<![CDATA[Say Yes to Change with Hypnosis - Marlene's Blog Page]]>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:55:21 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Hypnosis and Fibromyalgia: Is your doctor "putting a curse on you?" by Jacob Teitelbaum, MD]]>Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:44:13 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2012/01/hypnosis-and-fibromyalgia-is-your-doctor-putting-a-curse-on-you-published-on-october-21-2008-by-jacob-teitelbaum-md-in-complementary-medicine.htmlIs your doctor “putting a curse on you?" Odd as this may sound, this is what is occurring in much of how physicians approach their patients. Let’s look at the power of words in the healing process, using fibromyalgia pain and hypnosis as examples. We have progressed to the point where we can actually see the areas associated with fibromyalgia pain light up on brain scans. As an aside, there are not many idiots who still believe that the pain is not real, but the brain scan changes should help those few recover from being fools. 
Most sensation (whether it is hot, cold, wet or pain) can be modified using hypnosis. I paid my way through medical school as a children's hospital intensive care unit nurse, and learned hypnosis in medical school. My goal was to help decrease the pain of dressing changes being done for children in the burn units. I have been impressed at our ability to use our mind to increase or decrease pain and other physical processes.

In this study, functional MRI scans were done to look for activation of pain areas in people with fibromyalgia. Interestingly, simply suggesting that pain would lower did decrease both the pain and MRI changes. This suggests that the suggestions your physician gives you (e.g., there is hope vs. "no one can get you well") become self fulfilling prophecies. If fact, statements like "no one can get you well" used to be called putting a "curse" on someone. Yet this is what physicians often do—ignoring how their words have the power to harm as well as heal.

What makes these "curse" statements by physicians so nasty is that they are wrong and borne of ignorance. Most physicians these days are aware, almost exclusively, of only the most expensive medications, surgery and procedures. They believe this puts them scientifically on the cutting edge, not realizing that what they think is science is really slick advertising by drug companies masquerading as educational activities. A quick check of which companies sponsor a conference and what percentage of speakers are promoting these companies' products (for big bucks) should quickly disabuse one from thinking the conference is much more than an advertisement. Journals also are affected by the drug advertising (ever wonder why you never see ads for cars or golf clubs in medical journals? No one would be insane enough to pay for those ads—except that it buys "good relationships" with the journal's handlers. The silver lining to this problem is that the scientific literature is also full of studies showing effective treatment for many "untreatable" medical problems. These are usually so cheap, though, those doctors never hear about them (they tend to be in smaller journals with less drug ads). So what the physician is really saying is that "there are no extremely expensive medications for your problem that the drug company propaganda has indoctrinated me about, so I can't help you." Tell them thanks for their honesty, and go find a holistic physician who has looked at the rest of the science—and who usually can help. (See the American Board of Holistic Medicine to find a doctor). To do your own medical sleuthing, get a medical report on your illness from Jan Guthrie at the Health. I never cease to be amazed at studies they find showing help for "untreatable" problems.

But back to the study... suggestions of pain relief given under hypnosis were even more effective at decreasing pain sensation and the amount of stimulation of pain areas in the brain. All this goes to show that your ability to affect the outcome of your illness should not be underrated. In fact, a large part of the Art of Medicine is working with you to mobilize your own internal healing abilities. That medicine has derisively called your ability to affect healing the "placebo effect," suggesting that only the doctor has the power to help you—and that anything you do on your own shows you are crazy—shows how aggressively the medical establishment works to disempower you. But you do have the ability to often heal yourself given good information. As it is said "Knowledge is Power!"
]]><![CDATA[Holiday Stress Solutions by Marc Gravelle,]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:16:15 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2011/12/holiday-stress-solutions-by-marc-gravelle.htmlSometimes the best solutions are the simplest solutions.

Many people find the period from Thanksgiving through the New Year a very stressful time, even though we’re taught that it is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. During this time we often are confronted with numerous conflicts and inflated or unrealistic expectations.

According to a poll conducted by About.com, more than 80% of respondents reported finding the holiday season to be ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ stressful.


The Problems
 Some of the more common problems we face during the holidays are:
       
Increases in traffic and more traffic delays.

Over committing to too many parties, social gatherings and family time.

Over spending on gifts.
       
Increased consumption of rich desserts and/or alcohol.

Over committing to sending cards with notes and baking goodies for gifts.

Solution: The Anchor
The term anchor refers to a simple technique, method, or tool, to interrupt and replace any feeling of building anxiety or stress.
Anchor Technique: Simple to Create
Inhale deeply, holding it for a brief moment (about 3 seconds).
As you slowly exhale, say, or think, the word “CALM”.
Inhale deeply again and hold (about 3 seconds).
As you slowly exhale say, or think, the word “RELAXED”.
Inhale deeply, again and hold (about 3 seconds).
As you exhale slowly, say or think the words “IN CONTROL”.

Do it right now and experience the effect. Feel more relaxed? This one simple technique takes less than 30 seconds. Depending on the situation, or the level of stress,
you could do the anchor two or three times successively (which takes less than two minutes).

This one simple technique applies to any stressful situation we encounter and improves our coping skills. This one method can assist us in handling all the various stressors of the holiday season. Another option is to use, or substitute your own words that you associate more with relaxation.

Additional Holiday Solutions

Plan longer time cushions both to leave for, and arrive to functions in a punctual manner.

Take a few minutes to write out what you can realistically accomplish during this busy time. Writing lists can assist in prioritizing what’s important and what’s not so important.

Make a budget for gift giving that fits your own budget to avoid unnecessary credit card balance buildup.

Practice assertive communication to be able to say no diplomatically and enforce your boundaries of contact or involvement.

The tool of using the anchor is even more effective when guided in the state of hypnosis. It’s more effective because the level or depth of relaxation is more profound in a clinical setting like a hypnotherapy session.

Many clients have asked how often they need to do the anchor process and I recommend starting with 20-50 times/day. Especially during trying times.
]]><![CDATA[Can Hypnosis End Bulimia? by Dr. Bryan Knight]]>Tue, 15 Feb 2011 08:30:22 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2011/02/can-hypnosis-end-bulimia-by-dr-bryan-knight.htmlThe short answer is yes. The longer answer follows.

