Visual-Kinaesthetic Dissociation Tecnique: could this help you or someone you know?

I have been speaking about Movement Psychotherapy and the reason why I decided to look further into this route. Through my research I came upon a technique which is otherwise named the "rewind technique". I reached out and contacted an individual about this, being something I felt would benefit him as it is different to other "counselling techniques" I had heard about basing on opening up yourself to a stranger. It has been stated that re-living a memory can deepen a trauma to an individual. Personally, I talk through my issues and find this to help over time by being able to evaluate and understand what happened. One technique does not fit all. However, at a glance VKD allows participants to keep information to themselves but reflect.

Visual-Kinaesthetic Dissociation is used for; phobias, trauma (both light and deep) and panic attacks. A light trauma is defined as a patient being able to talk about the incident but being uneasy about doing so; a deep trauma in response is when an individual is physically unable to speak about an incident. This can vary from case to case, with people being used to speaking about it but still feeling the same pain. In these instances, a trained therapist will be able to evaluate based on what information is given to them. Regardless of the level of severity the technique has the same format.

Accomplishment of the users set aim can be completed in as little as one session, meaning it is highly effective and cost efficient to someone seeking assistance. The theory was developed by Dr David Muss and was further developed by Joseph Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell. A unique trait of this method is the confidentiality it gives to the user. Any participant undergoing VKD needs not to mention anything of their past, going into detail about the trauma or the phobia as it is cured within the mind of the user. V-K Dissociation enables you to reprogram your brain’s response to the original situation, to change a bad experience into a positive outcome. The VISUAL aspects (mental pictures) and the feelings that accompanied them (KINAESTHETIC) are separated to no longer be a cue for fear or anxiety.

When watching sessions using this method, it reminds me of the stereotypical sitting in a chair whilst a therapist is talking. It is a stationary approach so less based on movement. Regardless the psychology behind it would intrigue me to get credited to apply this technique. To perform, you must be credited with experience in counselling- especially to deal with deep trauma. There are three companies you can go through to be able to apply "Rewind-Technique" being: Uncommon Knowledge, Human Givens Institute and Red Poppy Company. The process involves double-disassociation, meaning two barriers between the individual present in the room and the memory are put up to avoid further discomfort. It is common for this approach to be achieved through the participant imagining the first traumatic incident that comes to them being a movie that they are watching. Seeing yourself as a character allows you to take a step back and see the entire picture, seeing how you reacted to the stimulus instead of looking through your mind's eye and only seeing the environment. The second barrier is achieved by the participant watch themselves watch the movie of the situation. This ensures the focus is on what happened in the moment and making sure you see yourself calmly "watching it" to make the "real you" stay calm. A security anchor is implemented before an individual goes through this process, for an additional comfort level. This is brought about when the participant is calm, and feels a touch from the therapist to remember the state they are in. This touch is sustained throughout the session, to reassure someone is there, and act as there stable when the individual is working within their mind.

The process at a glance (NOT TO BE TRIED AT HOME)

1. Ask your client to describe their issue. If the intensity of it is unbearable, then make sure that your client does not associate into traumatic memories (through discussing examples of those experiences).

2. Make sure to “Break State” (temporarily change the subject or have your client move about), until the feelings associated with the issue are gone again.

3. Elicit your client’s congruent outcome. What would they like to experience instead of the phobic or traumatic response?

4. Establish a security Anchor. Test the Anchor: make sure that your client accesses a relaxed/safe state each time you set off the security Anchor. Then hold this Anchor until step 10 of this technique.

5. Ask your client to find a memory of the first event that represents the cause of the phobia or trauma. They should go with the first significant memory that comes to mind. Have the client see their younger self in that memory just before the challenging experience in the first frame of a movie which is on a screen far in front of them. Anchor this first level of dissociation through your voice and hand gesture indicating where and how far away that first scene is on the screen before it begins. Make sure that you client follows this prompt.

6. Ask your client to imagine floating up and out of their body into the projector booth for that movie. Anchor this second level of dissociation through your voice and hand gesture indicating where they are going to view the movie from. Make sure that your client is following this prompt as it establishes double dissociation (keeping the technique safe).

7. Ask your client to watch the movie of their younger self going through the original challenging experience until their younger self reaches a safe place – or after the traumatic scene has ended. Have your client freeze that frame.

8. Ask your client to imagine floating back down into their body, releasing the double dissociation Anchor. Calibrate to integration.

9. Ask your client to imagine walking up to their younger self on the screen, releasing the dissociation Anchor, and ask them to comfort their younger self. This is an opportunity for lots of indirect and direct suggestions for acceptance, comfort, learning, security, etc.

10. Have your client re-integrate their younger self with their present self, releasing the security Anchor. Hold the space for healing to occur. Calibrate to your client’s integration.

11. Re-orient to present context and test. Testing is done through having your client talk about ‘that old issue’ while you calibrate to the difference between their present state and the one from the beginning of the session when the issue was spoken about. If there is no positive difference, repeat the technique.

12. Future Pace. This important final step serves to integrate the healing and transformation further.

Within the NHS, some patients are only able to access 6x1hour sessions with a trained counsellor due to the demand, funding and availability. A system like this enables quick recovery that can be sustained for a lifetime.

If you are looking for additional assistance with a phobia, trauma or panic attack then this could be a method to benefit you. For me, I am interested to delve into more technique and get credited to use them. I feel I could balance working as a movement psychotherapist and a dance teacher, with each job intertwining and helping the other and all students involved.

The more I research the more excited I am to continue, and hopefully one day be able to put some theories into action.