviors. The therapy aims to integrate fragmented trauma memories stored primarily in the right hemisphere with more logical processes in the left hemisphere, facilitating a holistic healing experience. As trauma is processed, clients often report a decrease in cravings and harmful behaviors, indicating a shift in their emotional state and coping mechanisms. This transformative process allows individuals to reconnect with their true selves and address the root causes of their addiction.
Resource Tapping as a Preventative Strategy
Resource tapping is a supportive technique used to build emotional strength and resilience before addressing deeper trauma within EMDR therapy. By activating positive experiences or resources through imagination and bilateral stimulation, individuals can create a sense of inner calm and stability. This technique not only prepares clients for trauma work but also provides tools to manage anxiety and distress without resorting to addictive substances. Enhancing emotional regulation in this way can significantly reduce reliance on drugs or unhealthy behaviors as coping mechanisms.
A Holistic Perspective on Addiction Treatment
Dr. Parnell advocates for a more holistic and individualized approach to addiction treatment, recognizing the limitations of one-size-fits-all methods. Key to this is understanding the role of attachment and early developmental deficits that often contribute to addiction behaviors. By reframing the addiction narrative and emphasizing inner strength and supportive emotional frameworks, clients can work towards healing rather than simply abstaining from substances. This perspective encourages treatments that focus not just on stopping undesirable behaviors, but on fostering a nurturing internal environment that promotes overall well-being.
Dr. Laurel Parnell is a leading expert on the therapeutic tool, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing which is more widely known as EMDR.
She has trained thousands of clinicians nationally and internationally, and is the author of several bestselling books, including: “Attachment Focused EMDR”, “Tapping In”, and “Rewiring the Addicted Brain with EMDR-Based Treatment”, which this interview focuses on.
In a wide-ranging conversation, we explore:
— The neural mechanisms and the connection between the left and right hemispheres which may help to explain why EMDR works
— The “Connecting to Consequences” Protocol, and how it can be leveraged to let go of unwanted behaviours and long standing addictions
— Dr Parnell’s groundbreaking Attachment-Focused EMDR approach and its role in addiction treatment
— The incredible power of “Resource Tapping” and how it can be a catalyst for fostering internal secure attachment.
And more.
You can learn about Dr Parnell’s work and forthcoming trainings by visiting: https://drlaurelparnell.com.
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Dr. Parnell is a leading expert on the therapeutic tool, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing which is more widely known as EMDR. While Dr. Parnell has trained thousands of clinicians in EMDR both nationally and internationally, Dr. Parnell has also taught transpersonal psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and was core faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the Graduate School for the Study of Human Consciousness. Currently, Dr. Parnell teaches EMDR through Alliant International University, Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, ID Institut in Kassel Germany, and the The New York Open Center.
You can learn about Dr Parnell’s work and forthcoming trainings by visiting: https://drlaurelparnell.com/.
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3 Books Dr Parnell Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:
— Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/44bM7ni
— Tapping In: A Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources Through Bilateral Stimulation - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/439Cbcz
—A Therapist's Guide to EMDR: Tools and Techniques for Successful Treatment - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/4408zjb
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