Affirmative Online Trauma & Grief Therapy in California
Lisa Sonin Larsen, PsyD (CA Lic.# PSY19046)
3123 W. Ave. L 8, Lancaster, CA 93536
Phone: 661-233-6771
Flash Technique Therapy Online in California: Process Trauma with Minimal Pain
Weighed down by a painful memory, but dreading the thought of talking about it?
If you are carrying the heavy burden of a past trauma, an old wound, or an intense fear, the idea of traditional therapy can feel overwhelming. The thought of sitting down and opening up those painful memories to a therapist might even make you feel like you are reliving the experience all over again. You might have avoided trauma therapy in the past because you heard it was painful to other clients. But it doesn’t have to hurt like their experiences did.
There is a gentler way to heal.
The Flash Technique (FT) is a cutting-edge, evidence-based tool that allows your brain to rapidly process highly distressing memories without you having to consciously focus on or talk about the pain.
Great for busy professionals, teens (ages 12+), and people navigating trauma, grief, or LGBTQIA+ minority stress, this body-mind approach works quickly and comfortably. What’s more, it can be done effectively right from the safety of your own home.
What is the Flash Technique?
Developed by Phil Manfield, PhD, the Flash Technique is a method used to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories quickly and gently. It’s especially effective for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. I have seen it work rapidly to lower emotional distress, making it a powerful complement to EMDR therapy. It can be used to lower the intensity of traumatic memories on its own or in preparation for EMDR therapy. Originally developed to complement EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), the Flash Technique has evolved into a powerful standalone therapy.
For more details about the flash technique, check out this blog post.
While traditional trauma therapies require you to feel the distress of a memory while processing it, the Flash Technique does the exact opposite. It anchors your mind in something completely safe and positive or neutral. By keeping your defensive walls down, your brain’s alarm center (the amygdala) can process and neutralize the old traumatic incident without intense upset.
You will still completely remember what happened to you. Yet the heavy emotional charge, body tension, and irrational fear will be gone. You shift from re-experiencing the event to looking at it as a calm, distant observer.
How Flash Technique Works: Simple, Gentle, and Fast
Because I provide specialized, virtual care across California, we can use this technique effectively online. The process is straightforward and collaborative:
-
Identify the Target
We briefly identify the underlying memory, trauma, or specific fear you want to work on and notice how distressing it feels. You don't need to tell me the details.
-
Find Your Positive Focus
You choose a Positive Engaging Focus (PEF). This is a highly engaging, comforting topic completely unrelated to the trauma—like a beloved pet, a favorite hobby, or a wonderful memory. It can also be a mental task like counting backwards by sevens, describing the steps of something you do at work, or listing animals by letters of the alphabet.
-
Light Tapping & Blinking
While you focus on and talk about your positive topic, I will guide you to lightly tap your chest (the butterfly hug) and periodically ask you to quickly blink your eyes 3-5 times when I say the word "Flash."
-
Check In
We pause, take a breath, and briefly check back in on the original traumatic memory. Most clients are amazed to find that the emotional distress has already begun to drop significantly. We keep doing this until you can think about the memory with a sense of calm and distance.
Why Choose the Flash Technique?
-
You Don't Have to Relive the Pain: If you’ve avoided therapy because it feels too intense or intrusive, the Flash Technique is the gentle doorway you’ve been looking for.
-
It is Incredibly Fast: Single-incident traumas (like a car accident, a sudden loss, or a specific phobia) can frequently be resolved or significantly reduced a few sessions.
-
Perfect for Online Therapy: Because it relies on simple self-tapping and blinking, it translates perfectly to a secure video session.
-
Reduces Burnout: Ideal for high-stress professionals or sensitive teens who don't have the emotional stamina for hours of heavy trauma talk.
Is the Flash Technique Right for You?
While it can be used for complex, long-standing childhood wounds, the Flash Technique is particularly impactful if you struggle with:
-
The sudden shock of a car accident, medical trauma, or near-drowning.
-
Intense phobias (like driving anxiety or extreme fears).
-
Sharp, stuck moments of grief or bullying.
-
Distressing memories triggered by LGBTQIA+ minority stress.
Whether we use it as a standalone tool to bring you rapid relief or combine it with EMDR, Somatic Stress Release, or Clinical Hypnotherapy, we will design a path that honors your nervous system.
Ready to feel lighter and more present?
You don’t have to keep dragging the pain of the past into your daily life, and you don’t have to break your own heart to heal it. Let's work together to help your nervous system finally feel safe, calm, and whole.
Ready to take the edge off your traumatic stress? Schedule a free 15-min. consultation to see if the Flash Technique is right for you!