Flash Technique
Los Angeles
Still think you have to feel it to heal it?
The last thing most of us want to do is think about the terrible experience we had that continues to haunt us and cause us shame, terror, despair, or rage.
The desire to avoid re-experiencing the disturbing memory is completely understandable but, paradoxically, often leads to heightened reactivity when triggered and to defensive behaviors that sabotage the intimacy and happiness you seek.
You may even recognize that those deeply buried experiences remain alive today — making you lose your temper, choose poor fit partners, or reflexively people-please. But the thought of opening it all up again feels impossible and overwhelming.
You may be relieved to know that it’s possible to put an end to those intrusive thoughts, feelings, and body sensations without having to think about those painful experiences in depth.
That’s right - contrary to the belief that trauma work requires conscious contact with the target event, we now know there’s no need to rehash it to move past it.
It may be hard to believe, but trauma work can be painless.
You don’t have to relive any details or talk ad nauseum about what occurred to put it to bed for good.
In recent years, an evidence-based approach called Flash Technique has proved to be an effective, distress-free, and non-intrusive method for resolving disturbing experiences in a short amount of time.
When using Flash, trauma memories process quietly in the background while you and I spend most of our time talking about your favorite things, doing tongue twisters, watching funny videos, and doing other enjoyable activities.
How is this possible?
Research shows that very brief — even unconscious — exposure to traumatic memories may allow for faster and easier processing of disturbing events because the person’s fear response is not triggered. When these micro-exposures are juxtaposed with a pleasant, engaging activity, distressing memories appear to lose their vividness and emotional charge.
This means that there’s no need to talk about the traumatic event or recall it in detail. Less is actually more in Flash.
What is the Flash Technique?
Originally created in 2016 by eminent psychotherapist and international EMDR trainer, author, and consultant Philip Manfield, PhD, Flash Technique was initially used to prepare clients for EMDR.
In recent years, it has been found to work well as a standalone trauma approach or in conjunction with other modalities to improve symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other issues. Flash can be used in person or online, and clients will know quickly whether they find it helpful or not.
WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER.
How does Flash Technique work?
During Flash, I’ll help you identify a troubling memory or series of memories you’d like to work on. You don’t need to think about or share any details whatsoever. We’ll then contain the memory and focus on something enjoyable or relaxing instead.
Clients have played music, sung, watched sitcoms, reminisced about their favorite travels, played games, described their favorite hobbies, read manga, watched funny animal or extreme sports videos, and created art, as just some examples.
I’ll guide you through some tapping and blinking while engaging in your activity. We’ll move back and forth between doing fun things and briefly checking on the target memories. With Flash, the more relaxed and distracted you are, the better it works!
Generally, once-disturbing memories soon start to look fuzzy, feel far away, and lose their hold over you, freeing you to move forward unrestrained by the past.
Next steps
How it Works
01
Reach Out
Reach out to schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation. I’ll answer any questions you have and make sure we’re a good fit.
02
first Session
At the intake session, we’ll talk about what brings you to therapy and what changes you’d like to see through our work together.
03
resolve stuckness & thrive
Join me weekly to achieve your goals OR break through blocks in the intensive format.