Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp) · 2019-04-23 · Object Gaze (Long Induction) ... • Administering hypnotic protocols for pain management, stress reduction, and general

Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp)™

P H A S E 1 W O R K B O O K

Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp)™ Phase 1 Workbook | daybreaktherapy.ca | 2

Thank you so very much for choosing Daybreak Training as you begin and/or

deepen your journey into clinical hypnotherapy. I strongly believe that skills

development in this area is essential for any counselling professional wishing

to understand, appreciate and respond competently to the intricacies of the

unconscious mind, as they most surely present themselves in the therapeutic

relationship. I am certain that by the end of this training, you will share my

viewpoint that clinical hypnosis is the most powerful tool in the

psychotherapy tool-kit, and the most valuable gift you can offer your clients.

Please know that I am personally committed to making this experience count

as a very special and memorable professional development opportunity for

you. Do not hesitate to let me know of any steps I can take to enhance any

part of the program for you, as you go along.

Upon your successful completion of this Course, you will be provided with

both a certificate and formal permission to use the trade-marked and

protected title of Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp™).

In addition, you will be automatically enrolled into our Daybreak C.Hyp™

Network which will enable you to freely access the following:

• Listing on referral database/Daybreak directory

• 1:1 clinical consultation following your graduation

• Ongoing, bi-monthly group clinical supervision meetings

You will be sent an email invitation prior to each virtual meeting, with

instruction on how to login electronically to join in the discussion. If you have

any questions, don’t hesitate to call me at one of the numbers listed below.

For Online Course Students: Please note that in your course outline, you will see

reference to “in-class” training requirements. Our 5-day webinar week is the

equivalent of our Phase 1 (mandatory “in class” training). This training covers all

content as outlined in Day 1-5 of the Course Outline (refer to Section 2 in your

manual for detailed course outline).

I am looking so forward to our work ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact

me anytime with any questions or concerns.

Welcome Colleagues


Table of Contents Program Overview .....................................................................................................................................................5

About this program ............................................................................................................................................................. 5

Set Your Intention ............................................................................................................................................................... 5

Our Mission ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Vision and Promise .............................................................................................................................................................. 6

Philosophical Framework and Values .................................................................................................................................. 7

Pacing of the Course and Check-list .................................................................................................................................... 7

Course Overview ................................................................................................................................................................. 8

Course Outline ...........................................................................................................................................................8

Texts and other instructional materials ............................................................................................................................... 9

Additional Recommended Reading ..................................................................................................................................... 9

Overall Course Outcomes .................................................................................................................................................... 9

Course Delivery Format and Break-Down of 100 Training Hours ..................................................................................... 10

Instructor ........................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Formal Assessments .......................................................................................................................................................... 10

Syllabus .............................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Break-Down of Programming Hours .................................................................................................................................. 15

Therapeutic Framework ........................................................................................................................................... 16

Definitions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16

Points to make when explaining Hypnosis to Clients: ...................................................................................................... 16

Deepeners - A Suggestion List ........................................................................................................................................... 17

Pre-Sleep suggestion (wording) ......................................................................................................................................... 19

Brief History of Hypnosis ................................................................................................................................................... 21

Hypnotic First Session Intake: Possible Targets ................................................................................................................. 23

Suggested Format: ............................................................................................................................................................ 25

1st Session Framework ...................................................................................................................................................... 26

The Mindful Hypnotherapist .................................................................................................................................... 28

Ernest Lawrence Rossi, Ph.D. ............................................................................................................................................. 30

Meditation Primer ............................................................................................................................................................. 31

A final note on meditation ................................................................................................................................................. 35

Hand-Out: Breathing and Body Scanning: ......................................................................................................................... 36

References ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36


Hypnosis with Anxiety, Panic and OCD...................................................................................................................... 37

Anxiety: An Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 37

Neat Brain Stuff ................................................................................................................................................................. 39

Mindfulness, Cognitive Therapies and the Role of Trance ................................................................................................ 41

Trance Themes/Homework: Anxiety and OCD Clients ..................................................................................................... 45

Individualized Programming .............................................................................................................................................. 46

Case Studies ............................................................................................................................................................ 47

The Case of Linda .............................................................................................................................................................. 47

The case of Donna ............................................................................................................................................................. 49

The Case of Jackie .............................................................................................................................................................. 52

Inductions................................................................................................................................................................ 56