Bulimia (usually defined as binge eating followed with laxatives, vomiting, diuretics or compulsive exercise to purge the body) is a life-threatening malaise.

There are several theories about why people become trapped in this cycle of self-abuse. These fall into three main categories: social, family and individual.

Each, of course, is intimately linked with the others. Hypnotherapy helps on the individual level which in turn can influence the family and the social aspects.
Society
 It is not society's fault that a particular person is bulimic. However, society certainly reinforces their dilemmas. How does it do this?

Through its emphasis on food -- and thinness. Ever watch television and not see a commercial for food? Read a magazine and not see an advertisement for food?

Yet the cover most likely features a very thin woman. And on television you'll see skinny models and infomercials for weight loss.

So society says thin is good -- yet promotes junk food. On top of this, we receive the message that some foods are "bad" and others are "good."

Similarly, drinking alcohol is adult, drinking alcohol is dangerous.

These contradictions lay a foundation of inner conflict. Especially for emotionally-vulnerable adolescents.

If you eat "bad" foods, you feel guilty. If you force yourself to refrain, you feel deprived. No wonder some people turn to stuffing themselves, and then vomit the guilt.

It often seems that society is telling us we can't be thin enough. Not surprising then, if you try to be as thin as possible as as to gain validation from outside.

Or, if overweight, feel unaccepted, and unacceptable.

All of society's contradictions are further underlined in the school system. We teach children (especially girls) to be compliant, rather than independent. We do not teach children to question, to think critically. We teach them to conform -- and to regurgitate!

Family
A lot of people with eating disorders come from families which have difficulty to express emotions. It may be that the parents bury their own conflicts, or it may be that their religious or cultural beliefs preclude speaking openly about emotion.

Whatever the reason for the restriction of open expression, the result is often that the children absorb the family's silent pain. And one way in which a child deals with this unexpressed pain is to punish herself through the misuse of food.

Abuse --
 emotional, physical, psychological or sexual -- within the family can also be a cause for an eating disorder later in life. The child, now grown up, continues to perpetuate abuse only now in the form of harming herself physically, psychologically and emotionally, through binging and purging.

In both lack of expressed emotion and overt abuse, the child's body expresses the family's dynamics.

Individual
 Bulimia may begin as a person's reaction to the fear and sense of loss of control when a mood disorder such as depression occurs. When this is the case, treatment of the biologically caused mood disorder is essential -- another reason to involve a physician.

More often, bulimia is an ineffective way a person responds to the social and family cues described above. Or to other events.

Anything that causes severe emotional pain may lead to a person using bulimia in a frantic attempt to regain a sense of control. There may be a single originating trauma such as an abortion, divorce, rape, death of a friend. Or the psychological or emotional pain may have come from a series of traumas. Or even from an intolerable, ongoing experience such as a dispiriting marriage, or having grown up in an alcoholic family.

Some individuals become bulimic because, after years of being givers, they tire of always pleasing others but don't know how to deal with their frustration and resentment.

Yet another possible cause of bulimia can be that your feelings were not validated. That is, when you felt angry, for example, you were told it that it was wrong to feel that way, or that you were selfish, or even that you didn't really feel angry.

The resulting confusion (because of course, you did feel angry) would likely result in you turning the anger and frustration inward.

Since you had been taught not to express your emotions through words, or to trust your own feelings, one way to deal with the resulting sense of badness or craziness would be to overeat -- and then to purge the guilt and shame.

Most bulimics think in "either-or" terms. This leaves no room for the acceptance of mixed emotions. For example, most people have mixed feelings towards their parents. But a bulimic would likely condemn herself for even a fleeting thought of disloyalty or anger toward a parent. Either you love, or you hate. Either you are good, or you are bad. Either you are thin, or you are fat. Either you eat well, or you eat badly.

Such thinking prevents a person from self-understanding and self-acceptance. It goes along with the uncritical absorption of television commercials and magazine ads. It keeps the bulimic's self-esteem at a low level.

Symptoms
 In a futile attempt to soothe herself, the bulimic falls into a see-saw ritual as she tries to regulate the opposing tensions of emptiness and guilt.

Shame increases as the physiological effects of either overeating or malnutrition take effect.

The ritual of binge/purge can also be seen as a sad attempt to exercise control in what may be the only available arena in the bulimic's life: her body.

Often, though, the body image is distorted. Where others see emaciation, she may see obesity. Desperately, the bulimic comes to define herself through this preoccupation with food and size. Self-esteem is consequently very low because the bulimic can never be thin enough in her own eyes, nor good enough in her own estimation.

There is, of course, a constant preoccupation with food and weight. This focus serves to protect the bulimic from facing the buried unacceptable, or terrifying, emotional conflicts within her or within the family.

Prescribed, or illegal, drugs to lose weight may exacerbate the physical damage and the shame.

These symptoms are not the problem. They are just that, symptoms. Hypnosis can be used to deal not only with these symptoms, but with the underlying problems which give rise to the symptoms.

Hypnosis to get to the Cause
Hypnosis provides a quick route to the cause of an individual's bulimia. This is because hypnosis allows direct communication with the sufferer's subconscious. And the subsconscious knows what is at the root of the problem.

Sometimes this is a single event (terrifying sexual abuse, for example); more often there is a series of traumas or conflicts. Each such event builds on the previous ones until the psychological torment becomes intolerable.

Bulimia can then been seen as both a way to exercise control over out-of-control feelings, and as a scream for help.

There are several techniques that a competent hypnotherapist is trained to use to help bulimics tackle the causes of their suffering. None involve gadgets or touching the client. They may include relaxing music but they are basically verbal. They concentrate on encouraging the bulimic to use her imagination in a creative manner.

To the subconscious, all events, imagined or actually experienced, are "real." This is a wonderful attribute of the mind.

It means that the bulimic can take some traumatic event that has deeply upset her and, in her imagination, re-write that event so the movie in her mind turns out the way she would prefer.

