Why This Book?

Healing Addiction with EMDR Therapy offers a deeply compassionate and evidence-based approach to understanding addiction as a trauma response — not a moral failing. Dr. Jamie Marich, a trauma therapist and person in long-term recovery, bridges clinical expertise with lived experience to show how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can support meaningful, long-term healing from addiction. Her message is clear: when we treat the trauma underneath the addiction, recovery becomes not only possible — but sustainable.

Who It’s For

• Survivors struggling with addiction and trauma
• Therapists looking to integrate EMDR into addiction recovery work
• Readers seeking a trauma-informed alternative to shame-based recovery models

Big Takeaways

• Addiction is often an adaptive response to unhealed trauma — a strategy for survival, not a sign of weakness.
• Healing addiction requires addressing the emotional wounds that fuel it, not just the behavior itself.
• EMDR, when practiced safely and thoughtfully, can help reprocess trauma that has kept addictive cycles in place.

How It Can Help

This book reframes addiction with dignity and depth. Dr. Marich offers a practical guide for anyone seeking to move beyond abstinence into true healing — healing that includes the nervous system, the inner child, the wounded protector parts, and the traumatic roots of the addictive pattern. It is especially useful for survivors who have struggled to feel seen or supported in traditional recovery spaces.

Additional Notes or Warnings

• Discusses substance use, self-harm, trauma history, and dissociation.
• Best read in conjunction with professional support for those currently navigating addiction or early recovery.
• EMDR exercises are described for educational purposes; actual treatment should be done with a trained therapist.