Object Gaze (Long Induction) ............................................................................................................................................ 56

Elevator Induction ............................................................................................................................................................. 59

Special Place ...................................................................................................................................................................... 63

The Power Is In Your Hands - Induction............................................................................................................................. 64

Rapid Induction ................................................................................................................................................................. 68

Script: Dialling Down Reactivity ......................................................................................................................................... 70


About this program The purpose of this certificate program is to provide you with hypnotherapy

skills and tools that will enable you to offer enriched psychotherapy services

to your clients. We encourage you to take this opportunity to explore your

own personal hypnosis style that reflects your unique healing signature. To

get the most out of this training, we ask that you start with a self-reflective

exercise for setting your intention.

Set Your Intention Self-Reflection Questions for Setting Your Intention:

• When is it that I feel most joyful?

• What unique way (s) do I help others? What do I have to offer?

• If I start from a place of joy and my “best possible healing self”, what

images come to mind regarding my hypnotherapy practice - in 2

months?

• And as I grow more and more confident, and as my life becomes more

focused on healing and transformation… what images come to mind

regarding my hypnotherapy practice in 2 years? 5 years?

• Picturing my ideal hypnotherapy practice in 5 years, how do I feel?

• What intention can I set right here, right now that represents a

commitment to my future, and to those I will be helping?

“When you do things from

the soul, you feel a river

moving in you, a joy.”

Rumi

Program Overview


About the C.Hyp™ Certificate: Upon your successful completion of this

Program, you will receive a certificate of and permission to use the trade-

marked, protected title of Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp). We

encourage you take an active role in the C.Hyp Network, as this will provide

you with ongoing professional development and continuing competence as a

Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist.

About the C.Hyp™ Network: As a qualified member of the Daybreak Training

C.Hyp Network, we invite you to be part of our referral database and

knowledge-sharing community. As such, we ask that you align your

hypnotherapy practice with Daybreak’s Mission, Vision and Philosophy as

outlined below:

Our Mission To heal mental suffering

Vision and Promise

We envision people cherishing life more than they fear it. Driving our vision

is our promise to offer our clients:

• sacred spaces for healing, growth and self-transformation

• vibrant and creative teachings that may very well shake people

out of comfort zones

• gently crafted and individualized treatment and teaching plans that

honour the unique psycho-spiritual journey of each client

• holistic coaching, teaching and psychotherapy methods that blend

traditions of excellence in both Eastern and Western approaches to

mental health and mindful living

• a heart-felt commitment to continually inspire innovation

in both our clients and ourselves

• a sacred invitation to come home to oneself

and awaken dormant potential

Intention Statement:


Philosophical Framework and Values We teach a Cherished Living Philosophical Framework. Our philosophy is

based on the belief that each person has the innate capacity to heal and

transform. In addition, we believe that each individual has his/her own

unique healing blueprint and signature. We hold that healing blueprint in

divine reverence, as we assist people in locating, treasuring and deepening

their lived commitments to a unique healing framework.

We practice what we preach by living in alignment with our own unique

Cherished Living statements.

Pacing of the Course and Check-list

In Section 2 of this Workbook, you will find a detailed Course Outline. To fulfil

all the requirements of the Course, we suggest that you use the table below

as a guide.

Check Box when complete

Course Requirement When to Start Fast Track Finish Recommended Finish

3 Case Studies You can begin your Case Studies any time after Day 5 of in-class training

During Phase 2 2-4 weeks following end of Phase 3

Online Course: Break the Worry Trance

Phase 2 Phase 2 Phase 2

Final Exam You will receive the Exam on Final day of Phase 2

Any time prior to, or on Day 10 (Phase 3)

1-2 weeks following your completion of Day 10 (Phase 3)

Phase 1: Days/Modules 1 - 5 (see attached Course Outline). Mandatory in-class days

Phase 2: Days/Modules 6 and 7

Phase 3: Days/Modules 8/9/10


Course Overview This 100-hour training program has been designed specifically for mental

health and counselling professionals who are interested in the clinical

application of hypnosis in the therapeutic relationship. Students are provided

with practical and theoretical immersion opportunities throughout the

program and are expected to demonstrate competency as a Clinical

Counselling Hypnotherapist through the sufficient completion of case

studies, clinical consultations, on-site clinical demonstrations and practicum

requirements, along with an 80% pass grade in the final exam.