This results in her subconscious holding the two versions of "reality". The second gives relief to what has become popularly known as the "inner child."

It is not that the traumatic event is wiped out. The conscious mind still knows what happened. But the negative emotional impact is diminished. The person no longer needs to purge.

She is freed from the self-punishment.

Hypnosis to Deal with Symptoms
 Symptoms, apart from the major one of purging, vary from one person to another.

Hynotherapy enables the bulimic to imagine herself behaving differently. Thus, the people-pleasing bulimic mentioned above, who is tired of always being a giver, could use hypnotherapy to imagine herself instead dealing with her rage and resentment in constructive ways.

Freedom from the need to purge can be encouraged with post-hypnotic suggestions. That is, suggestions given while you are in hypnosis but which take effect after the session.

Usually more than a post-hypnotic suggestion would be necessary to eliminate bulimia. Even the most powerful post-hypnotic suggestions fade over time unless there is reinforcement (by yourself or with the therapist) or a profound change in lifestyle.

A main factor in the healing of a bulimic is the attention and validation offered by the therapist to the person seeking help. So, even without hypnosis, simply enjoying the experience of the professional encouraging and endorsing your feelings, is therapeutic.

What hypnotherapy offers you is a method to continue the healing by yourself.

Psychotherapy while you are in Hypnosis
 "Either-or" thinking -- characteristic of bulimics -- permits no room for the imperfections we all possess. Limited thinking prevents a person from self-understanding and self-acceptance. It's a mind trap with only two gates. It ignores the reality that we can choose to add as many gates as we wish.

"Either-or" thinking is the delight of the sponsors of televison commercials and magazine ads. They can more easily persuade a limited-thinking viewer that such-and-such a food is "good."

Or, conversely, that you should feel guilty about eating this other product because it brings pleasure to your palate, and fat to your face. Thus is the uncritical-thinking bulimic's self-esteem kept at a low level.

The "either-or" thinking pattern of most bulimics can be transformed by using cognitive therapy while you are in hypnosis. This simply means the therapist helps you to think more clearly, with a wider variety of options than you have been used to. Also to question, to be skeptical.

This happens more quickly when you are relaxed in hypnosis than it would during ordinary psychotherapy.

Such a change in patterns of thinking allows for the acceptance of mixed emotions. And for the evaluation of what others tell you. Ultimately, critical thinking makes freedom from bulimia possible.

Hypnotherapy can increase your self-control, your self-liking, your self-esteem and therefore, your self-protection.

Hypnotherapy provides a safe, healthy way to soothe yourself.
 Distorted body image is characteristic of the bulimic, who often feels she cannot be thin enough. Hypnotherapeutic techniques can gradually help her adjust her perceptions to reality.

Similarly with unexpressed emotion. With hypnotherapy, you can unlearn messages the family may have implanted about keeping feelings in. You can learn how to safely express emotion, instead of stuffing it down and purging it out.

In the therapist's office, relaxed in hypnosis, you use your mind to allow yourself to feel, and to imaginatively rehearse the safe expression of emotion. This purging of emotion in a safe environment can translate into your not needing to purge food. You have undercut the need for the metaphor (food-purging) by experiencing the reality (emotion-purging).

You can also use hypnosis to give yourself post-hypnotic suggestions about eating normally, being free from the urge to purge food, being in control in healthy ways, etc.

In addition, you could use hypnotherapy to provide yourself with a "trigger" -- a word, a gesture, or an image -- which automatically stops you from harming yourself.

Hypnotherapy can help you use your inner strengths to stop your body being the vehicle which expresses your family's disturbed dynamics.

Hypnotherapy can also strengthen your resolve to be your own person -- to resist the impact of the diabolical and paradoxical TV and magazine advertising which advocates both food and thinness.

Ultimately, hypnotherapy helps you achieve what all psychotherapy seeks: that you attain enough independence to trust your own judgement, and retain enough interdependence that you contribute the most to society that your unique personality can offer.

Hypnotherapy does this by enabling you to tap into your subconscious resources, and thus to strengthen your self-control.
]]><![CDATA[Inspire Motivate and Reinvent Yourself in 2011 by Roseanna Leaton]]>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:20:04 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/12/inspire-motivate-and-reinvent-yourself-in-2011-by-roseanna-leaton.htmlIt's that time of year once more when most of us sit back and reassess where we are in life and make a comparison between that and where we want to be. Few people, it seems, are truly content and happy with their lot. It doesn't take a huge amount of sensitivity for one to feel the sense of dissatisfaction which looms like a gloomy mist in the atmosphere of today's world.

Self-help books find their way into Christmas stockings and hundreds of thousands of people can be found during the Christmas holidays thumbing through motivation and success seeking books which line the shelves in book shops around the world. Many people want to change various aspects of their life and seek to find an appropriate or easy way in which to do so.



Sadly, the majority of people do not actually act upon their desires. Their wishes remain a brief and transient dream and are never converted into reality. They buy the book, but never finish reading it; or they finish reading it but never quite absorb its contents. Some people do really read what is being said and go on to transform their world. They are inspired and motivated sufficiently to reinvent themselves.

It takes energy, perseverance and belief to be able to change even the smallest things in your life, let alone those major goals which pass through your mind when you are sitting contemplating your "New Year's Resolutions". I believe that there are two really big goals which everyone should set but very few do so.

The first is to make a commitment to yourself to commit to achieving your goal. Don't just think about it; commit yourself to doing it. Make a promise to yourself that no matter what obstacles are thrown in your path you WILL achieve your goal. You are going to do this, no matter what.

The second is to commit to enjoying the process. Make your mind up to enjoy the journey. You don't have to grin and bear it; you can have fun and enjoy doing whatever it is. With this attitude you make your goal not only more enjoyable, you also make it a whole lot easier. This positive energy feeling is what creates the motivation and inspiration to be able to reinvent yourself. Without this energy you will not succeed.

