Exposure therapy in trance is more than effective – it can be transformative Exposure therapy is best undertaken in a trance state. Why? Because then, the unconscious can be directed towards healing and a better future in a language that will be well understood. Exposure therapy in trance is often understood as a means to de-traumatise – such as with the use of the Rewind technique. But therapy in trance can be offered for rehearsal of preferred outcomes and for visualisations that can clear and reframe unhelpful emotional states and beliefs. Finally therapy using guided imagery, exposes the imagination to new possibilities and long hidden resources that may well lie deep in the unconscious.
We learn in trance, make love in trance and are depressed, angry and addicted in trance. The state of flow and presence is a trance state as is conversation, boredom and crucially the accessing of memories. Good exposure therapy in trance is often about generating the possibility of a different and more beneficial set of trance possibilities outside the therapy room.
The definition of hypnosis or trance state is any artificial means of accessing the REM state. And there are many ways – startling, chanting, stroking, staring and so on – ask any unscrupulous politician or preacher.
Principles for effective hypnotherapy or exposure therapy in trance
"Every person's map of the world is as unique as their thumbprint. There are no two people alike. No two people who understand the same sentence the same way...So in dealing with people, you try not to fit them to your concept of what they should be." "People do not come into therapy to change their past but their future." Milton Erickson Trade secrets Go to Skilful Counselling East London, on the Central Line, around 30 minutes from the City |
Foundation Relaxation Induction
So as you are sitting now in that comfortable chair or lying back on that bed or sofa you can imagine what it would be like (CS) if you could go to a really calm and peaceful place – somewhere (ES) where you felt really safe and in control (ES).
The place that could be flitting into your imagination right now may be a place you know very well – perhaps it is a beautiful beach or a forest walk or by a lake or a mountain side (DB).
Or it might be that you are imagining a place in a picture from a book or a holiday brochure (PS). Because we all know what it is like to browse through and imagine being in these places. (FL)
Or maybe your imaginings right now come from watching a film or a TV programme. (PS) And it could be that it feels that you are actually in that place. (FL)
Or maybe the most powerful imagining for you is your enjoyment of relaxing where you are now or a place in your home. (FL)
Some people really know what it is like to relax or you may be experiencing what it is like for the very first time. (DB)
What part of your body is beginning to relax first? (PS) Your conscious mind may not yet even be aware that you are beginning to relax. (PS) But the unconscious mind may be beginning to notice change right now and is letting your unconscious mind know that the body can relax. (PS)
It could be that from time to time your conscious mind wanders off even as your unconscious mind continues to focus on what it needs to hear. And the unconscious mind can reassure your conscious mind that it is relaxing and hearing what needs to be heard. (PS)
And so you can choose either to tune out all the other sounds and distractions that may be around you at the moment or choose to just focus on the words or even to really focus ……. on the gaps between the words. (DB) It doesn’t really matter because your unconscious has the wisdom to take just what it needs.(FL)
And as you scan your body now, is it your left arm or leg feeling heavier than your right arm or leg or lighter or warmer or cooler as you continue to relax or is everything feels calmer together. (DB)
Perhaps you are noticing differing sensations in your shoulders, your chest … your belly….your hands and feet - or it could be that a feeling of calm is spreading down your whole body from the top of your head to the ends of your fingers and toes - as a caressing gentle breeze washing over you. (DB)
What are you noticing and how are these feelings growing and expanding and becoming stronger? (PS)
Just let these feelings grow …….
Now we all have a part of our body that lets us know when we are stressed. For some people it may be their neck or shoulders, for others it may be the lower part of their back or forehead or belly or chest. And somebody I saw recently noticed it was their jaw that became rigid when they were stressed and they really clenched their teeth together. (FL)
And once they begin to realise this and really allowed themselves to deeply relax, so their jaw relaxed too. (CS)
And just be curious for a moment to focus on the part of your body which is telling you that you need to relax more deeply.(PS)
Just focus on that part and as you continue to relax be curious to know the changes that are happening there.(CS)
And through this, time on the outside will pass faster than time on the inside and the unconscious will be aware of time moving faster than the conscious mind is aware of time moving slower . . . even as time speeds up or slows down . . . or even at times time is moving slower and as the unconscious communicates time passing so the unconscious consciousness will be able to move either faster or slower in relation to the conscious consciousness. (Called confusional language - actually gobbledygook which in time has the effect of getting the listener to just turn off).
By now you must really be experiencing what it feels like to be relaxed.(PS)
It is interesting is it not that when we are relaxed, we are more able to take a step backwards and really see things for what they are. We can stand back and see ourselves and see the big, wide, expansive picture – like standing on the top of a big mountain with views all around in all directions and the clouds are lifting. (M)
A great resource by Melissa E. Stefanski
Her Visualisation insights and what she has to say about Guided Imagery are well worth studying closely and using.
| In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few. Shunryu Suzuki |