This training and certification program emphasizes the integration of both

classical and clinical approaches to hypnosis, within the general framework

of integrative psychotherapy. Particularly, this framework emphasizes:

• Incorporating Ericksonian methodology into Psychotherapy

• Integrating hypnosis with parallel clinical tools, including CBT,

mindfulness-based therapies, and solution-focused brief counselling

• Applying hypnotherapy in strategic interventions for anxiety, phobias,

OCD and mood disorders

• Designing trance-work strategies in the treatment of trauma

• Administering hypnotic protocols for pain management, stress

reduction, and general wellness coaching

• Assisting clients to access their own “inner therapist” resources

through a range of trance-work techniques including age regression,

core belief work and parts therapy

• Integrating energy medicine and psycho-spiritual healing with

evidence-based approaches to mental health treatment

Course Outline

Clinical Hypnotherapy in the Counselling Process

Total Course Hours:

100


Overall Course Outcomes 1. Demonstrate professional competence in the safe and effective use

of clinical hypnotherapy in the psychotherapeutic relationship

(including, but not limited to the demonstrated proper use of

hypnosis psycho-education; hypnotic suggestions; inductions;

regressions; and trance dialogue)

2. Formulate a comprehensive and individualized clinical hypnosis

session outline that includes the strategic and effective use of

induction, deepening, suggestions, pacing, leads, post-hypnotic

suggestions, and trance-work interventions

3. Write customized hypnosis scripts targeted to the clinical

presentations of anxiety, pain and/or trauma

4. Administer trance ratification, deepening, and depth testing

methodologies

5. Apply Ericksonian methodology in the intake, assessment, formal

hypnosis and counseling process

6. Identify and discuss historical influences on myths, perceptions and

current practices in clinical hypnosis

7. Compare and contrast clinical and classical approaches to hypnosis

8. Integrate hypnosis programming and protocols with mindfulness-

based strategies in psychotherapy

9. Integrate hypnosis programming and protocols with CBT informed

and solution-focused strategies in psychotherapy

10. Discuss the research, current directions and clinical implications of

hypnotic phenomena in therapy

11. Select and implement three differing techniques for non-scripted

inductions

12. Define and discuss clinical hypnosis, indications, contra-indications,

and considerations for continuing competence

Texts and other instructional materials

• Day, Karen. I Can’t Stop Worrying - Guide to Hypnosis with Anxiety, Panic and OCD. Daybreak Clinic, 2011

• Day, Karen. A Mindful Practitioner’s Guide to Hypnosis. Daybreak Clinic, 2010

• Day, Karen. Breaking The Worry Trance. Global Mind Body, 2015

• Daybreak Handouts of Inductions

Additional Recommended Reading

• Hammond, D. Corydon. Handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions and Metaphors. WW Norton, 1990.


Course Delivery Format and Break-Down

of 100 Training Hours

The course content is delivered through combined in-person and on-line

learning venues, with a minimum of 40 direct contact hours (mandatory in-

class training). A more specific break-down of the 100 training hours is

provided in Appendix 1. The programming is delivered in three phases,

beginning with a five day in-person classroom training. The class-room

training is highly interactive with mixed mini-lecture, demonstration,

discussion and on-site practice applications.

Following completion of the 5-day small group training (maximum of 10

students), each participant is required to complete 30 hours of online and

virtual training delivered through Global Mind Body and the “Sensei”

learning platform which includes pre-recorded video-taped lessons,

interactive and reflective online exercises, and virtual support through tele-

conferencing. In addition, the student is required to complete three case

studies (with ongoing access to instructor for clinical consulting) and to pass

a Final Exam. A minimum of 8 hours of group supervision is also included in

the course.

Instructor

Karen Day is a Master’s trained Registered Social Worker specializing in

psychotherapy. She is in full-time private practice as the Clinical Director of

Daybreak Therapy and Training -- a multi-disciplinary clinic and training

centre dedicated to integrative approaches in mental health, psychotherapy,

and wellness coaching.

Karen has provided training for mental health professionals through various

organizations including the Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis - Ontario

Division, the Ontario Hypnosis Centre, the Canadian Mental Health

Association, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, and the Children’s Aid Society. She also

been involved in applied research on the subject of mindfulness (Centennial

College), and has taught mindfulness, meditation and hypnosis to hundreds

of post- secondary students, private practice clients and professionals at

various social service organizations, training institutions and school boards.