If you are not willing to set these two goals for yourself then I would like to proffer an alternative for you to contemplate. How about setting yourself a goal which is a commitment to yourself to be happy as you are? Quit being dissatisfied;  put up or shut up.

Nobody enjoys being dissatisfied and the people around you don't want to hear about it either. Setting a goal to learn how to be happy with your lot would be the most amazing way in which you could reinvent yourself and also be an inspiration to others to do the same. You would not only make your world a better place to be, you would help the world around you to be a better place as well

]]><![CDATA[Is Hypnosis any Better than a Placebo? by Rob MacInnes ]]>Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:07:21 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/10/is-hypnosis-any-better-than-a-placebo-by-rob-macinnes.htmlPerhaps as an informed potential client you've wondered about the relationship of hypnotism to a variety of suggestibility responsible for the placebo effect. Some of the readers who are practicing hypnotists, may have on occasion seen the confidence of a client get shaken by others who, in an offhanded way, commented that hypnosis is "just a placebo", or "no more than a placebo"? Sometimes these statements are even made by otherwise knowledgeable helping professionals. Do these statements have any basis in fact? 

Most practitioners would probably assert from training or experience that this claim is untrue, that there is more going on with hypnosis than a placebo effect. And yet, if it were true, would there really be anything wrong with that? As Moerman and Jonas (2002) point out, to say that a treatment, such as acupuncture "isn't better than a placebo" does not mean that it does nothing (Moerman & Jonas, 2002). Hans Eysenck (1991), one of the most prolific writers in the history of psychology, observes that placebo treatment in psychiatry is just about as effective as psychotherapeutic techniques (Eyesenck,1991).
Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative medicine offers two functional definitions of a placebo, "An inert substance used in control groups of clinical studies to maintain blinding" and "the beneficial effects of the meaning and context of treatment independent of the treatment itself" (Jonas, 2005). This article mainly discusses a study published in 1969 that elegantly illustrates how both of these aspects relate to hypnotism for the treatment of pain.

Placebo effects pervade all forms of health intervention, and these effects are often extraordinary; Placebo response with analgesic drugs can vary in proportion to the efficacy of the drug itself (Shea, 1991), Placebo analgesia can elicit the production of endogenous opiates (Moerman & Jonas, 2002), and experimental placebo effects can even mimic other pharmacological properties of the active agent with which it is being compared (Evans, 1974, 1985). People can even become addicted to placebos, showing many of the traits of drug dependance such as tolerance over time and withdrawal symptoms (as cited in Shea, 1991).

The use of hypnosis as a treatment of choice, just like the administration of a drug or any other health related intervention, can of course have strong placebo effects on the issue or condition being worked on; however, the practitioner and the would-be client can be assured that it is strongly suggested by empirical research that genuine hypnotic effects go significantly beyond, and are in fact unrelated to, the "non specific" effects produced by a placebo therapy.

A study published in 1969 by Thomas H. McGlashan MD, Fredrick J. Evans, PhD, and Martin T. Orne MD, PhD was designed to test the hypothesis that there are at least two mechanisms involved in hypnotic analgesia. One is the "non specific" placebo effects of using hypnosis as a treatment method, and the other is the distortion of the perception of the pain sensation specifically induced during deep hypnosis, that a placebo response for analgesia and that of hypnotically produced analgesia are two completely separate things.

When conducting experimental research on hypnotism, certain tests are employed which use standardized hypnotic inductions and have been developed to gauge an individual's susceptibility to hypnosis as a specific score or measurement of how easily a person can be hypnotized. The most commonly used tests in research are the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS), which was developed and modified by Andre M. Weitzenhoffer and Ernest R. Hilgard: forms A, form B (as a follow up to re-test susceptibility on a second session), form C which attempts to order the items in increasing difficulty on a statistical basis (Udolf, 1987) and the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (HGSHS) which is an adaptation of the SHSS by Ronald Shor and Emily Orne to test entire groups of people at a time.

M.T. Orne designed a double blind study with a hypnotic group of 12 "high" susceptible subjects and a control group of 12 "low" susceptible subjects as determined by performance on the HGSHS: form A and the SHSS: form C.

The "low" susceptible subjects were selected to show that any analgesic effect they exhibited was unlikely to have been the result of inadvertent hypnosis, these effects would be understood as caused by secondary placebo effects which could accompany a hypnotic procedure. These control subjects were given suggestions that produced a deep state of relaxation and were subsequently given suggestions that one of their hands would become analgesic. Electric shocks were administered in each hand, and with some manipulation (covertly lowering the voltage), they were led to believe they had produced a marked hypnotic analgesia in the selected hand. In this manner, the control subjects were made unaware for the duration of the study, that they were part of the group selected for their unusually low susceptibility to hypnosis.

On the second session, all subjects were then assigned a hand pumping task to establish a baseline threshold for their tolerance for ischemic muscle pain. Blood flow to the arms was obstructed with a blood pressure cuff inflated to 200 millimeters of mercury. Later in this second session, a relaxation method of hypnotic induction was performed on all subjects in each group and analgesia was suggested in one arm. Tolerance for pain was assessed via this hand pumping task once more.

In a third session, a placebo "drug" was administered as a powerful new analgesic named, N-methyl-O-isopropyl oxazolidine and again the ischemic pain task was administered as before. The explanation given to all subjects for this third session included information about the pharmacology of analgesia and the particular drug being used. This subterfuge was meant to give the impression to both high and low susceptible groups that the "efficacy of hypnosis" was being measured against a powerful physiologically active drug rather than betray the fact that the purpose of the experiment was to distinguish analgesia in deep hypnosis from the "non specific" placebo effects of using hypnosis as a treatment method.

The results showed no relationship between the level of placebo analgesia and that of susceptibility to hypnosis. Both the truly hypnotized and non-hypnotized subjects  (the group selected for low hypnotic ability that was surreptitiously led to believe they were capable of producing hypnotic analgesia) produced elevated ischemic pain thresholds, however the effect was much greater for the true (highly susceptible) hypnotic subjects in the second session.

