There isn't any need to worry about what you will see during a regression session, your Subconscious is working for your best interest to prepare for you to get what you intend to out of your time. While there is a possibility you may remember things that were repressed to protect you, please remember that it will be shown to you at this time with love and with the intention of releasing emotional burdens as you work safely with a professional.
Whether entering a current-life memory or somewhere beyond, there is a possibility of entering into a scene that holds some emotional imprints for us. These types of experiences can be physically or emotionally overwhelming even during a session but it is the job of the practitioner to ensure that any such scenes are handled with as much patience and love as the rest of the session so that the healing that is intended can always be the focus.
Some examples of traumatic memories could include things we fear or make us uncomfortable, remembering pain or violence that occurred, or feeling emotional about the death of a previous body. This could even include memories that were being locked by our Subconscious in order to protect us that are now ready to heal, or memories from times before our current memory can access such as childhood, in the womb, or before we entered into this current life.
When traumatic scenes occur I always remember to stop a moment and take a deep breath for myself. Wanting to relieve uncomfortable experiences for someone is a natural instinct so it's easy to snap out of my own headspace and try to control the situation, but remember this is all exactly what their higher intelligence has chosen for them to see. After a few moments you can reevaluate, do they seem to be handling it on their own or is the emotion overwhelming the experience of the session? If so, I usually say something like...
“Take a deep breath, and remember that you are safe and protected. This is only a memory and whatever is happening has already happened. It is safe to watch from wherever feels most comfortable. So just take a moment to relax, and when you’re ready tell me, what is happening?”
Then the person can continue exploring their scene from wherever feels comfortable. Ive heard some day that their scene moved further away and become smaller, some whose scenes turned to black and white which made it feel less intense, or that they went from watching from in a body to watching from above the body. There are many ways the Subconscious will take a step back from the scene so that the person can still gather the information they need. I have rarely had anyone who was unable to continue through a traumatic scene after some basic guidance. However, in the event that a client were to try and block themselves from moving forward I would apply more abstract methods for uncovering the important information. (Suggestions used for those circumstances would depend on my pre-chat with someone and what I have found works for them.)
When addressing traumatic scenes that persist in being overwhelming you also shouldn't be afraid to guide someone away entirely if that seems the most appropriate. I have found that important information will often make more sense later-on in the session as long as we keep moving along. I have found that often the information even tends to resurface on it’s own, without me needing to prompt it to come back up. I have come to deeply trust that the Subconscious mind already has its plan for the session, even before I meet with the person, so as long as we are able to keep the session going I know the information will find a way to make itself known as it was intended.
Leaving the scene to try abstract methods....
“Let’s move a safe distance away from this scene and see what other information may be available. (Deepening & Relaxation are important here as well) Perhaps a symbol, image, or expression can give us some clues, what is the most important thing we need to know about what happened?”
This generally results in smaller fragments of information coming through, it could come as images, sensations, or “just knowing” depending on the person experiencing. This method can take more time but will be less emotionally overwhelming.
You could also call for the presence of “a loving being who can help us now” mainly a loved one, guide, inner/higher self, Angel, or some other being of importance, and this can be done in or out of the original scene….
If staying in the scene… (Deepening & Relaxing will still be important)
“Remember you are safe and protected, perhaps there is someone you wish to call in to stand with you now as you look back on these memories, someone who can remind you that you are safe and protected and may even help us answer some questions if we need help, is there someone like that who can be here with you now?
After finding out who it is or what to refer to them as...
“With ____ here now it is safe to move forward so we can find the answers we’re looking for.”
(From there I would see how it progresses, often the presence of the other being was all that was necessary for calming but it can also be useful to have the person experiencing try and speak with them directly if you get stuck on tougher questions about the meaning and purpose of the scene at any point.)
If leaving the scene...
“It is okay to leave this scene now, if the information is important then it will make sense when we’re ready. For now, let's find a space that you feel safe and comfortable, (can you) find that place now(?). (Deepening & Relaxing.) Maybe there is someone here waiting to join us who can tell us more about what happened...”
I have found that most people are able to dialogue in some way with a “third party being”, so if that becomes necessary I start by suggesting,
“Ask ____ if we can ask them questions.”
If for some reason the response is that the being cannot tell us anything then I would either suggest they remind the being that “this information is important on your journey now, we came for these answers so that they can help you” or, suggest that “another being who can help us” would join instead. (If no one appears at all you could suggest someone you know would resonate with the client, or default to ‘the Wise and Strong version of their Inner Self’. I have had people see their loved ones, especially grandmothers, figures described as Spirit Guides or Light Beings, and in one case even someone who got answers from a Butterfly, it truly is only limited by imagination. I also find the “dissociation” of talking to a “seperate” being is quite effective for people who may tend to distrust their own inner guidance.)
As much as possible I avoid talking about the “current body” other than to suggest breathing and relaxing, especially while addressing overwhelm because I find that occasionally mentioning the body, or the room, can lead to critical thinking and ultimately lessen the trance state we’ve achieved up to that point. So, although it seems helpful I would avoid saying something like “You are safe in your current body now” or “remember you are here with me and safe in this room” and attempt to stay more general, for example, “you are safe and protected here and now.”
Whatever techniques you choose to address traumatic overwhelm is important to remind the person experiencing that they are safe and protected. I usually say something like “Right now you are safe and protected, this is only a memory and you are already on the other side of this; we are only looking back because there is something important we can learn now...”