Progressive
Counting
Progressive
Counting
Therapy (PC)
Overview
PC is a psychotherapy procedure for resolving trauma or loss memories via memory reconsolidation.
It entails guiding the client to imagine a movie of the distressing memory, from beginning to end, while the therapist counts aloud first from 1-10, then 1-20, then 1-30, etc., to a maximum of 100.
As the distress level goes down, the movie gets shorter. This continues until no memory-related distress remains.
PC can be done as a stand-alone treatment or within the context of a comprehensive phase model of trauma-informed treatment.
PC addresses the following:
A wide range of emotional or behavioral problems for which unresolved trauma/loss may be a contributing factor, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, panic attacks, among others.
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EXPERIENCING
PROGRESSIVE COUNTING (PC)
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The therapist guides the client to identify a beginning and ending of the ¨movie about the distressing event¨, each of which (beginning and ending) are not part of the upsetting event, but rather outside the event, and part of the broader life story.
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The therapist will count aloud from 1-10 (then 1-20, etc.) while the client watches the movie of the distressing memory, in imagination, from beginning to end each time.
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The therapist briefly will obtain feedback from the client including a current distress rating. The feedback will guide the therapist’s next step.
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The therapist will recognize when the client is stuck and will utilize a range of possible interventions to assist the client continuing to make progress.
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The therapist will persist with PC until the client reports no remaining distress associated with the memory, and no further changes in memory-related thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations.
The goals for Progressive Counting (PC) are:
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Primary goal: Help the client to fully process the targeted distressing memory, so that the memory is no longer distressing
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Secondary goal:Reduce or eliminate the client’s presenting problems, to the extent that such problems may have been caused or exacerbated by the distressing memory
Source:
Ricky Greenwald, PsyD
Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute
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PROGESSIVE COUNTING THERAPY
www.childtrauma.com/training
https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/progressive-counting/detailed