The responses of both of these groups to the placebo "drug", without any hypnotic procedure, were identical. The placebo effect was equally distributed regardless of experimentally measured hypnotic susceptibility. The high susceptible subjects performance in their "drug" placebo session was not as great as their own hypnotic analgesia performance in session two. This confirmed their hypothesis that susceptibility to hypnosis (at least in an experimental setting) is not intrinsically correlated with placebo responsivity.

Evans (1969) speculates:
It is not possible to specify the mechanisms involved in the alteration of pain perception achieved by some of the deeply hypnotized Ss. A variety of negative hallucinations involving most sensory modalities can be induced with deeply hypnotized Ss, and it is plausible that the somesthetic sensation of pain can be subjected to the same kind of cognitive changes as those involved in other negative hallucinations. (p. 243)

One conclusion drawn from this is that when the subject believes in the efficacy of the procedure, hypnotically induced analgesia can be effective regardless of the client's aptitude for hypnosis, however McGlashan et al. (1969), emphasizes that the cognitive distortion produced by hypnotic analgesia in highly susceptible subjects is unique to hypnosis and is unrelated to the effects of nonspecific placebo factors accompanying the hypnosis procedure (McGlashan et al., 1969).

References

Eyesenck, H (1991). Is suggestibility?  In J Shumacker (ed.) Human suggestibility: advances in theory research and application (pp. 76-90) New York: Routledge

Jonas. (2005) . Placebo. In Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/placebo

McGlashan, T.H., Evans, F.H., Orne, M.T. (1969) . The nature of hypnotic analgesia and placebo response to experimental pain. Psychosomatic medicine, Vol XXXI (No 3), 227-246

Moerman, D. E. & Jonas, W.B. (2002)   Deconstructing the Placebo Effect and Finding the Meaning Response [electronic version] . Annals of internal medicine, 136 no. 6 471-476

Udolf R. (1987) . Handbook of hypnosis for professionals. Second edition. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co.

]]><![CDATA[What Is Parts Therapy by C. Roy Hunter, M.S., FAPHP]]>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:23:10 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/09/what-is-parts-therapy-by-c-roy-hunter-ms-faphp.htmlBefore answering the question in the title of this article, let me present another important question: how often do people experience inner conflicts that inhibit successful attainment of important goals?

Hypnotherapists often use proven techniques to help clients change undesired habits and/or to achieve desired personal and professional goals. Yet, in spite of the best efforts of both client and therapist, unresolved inner conflicts often inhibit clients from attaining their ideal empowerment. Parts therapy may provide the answer!

Charles Tebbetts is often given credit for originating parts therapy, yet he was a parts therapy pioneer who actually borrowed this technique from Paul Federn and modified it. While my late mentor openly gave credit to Federn, Tebbetts evolved parts therapy into a much more client-centered technique. I've updated Charlie's work over the years since his passing, but I consider my late mentor to be the grandfather of client-centered parts therapy.

Now let's explore the question first posed by providing a simple definition of parts therapy, followed by the explanation I give to clients.
The Simple Definition

Parts therapy is based on the concept that our personality is composed of a number of various parts. Our personality parts are aspects of the subconscious, each with their respective jobs or functions of the inner mind. In other words, we tend to wear many different hats as we walk through the path of life. I also give a simple definition to clients prior to employing parts therapy.

To reduce the risk of client discomfort, I use myself as an example. I tell clients about my inner child that desires to go to a movie at evening rates, while my inner "CPA" motivates me to consider an afternoon matinee or bargain show in order to pay less. While my conscious mind normally makes the decision, I am still aware of both conflicting desires originating from these two parts of myself.

Many dieters are aware of the desire to reduce, yet often feel temporarily overpowered by a conflicting desire to indulge in junk food. Smokers often make another promise to quit, only finding that one more promise literally goes up in smoke. I tell clients that we can be aware of our own conflicting desires, emanating from our personality parts, and can call them out in hypnosis. For example, I might tell a smoker before starting the hypnosis: "There is a part of you that wants to quit, or you would not be investing the time and money for these sessions. But there is another part of you that wants to keep on smoking, otherwise you would not need professional help, would you?"

We may invest only two or three minutes to provide the above explanation and examples, but this explanation will make a great difference in his/her comfort level if you choose to use parts therapy during the session.

My new parts therapy book from Crown House Publishing explores parts therapy in depth. For now, let's briefly discuss additional important information.

When Is Parts Therapy Appropriate?

The most obvious time to employ parts therapy or one of its variations is when there an obvious inner conflict prevents a client from achieving an important goal, such as quitting smoking. For example, suppose a client says: "A part of me wants to quit smoking, but another part keeps sabotaging every effort I make to quit!" Such a comment during the preinduction discussion would be a good clue to consider parts therapy. This inner conflict may also be evident if a client fails to respond to the positive suggestions and imagery I employ in the first two visits.

Note that I do NOT employ parts therapy during a client's first session. Rather, I use suggestion and imagery to provide an enjoyable first trance journey, and then wait until a subsequent session before employing any advanced hypnotic technique. I want my client’s first trance trip with me to be enjoyable, as first impressions are lasting.

If it is not clear whether to choose parts therapy, then I use finger response questions to discover one or more subconscious causes. This is also explained in The Art Of Hypnotherapy (2nd Edition, Kendall/Hunt, 2000) as well as Hypnosis for Inner Conflict Resolution: Introducing Parts Therapy (Crown House Publishing, 2005).

Who Will Most Likely Respond?

My 22+ years of professional experience demonstrates that a deeply hypnotized client is more likely to respond to parts therapy. Someone experiencing little or no hypnosis may easily resist the entire process (or one of its variations), whether or not such resistance is apparent to the facilitator. Some therapists who use variations of parts therapy work with a client who is quite conscious. While many of their clients might respond with favorable results, a more analytical person might experience interference or resistance to the process, with some or most benefits being only temporary.

I myself have been on the receiving end of parts therapy more than once when the therapist failed to deepen me sufficiently, and my own analytical mind prevented the results from being permanent because of insufficient hypnotic depth.

