Flash Technique
Flash Technique is a trauma-focused psychotherapy developed by Philip Manfield in 2016. Its core mechanism: attention stays on a positive image while the client briefly glances at the target memory; this is proposed to reduce the memory's charge without fully activating it. This catalogue links it to PTSD and complex trauma, typically in individual format, short-term.
Related condition topics
These links support exploration. They do not establish that Flash Technique is effective or recommended for each condition.
How Flash Technique works
Attention stays on a positive image while the client briefly glances at the target memory; this is proposed to reduce the memory's charge without fully activating it
Ontology
Same AIP model as EMDR: dysfunctionally stored trauma memories
Therapeutic Voice
"Stay with the peaceful place. You don't need to go anywhere near the memory. When I say 'blink,' give me three quick blinks, then come right back here."
View of the Person
A processing system that can reprocess disturbing memories without full conscious activation
Epistemology
Evidence
1 condition assessment available
An overall effectiveness assessment has not been completed. Completed assessments for specific populations appear below.
Condition-specific assessments
Each conclusion applies to the population and use described. These source-based assessments do not certify the full entry or replace expert clinical review.
PTSD & Acute Trauma
Population and scope: Adult traffic-accident survivors with traumatic-stress symptoms; a PTSD diagnosis was not required.
Randomized studies
Yaşar et al. (2022) randomized 68 participants to online group Flash or stress-management psychoeducation; only 39 completers were analyzed. Some self-reported traumatic-stress outcomes favored Flash at one month. Attrition, short follow-up and absent preregistration limit interpretation. This is not evidence of diagnostic remission, equivalence to standard EMDR, or effectiveness for complex PTSD.
Source assessment dated
Recorded material under review
The existing notes below are retained separately from assessment records. These recorded claims await source checking, including study design, recommendations and numerical estimates.
Not listed
Randomized research includes Brouwers et al. (2021), involving 60 nonclinical participants recalling aversive memories, and Yaşar et al. (2022), involving traffic-accident survivors. The latter randomized 68 people but analyzed 39 completers; online group Flash improved some self-reported symptoms versus stress-management psychoeducation at one month. These samples do not establish efficacy for diagnosed complex PTSD.
None
Emerging. Used within EMDR framework. Very limited published research. Controlled evidence insufficient.
Training and certification
Flash training workshop (1-2 days). EMDR or trauma processing background recommended
No formal certification; authorized trainers
8-16 hrs
$300-800
Clinical cautions and blind spots
Assessment and precautions
Active psychosis, clients without a positive memory or image to use as a resource, unstable dissociative disorders, situations requiring full trauma narrative processing rather than distress reduction
Blind spots
Extremely new; minimal independent replication; unclear when minimal-activation processing is insufficient
Philosophical roots
Same AIP model as EMDR; reconsolidation theory (Nader, 2000); titration principle from somatic traditions
Compared with other approaches
Controversies
Randomized studies are available, but population, comparator and follow-up limits matter. The research described below does not establish effectiveness for every trauma presentation or validate the proposed mechanism.
Sources for the corrected statements:
Published randomized work exists, alongside earlier case reports. The 2021 aversive-memory experiment used a nonclinical sample and an abbreviated EMDR comparator; it did not establish equivalence to full PTSD treatment. The 2023 ENHANCE publication describes a planned diagnostic PTSD trial, not trial results. Current ENHANCE completion and publication status was not verified in this review. Mechanism claims require separate investigation.
ENHANCE was designed to compare Flash, EMDR and EMDR 2.0 in diagnosed PTSD. Its protocol provides a research plan; it cannot establish comparative effectiveness, acceptability or safety.
Sources for the corrected statements:
Test Yourself
How does Flash differ from EMDR?
Show answer
Client focuses on pleasant memory with brief 'flashes' to target: minimal distress.