Blog Archives - Innovative Mental Health Solutions

RTM Protocol™ Disaster Response Team

RRStaff — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 15:17:08 +0000

The first ever RTM Protocol Disaster Response Team was deployed in September and October of 2025.

The RTM protocol is an innovative treatment for PTSD. It uses no drugs, is non-traumatic, cost-effective, and is usually completed in under 5 hours.

The team, headed by Daniel Blackwood, LPCC, visited Houston and Dallas to work with families impacted by the July 4th floodings in Kerrville, TX. The Disaster Response Team has worked with over 40 people, both children and adults, and have helped to greatly reduce posttraumatic stress symptoms for these families. The team is beginning to collect post-treatment data for ongoing research efforts.

The goal of this project is to continue providing the RTM protocol to other families impacted by the floods, as well as first responders. Additionally, the team hopes to train mental health practitioners in Texas in the RTM protocol to be able to reach even more people impacted by this disaster and future events in the state of Texas.

The Disaster Relief Team would like to continue responding to events around the country to bring the benefits of the RTM protocol to more disaster survivors.

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The Four-Session Solution: Understanding RTM Protocol’s Efficient Treatment Timeline

RRStaff — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 14:45:25 +0000

As a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma treatment, I’ve witnessed countless individuals struggling with PTSD symptoms for years despite trying multiple therapeutic approaches. The Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol stands apart as a remarkably efficient solution, typically requiring only 3-4 sessions to achieve what often takes months or years with conventional therapies.

The Compressed Treatment Timeline

The RTM Protocol follows a structured timeline designed for maximum efficiency:

Session Structure: Treatment consists of 3-4 sessions, each approximately 90 minutes long

Treatment Spacing: Sessions require at least 24 hours between treatments to allow for neurological processing

Total Duration: The entire protocol can be completed in as little as one week

Completion Criteria: Treatment is considered complete when traumatic feelings have been successfully separated from memories of traumatic events

This compressed timeframe is intentional and neurologically sound. The protocol works by reprogramming the connection between the brain’s emotional centers and specific traumatic memories, effectively breaking the association between the factual memory and the emotional response.

The Treatment Process

During RTM sessions, clients sit comfortably while visualizing images on an imagined movie screen in a way that separates traumatic memories from emotional responses. Clinicians guide this process carefully, ensuring clients remain relaxed rather than re-experiencing trauma. Unlike exposure-based therapies, RTM doesn’t require clients to fully re-experience traumatic events, making it both efficient and gentle. There’s no homework between sessions, and the interventions are designed to maintain client comfort throughout.

Client Testimonials Supporting Rapid Results

The compressed timeline might seem too brief to address deep-seated trauma, but client experiences consistently demonstrate otherwise:

One client reported, “After only the second appointment of RTM treatment it felt like all the weight had been lifted off of me. All that fear that I had built up inside me from many years of trauma, suddenly gone.”

Another client described their progress: “When I started the study, I was at 7 or 8 with anxiety… At session four I was at a 0.”

A sexual assault survivor stated: “I can speak about the events without anxiety, in detail, without fear. I’m sleeping through the night now. I am not as focused on the past.”

Perhaps most compelling are the accounts of long-term sufferers finding relief. A Vietnam veteran who had experienced PTSD symptoms for over 40 years showed significant reduction in symptoms after just three 120-minute sessions, with results maintained at follow-ups at 2, 6, 26, and 52 weeks post-treatment.

Research-Supported Effectiveness

The efficiency of RTM isn’t just anecdotal. Multiple independent clinical trials have demonstrated over 90% effectiveness in eliminating PTSD symptoms. A pilot study treating veterans with severe PTSD measured a 96% remission rate (25 of 26 participants), with symptoms alleviated in under five sessions.

This high success rate appears consistent regardless of trauma type-whether combat-related, sexual assault, or other traumatic experiences. The protocol can effectively treat multiple traumatic events, typically requiring treatment of only 1-4 events to reprogram the brain and collapse all PTSD symptoms.

