| This preliminary study examined the effectiveness of the Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization Technique (ASSYST), an early intervention derived from Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), in reducing acute stress in an individual with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The participant was a 22-year-old male with an ACE score of 8, indicating significant developmental trauma exposure and heightened stress vulnerability. The intervention consisted of two ASSYST sessions utilizing tapping-based bilateral stimulation (BLS). Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDs), complemented by post-session qualitative interviews. Results demonstrated a notable reduction in stress levels, with the PCL-5 score decreasing from 64 to 49 and SUDs decreasing from 9 to 0 following the intervention. These findings suggest that ASSYST may be effective in reducing acute stress responses among individuals with low stress tolerance and high ACE exposure. By explicitly integrating the ACE framework, this study highlights ASSYST as a rapid, non-verbal stabilization intervention that may be particularly suitable for trauma-vulnerable populations prior to trauma memory reprocessing. However, a full EMDR protocol remains necessary to facilitate adaptive reprocessing of traumatic memories and support long-term psychological integration. |