There are two approaches to this therapy used by clinicians. The first is to direct the client to visualize a snapshot of a moment immediately prior to the event when the client was feeling safe. Dissociation is introduced by having the client watch himself in that past scene rather than being in the scene. Dissociation can be enhanced by maintaining the client in that perceptual position and continuing through the trauma. The therapist then asks the client to share the knowledge of surviving with the self who suffered the trauma.
Sharing takes place with imagery and internal dialogue.
After the sharing has been completed the client is then asked to take hold of the previously suffering self and bring him back inside so that the person is again whole. The entire procedure often results in a significant reduction of negative feelings and emotions and often eliminates the negative affect with future recall of the trauma. The second approach is to have the client imagine that he is in a movie theater viewing the incident. The movie is put on pause in a moment before the trauma occurred. Dissociation is introduced by having the client float out of his body and float back to the projector while watching himself sitting in the theater.