Processing of Positive Memories Technique Feedback From Trauma-Exposed Clients on Processing of Positive Memories Technique Components, Format, and Feasibility

Although the majority of research and clinical interventions focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) centers on traumatic memories, recent literature suggests the importance of considering emotionally laden memories more broadly among trauma-exposed individuals. Specifically, trauma-exposed individuals have difficulties retrieving positive and negative memories, and interventions focused on enhancing the retrieval of both traumatic and positive memories benefit overall well-being. These findings led to the development of a novel Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) for PTSD. As the next step in treatment development, PPMT was piloted among 12 trauma-exposed community members seeking therapeutic or assessment services at a university psychology clinic. In this study, we summarize participants' quantitative and qualitative feedback on the content, format, and feasibility of PPMT. Next, we outline proposed formative changes that are critical to the iterative refinement of PPMT, based on the obtained feedback to enhance its scalability, feasibility, and effectiveness. Within clinical practice, PPMT, as implemented in this study, may be feasible, and there may be potential benefits to incorporating positive memory processing using PPMT.

Automated summary

Recent literature suggests that it is important to consider emotionally laden memories more broadly among trauma-exposed individuals, rather than solely focusing on traumatic memories. Difficulties in retrieving both positive and negative memories are common among trauma-exposed individuals, and interventions aimed at enhancing the retrieval of these memories can improve overall well-being. This study piloted a novel technique called Processing of Positive Memories Technique (PPMT) among trauma-exposed community members, and feedback was gathered to enhance its scalability, feasibility, and effectiveness.