REWIND TECHNIQUE FAQs
Where does the Rewind originate from?
The Rewind Technique (also known as the “Fast Phobia Cure” or “VK Dissociation” technique) was originally created by Dr. David Muss in 1991, who discovered it was highly effective in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, panic attacks, and phobias.
It is called the Rewind Technique because the client is guided to imagine the distressing event in rewind in their mind’s eye. There's a little more to it than that, but in essence, the Rewind “re-processes” a distressing memory that has been trapped in the amygdala, where the brain repeatedly sees it as a current, threatening event.
When the event gets processed via the Rewind Technique, it becomes a past, non-threatening event in the brain, and the nervous system is allowed to return to a state of calm once more.
What if it doesn't work for me?
Hundreds of case studies show that the Rewind Technique works for 97% of the people who experience it. It is thought that the 3% it fails to work for are people who, perhaps even unconsciously, resist letting go of their trauma.
The Rewind Technique is not magic (though my clients have expressed that it is, indeed, magical!). When a distressing memory is trapped in the brain, the brain simply needs context – or narrative – to process that memory and move it to the neocortex where it becomes a non-threatening, past event. The Rewind accomplishes that.
How quickly will I feel results?
Immediately. When a client first opens their eyes after doing the Rewind Technique, I ask how they feel. It is common for a client to say, “I feel sooooo peaceful/ relaxed/ calm.” The very next thing I do is ask the client to rate the discomfort of the memory on a scale of 0 to 10 (with 10 being the most upset they can be). I also have them do this right before we begin the Rewind.
While it’s common for a client to rate a traumatic event as a 9 or 10 before the Rewind, it is also very common for them to rate the same event as a 0 – 2 at the end of the Rewind. I have even had a couple instances where the client struggled to remember the event at all.
How long will these results last?
Forever. Once a traumatic memory has been processed in the brain, it’s done. You are able to move forward in your life without that memory impacting you negatively ever again. You will always have voluntary recall of the event, but it will no longer have an emotional grip on you.
What if I can't remember the exact trauma?
That’s okay! I can help you try to recall the event, but if you still can’t remember, it is quite common for you to have an instance or event where similar feelings of fear and distress were triggered, and we can work on those. We can work on any event where similar feelings of distress were felt.
What if I have trouble visualizing?
People have different perceptions of visualizing. Occasionally there is someone who visualizes exceptionally well, but the average person will see mostly black when they try to visualize something. They will see flashes of an image or scene, rather than a vivid, clear “movie.” Sometimes you may see nothing at all when you close your eyes and try to visualize, but you just get more of a “sense” that you’re imagining something.
The Rewind Technique can fit into any of those scenarios. If you can’t perfectly visualize what I guide you to imagine, it works to just have a “sense” that you are visualizing certain things, or to even simply imagine that you can. Your brain knows what you are trying to do, and the memory will still be processed.
Is it worth the price?
What is it worth to you to be free from a traumatic memory that has been haunting you for so long? I’ve been told my pricing is low because the result is so powerful and life-changing, and very few sessions are needed for this result.
Most people spend $1,000s going to therapists – often for years – but don’t come out radically changed. They may even feel worse, because “talk therapy” has been shown to reinforce and reaffirm the trauma in the brain, setting it in even deeper. As an individual talks about their trauma over and over, this elicits an heightened emotional response, which is distressing and re-traumatizing.
My combined experience and training, along with my unique approach with you as a client, will quickly free the burden of your trauma in just one to three sessions, essentially saving you thousands of dollars – and years of therapy – that you might otherwise pay with a traditional therapist.
What if I can't afford it?
Freeing people from their traumatic prisons is my purpose and my mission in life, and is the most fulfilling work I have ever done. I never want lack of finances to prevent someone from experiencing the life change of being set free from the hold their trauma has on them. One session can be life-changing! For this reason we have established the Mercy Fund.
We offer three discounted sessions (depending on your income level). If you cannot afford the standard price for my services, please apply for the Mercy Fund. I will work within your limitations so that you can get the help you deserve.
What if I have many traumatic events?
With the Rewind Technique, it is possible to work on several traumatic events at once, depending on the client. Oftentimes, a domino effect is experienced where processing the first and/or the worst traumas helps other events process as well automatically, as the Rewind Technique eliminates the pattern matching from those traumas.
Do I need to talk about my trauma(s)?
One incredible feature of the Rewind Technique is that you do NOT need to discuss the details of your trauma. I will ask you what sort of trauma we will be working on, so you might say, “I was in a car accident.” That is all I need. We can even use code words to address the trauma, if speaking of it in any way is upsetting.
It is my top priority to make each client feel safe and secure (and it goes without saying that everything spoken with me is confidential). In this safe and secure setting, you can share whatever you want or need to share, and I will never try to draw out details from you. It simply isn’t necessary.
It is an honor for me to walk this tender journey with each of my clients, and help you move from a place of uncertainty and anxiety, to a place of peace and hope.
Will I need someone to drive me home afterwards?
No. A Rewind session is very relaxing and calming, so you may actually drive better than normal because you won’t be in a heightened state of anxiety. :)
How will dealing with my trauma affect my life?
Oh my goodness… the impact this will have is incredible. Imagine feeling less anxiety, less depression, feeling more in control of your life, not having to deal with flashbacks, nightmares, a heightened startle reflex, intrusive memories or thoughts of the event(s). No more bad coping behaviors to try to escape the emotional pain and anguish of your past trauma.
Just imagine the ways that your trauma impacts your life today, and then imagine what your life would look and feel like if those negative effects were eliminated. How would your life be different?
Schedule a session and let’s get it done!
Will I need someone to drive me home afterwards?
No. A Rewind session is very relaxing and calming, so you may actually drive better than normal because you won’t be in a heightened state of anxiety. :)
Will I need any more sessions after the Rewind Technique?
This is up to you. If you’ve been suffering from the negative effects of trauma for years – or perhaps your entire life – it’s possible you’ve also suffered other areas of dysfunction. This might include areas of finances, relationships, mindset or thinking patterns, health, etc. If your past trauma has negatively impacted your life in other ways, the Rewind Technique won’t magically solve all of those issues.
If after completing the Rewind, you wish to work on other challenges in your life, I offer solution-focused Life Coaching sessions, where we can dedicate that time to helping you quickly tackle those issues and be able to move forward in your life.
Let’s get started by scheduling your Rewind Session.
Does the Rewind Technique work with children?
Absolutely! It works very well on children, and is non-distressing.
What about CBT and DBT?
One may try CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), and see some improvement in their thinking about the trauma, and perhaps some behavioral changes, but this doesn’t work to heal the symptoms of PTSD like flashbacks, nightmares, and other re-experiencing symptoms.
Trauma is an emotional response… not a thinking response. You must go to the root issue, which is the simple fact that the traumatic memory hasn’t been processed in the brain. This IS NOT something that can be done by talking about the event. As a matter of fact, talking has been shown to re-traumatize and embed the trauma even deeper into the brain. Talking for an extended period of time (like months or years) about the trauma might seem like it helps, but it is merely desensitizing you to the trauma, making it easier to talk about. However, this won't process the memory in the brain.
Once the traumatic memory is effectively processed, the associated symptoms disappear.
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