In addition to guiding the client into deep hypnotic states, the best way to create a more permanent resolution is to practice what I call client-centered parts therapy. This means that the answers and solutions to the client's concerns emerge from the client's own mind rather than from the mind of the therapist.

Why Is Parts Therapy Effective?

Rather than the client giving away his or her power to someone else who implants the solutions in the form of suggestions, the client discovers the best resolution to an inner conflict by answering questions asked by the facilitator at appropriate times. Even as the parts therapy process begins, I set the client-centered tone by allowing each part that emerges to disclose its name (or title) and primary purpose. My entire approach involves asking questions that motivate each part to disclose  its purpose, and to find the resolution to the presenting problem. When facilitated in a client-centered manner, parts therapy empowers the client!

Several years ago a psychologist asked me to use parts therapy to help her resolve an inner conflict. Upon emerging from hypnosis, her first words were, "That solution was so simple, I wish I'd thought of it myself!" I quickly reminded her that the resolution had indeed come from her own mind, and not mine. She smiled and agreed, and acknowledged the value of parts therapy.

Client-centered parts therapy helps clients attain greater empowerment, because the power to change truly lies within the client rather than in the therapist. Our job is to help the client discover those answers by asking the right questions. Then, when the answers come from the client's own inner mind (instead of from someone else), the client often has greater confidence and greater self-esteem as side benefits to a successful resolution of the primary concern.

Variations

Therapists have employed variations of parts therapy for decades. Let me briefly discuss several of them, starting with my favorite variation: ego state therapy.

Pioneered by Dr. John Watkins and Helen Watkins, ego state therapy has gained popularity over the years. Gordon Emmerson, Ph.D., takes ego state therapy into the 21st Century at warp speed with his important book, Ego State Therapy (Crown House Publishing, 2003), which is now required reading for my hypnotherapy students. Emmerson believes that we use five to fifteen ego states throughout a normal week, and we have more available when needed. Emmerson also believes that hypnosis makes ego state therapy more powerful, providing further validation of the teachings of Charles Tebbetts.

Anyone seriously searching for new ways of working with the inner mind will discover books about voice dialogue, another variation of parts therapy (mentioned above). Voice dialogue is based on the work of Hal Stone, Ph.D., and Sidra Stone, Ph.D. They label the ego parts as selves or subpersonalities, and provide labels for the various other subpersonalities such as the protector/controller, the pleaser, the perfectionist, etc. The client, in a manner that could compare with Gestalt therapy, plays the role of each part by changing chairs or positions (although changing chairs is optional). The therapist facilitates the dialogue and proceeds accordingly. My primary concern about voice dialogue is the absence of a formal induction into hypnosis. With little or no trance state, the conscious mind is more easily able to allow analytical resistance. One of my own ineffective sessions as client took place when another therapist thought he facilitated a successful voice dialogue session with me. The absence of trance resulted in the "resolution" lasting only a few weeks.

John Bradshaw practices his own version, although he praises the work of Hal and Sidra Stone. He facilitates a group exercise where he encourages his clients to meditate with inner imagery, and to love the inner child. He then takes his clients through all the "developmental stages" to find out whether the needs were met in each stage. Suggestions for positive change are given to each stage (or part of the inner child), and he gets results. You decide whether or not this is a variation of parts therapy.

John Rowan presented the concept of subpersonalities in his book, Discover Your Subpersonalities (Routledge, 1993). He supposes that our minds may be naturally divided into portions and phases, with earlier and later historical levels. Various zones and developmental strata might lead to many internal figures. Like most authors of similar books, he labels the various subpersonalities (or parts). Although somewhat analytical, his book is written for the novice. It is easy to read, with much useful information. It contains numerous exercises, along with some questionnaires for self-awareness.

Nancy J. Napier, a nationally known marriage and family therapist, also works with a variation of parts therapy. Her book, Recreating Your SELF: Help for Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families (Norton, 1990)also gives examples of the origins of various personality parts. She calls them "protector" parts and "resource" parts, and provides some self‑hypnosis scripts for identifying, cleansing and healing our various parts.

Some therapists use a variation of parts therapy called conference room therapy. Although similar to parts therapy in many ways, they use the imagery of a conference room. My concern here is that the imagery is directed by the therapist rather than by the client. What if the client was terminated or demoted, and received such news in a conference room? I advise my students to avoid the use of any imagery during parts therapy except when such imagery originates from the client. One person's peaceful place may be another person's phobia.

During a hypnosis convention some time ago, I spoke with a hypnotist who uses a variation that involves talking to physical parts. Clients role‑play (like Gestalt therapy) being the heart, the brain, the liver, the foot, the ear, etc. Apparently he gets results. David Quigley, founder of Alchemical Hypnotherapy Institute, teaches a variation of parts therapy that is similar to that of Charles Tebbetts, but he seeks out specific parts that do specific jobs. Our two approaches are both different and compatible. Also, Kevin Hogan, Ph.D., FAPHP, employs and teaches a variation of parts therapy that is similar to what I teach. He discusses this in his book, The New Hypnotherapy Handbook (Network 3000, 2001).

Although other variations of parts therapy may be effective for some people, I prefer to practice and teach this valuable hypnotherapeutic technique similar to the way Tebbetts taught it; but over my years of practice, I've updated my mentor’s work to keep up with changing times.

If you currently employ parts therapy or any of its variations, you may wish to consider purchasing my new book from Crown House Publishing. If you are not yet trained in parts therapy or one of its variations, please consider referring a client with inner conflicts to someone who has received parts therapy training. You will be doing both the client and our profession a service by referring when appropriate.
]]><![CDATA[How To Improve Your Memory - Overcome Test Anxiety By Alan B. Densky, CH]]>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:11:15 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/08/how-to-improve-your-memory-overcome-test-anxiety-by-alan-b-densky-ch.htmlQuite often, intelligent schoolchildren receive school grades that just do not appear to reflect their intelligence. These children do their schoolwork, take part in the classroom, but still get lousy test scores. Parents frequently misjudge lousy scores on exams as lack of study and preparation, but this frequently is not true. Often, anxiety over tests is a significant source of low grades.

