Licentiate Member of The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (Aphp)
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Tiktok Youtube

Free 30 Minute consultation with Yvonne

Book An Appointment
Yvonne Parker helping client manage anxiety through hypnotherapy in Swindon

BLAST Technique® Sessions

Neuroscience research shows that structures in the right side/hemisphere of the brain are overactive and acting as if there is an immediate threat in sufferers of PTSD and trauma. The BLAST Technique® utilises precise bi-lateral movements with a light pen (which helps the memory access the left side/hemisphere of the brain) and specific suggestions to the client which helps reprocess the traumatic event so they understand what happened and can remember, but it no longer has any physical or emotional response.

The BLAST Technique®

Gentle support for trauma, triggers and distressing memories or events 

Sometimes your mind knows you are safe now, but your body still reacts as if something bad is about to happen. That can show up as anxiety, panic, intrusive memories, feeling on edge, sudden emotional overwhelm, or avoiding things that remind you of what happened.

 

A BLAST Technique® session is a structured, client-centred approach that aims to help reduce the emotional intensity attached to a distressing memory or trigger. It uses bilateral stimulation (left-right stimulation, often with guided eye movements) to support the brain in processing what has felt “stuck”, without needing to talk through every detail.

 

If you’d like to explore whether this approach is right for you, you’re welcome to get in touch via my website or email yvonne@yphypnotherapy.com.

What can BLAST Technique® help with?

Clients often choose BLAST when they feel impacted by the past in a way that still affects day-to-day life. It may be supportive for:

Trauma and PTSD-type symptoms

  • intrusive memories, distressing images, flashback-like moments
  • feeling constantly on guard, jumpy, or emotionally reactive
  • triggers that feel out of proportion to the present moment
  • avoidance of people, places, conversations, or situations linked to what happened

Anxiety and nervous system overwhelm

  • panic symptoms
  • chronic worry and rumination
  • feeling “wired and tired”
  • difficulty relaxing, even when you want to

Phobias and strong fear responses

When a fear response is linked to a past event or a powerful emotional imprint, BLAST can be used to work with the root of that response.

Grief, relationship wounds and emotional triggers

  • unresolved grief or shock after a loss
  • difficult relationship endings
  • shame, guilt, anger, or persistent emotional loops that keep repeating


Gentle note: BLAST is not suitable for everyone in every circumstance. We’ll always begin with a careful conversation about your needs, safety, and what support feels right for you.

How a BLAST session helps

BLAST is designed to support your brain and nervous system to update old threat responses linked to a memory or trigger.

Rather than analysing the past for weeks, the session focuses on reducing the emotional charge attached to it, so that when you think about it, you can remember it but it feels more neutral and less activating.

Many people are drawn to BLAST because it is often described as:

  • structured and efficient
  • gentle and contained
  • not reliant on retelling everything in detail

What happens in a BLAST session?

Every session is individual, but sessions typically include:

1) A calm check-in and grounding

We start by helping you feel steady and safe in the room (or online), and we agree what you’d like support with.

2) Choosing a focus

This might be:

  • a specific memory
  • a recurring trigger
  • a body sensation response
  • an emotion that keeps surfacing

3) The BLAST process (bilateral stimulation)

I guide you through the process step-by-step. You stay in control, and we keep the work contained and paced. BLAST uses bilateral stimulation to support processing.

4) Closing and integration

We finish with stabilising, grounding, and a gentle plan for aftercare, so you leave feeling supported.

 

BLAST alongside hypnotherapy

BLAST can be offered as a standalone approach, or combined thoughtfully with hypnotherapy depending on what you need.

Some clients find that hypnotherapy supports:

  • settling the nervous system before BLAST work
  • strengthening inner resources (calm, safety, boundaries, confidence)
  • integration afterwards, so changes feel steady and embodied

Everything is always collaborative. We choose what best supports your comfort and your goals.

Is it right for you?

The BLAST Technique®️ may be a good fit if:

  • you feel affected by a memory or trigger that still feels “present”
  • you want a structured approach that doesn’t require detailed retelling
  • you’d like support that is trauma-informed, paced, and client-led

BLAST might not be the first step if you’re currently feeling very unsafe, highly dissociated, or in an acute crisis. In those cases we may begin with stabilisation, resourcing, or discuss alternative support.