Dual Awareness It is not advisable to try to resolve PTSD through flashbacks as the experience of a flashback reinforces terror and feelings of helplessness. Psychological tools that were missing to meet the overwhelming trauma are also usually missing to meet the overwhelming flashback; otherwise it would not be a flashback. Integration under those circumstances was and is not possible. A first step in helping many individuals with PTSD is to teach them to stop and prevent their flashbacks. When flashbacks are under control it is possible to equip clients with the resources necessary to meet traumatic memories on more stable ground. It is then feasible to approach digestible portions of traumatic memories, one at a time. One problem with flashbacks is that they cannot be predicted until a thorough understanding of triggers is in place, (this may be done using a diary’). They ‘flashback are difficult to prepare for and can even be triggered by the therapy setting. When a client goes into flashback during the session… it is a sign that the client’s (i.e. experiencing self their behaviours and emotions) is having free rein, perceiving danger in the place where he is seeking help.… Under these circumstances, the client’s (their observing self cognitions) must be awakened and called back into the therapy room usually with a measure of authority (firm, but not angry) from the therapist: at where you are now. What colour is the wall here? What colour ‘Look is the rug? What kind of shoes do you have on right now? What is today's date?’ etc. When the client’s is again operational the following flashback halting observing self can be taught. It is based on the principles of reconciling the protocol dual awareness, with the The client has slowed down their associative experiencing self observing self. emotional response from and dirty’ (SPARS model) to allow the neocortex to ‘quick catch up.
Dual Awareness It is not advisable to try to resolve PTSD through flashbacks as the experience of a flashback reinforces terror and feelings of helplessness. Psychological tools that were missing to meet the overwhelming trauma are also usually missing to meet the overwhelming flashback; otherwise it would not be a flashback. Integration under those circumstances was and is not possible. A first step in helping many individuals with PTSD is to teach them to stop and prevent their flashbacks. When flashbacks are under control it is possible to equip clients with the resources necessary to meet traumatic memories on more stable ground. It is then feasible to approach digestible portions of traumatic memories, one at a time. One problem with flashbacks is that they cannot be predicted until a thorough understanding of triggers is in place, (this may be done using a ‘flashback diary’). They are difficult to prepare for and can even be triggered by the therapy setting. When a client goes into flashback during the session… it is a sign that the client’s experiencing self (i.e. their behaviours and emotions) is having free rein, perceiving danger in the place where he is seeking help.… Under these circumstances, the client’s observing self (their cognitions) must be awakened and called back into the therapy room usually with a measure of authority (firm, but not angry) from the therapist: ‘Look at where you are now. What colour is the wall here? What colour is the rug? What kind of shoes do you have on right now? What is today's date?’ etc. When the client’s observing self is again operational the following flashback halting protocol can be taught. It is based on the principles of dual awareness, reconciling the experiencing self with the observing self. The client has slowed down their associative emotional response from ‘quick and dirty’ (SPARS model) to allow the neocortex to catch up.
Dual-Awareness.docx