The Rewind Technique
Non-Disclosure Trauma Processing
Whether you've experienced something directly, witnessed something or have recurring distressing images from something you've been told, you deserve support.
For many people, unwanted memories or images that enter your mind uninvited can bring feelings of fear, panic, shame or isolation.
Unlike many other ways of working with trauma, the Rewind Technique is a non-disclosure process. This means you don't have to share the details of what happened to move on from it.
Who is it for?
Whether something happened directly to you, or not, it can have a lasting impact. Sometimes people don't feel they deserve attention for their experience, when something happened to someone else, but witnessing or hearing about something can also leave lasting effects.
People who might find this technique useful are:
- Survivors – people who directly experienced a traumatic event
- Witnesses – people who saw a traumatic event happen, but weren't directly involved
- Secondary Witnesses – people who arrived after the event and imagined how it unfolded (e.g. emergency workers, relatives, friends)
- Indirect Witnesses – people who heard about the event and vividly imagined what happened
- Therapists – professionals experiencing vicarious trauma from hearing about traumatic events
- People who caused harm – such as being at fault in a road accident, who are struggling with what happened
What can the Rewind Technique help with?
It could be helpful if you experience some or all of the following:
- Recurring or intrusive memories, images or flashbacks
- Sudden waves of intense emotion triggered by reminders
- Feeling like the event is happening again, or could happen again
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep, and/or nightmares related to the event
- Avoiding people, places, conversations or situations that bring back memories
- Difficulty talking about what happened, or avoiding it altogether
- Avoiding medical appointments, hospitals, or related settings
- Feeling jumpy, on edge, or hypervigilant
- Experiencing low mood, increased irritability or anger, panic attacks or a racing heart
- Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected
- Feeling unable to engage fully in your relationships or bonding with others
- Distressing memories of labour, birth or postnatal complications
- Feeling overwhelmed when the memory surfaces, even years later
- Symptoms that other trauma-focused talking therapies haven't fully resolved
How does the Rewind Technique work?
The Rewind Technique is a visualisation tool that also integrates some body sensations. It works by helping your brain move traumatic thoughts or memories out of short-term memory, where they spring up unprompted and feel overwhelming, and into long-term memory, where they need to be actively recalled.
If I asked you to remember the event, it would likely jump into your mind instantly. But if I asked you to tell me about your last birthday, chances are you'd need a few moments to recall it.
The Rewind Technique helps shift traumatic thoughts or memories from short-term into long-term memory, so recalling them feels more like remembering your birthday, rather than reliving something that's happening right now.
Session Structure
The Rewind Technique is a three-step process completed over three sessions:
Session 1.
Assessment session - We'll make sure the technique is right for you using a questionnaire. I'll ask you some clarifying questions and we'll create a film together that has a safe beginning, a difficult middle and a clear end. I'll talk you through how the technique works and what to expect.
Session 2.
The Technique - In this session we'll go through the whole technique, once we start we have to make sure we complete the whole thing. There is quite a lot of details to remember, but don't worry you don't have to get it right first time! After each try I'll run through some questions to see if you've forgotten anything and then help you include it in the next round. It's important we do every part of the technique for it to be successful, we can stay as long as you need to get it right. I'll give you some guidance on what to do after the session and we'll book session 3.
Session 3.
The Review - We'll meet again at least 2 weeks after session 2. This gives time for things to settle and for you to notice if it has worked. We'll run through the questionnaire we used in session 1 and compare your scores. If needed, we can go through the technique again. If it's been successful we can end here.
The Rewind Technique is usually effective within 3 sessions for single event trauma. If you have multiple distressing memories from different events or with different themes, we may need to work with these individually and you may need more than three sessions.
My Qualifications
I am a BACP registered counsellor and couples counsellor. I am also a IARRT trained Rewind Technique Practitioner. I work with a range of themes including trauma, neurodivergence, relationship issues and parenting issues to name a few.
I have a special interest in early life trauma, attachment wounds and neurodivergence and how these show up in our relationships as well as how we navigate all of life.
I don't believe that we are the total of our struggles, I believe we all have the power to heal and grow from anything life throws at us, as long as we have the right support.
Fees and Booking
AS the technique is a 3 session process I charge for these as a package, the fee for all three sessions is:
£400
If further sessions are needed, these are charged at my usual session rate:
50 minutes - £80
60 minutes - £100
90 minutes - £150
If you'd like to enquire about my availability for sessions, please send me a message via my contact form by clicking the button below.
Get In Touch
Send me a message for more information or to ask about availability for bookings
KMC Counselling
Counselling in Godalming, Surrey | Kate McKenna, BACP Registered Counsellor.
Accessible from: Guildford (GU1-GU4), Farnham (GU9), Farncombe (GU7), Witley (GU8), Cranleigh (GU6), Wonersh (GU5), Bramley (GU5), Shalford (GU4), Compton (GU3), Peaslake (GU5), Farnborough (GU14), Aldershot (GU11-GU12), Camberley (GU15-GU17), Petersfield (GU31-GU32), Liphook (GU30), Hindhead (GU26), Thursley (GU8)
Counselling for Individuals, Couples and Relationships (Also known as: Marriage Counselling, Couples Therapy, Relationship Therapy), Neurodivergence and Trauma
In-Person Counselling Godalming, Guildford, Surrey and Surrounding Areas
Online Counselling Nationwide Across the UK
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