Young people who have test anxiety typically study at home until they could answer the test questions backwards and forwards. But when they walk into the classroom and sit down to take the test, their minds freeze. They cannot recall the concepts that, only a moment before, was clear in their minds. They develop performance anxiety, and are able to consider nothing but the likelihood of failure.
Hypnosis to improve memory and recall has been successful in helping parents aid their children to overcome test anxiety. Traditional strategies, including self-hypnosis memory improvement, can be very useful for more mature children who are not extremely analytical or critical thinkers. These programs, which may assist clients to improve memory and recall and reduce their test anxiety, are easily accessed.

Those young people who are inquisitive and intelligent, on the other hand, frequently struggle with using standard types of hypnosis to improve memory and recall. This is because they question concepts and try to comprehend procedures including self-hypnosis memory improvement. These students will usually receive much more benefit from complex techniques including Ericksonian hypnosis or even Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP for test anxiety.

NLP for test anxiety employs several basic actions to assist the mind to accomplish a complicated job. One very useful NLP strategy learned by clients is a strategy known as anchoring. With anchoring, clients are taught to remember a time when they perceived a sense of success and self-esteem. As they mentally re-enact those emotions, they learn to touch two fingers together during the experience of those emotions. This creates an anchor, or trigger for the emotions.

Once the students have successfully installed an anchor for self-esteem, they are coached to imagine themselves taking a test. As they construct this mental movie, they are taught to trigger the self-esteem anchor by touching the two fingers together again. The subconscious then relates the emotions of self-esteem and achievement to the behavior of taking a test. The final outcome is that individuals feel much more optimistic about their ability to successfully test, which allows them to have a positive anticipation of a successful outcome. This allows them to feel comfortable while testing, which helps them to easily recall information.

This process allows NLP and memory improving approaches assist young people to maximize their concentration during difficult circumstances like testing. NLP for test anxiety allows the student to become calmer and think about remembering the information they have absorbed. This helps them to recall the information that they learned so fully.

One other approach to using Neuro-Linguistic Programming for test anxiety is to use the "Flash" technique. Young people receive instruction on using this technique to reduce worry and tension. With assistance, they learn to instruct their mental processes to instantly swap stressful thoughts for calming thoughts. Eventually, individuals who utilize NLP for test anxiety realize that it becomes very hard to focus on anxiety-producing thoughts as their minds automatically flash them away for relaxing ideas instead!

A mixture of NLP and memory improvement strategies may very useful in decreasing test anxiety, as well as improving memory recall. Employing NLP for test anxiety, as well as memory recall, permits children to capitalize on their ability to remember and absorb more information. This is typically essential in this age of "information overload."

In today’s world, people’s lives are assailed routinely by information from television, radio, websites, family, friends, newspapers and books. As students spend their entire days in classrooms, they are even more likely to have this difficulty. Tools like NLP for test anxiety are also used to assist them to remain relaxed and deal with this deluge of data. NLP and memory improving techniques allow them to concentrate on essential information, and to remember it instead of the torrent of trivial information that accompanies it.

Young people who are successful in using NLP for test anxiety also benefit from using these strategies for reducing stress and improving concentration in many aspects of life. For example, NLP and memory tools can encourage clients to remember names or important dates or events. Sometimes, older children who have tried Neuro-Linguistic Programming for test anxiety verify that these useful approaches greatly strengthen the quality of their work and social lives as well.

Parents who are concerned about their child’s struggles with test scores and overall educational achievement should consider the benefits of NLP for test anxiety. These techniques are very successful for most bright young kids who struggle with this problem. Moreover, loving parents can utilize NLP and memory improvement tools to assist their children become better prepared to begin their careers.

]]><![CDATA[Happiness or Perfection: Hypnotherapy and The Perfectionist by Marc Gravelle]]>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:50:29 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/07/happiness-or-perfection-hypnotherapy-and-the-perfectionist-by-marc-gravelle.htmlDo you know anyone, a friend, family member, co-worker or acquaintance who considers himself or herself a perfectionist? If so, have you ever noticed that they seem somewhat edgy, on guard or perhaps demanding?

We live in a very competitive world and it is important to have high personal and professional standards. However, when a person’s standard or goal is perfection, they may not realize that they are setting themselves up to experience more frustration, anxiety, and disappointment than is necessary. The goal of perfection is unrealistic.
There is very little in life that is perfect. To be human is to be imperfect.

There is a tapestry in the United Nations building by a Belgian artist, who purposely put imperfections into the artwork to signify that we live in an imperfect world. There is no perfect person, no perfect relationship, no perfect job, no perfect house, the list is endless.

What is Pefectionism? The dictionary definition of perfectionism is “a disposition to regard anything short of perfection as unacceptable.” Another definition could be “ a perfectionist expects themselves to be perfect, and others around them and events to be perfect.”

A perfectionist is constantly reaching for a goal that is always just a little beyond reach. That’s certainly setting oneself up for frustration and disappointment, and maybe unnecessary anxiety.

In her book, The Happiness Makeover, M. J. Ryan cites that “research has shown that perfectionists are less healthy, less happy, have less satisfying relationships, and even earn less than others.”

There are many “downsides” when a person seeks perfection as a goal. A perfectionist may avoid taking risks for fear that the outcome will not be perfect. This is a very limiting outlook and one looses the opportunity for learning from their mistakes and becomes “stuck”. It has often been said “no risk, no success.”

A person seeking the perfect relationship sabotages themselves from the beginning, as we know there is no “perfect relationship.”

Expecting others to do a perfect assignment or job is another pitfall of the perfectionist. This expectation can often trigger an anger/anxiety reaction from the perfectionist, creating intolerance that can be non-productive or hurtful in the workplace.

Solution A reasonable solution to perfectionism is to replace the goal of perfection with a more realistic, attainable goal: excellence. In the Academy Awards they give the awards for “excellence” in acting etc., not perfection in acting.

Adopting the goal of excellence helps “take the edge off,” enabling a person to become more tolerant, understanding, and more solution oriented. The actor Michael J. Fox is quoted: “I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.”

