“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it”. – Helen Keller
FLASH therapy was developed to help people process and cope with difficult memories. It’s especially useful for traumatic memories that can be overwhelming or intrusive. There are two types of FLASH therapy: Dr. Manfield’s flash technique and Tom Zimmerman’s “four blink flash” technique. At Long Beach Therapy, we have therapists who are trained in both.
One of the reasons people like FLASH is that you aren’t working on as big of an issue all at once. Instead, your therapist will address issues in smaller increments. If you think of a full difficult/traumatic memory as an entire pad of post-it notes, then think of what one of those individual post-notes would represent (compared to the whole pad of post-it notes). That one post-it note is the amount you are working on in FLASH.
FLASH therapy is that it’s designed to be less distressing than other types of trauma therapy. The goal of FLASH therapy is to reduce the emotional intensity of memories without having to deeply engage with the traumatic memories.
FLASH therapy is showing in early research and clinical experience that it is effective, particularly for resolving difficult memories. In particular, it is showing to be effective with reducing PTSD and other trauma-related symptoms. It’s a promising option for those who find traditional trauma therapies overwhelming.
In FLASH therapy, your therapist will ask you to briefly focus on the distressing memory, generally for less than 10 seconds. Then, you quickly shift your attention to a more positive focus (your therapist will help you identify what this is). This ‘light touch’ approach helps in reducing the emotional pain associated with the memory, while still being able to fully process the memory (just without thinking deeply about it).
You, as the client, are in control of the process at all times and can move at your own pace and stop whenever you want. The goal of FLASH is that you can move more effectively through your day without having to navigate through as many triggers.
FLASH therapy can be integrated with other therapeutic approaches. It’s not usually a standalone treatment but a tool we can use alongside other strategies to help you in your healing journey. Many clients see it as a way to “fast forward” therapy.
If you are interested in FLASH therapy, please call/text Long Beach Therapy at 562-310-9741.
The first step in therapy is building a trusting and confidential relationship between you and your therapist. This is crucial because a strong therapeutic alliance can significantly impact the effectiveness (and speed) of the therapy.
If you feel that the therapist is providing you a safe and non-judgmental place to share your thoughts and experiences, you will be more likely to achieve your goals.
At Long Beach Therapy, our goal is to provide a safe and non-judgmental place where we can help our client’s reach their full potential by processing feelings (past and present issues), improving communication, and exploring family issues that may be a barrier to success. We have worked with adults, children, adolescents, couples, and families with various issues including:
Depression, Anxiety, Relationship Issues, Increasing Intimacy, Coming Out Issues, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity, Self Esteem, Trauma & PTSD, Sexual Assault, Bereavement, and more.
Holistic therapy, which is an approach to mental health that considers the whole person, including their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing, rather than focusing solely on symptoms to to bring about comprehensive wellness and balance....
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves the therapist guiding you to recalling distressing memories while simultaneously directing your eye movements...
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. This is an evidence-based approach which has been shown in extensive research to be an effective therapy approach...
TFCBT is a therapy model based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that specifically addresses trauma. It’s designed to help you process and heal from traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms in a safe and supportive environment.
FLASH Therapy, which is a less intense therapy that uses similar concepts of EMDR in healing distressing memories that are causing issues in your life. FLASH therapy involves the therapist having you recall fragments of distressing memories so that issues that are too scary to focus in on for long periods of time can be addressed....
Brainspotting is a therapy technique that helps identify and heal where your specific issue is stored within your neurobiology to help you get “unstuck” from the issue and move forward in your life....
If you are ready to start, please call/text us or CLICK HERE to schedule your first appointment. If you have questions about starting therapy in Long Beach (or online therapy), please call/text us at 562-310-9741.
