[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] well I’m so glad to see you all here
well I’m so glad to see you all here
well I’m so glad to see you all here right this afraid it was gonna be like a
right this afraid it was gonna be like a
right this afraid it was gonna be like a middle-school concert where by the end
middle-school concert where by the end
middle-school concert where by the end there’d be like four sad parents I’m
there’d be like four sad parents I’m
there’d be like four sad parents I’m gonna be talking about veterans and
gonna be talking about veterans and
gonna be talking about veterans and treating post-traumatic stress disorder
treating post-traumatic stress disorder
treating post-traumatic stress disorder obviously veterans aren’t the only
obviously veterans aren’t the only
obviously veterans aren’t the only people that have trauma or get PTSD and
people that have trauma or get PTSD and
people that have trauma or get PTSD and I’m sure pretty much everybody here has
I’m sure pretty much everybody here has
I’m sure pretty much everybody here has some connection to trauma unfortunately
some connection to trauma unfortunately
some connection to trauma unfortunately either directly or through somebody they
either directly or through somebody they
either directly or through somebody they know but to set a context in a study
know but to set a context in a study
know but to set a context in a study that was published just last year on
that was published just last year on
that was published just last year on treating veterans with PTSD it was
treating veterans with PTSD it was
treating veterans with PTSD it was reported that 11 percent of the veterans
reported that 11 percent of the veterans
reported that 11 percent of the veterans in Vietnam continued to report
in Vietnam continued to report
in Vietnam continued to report debilitating symptoms of PTSD forty
debilitating symptoms of PTSD forty
debilitating symptoms of PTSD forty years after the war imagine we have
years after the war imagine we have
years after the war imagine we have soldiers right now that are still
soldiers right now that are still
soldiers right now that are still getting PTSD this means that 10% of the
getting PTSD this means that 10% of the
getting PTSD this means that 10% of the people that serve our country all the
people that serve our country all the
people that serve our country all the way back from Vietnam through Iraq
way back from Vietnam through Iraq
way back from Vietnam through Iraq Afghanistan and 40 years into the future
Afghanistan and 40 years into the future
Afghanistan and 40 years into the future may continue to suffer with flashbacks
may continue to suffer with flashbacks
may continue to suffer with flashbacks nightmares insomnia panic attacks hyper
nightmares insomnia panic attacks hyper
nightmares insomnia panic attacks hyper vigilance and all the other symptoms of
vigilance and all the other symptoms of
vigilance and all the other symptoms of PTSD so let’s start by looking at the
PTSD so let’s start by looking at the
PTSD so let’s start by looking at the current research a study that was just
current research a study that was just
current research a study that was just published in January
published in January
published in January looking at the three first-line psycho
looking at the three first-line psycho
looking at the three first-line psycho therapies for PTSD reported that of
therapies for PTSD reported that of
therapies for PTSD reported that of those people that finished the study the
those people that finished the study the
those people that finished the study the people that finished treatment
people that finished treatment
people that finished treatment approximately 35% of them generally no
approximately 35% of them generally no
approximately 35% of them generally no longer met criteria for PTSD now that’s
longer met criteria for PTSD now that’s
longer met criteria for PTSD now that’s actually a very good result for most
actually a very good result for most
actually a very good result for most interventions now they didn’t report how
interventions now they didn’t report how
interventions now they didn’t report how many sessions were involved in them and
many sessions were involved in them and
many sessions were involved in them and they did report the drop
they did report the drop
they did report the drop Rachel would sometimes was quite high
Rachel would sometimes was quite high
Rachel would sometimes was quite high sometimes the dropout rate was as high
sometimes the dropout rate was as high
sometimes the dropout rate was as high as 39% but I’d like to compare those
as 39% but I’d like to compare those
as 39% but I’d like to compare those results to the movie theater technique
results to the movie theater technique
results to the movie theater technique in the first published results by the
in the first published results by the
in the first published results by the research and recognition project 97% of
research and recognition project 97% of
research and recognition project 97% of the participants that completed
the participants that completed
the participants that completed treatment no longer met criteria for
treatment no longer met criteria for
treatment no longer met criteria for PTSD they were in complete remission
PTSD they were in complete remission
PTSD they were in complete remission there since has been to different
there since has been to different