In both her clinical work and professional teaching, Karen draws upon her

extensive training and studies in strategic psychotherapy, CBT, hypnosis,

mindfulness-based psychotherapy, and Eastern inspired approaches to

wellness.

Formal Assessments

3 Case Studies -

Required Pass

Mid-Term Test 1

(Breaking the Worry Trance) -

Required Pass with 80%

Final Exam -

Required Pass with 80%


Syllabus

Lessons Learning Outcomes Instructional Strategies

Training Day/Module 1

1.1 Introduction

Main Topics:

• History, definitions and overview of both classical and clinical approaches to hypnotherapy;

• The role of the unconscious mind vis-a-vis psychotherapy and mental health treatment;

• Myths vs. research foundations, including discussion of neuroscience and trance-work;

• Contraindications, Ethics, and safety protocols

1.2 Classical style inductions

Main topics:

• Basic induction framework;

• Suggestibility testing / depth levels;

• Trance ratification and deepening techniques

• Depth testing;

• Inductions and Re-alerting best practices

1.3 Basic Intake and Assessment

• Rapport and psycho-education best practices

• Define hypnosis and articulate key historical influences on both classical and clinical developments in hypnotherapy;

• Discuss the roles of unconscious mind, and consciousness in the context of psychotherapy and hypnosis;

• Demonstrate knowledge of ethics, safety and competence in inductions and in trance work;

• Demonstrate basic induction, deepening and re-alerting

Class-room based Direct Contact Hours:

• Lecture and group discussion

• Think, pair, share

• Student Clinical practice

• Clinical demonstrations by instructor and students


2.1 Essential Ingredients in session

Main topics:

• The crafting of suggestions and goals;

• Assessment considerations;

• Intake and the basic session format;

• Embedding novelty into hypnotic process;

• Pacing, rapport and leading;

• Post-hypnotic suggestions and directions;

• Maintaining momentum;

• Working with resistance;

• Ego strengthening;

• Evaluating your session

• Formulate hypnotic suggestions and goals;

• Perform intake, assessment, and induction using basic session format;

• Demonstrate knowledge of ethics, safety and competence in the use of hypnotic suggestions, directions, pacing and session facilitation

• Demonstrate one rapid induction



• Group round robin


• Session simulations and role playing




3.1 Mindfulness, Mysticism and Mental Health

Main topics:

• Applications of mindfulness-based interventions with hypnosis

3.2 Hypnotic Regression Work

Main Topics:

• Applications of regression in hypnosis; Indications and contra-indications; protocols; Inner Child work.

• Describe inter-relationship between mindfulness-based psychotherapy approaches and hypnotherapy

• Practice mindfulness interventions in conjunction with hypnotic interventions

• Practice administration of hypnotic regression






4.1 Clinical Hypnotherapy and Ericksonian Principles

Main Topics:

• Integrating classical and clinical hypnosis;

• Ericksonian framework;

• Metaphors and language patterns

4.2 Core Beliefs Part 1

Main Topics:

• Impact of early beliefs;

• Merging CBT with hypnosis programming

• Identify and summarize at least three Ericksonian principles in hypnosis work

• Practice integration of Ericksonian language patterns and approaches into trance work

• Describe and draw core belief cycle

• Name 3 cognitive traps and their corresponding possible negative core beliefs and clinical implications for hypnotherapy



• NLP Game

• Story-telling exercise




5.1 Core Beliefs Part 2

Main Topics:

• Transforming core beliefs with hypnotherapeutic interventions

5.2 Fears and Phobias

Main topic:

• Systematic desensitization with imagined exposure; simple phobias protocols

• Summarize 2 core belief hypnotic practice protocols and corresponding coaching strategies

• Write script targeting core belief transformation

• Practice inductions, suggestions and trance-work with one identified core belief

• Practice trance work protocol for phobias



• Group case study exercise

• Dyadic practice




6.1 Breaking the Worry Trance

Main Topics:

• Integrating hypnotherapy into client programming for anxiety and panic issues;

• Hypnosis programming to complement clinical treatment for OCD and obsessive thinking;

• Connections between anxiety and depression; clinical implications for hypnotic treatment

• Describe core dynamics of “Worry Trance”

• Summarize Conscious and unconscious patterns underlying anxiety and mood disorders

• Define “Bridgeway Consciousness”

