“EMDR has transformed the way I do psychotherapy, and the FLASH Technique has transformed the way I do EMDR.”
-Lewis Engel, PhD, EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Developed in mid- 2016, this technique is used during the preparation phase of EMDR, and allows clients to reduce the disturbance associated with extremely painful memories without actually feeling the pain. Defenses that are normally obstacles to processing are not activated because the process is not threatening or painful. Clients who dissociate have less need to dissociate and those who are afraid of the intensity of their memories can process without being afraid. Dramatic reductions in disturbance happen often in 5 to ten minutes. And, for clinicians, this technique is easy to learn and use.

A paper describing four cases zero utilizing flash has been published in the November 2017 issue of the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research.

Upcoming Trainings

Flash Technique Webinar

February 9th, 2019

9:00am - 4:30 pm PST

Making intense trauma memories more accessible for EMDR Processing.

Advanced Flash Webinar

January 19th, 2019

9:00 - noon PST

This is an opportunity to improve your skills at doing the flash technique. Dr. Lewis Engel and I began teaching flash in October of 2017, and we are excited about how the technique has evolved and improved over that time. If you took one of our first webinars, we hope you have been pleasantly surprised at what you have been able to accomplish with it. But we also understand that you have probably run into some problems using the flash technique. Now that you have had experience working with it, we hope you can share the problems with us, and we hope to be able to offer some satisfying solutions. You will also be happy to know that Flash has become easier to use and results are now generally achieved more rapidly. We look forward to bringing you up to speed on these advances.

Melbourne Flash Technique Workshop & EMDR Master Class

January 12 & 13, 2019

1-Day Flash Workshop: $350 General, $310 APS or EMDRAA
2-Day Flash + EMDR Master Class: $650 General, $575 APS or EMDRAA

The Flash technique reduces the disturbance associated with extremely painful memories. It is fast, effective, and easy to learn for therapists, and allows clients to resolve painful memories without actually feeling the pain. As unlikely as it may sound, it is true. Many new research studies are validating the underlying principle of Flash, that focusing on a trauma or phobia consciously is far less effective than processing without conscious exposure to the trauma. Defenses that are normally obstacles to processing do not get activated, so the technique is especially helpful for clients who dissociate or are afraid of the intensity of their memories. Dramatic reductions in disturbance often happen in 5-10 minutes.

This workshop will follow the format successfully used over this past year to train over 2,700 clinicians in Flash worldwide. Participants will come away understanding why Flash works and how to use it, experience it themselves in two ten-minute practicums, and be prepared to use it with clients immediately. Although this technique was originally developed for use in the preparation phase of EMDR, it can be equally useful in CBT and exposure therapies.

Psychologists without EMDR training are encouraged to attend Day 1. Day 2 is a master class in EMDR advanced techniques, which is open only to EMDR-trained therapists. It will consist of lecture, demonstrations, video, practicum, and Q&A. Topics include finding source memories, uses of resourcing, addressing attachment issues, OCD, and case conceptualization.