Rewind Therapy (RT)
CLOSURE WITHOUT DISCLOSURE
If you have suffered exposure to a threatening, frightening time in your life and you are still suffering in some way as a result of that, I can offer you Rewind Therapy (RT) or Brainspotting.
On this page I am focusing on Rewind Therapy.
Rewind Therapy (RT), is a non-disclosure trauma therapy, meaning that you do not have to talk about the details of your experience.
This is different from other imaginal exposure therapies and why it is often known as 'closure without disclosure'.
Being exposed to an event, or events, where we felt frightened or powerless can sometimes lead to the development of PTS (Post traumatic Stress) or Complex Trauma ~ see details below.
Some examples of such events include, but are not limited to;
- Violence
- Abuse
- Domestic / Narcissistic Abuse
- Miscarriage
- Traumatic Birth
- Serious or sudden illness
- Sudden Bereavement
- Divorce
- Accidents
- Terrorism
- Combat
- Natural disaster
REWIND SESSIONS
- An assessment with me will determine if you are eligible for Rewind Therapy. If your symptoms do not meet the criteria, we can still look at Brainspotting and trauma-informed counselling sessions together.
- For single event traumas, often only 2 or 3 sessions are required.
- I offer Rewind Therapy to adults as a stand alone therapy, or it can be integrated into your counselling sessions with me, as appropriate.
PTSD
Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress
It is natural to experience upsetting or distressing thoughts and feelings, even physical sensations, after being exposed to a traumatic event. These will usually start to lessen in the days and weeks following the event and counselling may help. If your symptoms continue beyond 4 weeks you could be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), and Rewind Therapy could be very effective in decreasing and eliminating these symptoms.
Please note that whilst I am qualified to work with the symptoms of trauma, you will need to see your GP if you are looking for a formal diagnosis.
Some of the symptoms of PTS include:
- Flashbacks
- Re-experiencing of smells, sounds or physical sensations
- Nightmares
- Intrusive thoughts or images
- Avoidance behaviours - avoiding people, places, thoughts, feelings, activities, procrastination
- Overwhelming emotions such as irritiability or anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling constantly on edge, alert and anxious
- Substance abuse
- Disordered eating
- Promiscuity
COMPLEX TRAUMA
Complex trauma describes the results of being exposed to chronic, relational trauma. Frightening and threatening events perpetrated by another person, where escape was either extremely difficult, or impossible.
Complex trauma can include all of the symptoms and difficulties of PTS, and you may also experience:
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt and shame
- Feelings of being a failure and that you should have done things differently
- Feelings of emptiness or hopelessness
- Intense feelings of anger, fear, sadness or despair
- Difficulty regulating your emotions
- Difficulty trusting others and avoidance of friendships and relationships
- Feelings of being different to other people, that nobody can understand what happened to you
- Memory difficulties - dissociation experiences can leave experiences feeling scattered or disjointed
Experiencing chronic stress can affect us emotionally, cognitively and physically and so trauma informed support is needed in order for us to heal.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to book an initial consultation.
Sources:
The World Health Organisation
NHS
MIND
International Association for Rewind Trauma Therapy (IARTT)
Featured Story
*Pete's story ~ healing from post traumatic stress...
Before...
Pete woke up each day with the same crushing weight on his chest, a constant reminder of the traumatic event that had changed everything.
He felt irritable and angry and had trouble concentrating.
It had happened quite some time ago, but his body still reacted as if it had happened yesterday.
The nights were worse - vivid dreams kept him trapped in a cycle of fear and exhaustion.
No matter how hard he tried to move on, it was like his body refused to forget.
Pictures about it popped into his mind at random times.
He felt stuck, frozen in time, with every muscle tense and ready to defend against a threat that no longer existed.
His current relationship was taking the strain and this left Pete feeling even worse, guilty somehow, like he should be able to just move on but wasn't allowing himself to...but he couldn't.
Pete needed more than just talking therapy, he needed a way to heal the deep, unresolved pain trapped in his mind and his body - the trauma.
After...
After spending years feeling haunted by the event, Pete finally found a way to release the trauma his body was holding through Rewind Therapy.
Just 3 sessions of Rewind Therapy saw his body relax and the tightness in his chest ease.
His heart no longer raced, the vivid dreams began to fade, replaced by a sense of calm.
He still thought about what had happened at times, but there was no emotional charge attached to these thoughts.
They were just thoughts.
Pete felt better connected to the present, to himself and his partner, and now ready to move forward with confidence and a sense of peace.
*Disclaimer: We are all unique, with unique backgrounds and experiences. Everyone's experience of therapy and coaching will be different and results will vary. The stories on my website are anonymised representations, illustrating the real challenges many of my clients face, and the transformation that deeper therapeutic approaches can offer.
Confidentiality has not been breached in sharing these stories with you.