• Examine hypnotic interventions for anxiety and depression vis-a-vis building Bridgeway Consciousness

• Analyze Case study applications of hypnosis with Panic, OCD and anxiety issues

On-line Class-room

• Student completion of “Breaking The Worry Trance” interactive e-course

• Video classes

• Experiential Skill Builder Exercises / work-sheets

Virtual Support

• Teleconference clinical follow-up

• Case Studies


7.1 The Role of Hypnosis in Trauma Work

Main Topics:

• Integrating hypnosis into therapeutic programming for healing trauma;

• Staging, pacing and matching hypnotic interventions to stages in trauma recovery;

• Applications of hypnosis with body-oriented psychotherapy

7.2 Working with Ego States and Parts

Main Topics:

• Introductory overview of Ego State therapy and “parts therapy” interventions

• Articulate therapeutic value of hypnotherapy in trauma work

• Identify two hypnotic interventions for each stage of work with traumatized clients

• Explain key guiding principles for integrating hypnotherapy into a trauma treatment framework

• Describe three tools for work with “parts”

On-line Class-room

• Student completion of video classes


Virtual Support



8.1 Pain Management

Main Topics:

• Protocols, guidelines and scripts for pain management

8.2 Best Practice Protocols

Main Topics:

• Individualized approaches in trance-work; Integrative coaching strategies and principles of SFBT in hypnotherapy

• Practice script writing and 1st Session Framework for pain management client

• Participate in Clinical round table for brainstorming on best practice protocols

On-line Class-room


Virtual Support

• Teleconference Clinical Round Table




9.1 Habits and Addictions

Main Topics:

• Interplay of unconscious factors in the maintenance of habits and addictions; Integrating hypnosis into problem formulation and treatment

9.2 Weight Loss and Hypnosis Programming

Main Topics:

• The relationship between unconscious patterns and weight gain/loss; individual and group programming guidelines.

• Review 5 hypnotically-informed strategies for habit reversal

• Determine role, relevance and indications for hypnosis in addictions recovery work

• Discuss case study highlighting hypnosis work for weight loss and addictions

• Examine research and relevant programming for hypnosis and weight loss

On-line Class-room


Virtual Support

• Teleconference Clinical Round Table


10.1 Energy Medicine and Psycho-spiritual Healing

Main Topics:

• Shamanism and Eastern based approaches to energy healing vis-a-vis hypnotherapy

10.2 What Is Your Healing Signature?

Main Topic:

• Exploring unique healing style in hypnotherapy; group review on “putting it all into practice.”

• Write script incorporating one application of energy medicine and/ or psycho-spiritual healing principles

• Create signature healing experience for hypnotherapy clients

On-line Class-room



Virtual Support



Break-Down of Programming Hours

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

30 hours for completion of webinar “live streamed” and interactive program (program delivered in 6-hour segments via Crowdcast, for 5 days). Students can join in “on demand” or view recordings within a 3-month time-frame

20 hours for on-line viewing of recorded in-class sessions for advanced training topics (includes reflective exercises and optional phone conferencing)

8 hours for virtual group supervision

(4 on-line bi-monthly clinical group

meetings)

10 hours of on-line course: Breaking the Worry Trance

10 hours allotted for three 1:1 clinical supervision sessions, and personal reflection summaries to be submitted to Instructor, following clinical supervision requirements

10 hours completion of Case Studies

12 hours for completion of readings and Final Test

TOTAL HOURS PHASE 1:

30 HOURS


52 HOURS


18 HOURS

Phase 1: First 5 days of Program (pre-set dates for live-stream training)

Phase 2: Within 4-8 weeks following Phase 1

Phase 3: Within 3 months of program commencement


Definitions Hypnosis1 can be defined as a trance state of “inner absorption,

concentration, and focused attention.”

Hypnotherapy1 can be defined as the utilization of trance state to assist

people in altering and/or deepening their awareness of thoughts, emotions,

behaviours and perceptions.”

Points to make when explaining

Hypnosis to Clients: • Hypnosis is a natural state

• Trance occurs naturally every 90 minutes

• Gene dialogue/deep meditation

• Highway hypnosis/hypnosis in movie theatres

• A therapy room for the unconscious and conscious

mind to have a conversation

• Practice makes perfect!