there since has been to different replication studies one with male
replication studies one with male
replication studies one with male veterans and one with female veterans
veterans and one with female veterans
veterans and one with female veterans and in both cases they had similar
and in both cases they had similar
and in both cases they had similar results and finally we just finished an
results and finally we just finished an
results and finally we just finished an even larger even more more robust study
even larger even more more robust study
even larger even more more robust study that was grant a grant in New York State
that was grant a grant in New York State
that was grant a grant in New York State now the final results are in but every
now the final results are in but every
now the final results are in but every indications once again the efficacy was
indications once again the efficacy was
indications once again the efficacy was well over 90% so how is this possible
well over 90% so how is this possible
well over 90% so how is this possible how can there be such a difference well
how can there be such a difference well
how can there be such a difference well oddly enough it starts with the
oddly enough it starts with the
oddly enough it starts with the realization that PTSD and phobias have
realization that PTSD and phobias have
realization that PTSD and phobias have the same basic underlying structure
the same basic underlying structure
the same basic underlying structure overwhelming responses that occur in the
overwhelming responses that occur in the
overwhelming responses that occur in the present are connected to traumatic
present are connected to traumatic
present are connected to traumatic events in the past okay
events in the past okay
events in the past okay that’s say like a dog phobia most people
that’s say like a dog phobia most people
that’s say like a dog phobia most people that have a dog phobia we’re probably
that have a dog phobia we’re probably
that have a dog phobia we’re probably scared by a dog when they were a little
scared by a dog when they were a little
scared by a dog when they were a little kid probably not bad dog but nonetheless
kid probably not bad dog but nonetheless
kid probably not bad dog but nonetheless sorry it’s the Internet age it couldn’t
sorry it’s the Internet age it couldn’t
sorry it’s the Internet age it couldn’t resist once you realize that you can use
resist once you realize that you can use
resist once you realize that you can use phobia treatments it changed the
phobia treatments it changed the
phobia treatments it changed the landscape quite a bit now the movie
landscape quite a bit now the movie
landscape quite a bit now the movie theater phobia technique was actually
theater phobia technique was actually
theater phobia technique was actually developed by Richard Bandler and John
developed by Richard Bandler and John
developed by Richard Bandler and John grinder and first published in 1979
grinder and first published in 1979
grinder and first published in 1979 since then we’ve learned an awful lot
since then we’ve learned an awful lot
since then we’ve learned an awful lot about how the brain works and because of
about how the brain works and because of
about how the brain works and because of that the research and recognition
that the research and recognition
that the research and recognition project was able to develop an
project was able to develop an
project was able to develop an experimental protocol called the
experimental protocol called the
experimental protocol called the reconsolidation of traumatic memory or
reconsolidation of traumatic memory or
reconsolidation of traumatic memory or the RTM protocol now the brain process
the RTM protocol now the brain process
the RTM protocol now the brain process at work here is called reconsolidation
at work here is called reconsolidation
at work here is called reconsolidation theory most of us are familiar with
theory most of us are familiar with
theory most of us are familiar with consolidation theory that’s the idea
consolidation theory that’s the idea
consolidation theory that’s the idea that over time short-term memories
that over time short-term memories
that over time short-term memories consolidate under certain circumstances
consolidate under certain circumstances
consolidate under certain circumstances become long-term memories okay
become long-term memories okay
become long-term memories okay reconsolidation theory builds on that
reconsolidation theory builds on that
reconsolidation theory builds on that but it has kind of a twist basically it
but it has kind of a twist basically it
but it has kind of a twist basically it turns out when you access one of these
turns out when you access one of these
turns out when you access one of these long-term memories especially the
long-term memories especially the
long-term memories especially the emotional content they become labile or
emotional content they become labile or
emotional content they become labile or changeable for a little while and then
changeable for a little while and then
changeable for a little while and then they reconsolidate into a new permanent
they reconsolidate into a new permanent
they reconsolidate into a new permanent long-term memory
long-term memory
long-term memory imagine your brains like a commute a
imagine your brains like a commute a
imagine your brains like a commute a computer and we keep our memories in a
