Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization (ASSYST) Procedure ©

The ASSYST Complete is a comprehensive on demand training designed to equip clinicians with rapid EMDR-based interventions for acute stress, dissociation, and complex trauma. These simple and effective protocols can be used immediately and are especially helpful in fast-paced or high-stakes clinical environments.

The objective of the ASSYST procedures is to help regulate a client’s nervous system by decreasing sympathetic branch hyperactivation. This is accomplished by reducing the distressing components (sensory, emotional, or physiological) of intrusive symptoms using bilateral stimulation.

On a scale from 0 to 10 (with 10 being high disturbance and 0 being no disturbance), the ASSYST procedures have been shown to reduce the intensity of distress from high (6–10) to low (0–3). This reduction helps make the client’s distressing symptoms more manageable, supporting day-to-day functioning and allowing for smoother engagement in follow-up treatment.

The distress addressed through ASSYST may stem from traumatic events, aspects of mental illness, memories of adverse life experiences, or environmental stressors. As a result of receiving the ASSYST procedures, research shows a significant reduction in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

By participating in this on-demand training, attendees will be able to:

• Explain the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) theoretical model.
• Describe what pathogenic memories are.
• Identify how to obtain nervous system regulation with intrusive memories and the impact that has on the clinical experience.
• Explain how to utilize the ASSYST procedure with the general population in one’s private practice.
• Identify what clinicians should do during critical care, rapid response, or early intervention and why.
• Explain how clinicians can keep a non-anxious presence to help stabilize the client’s nervous system.

Presented by Kelly Smyth-Dent, LCSW, Founder and President of Scaling Up, LLC, EMDR Advanced Trainer & EMDRIA Approved Consultant & Trainer

Please email the CCALAC Training Center if you are interested in accessing the on-demand training at training@ccalac.org.

Instructor Biography

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, EMDR Trainer and published researcher, Kelly stands at the forefront of EMDR therapy and training on a global scale. Her work has taken her across continents—from France to Ethiopia and from Bangladesh to India, as well as throughout the United States—conducting EMDR Basic and Advanced Trainings.

As a valued member of world-renowned EMDR-specialist Dr. Ignacio Jarero’s esteemed research team in Mexico, Kelly contributes to the cutting-edge development of EMDR therapy. Kelly serves as a lead trainer of specialists, ensuring that the facilitation of EMDR therapy adheres to the highest standards of excellence and consistency.

Kelly’s authentic and innovative approach to running Scaling Up allows for a large community of high-quality trainers and therapists who share similar values and mission to work together to make therapy more accessible and affordable globally.