Add more points here:

• _____________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________

• _____________________________________________________

1 Above definitions adapted from American Society of Clinical Hypnosis

Therapeutic Framework


Reference Chart: Suggestibility and Stages of Depth

Stage of Depth Suggestibility Test Observation Criteria

Light / Hypnoidal Eye-lock Small muscle catalepsy

Deeper Trance state Arm-lock Larger muscle catalepsy

Analgesic / Amnesiac depth Glove analgesia • Analgesia • Amnesia

Full Body Catalepsy Stuck in chair Body catalepsy

Somnambulism Hallucination suggestion • Full anaesthetic effect • Capacity for positive and possibly

negative visual hallucination

Profound Somnambulism Direct suggestion to leave body consciousness

Esdaile state

Deepeners - A Suggestion List

Fractionation:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Direct suggestions (each time you breathe in…)

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Dishcloth or wet noodle / rag doll - PICK UP AND DROP:

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Sound of voice:

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Thermometer / scale:

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Stairs:

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Confusion technique:

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Pendulation:

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Multi-modal engagement:

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Trance ratification:

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Anchoring / utilizing:

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Counting down:

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Metaphor:

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Opposites:

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STARTING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER - GROUP EXERCISE

IN SESSION PRACTICE:

1. Rapport building and Psycho-education for client wanting to “generally

get better.”

2. Induction

3. Test and deepen

4. Pre-Sleep suggestion

5. Re-alert

6. Debrief

Pre-Sleep suggestion (wording) Now that your mind is more receptive to suggestions, you can begin to use

the power of your mind and the power of auto-suggestion to help yourself

get better and better. Auto-suggestion is something you can practice each

night before you go to sleep, beginning tonight.

Here’s how you practice this powerful pre-sleep suggestion. Just before you

fall asleep tonight, place all ten fingers on top on your blankets. Lift up the

pinky finger of the right hand as you say in your mind: “each day in every

way, I get better and better.” Then, put the pinky finger down, and move to

the next finger on the right hand, lifting it up and saying: “each day in every

way, I get better and better.” Then, put that finger down and move to the

next one, and the next one…until you’ve gone through all 10 fingers,

repeating this affirmation ten times. “Each day in every way, I get better and

better.” If you FALL ASLEEP before you are finished counting, simply

remember that after a full night’s sleep, you will continue your count.



Brief History of Hypnosis

Timeline Key Contributor Unique Contribution to our Field

2,500 B.C Evidence of “sleep temples” in ancient Egypt, Greece and China

There is historical evidence of ancient Egyptian high priests and other ancient spiritual leaders offering healing through deep rest and suggestion/ trance inducing rituals.

Mid 1700s Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815)

Mesmer, an Austrian physician is responsible for the term “mesmerize.” In the middle of the 18th century, he studied and published findings on what he called “animal magnetism” referring to a healing process that could be observed by manipulating energy fields around people. Mesmer was famous for staring deeply into his subject’s eyes to induce trance while he was also known for having magnetic wands to move energy around people.

Early 1800s Dr. James Esdaile Dr. Esdaile had studied mesmerism as part of his doctoral training and was the first documented physician to practice “mesmeric analgesia” with patients undergoing surgery at a hospital in India.

1843 Dr. James Braid Dr. James Braid, a Scottish surgeon, has been credited with coining the term “hypnosis” in 1843. The word has origins in “hypnos” referring to the Greek god of sleep.

1882 Jean-Martin Charcot

Charcot is known as one of the pioneers of modern-day neurology. He was the first to describe multiple sclerosis. Charcot was interested in the phenomenon of hysteria - a subject he studied and taught extensively in his clinic which he opened in France in 1882. Charcot described hypnosis as an altered somatic state, based on a faulty nervous system. He is most famous for teaching hypnosis to Sigmund Freud.

Mid- late 1800s

Pierre Janet

Janet, a student of Charcot, pioneered research in the area of dissociation as a defense mechanism in the trauma experiences. After Charcot’s death, the French Charcot-Janet school contributed greatly to fore-runner theories in trauma and dissociation.

Late 1800s Ambroise August Liebeault

Hippolyte Bernheim

Liebeault, a French physician who was fascinated by animal magnetism opened up a clinic in Nancy, France in 1860 wherein he treated many medical conditions hypnotically. Dr. Bernheim studied with Liebeault and opened up the Nancy School of Hypnosis. The famous Nancy School of Hypnosis was known to be a rival of the Charcot-led Salpetriere School in another part of France. While the Charcot school viewed hypnosis as a result of hysteria, the Nancy School of Hypnosis viewed the trance state as psychotherapeutically beneficial, not pathological.