computer and we keep our memories in a
computer and we keep our memories in a file folder okay what we’re saying is
file folder okay what we’re saying is
file folder okay what we’re saying is you can pull a file out of the out of
you can pull a file out of the out of
you can pull a file out of the out of the folder open it up in an application
the folder open it up in an application
the folder open it up in an application like Photoshop change the memory itself
like Photoshop change the memory itself
like Photoshop change the memory itself and then refile it back into long-term
and then refile it back into long-term
and then refile it back into long-term memory so if you can change the memory
memory so if you can change the memory
memory so if you can change the memory what do you change well with a movie
what do you change well with a movie
what do you change well with a movie theater technique we actually focus on
theater technique we actually focus on
theater technique we actually focus on the structure of the memory not the
the structure of the memory not the
the structure of the memory not the content so to explain that let me offer
content so to explain that let me offer
content so to explain that let me offer you a couple of thought experience for
you a couple of thought experience for
you a couple of thought experience for the first one I’d like you to think of
the first one I’d like you to think of
the first one I’d like you to think of one of your favorite foods it doesn’t
one of your favorite foods it doesn’t
one of your favorite foods it doesn’t really matter what it is as long as it’s
really matter what it is as long as it’s
really matter what it is as long as it’s something that you really like but to be
something that you really like but to be
something that you really like but to be honest experience tells me that it’s
honest experience tells me that it’s
honest experience tells me that it’s probably pizza in the ace of spades so
probably pizza in the ace of spades so
probably pizza in the ace of spades so what am I going to do is for a second
what am I going to do is for a second
what am I going to do is for a second just make an image of your favorite food
just make an image of your favorite food
just make an image of your favorite food in your mind’s eye and if you’re most
in your mind’s eye and if you’re most
in your mind’s eye and if you’re most like most people you’ll notice that it’s
like most people you’ll notice that it’s
like most people you’ll notice that it’s a color picture okay now I don’t know if
a color picture okay now I don’t know if
a color picture okay now I don’t know if you remember knobs okay we used to have
you remember knobs okay we used to have
you remember knobs okay we used to have knobs on TVs and there was one called
knobs on TVs and there was one called
knobs on TVs and there was one called the color knob and you can take that
the color knob and you can take that
the color knob and you can take that knob and if you turned it down the
knob and if you turned it down the
knob and if you turned it down the picture would become black and white
picture would become black and white
picture would become black and white with the younger folks here it’s kind of
with the younger folks here it’s kind of
with the younger folks here it’s kind of like filters and Instagram so what I’d
like filters and Instagram so what I’d
like filters and Instagram so what I’d like you to do is once again think of
like you to do is once again think of
like you to do is once again think of the favorite food start out with the
the favorite food start out with the
the favorite food start out with the color picture turn it down to black and
color picture turn it down to black and
color picture turn it down to black and white and notice how your experience
white and notice how your experience
white and notice how your experience changes most of the time people report
changes most of the time people report
changes most of the time people report that it seems a little less tasty a
that it seems a little less tasty a
that it seems a little less tasty a little less compelling I’ll give you
little less compelling I’ll give you
little less compelling I’ll give you another example with the roller coaster
another example with the roller coaster
another example with the roller coaster what I’d like you to do is imagine
what I’d like you to do is imagine
what I’d like you to do is imagine riding a roller coaster so you’d be
riding a roller coaster so you’d be
riding a roller coaster so you’d be sitting have a seat in the front of the
sitting have a seat in the front of the
sitting have a seat in the front of the car and you could see the track going up
car and you could see the track going up
car and you could see the track going up in front of you
in front of you
in front of you then the bar comes down and to going up
then the bar comes down and to going up
then the bar comes down and to going up the hill you might even feel a little of
the hill you might even feel a little of
the hill you might even feel a little of the anxiety really excitement contrast
the anxiety really excitement contrast
the anxiety really excitement contrast that with the same memory but step out
that with the same memory but step out
that with the same memory but step out of it so you can see the roller coaster
of it so you can see the roller coaster
of it so you can see the roller coaster in the distance imagine yourself getting
