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Sam Bergstein LISW-S, LCSW, REAT, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant

Not every client is ready to be fully "in" the memory.

Published 5 months ago • 1 min read

We talk a lot about pacing in trauma therapy. But sometimes pacing isn't about speed. It is about proximity.

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When a client starts to flood, asking them to "slow down" doesn't always work. The material is already too close. They may need distance.

I use a visual tool called the Distancing Menu. It gives clients different ways to interact with hard material without being consumed by it.

I'm a big fan of menus for many reasons. Instead of finding the words to explain what they need, they can just point. That can be super helpful for clients who are overwhelmed, when working with young memory networks, or for neurodivergent clients.

With the Distancing Menu, they can choose to "Watch it like a movie on a screen", "Put it in a container and only peek", or one of the other various options.

It changes the entire dynamic of the session. The client (and their parts) are back in control.

Like this tool? I've got more where that came from at www.theguidedstudio.com.
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Sam Bergstein (she/her) LISW-S (OH), LCSW (CA), REAT, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, IFS level 2 trained

​EMDR Consultation and Expressive Arts Therapy Supervision
​www.mantramentalhealthllc.com/professional-consultation​

4041 North High Street Ste 300H, Columbus, OH 43214
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Sam Bergstein LISW-S, LCSW, REAT, EMDRIA-Approved Consultant

Your trusted EMDR and Expressive Arts Consultant

Tools for EMDR and Trauma therapists who work with complex trauma, dissociation and neurodivergence.

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