Four Blinks Version of Flash: An Open Approach To Trauma Reprocessing – Rapid Memory Reconsolidation Resources

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Treatment Guide/Script

Treatment Guide (Script) Version 3.3 (May 12, 2024)
Training Manual for the Three-Hour Trainings (August 17, 2025)

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Core Four Blinks Version of Flash Training Videos

Available in videos below or as a YouTube Playlist, Four Blinks Version of Flash Podcast on Spotify, or Thinkific.

Introduction

Introduction to Thomas Zimmerman, Ms.Ed., LPCC (2:15 min)
Background about Flash and What Your Will Learn (5:24 min)
Overview of the Steps of the Four Blinks Version of Flash (9:00 min)
Understanding Memory Reconsolidation in this Version (19:30 min)
What is Different About a Memory after Flash Approaches (8:30 min)

The Steps

Step One: Developing, Testing, Using, and Understanding the Container (8:45 min)
Step One Essential Resource: The Shop-Vac Resource for Body Distress (7:00 min)
Step Two: Develop and Test the Calm Scene (10:15 min)
Step Two Essential Resource: Sensory Grounding to Manage Intrustion/Dissociative Responses (4:15 min)
Step Three: Select the Target Memory (But Do Not Activate It) (9:30 min)
Step Four: Load Up the Calm Scene and Blink Every Five Seconds (8:30 min)
Step Five: Quicky Glance at the Memory and Contain the Microslice of Distress (9:30 min)
Step Six: Walk Through the Video of Memory and Clear out Any Residue (10:00 min)
Step Seven (Optional): Flash Future Template (13:15 min)

Training in Languages Other than English

Training in Hebrew and Arabic (in response to current crisis in the Middle East)

Version 3.0 Demos

Demo One: Tom and Krista (30 min., pet as calm scene)
Demo Two: Tom and AG (41 min., video as calm scene)
Demo Three: Tom and Darcy (58 min., imaginary calm scene)
Demo Four: Tom and Sara (57 min., video as calm scene)
Demo Five: Tom and Liz (45 min., infant as a calm scene)
Demo Six: Tom and Dana (59 min, imaginary calm scene)

Free Self-Administered Four Blinks Flash Resources

ResolveMemories.com

Third Party Four Blinks Flash Resources

Developing an Effective Flash Group Protocol

TraumaTherapyGroups.com

Understanding this Version of Flash

Understanding How Traumatic Information is Routed in the Four Blinks Version of Flash (22:45 min)
What is Different in the Four Blinks Version of Flash (8:30 min)
What is Different in the Four Blinks Version of Flash (A Deeper Dive) (21:47 min) NEW!
Why there is No Bilateral Stimulation, Counting, or Deep Breathing in this Version of Flash (14:30 min)
Why this Version of Flash has a Well Developed and Practiced Container (8:20 min)
Possible Mechanism and Active Ingredients in this Version of Flash (30:25 min)

Managing Activation

Managing Flashbacks in Session and Between Sessions (18:25 min)
Managing Activation (19:40 min)
Managing Activation: Using Bean Bags (6:30 min) NEW!
Walking the Prisoner Out Metaphor (15:45 min)
Why Body Activation is a Problem in Flash Approaches (19:45 min)
The Catcher’s Mitt Metaphor (9:15 min)
Troubleshooting Potential Problems (35:45 min)

Additional Resources

Clients Who Struggle to Visualize (Flash and EMDR) (16:20 min)
Working with Client Parts in Flash Therapies(17:30 min)
Strategies for Target Selection (11:45 min)
If Flash is So Good, Why Not Only Do That? (12:45 min)

What Flash Can Teach Us About Healing more Broadly

Actual Healing: What Flash Approaches Can Teach Us About How Humans Heal (15 min)
Flash is Also for the Healthy (13:25 min)
Evolutions of Flash Approaches: A Response to Bruce Ecker (39:00 min)
Flash is Not a Resource (14:15 min)
How Flash-like Approaches are Likely to Transform Global Mental Health Services in the 21st Century (38:00 min)
How We Heal: Approaches that Can Turn Resources into Deeply Healing Psychotherapies (24:15 min)
Why We Need Healing Strategies that are Non-Intuitive (22:45 min)

Disclaimer and Attribution: The Four Blinks Version of Flash is a version of Flash developed by Thomas Zimmerman, Ms.Ed., LPCC, that is conceptually and practically different from the “official” version taught by the developer of the Flash Technique, Dr. Phil Manfield. To be trained by Dr. Manfield, see: FlashTechnique.com. To be trained by Ricky Greenwald in his versions of the Flash Technique, see his Trauma Institute.

If you or your agency would like to be trained in EMDR Therapy by Thomas Zimmerman see: http://EmdrCleveland.com.