What Is the FLASH Technique for Trauma?
If you've been avoiding trauma therapy because you can't face retelling the story or reliving the experience, the FLASH Technique is worth knowing about.
It's a relatively new approach, developed by Dr. Philip Manfield in 2017, and it's changing how some trauma therapists work with clients who have high avoidance or who are easily overwhelmed by traditional trauma processing.
How FLASH Works (Without the Jargon)
Here's the basic idea: your brain can process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge; it does this naturally during REM sleep, for example. The problem with trauma is that the memory gets stuck in a way that prevents that natural processing.
FLASH works by asking you to briefly bring a traumatic memory to mind, not to focus on it, describe it, or sit with it- while simultaneously engaging in a bilateral (alternating left-right) stimulus and maintaining attention on something positive or neutral. A brief orientation to the memory seems enough to activate the brain's processing mechanism, while the positive focus prevents overwhelm.
In practical terms: you bring up the memory for a moment, then redirect your attention. Over repeated rounds, the memory’s emotional charge decreases, often significantly.
What Makes FLASH Different from EMDR or ART
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) also uses bilateral stimulation, but typically involves holding the traumatic memory in awareness while processing. That's effective, but it requires a certain window of tolerance and can be activating for highly avoidant clients.
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) uses eye movements and guided imagery and is generally faster than traditional EMDR, but still involves some engagement with the traumatic content.
FLASH is distinctive because it minimizes direct contact with the traumatic memory during processing. You're essentially processing without having to go there. For clients who have been too avoidant to engage with other trauma approaches, this can be a way in.
Who FLASH Is Particularly Useful For
Highly avoidant clients who have avoided trauma therapy for years
People who become overwhelmed or dissociative when touching traumatic material
Clients who want to start with something lower intensity before engaging with direct processing
People who have specific memories they want to reduce the charge of without full processing
Clients who are skeptical of more active trauma approaches — FLASH's low-demand nature can build trust
What FLASH Is Not
FLASH is not a standalone comprehensive trauma treatment for complex trauma. It's a powerful tool for reducing the charge of specific memories, but complex trauma, especially developmental and relational trauma, typically requires more comprehensive work.
It's also not hypnosis. You're awake, aware, and in control throughout. You can stop at any point.
FLASH at Reflective Pathways
Melissa Cribb at Reflective Pathways Counseling Services in Osseo, MN is trained in the FLASH Technique and uses it as part of her trauma therapy work, including within Deep Healing Session intensives. If you've avoided trauma therapy because you couldn't face the process, this is a conversation worth having.
If you're curious about what trauma therapy might look like for your specific situation, Melissa Cribb, LPCC, LADC, at Reflective Pathways Counseling Services in Osseo, MN, offers consultations. Reach her at 507-320-9156.
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Melissa Cribb, MS, LADC, LPCC, is a licensed therapist with over 14 years of experience supporting clients in Osseo, Minnesota. She specializes in trauma, substance use, and high-functioning perfectionism. Melissa integrates evidence-based approaches such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and somatic techniques to help clients reduce anxiety, break unhelpful patterns, and build a stronger sense of emotional safety and self-trust.
At Reflective Pathways, she is dedicated to providing compassionate, expert care—both in person and online—for clients across Minnesota.
Learn more about Deep Healing Sessions in Minnesota and begin the journey back to yourself.
This service is available to adults located in Osseo, Minnesota, and throughout the greater Twin Cities area.