A New Paradigm for Trauma Treatment

The four-session solution offered by RTM represents a breakthrough in trauma treatment. For those suffering from PTSD, this compressed timeframe means less total time spent in therapy, faster relief from debilitating symptoms, and quicker return to normal life-truly a breakthrough in how we approach trauma treatment. By working directly with how traumatic memories are reconsolidated in the brain, we can achieve in days what traditionally took months or years.

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From Nightmares to Restful Sleep: How RTM Protocol Addresses Sleep Disturbances in PTSD

RRStaff — Mon, 19 May 2025 11:56:01 +0000

From Nightmares to Restful Sleep: How RTM Protocol Addresses Sleep Disturbances in PTSD

Many individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience significant sleep disturbances that severely impact their quality of life. Recurrent nightmares and flashbacks can make the simple act of falling asleep terrifying, leading to chronic sleep deprivation and exacerbating other PTSD symptoms. As someone who has worked extensively with trauma survivors, I’ve witnessed firsthand how addressing these sleep disturbances can be transformative in the healing journey.

The RTM Protocol Approach

The Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) Protocol offers a revolutionary approach to treating PTSD symptoms, particularly those affecting sleep. This neurological intervention targets the core of traumatic experiences by using a brief visualization process to retrieve and alter memory structures. Unlike exposure-based therapies that may retraumatize patients, RTM is designed to be minimally distressing while maximizing therapeutic outcomes.

During RTM sessions, which typically last 90 minutes, clients remain calm and relaxed as they work with clinicians to visualize images that help process traumatic memories without re-experiencing the intense emotions associated with the trauma. This distinctive approach allows the brain to reconsolidate these memories-essentially reprocessing them in a way that strips away their emotional charge while preserving the factual content.

The Sleep-Trauma Connection

Sleep disturbances in PTSD aren’t merely symptoms; they’re mechanisms that help maintain the disorder. Nightmares repeatedly activate trauma networks in the brain, reinforcing neural pathways associated with fear and helplessness. By directly targeting these pathways, RTM disrupts this cycle.

The protocol requires at least one mandatory sleep cycle between sessions, which is no coincidence. Sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, and this deliberate spacing allows the brain to integrate the therapeutic changes occurring during RTM sessions.

Evidence of Effectiveness

Research consistently demonstrates RTM’s remarkable impact on sleep disturbances. In published studies, 81% of clients reported complete cessation of nightmares and flashbacks related to their treated traumas. This striking improvement occurs rapidly-often within just three to four sessions.

One particularly compelling study revealed that RTM participants experienced a mean 18-point reduction on the PCL-5 (a standard PTSD assessment), with 48% no longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD after treatment. These improvements have been shown to persist over time, with some studies tracking maintenance of gains for up to one year[6].

Clinical Observations

In my clinical practice, I’ve observed distinct phases in sleep improvement with RTM. Initially, clients often report reduced nightmare frequency and intensity. Then, many experience a complete cessation of trauma-related nightmares. Finally, overall sleep quality improves as hypervigilance diminishes and natural sleep patterns resume.

One client aptly described their experience: “After only 4 sessions with RTM Protocol, I now sleep much more restfully and wake up feeling more optimistic about life in general.” This sentiment echoes what many clients express-the profound relief of being able to close their eyes at night without fear.

Beyond Symptom Relief

The benefits extend beyond mere symptom reduction. As sleep quality improves, clients often report enhanced cognitive function, reduced anxiety and depression, increased self-esteem, and better daytime functioning. The restorative power of quality sleep creates a positive cascade effect on overall wellbeing.

For those suffering from the relentless intrusion of trauma into their sleep, RTM offers not just hope but a concrete, evidence-based path to recovery. By addressing one of PTSD’s most debilitating symptoms quickly and effectively, this protocol helps restore what many clients consider priceless-the ability to rest peacefully through the night.

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