Trauma therapy with the Rewind technique
Trauma can be experienced at any stage of life and symptoms associated with PTSD (including issues such as intrusive thoughts, heightened anxiety or disturbed sleep) can emerge weeks, months, or even years after the traumatic event. However, there are lots of options for support, and the range of methods available to counsellors and therapists has increased significantly in recent years. As well approaches based on short- or long-term trauma therapy, I am also able to support people with issues around trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using the Rewind technique. This one session therapy session is available face to face in Faversham, Kent or via an online session.
Single session trauma therapy
The Rewind technique is a single session trauma therapy for individuals grappling with the persistent effects of (PTSD) or traumatic events. It is effective for people who have been victims/survivors of traumas including assault (including sexual assault), accidents, car crashes, etc. It is also designed to be effective if you have been impacted as a witness to a traumatic event, or involved as a witness or an ‘active bystander’. It has also been used successfully for people who have had difficult childbirth experiences, those who have received very bad news, or have been bullied.
If you are experiencing symptoms like intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, disturbed sleep and/or anxiety related symptoms (both physical and psychological) following a traumatic event, a Rewind session may well be some help – the process is designed to support letting memories move into the past, which in turn can stop them impacting the present.
What happens during a Rewind technique trauma therapy session?
In a guided session, the process is explained to make sure everything is clear and we are confident to proceed. Once we are prepared, we will undertake some exercises to help us enter a relaxed and comfortable state. Using a set of techniques to minimise distress, we will then imagine a detached revisitation of the traumatic memory – watching the events from the outside (as if on TV). The unique aspect lies in the subsequent “rewinding” of the series of events within a controlled setting, progressively diminishing their emotional impact. At the end of watching the events from the outside, we (in most cases) step into the playback and rewind it rapidly. This process is repeated as needed until the rewind is smooth – allowing the memories to become under control and effectively ‘filed away’. Once this has happened, the cause of the problem (memories being ‘stuck’ in a mode of replaying, out of control) is addressed and symptoms begin to reduce.
The rewind technique is described as ‘closure without disclosure’ – you will not need to verbalise what happened out loud, but will be asked to imagine watching the event from an outside perspective. This is an important part of the process before we ‘rewind’. If you feel this would be too difficult, it may be not quite the right time for a session without some prior work. In this case I can make some other suggestions.
Ensuring a secure environment is paramount in any trauma therapy. The approach guards against retraumatization during the process, emphasizing the importance of confronting and processing traumatic memories within a judgment-free space, and with the safety net of a trained therapist.
After a Rewind technique session.
The positive outcomes of rewind trauma therapy session usually include a reduction of PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. These typically begin to reduce within days of the session. Although no method of therapy comes with guarantees, the Rewind has a high success rate if the steps are carefully followed. As part of my aftercare, I also offer a follow-up session included as part of the initial fee if needed.
If you feel like a Rewind session maybe helpful to you, please reach out via the form below, or email me at dan@danielfrings.com. I offer a free, no commitment consultation, either via email, phone or video. Sessions are available online (from any country, as long as time differences can be managed).