in the distance imagine yourself getting
in the distance imagine yourself getting on the car and then it starts to go up
on the car and then it starts to go up
on the car and then it starts to go up the hill to do it’s a little bit
the hill to do it’s a little bit
the hill to do it’s a little bit different right it’s almost like it’s
different right it’s almost like it’s
different right it’s almost like it’s somebody else doing it over there so
somebody else doing it over there so
somebody else doing it over there so what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna take
what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna take
what we’re gonna do is we’re gonna take those pieces and we’re gonna combine
those pieces and we’re gonna combine
those pieces and we’re gonna combine them to make kind of a stripped-down
them to make kind of a stripped-down
them to make kind of a stripped-down version of the movie theater technique
version of the movie theater technique
version of the movie theater technique so you can see what it’s like we start
so you can see what it’s like we start
so you can see what it’s like we start out by having a client tune into the
out by having a client tune into the
out by having a client tune into the memory that was traumatic just briefly
memory that was traumatic just briefly
memory that was traumatic just briefly and then rating the level of intensity
and then rating the level of intensity
and then rating the level of intensity between zero to ten then we have them
between zero to ten then we have them
between zero to ten then we have them imagine a movie theater in their mind so
imagine a movie theater in their mind so
imagine a movie theater in their mind so that they’re sitting in the theater okay
that they’re sitting in the theater okay
that they’re sitting in the theater okay and they can see the movie screen up
and they can see the movie screen up
and they can see the movie screen up ahead they imagine the memory as a movie
ahead they imagine the memory as a movie
ahead they imagine the memory as a movie up on the screen and once again you make
up on the screen and once again you make
up on the screen and once again you make it black and white so now they’ve
it black and white so now they’ve
it black and white so now they’ve stepped out of the memory it’s in black
stepped out of the memory it’s in black
stepped out of the memory it’s in black and white and then to make it even more
and white and then to make it even more
and white and then to make it even more distant we have imagined floating up to
distant we have imagined floating up to
distant we have imagined floating up to the projection booth so they can look
the projection booth so they can look
the projection booth so they can look down to feed themselves in the seats and
down to feed themselves in the seats and
down to feed themselves in the seats and then that them down there looks at the
then that them down there looks at the
then that them down there looks at the younger them up on the screen now they
younger them up on the screen now they
younger them up on the screen now they review that memory enough times that it
review that memory enough times that it
review that memory enough times that it starts to get down to a zero believe it
starts to get down to a zero believe it
starts to get down to a zero believe it or not at that point it will
or not at that point it will
or not at that point it will reconsolidate so that now the long-term
reconsolidate so that now the long-term
reconsolidate so that now the long-term memory no longer has any effective
memory no longer has any effective
memory no longer has any effective charge on and when they get triggered or
charge on and when they get triggered or
charge on and when they get triggered or when they remember the event
when they remember the event
when they remember the event there’s no PTSD symptoms left at all now
there’s no PTSD symptoms left at all now
there’s no PTSD symptoms left at all now the fact that we changed the memory
the fact that we changed the memory
the fact that we changed the memory directly okay and we changed the
directly okay and we changed the
directly okay and we changed the structure of the memory allows us to get
structure of the memory allows us to get
structure of the memory allows us to get much stronger effect that lasts much
much stronger effect that lasts much
much stronger effect that lasts much longer time in fact all the results of
longer time in fact all the results of
longer time in fact all the results of 97% were in only three sessions on
97% were in only three sessions on
97% were in only three sessions on average and there was zero dropout rate
average and there was zero dropout rate
average and there was zero dropout rate now unfortunately I don’t think that
now unfortunately I don’t think that
now unfortunately I don’t think that wars or trauma are gonna stop anytime
wars or trauma are gonna stop anytime
wars or trauma are gonna stop anytime soon that’s why I think the movie
soon that’s why I think the movie
soon that’s why I think the movie theater
theater
theater technique is so important we can’t stop
technique is so important we can’t stop
technique is so important we can’t stop trauma of the suffering that’s caused by
trauma of the suffering that’s caused by
trauma of the suffering that’s caused by PTSD doesn’t need to continue
”
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