Replacing the goal of perfection with the goal of excellence enables a person to actually enjoy their work or activity more because they let go of the pressure of having to do the task or activity perfectly. The less pressure a person feels, the better they function, and the better they can concentrate.

Worrying about how events will go is yet another pitfall of the perfectionist. The goal of excellence enables a person to worry less and thus experience less of the anxiety or stress that worrying creates.

An unfortunate attitude that some perfectionists adopt is that they “have to be right.” They don’t realize that when they have to be right (at any cost) they make others have to be wrong. This is not a productive way to handle business or personal relationships and can create disharmony. The goal of excellence enables one to not always “have to be right.”

Hypnotherapy Strategy Hypnotherapy is an excellent modality to help the perfectionist replace that goal with a more realistic goal, excellence, that is achievable daily. The hypnotherapist guides the client into hypnosis (a hypersuggestable state of mind), while also guiding the client to relax their body. Then it is suggested to the client that they will replace the old goal with the goal of excellence, resulting in the experience of less anxiety, frustration and disappointment. This process enables the client to experience the change must faster than merely thinking about creating a change.

Big Payoff The really big payoff of letting go of perfectionism and adopting excellence as a life goal is that a person will become generally happier. Let’s remember that generally happier people who operate with peace of mind live longer, experience less stress and anxiety, and are more successful in their relationships and other endeavors.
]]><![CDATA[A Hypnotherapist’s Casebook. No 1. Hypnotherapy For Healing by Brian Green]]>Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:42:26 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/06/a-hypnotherapists-casebook-no-1-hypnotherapy-for-healing-by-brian-green.htmlA little over ten years ago I was between jobs. I had been working in Psychiatric Hospitals and other Institutions, as an Admissions Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor, Case manager and Discharge Planner. I was attending some college courses, hoping eventually to obtain a Psychology degree, when a friend of mine suggested, "Why don't you study hypnotism, you could help people stop smoking and make some money." It seemed like a good idea, so I ended up attending classes at the world-renowned Gil Boyne Hypnotism Training Institute, in Glendale.

As soon as I saw on the first video what Mr. Boyne was able to achieve with hypnosis I exclaimed to him, "You are getting people to give you information in a few minutes that would take six months to a year in therapy, because consciously they don't know these things!" I knew I had encountered something I had always wanted, a means to make my work as a counselor more effective and economical in terms of both time and money. As yet I was not aware of the possible depth, speed and range of change available through hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
I have since discovered that hypnotherapy can be divided into two aspects. 1). "Putting in the good stuff," or suggestion therapy. To most people this is the most familiar, planting suggestions in a clients mind of a beneficial nature, such as, "You will act on the powerful desire you discover today to stop smoking for good." etc., while a person is in a hypnotic trance. The other aspect could be described as, 2). “Taking out the bad stuff," by altering and/or releasing historical sources of difficulties. This trance-pires by entering the subconscious mind, the other seven eighths of our mind we have little awareness of, and relieving difficulties in hypnotic trance. Of course, both aspects may well be implemented concurrently, (at least by me), with any client.

The effectiveness can be astonishing. One client returned after the first session and stated. "I stopped drinking coffee, eating “comfort food”, watching soap operas, and have emerged from a low grade depression of many years duration." As a bonus, this man had a thyroid condition, which caused his eyes to be permanently popped out, so he looked angry or scared all the time. It was now only barely visible around one eye. In addition, three quarters of the anxiety, regarding supervisory duties at work, which initiated his visit, had vanished. Later he lost eighty pounds! Though hypnotherapy is not always so dramatically effective as this, I inform prospective clients that eighty percent of those I work with usually see major positive changes within four sessions. I have seen the client's blood pressure go down from regular use of one of my self-hypnosis tapes. Persons have obtained rapid healing with little pain from invasive medical procedures and surgeries. Young persons, (around fourteen to twenty one years,) if willing, can often gain astonishing progress, due to being so open, and mentally fluid.

My process produces all kinds of general positive change, then I also work on the specifics. I help a person gain access to inner resources and increased self-esteem, while removing blocks that are keeping them stuck, so they can resume personal growth without me. Naturally, the amount of time and work necessary to obtain relief from any difficulty is related to its prior nature, duration, intensity and severity, and the availability of inner and outer resources.

What kind of problems is hypnotherapy useful for? Traditionally it has been successful, with habit control, smoking, weight, bedwetting, nail biting, stuttering, and so forth. For increasing self-confidence, motivation, memory, concentration, creativity, productivity and self-esteem. For reducing anxiety, releasing fears, phobias, headaches and nightmares. Sexual problems of both sexes may be amenable to hypnotic methods. The rapid release of grief is often very easy to facilitate, and unresolved grief from past losses is a significant contributor to more difficulties than is generally known. I have found that even the death of a beloved animal can leave a person in a state of frozen mourning. I use Hypnosis as an adjunct to treating drug and alcohol problems.. I receive referrals from Psychiatrists, Doctors, Psychotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Alternative/ Complementary Medicine practitioners, to assist clients who may be stuck in some way, or have a problem, such as mental and physical tension, that the referring party does not treat.

Correction of many obstinate physical/mental/emotional situations can be initiated. In fact, the holistic hypnotherapeutic process is as unlimited as the boundless Shaman's Imagination of the practitioner, and to the extent that he can utilize his Wizard Words to conjure up Magical Image Processes that heal, as becomes the Charm-ing Mage. Hypnosis then works in the I of the mind, as an Alchemical Philosopher's Stone, trance-muting the unknown into the golden healing known. Now I will close with the words of Tiny Tim, from a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, "God bless us all, each and every one."
]]><![CDATA[Discover the Power of Past Life Regression]]>Sun, 30 May 2010 08:17:54 -0800http://www.miamihypnocenter.com/1/post/2010/05/discover-the-power-of-past-life-regression.htmlhttp://www.free-press-release.com/news-miami-hypnotic-center-explores-the-power-of-past-life-age-regression-1275232559.html]]>