The Flash Technique: A Gentle Approach to Healing Trauma
If you’ve ever put off therapy because you didn’t want to “dig up” painful memories, you’re not alone. Many people worry that healing trauma means reliving the hardest moments of their life. The Flash Technique offers a gentle, surprisingly low-stress alternative - helping people reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories without having to re-experience them. Even better, it often works faster than you might expect.
What Is the Flash Technique?
Developed by Dr. Philip Manfield, the Flash Technique is often used as a preparation step for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), but it can also be a powerful stand-alone intervention.
Instead of diving headfirst into the memory, you lightly “hold it off to the side” while focusing on something pleasant or neutral such as a favorite place, a joyful moment, a beloved hobby. This safe psychological distance makes it much easier to process the memory without becoming overwhelmed.
What a Session Feels Like
Pick a memory. You and your therapist identify a memory to work on, without going into detail.
Shift your focus.You turn your attention to something that feels good: a favorite vacation spot, your pet’s funny face, the smell of fresh cookies — anything that brings a smile or sense of calm.
Do “flashes”. While you keep your pleasant image in mind, your therapist guides you through quick, simple actions (like eye blinks or other brief movements).
Check in. After a few rounds, many people find the memory feels less intense, as if the emotional “volume knob” has been turned way down.
Why It Works
Trauma memories are often stored in a way that keeps the brain “on alert,” ready to sound the alarm at the slightest reminder. The Flash Technique helps the brain re-file the memory so it no longer triggers that alarm. Because you’re not reliving the details, the process feels surprisingly comfortable and manageable.
Who It Can Help
The Flash Technique can be helpful for:
People with single-event trauma (such as a car accident or frightening medical experience)
Those with ongoing or complex trauma who need a gentle place to start
Anyone who feels “stuck” in therapy because the memories are too overwhelming
Children or adults who find it difficult to talk about what happened
A Note on Safety
While the Flash Technique is gentle, it should always be guided by a trained mental health professional to ensure the process is safe and effective. It is not a DIY method for working through severe trauma but, in the right hands, it can be a profoundly healing approach.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to “Go Through It” to Get Through It
The Flash Technique challenges the old belief that “you have to feel it to heal it.” Instead, it shows us you can approach trauma from a place of calm and safety and still experience lasting change.
If you’re curious about whether the Flash Technique could help you or someone you know, reach out! The Connective has several therapists trained in this transformative method and healing doesn’t have to hurt.
