Processing Natal Trauma
The 3 Step Rewind Technique
Even with all of our best planning and preparation sometimes the unexpected happens during pregnancy or birth. In some cases, can leave us with memories that we experience as traumatic. The frightening and difficult emotions that we experienced at the time of the event, can come flooding back into our bodies, taking us right back there, even when we know logically that we are now safe. Such re-triggering of these memories can leave you in a loop of anxiety on a regular basis and can stop you being able to move forward. The 3 Step Rewind technique can help you process these memories in a way that allows you to move on.
What is the 3 Step Rewind Technique
Although the science behind the technique is sometimes hard to explain, the effects of this simple process are astounding and long lasting. It is an incredibly effective tool that has helped me to process some of my own difficult and traumatic experiences, yet the process is as simple as a guided meditation. I am there as your guide, your subconscious does the rest.
The 3 Step Rewind is a gentle and effective process which originated from neuro linguistic programming (NLP), initially developed to treat phobias. It’s a process of deep relaxation and guided visualisation that can help shift the uncomfortable or unhelpful emotions, fear or anxiety that are attached to negative memories. This could be related to your experiences during pregnancy, birth or postpartum, but this process can help with any experience that you have experienced as traumatic.
The goal is to free you from negative thoughts and feelings so that your fear and anxiety aren’t triggered on a daily basis. The special thing about this technique is that you don’t even have to talk about your experience if that in itself is painful. The technique is just as effective without the details.
The Science
I am not a scientist, but I will try my best to explain…
When we experience a rush of fear our amygdala is triggered like a fire alarm. The amygdala is responsible for triggering the ‘fight or flight response’ taking us into a high state of arousal with blood rushing to our extremities, our heart starts beating faster and there is a huge surge in stress hormones. All of this is a protective survival state allowing us to run away from danger. Imagine yourself being chased by a sabre toothed tiger and you’ll see why this is a healthy response.
However, whilst we are in this state the hippocampus (the part of our brain that files things as a memory) is ‘frozen’ so the experience can’t be processed and filed away as a past event. The emotions of fear and helplessness present during the trauma become inextricably linked with the memory of the trauma. The amygdala gets encoded with sensory information related to the event so associated stimuli can trip the connection and cause a flood of fear and anxiety to return and be reexperienced. Every time the experience is relived you might retraumatised encoding the amygdala further.
The trauma can can leave you feeling constantly anxious, constantly angry or feeling stuck in loop of fear. You may feel like you are replaying your memory over and over or unable to think about the memory at all.
How Does the 3 Step Rewind Technique Work?
The rewind process allows the memory to be filed so that the amygdala can be told the event is over and that you can be free from these unwanted emotions. This makes space for new feelings.
This doesn’t mean that you forget the memory. You will still be able to recall what happened, but without experiencing the same anxiety, fear and other difficult emotions previously associated with the memory.
The Process - how we will work together
The process takes place over 3 sessions, approximately one week apart. These sessions can take place over Zoom, in the comfort of your home or in another appropriate space.
Session 1 - approx. 90 minutes
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I will talk you through the process and how it works.
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This is an opportunity to share your story should you wish to do so and to understanding how it is still affecting you today.
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We will begin to explore and to understand the changes you would like to experience if you were free from these feelings. How you life will look after these feelings are “dealt” with.
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We will practice a deep guided relaxation, which you can take with you to continue at home.
Session 2 - approx. 90 minutes
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Use the rewind process to gently guide you back through the memory of what happened in a way that breaks that connections (neural pathways) that are triggering the feelings and symptoms.
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We do this in a deep state of relaxation so you are not re-triggered by the memory.
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We enable you to experience your goal state, how life will be and feel once this memory is behind you.
Session 3 - approx. 60 minutes
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Check in and see how you are feeling following the Rewind process
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If necessary, we can repeat the rewind process from Session 2 again.
The 3-Step Process is not a therapy, it is a process within your own subconscious through which you are guided by a trained practitioner. It is suitable for working with the memory of one single event, or series of related events occurring within a small timeframe. If you are already receiving therapy of any kind (i.e. counselling, psychotherapy therapy) it is important that you talk to your therapist before undertaking the 3 Step Rewind process.
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What if it doesn't work?
No-one can really predict how your mind and body will respond to this process and how much change you will feel. However, most people feel a shift already after just one session and it is extremely rare that nothing will change for you at all after all three session together. But, if after the third session you still feel that there is work to be done, then I am happy to plan an additional session and run the process with you again.
Costs
Face-to-Face Sessions
In Kanton Aargau and the greater Zug and Zürich areas.
420 CHF
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Via Zoom
360 CHF
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When booked as part of a postpartum doula package ("Postpartum Sanctuary" or "Simply Support")
220 CHF