How We Work
Flash Technique
The Flash Technique is an emerging trauma processing approach that can significantly reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories — without requiring the client to focus on or re-experience the distressing content.
Gentle · Low-exposure · Trauma processing · Creswick, Brisbane & Online
What Is the Flash Technique?
Processing trauma without reliving it
Developed by Dr Philip Manfield and colleagues, the Flash Technique works by briefly activating a traumatic memory at a very low level, while simultaneously directing attention to something positive and absorbing. Through a series of rapid eye blinks or bilateral stimulation, the memory is processed with minimal distress — often surprising clients with how quickly its intensity reduces.
Unlike traditional trauma therapies that require sustained focus on difficult memories, the Flash Technique keeps exposure to a minimum. Clients do not need to describe or dwell on what happened. This makes it particularly valuable for people who find full EMDR processing too activating, or who want to reduce the intensity of a memory before undertaking deeper processing.
The Flash Technique is often used as a preparation phase within a broader EMDR treatment plan — reducing the charge of targeted memories so that standard processing can proceed more comfortably. It can also be used as a stand-alone approach for targeted memories.
Flash Technique can help with
- ✓Traumatic memories with high emotional charge
- ✓PTSD and acute stress responses
- ✓Phobias and intense fear memories
- ✓Preparation for deeper EMDR processing
- ✓Memories too distressing to process with standard EMDR
- ✓Shock trauma and single-incident events
- ✓Medical trauma and procedural distress
- ✓Anticipatory anxiety around specific situations
The Process
What a Flash Technique session looks like
Identifying the target
Your therapist will ask you to briefly bring a difficult memory to mind — enough to notice that it feels distressing, but without describing it in detail. You rate the distress level so your therapist can track change.
Engaging the positive focus
You shift your attention to a positive, absorbing image or activity — something that holds your attention comfortably. The key is that you are genuinely engaged with it, not just thinking about it.
Brief activations and rapid processing
With rapid bilateral stimulation (eye movements or taps), the memory is processed in very small doses while your attention remains with the positive focus. Most clients notice significant reduction in distress within a session, often to their own surprise.
Therapists trained in Flash
Available locations
FAQ
Common questions about Flash Technique
Does the Flash Technique actually work?
Early research and extensive clinical experience suggest it can be highly effective for reducing the distress of targeted memories. It is typically used alongside other evidence-based approaches rather than as a standalone treatment for complex trauma.
Will I need to talk about what happened?
No. One of the key features of the Flash Technique is that you do not need to describe or discuss the content of the traumatic memory. Your therapist works with the distress level rather than the narrative.
Can the Flash Technique replace EMDR?
For some targeted memories, the Flash Technique may be sufficient. For complex or developmental trauma, it is best understood as one tool within a broader treatment approach, often used to prepare the way for deeper EMDR processing.
Ready to Begin?
Ready to reduce the weight of difficult memories?
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