Brief Therapy
Feeling overwhelmed by a specific memory or trigger? Brief Therapy is here to help you feel more in control.
What is brief therapy?
Brief therapy is a short-term approach designed to help you manage the emotional distress caused by a specific memory or event.
It’s not intended to address all aspects of trauma at once, but rather focusing on what’s most overwhelming right now.
Brief Therapy offers an opportunity to help you feel more in control and manage the distressing memories and triggers that can make day-to-day life difficult.
How it works
1
Focused on One Memory or Trigger
We target a single memory or emotional trigger that’s causing you distress, providing immediate relief.
2
Evidence-Based Techniques
We use gentle, proven techniques to reduce the emotional charge of a specific memory, helping you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed.
3
Empowerment Through Coping Skills
Learn tools to manage your emotions and feel more in control.
4
Preparation for More In-Depth Therapy
Brief therapy offers immediate relief from specific emotional triggers but is not a replacement for comprehensive, long-term trauma therapy. Instead, it serves as a stepping stone, helping you prepare for deeper trauma work when you’re ready to explore and address the broader aspects of your recovery journey.
Our approach uses two evidence-based techniques:
In one technique, we combine eye movements or tapping motions with guided instructions to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories.
We also use a method of briefly bringing up the distressing memory before shifting your focus to something neutral or positive, helping to reduce its emotional charge.
These approaches have been researched and shown to help many people reduce the emotional intensity of distressing memories. These approaches can allow your brain to process things in a way that feels manageable, without having to go into full detail or relive the experience. However, results can vary from person to person.
Is Brief Therapy Right for You?
- You’re feeling overwhelmed by a specific memory or trigger.
- You need a short-term solution to manage emotional distress before continuing with deeper therapeutic work.
- You’ve already made progress in stabilising your emotions and want help with specific lingering triggers.
Yes, you may find Brief Therapy to be an ideal next step in your healing journey.
Get in touch and we’ll be able to discuss your treatment, answer all your questions, and book your first session if you’d like to go ahead with Brief Therapy.
- You want to address the root causes of your trauma or do deeper emotional work.
- You have severe emotional crises or situations where more intensive therapy is needed.
- Your condition calls for more comprehensive trauma processing, which requires a long-term, in-depth approach.
While Brief Therapy can provide valuable relief, it is not intended to replace long-term, comprehensive trauma treatment.
For more comprehensive treatment, we recommend considering our EMDR Therapy or EMDR Intensives.
What if I try it and it’s not right for me?
That’s okay — healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. If Brief Therapy isn’t the right approach for you, we’ll help you find another option that fits, whether that’s EMDR, another type of therapy, or self-paced resources. And if we’re not the best fit, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — EMDR therapy is a more in-depth, structured process that works through multiple memories and underlying patterns. Brief Therapy targets only one specific memory or trigger at a time, offering short-term relief. It’s a great option if you’re not ready for full trauma processing yet but need some immediate support.
Brief Therapy isn’t meant to replace deeper trauma work. It’s a helpful tool for managing distress, but it’s not something to keep doing over and over to avoid addressing trauma. If you’re unsure about the right path for you, we can explore other options, like self-help courses, full EMDR therapy, or longer-term trauma-focused therapy.
Most people start to feel some relief within 1-3 sessions. The goal of Brief Therapy is to reduce the intensity of a specific trigger or distressing emotion so it no longer disrupts daily life—whether that’s getting through work, social situations, or simply feeling more in control. Some people notice a shift after just one session, while others may need a few to experience the full effect.
every person’s healing journey is unique.
Our approach uses evidence-based techniques to support your ongoing needs as you work towards feeling more in control of your emotions.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re looking for relief and feel ready to address a specific emotional trigger, we can help. Connect with us today to schedule your first session.