Timeline Key Contributor Unique Contribution to our Field

Early 20th Century

Sigmund Freud

Freud studied hypnosis in depth and was a student of both Charcot and Bernheim. Early on in Freud’s career, he used hypnosis with patients regularly, viewing it as a useful tool. He described hypnosis as his “principal instrument of work” during his early years as a physician. By the turn of the century, he abandoned hypnosis, favouring his own developments in psychoanalysis. He acknowledged the influence of his hypnosis training in the development of his theories, and in shaping the field of psychoanalysis.

1920 Emil Coue

Coue is credited with publishing the first book on auto-suggestions and positive affirmations (Self-Mastery Through Conscious Autosuggestion). He wrote extensively on positive affirmations, his most famous autosuggestions phrase being: “Each day in every way, I am getting better and better.”

1933 Dr. Clark Hull

Dr. Hull was the first Psychologist to extensively research the outcomes and process of hypnotherapy using modern scientific rigor. His book Hypnosis and Suggestibility (1933) determined that hypnosis was not a sleep state, but a deep state of being more receptive to suggestion and motivation techniques.

Mid-20th century

Dr. Milton Erickson

Milton Erickson (1901-1980) was both a Psychologist and Psychiatrist who used hypnosis as he was conventionally trained to do so, in the 1930s during his time as Chief Psychiatrist at the Rhode Island State Hospital for Mental Diseases. He found that many patients are resistant to classical styles of suggestion and hypnosis, and he gradually developed his own indirect and more naturalistic style of trance work (he used both direct and indirect suggestion in his work). The success of his hypnotic work with patients became internationally known and studied. By the 1950s, he had achieved a world-famous reputation, and he was featured in Life magazine. In 1957, he founded the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), and his teachings influenced the development of modern-day “Ericksonian” psychotherapy.


Hypnotic First Session Intake: Possible Targets Client Description of Problem:

(Brief summary)

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Solution Focused Questions and Imagery:

(e.g.: future movie; future scene; magic wand; inner therapist)

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Externalizing Questions and Image:

(e.g.: how does this interfere with your happiness - examples; what does it tell you to do; how does it show up?)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Behavioural Targeting Questions and Imagery:

(e.g.: what do you DO …exactly…) (What do you wish you would do differently)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Feelings Focused Questions and Imagery:

(e.g.: how would you describe the sadness if it was a character in a movie?)

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Somatic Focused Questioning:

(e.g.: where do you feel that in your body?)

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Cognitive Focused Questioning:

(e.g.: what are your thoughts…the helpful and unhelpful ones?)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________


Is there a metaphor or image that would nicely encapsulate this issue?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Other 1st Session Assessment Questions might include:

• What are your hobbies and interests?

• What kind of music do you like?

• What are your strengths?

• Do you have previous experience with hypnosis? Describe

• Imagery not to be used in hypnosis?

• Imagery preferred?

• Special places?


Suggested Format:

1 Hour Hypnosis Session

First 15 minutes: Check-In:

• If it is the first session, complete the intake

• If this is an ongoing session, check in and follow up on homework, if any

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

15 minutes: Hypnotic Intervention #1:

Examples:

• Mini-meditation or mindfulness intervention, customized to client presenting issue

• Psycho-education if appropriate

• Review hand-out or film clip related to ACT, CBT or another framework you might be using

• Creative art, drama or journaling exercise, etc.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

20 minutes:

Formal Hypnosis

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 minutes:

Debrief; Assign homework

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________


1st Session Framework Name: _______________________________

Date: _______________________________

Session Agenda Notes

1. INTAKE AND INITIAL PROBLEM

FORMULATION (20 min)

• Externalize the issue

• How does it control?

• What has it taken away?

• How does it play out? Give examples

Client formulation:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Client self-talk and patterns:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Metaphors / Examples:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. S-F Questions (20 min)

a) The miracle scenario (e.g.: -

play me the movie; miracle

questions; goals

b) Motivational scaling

(readiness level)


Session Agenda Notes

3. Psycho-Education (20 min)

E.g.:

• Cycle of fear/habituated responses

• Avoidance cycle

• Role of amygdala

• Normalize; externalize; demysticize

(draw or explain hypnotically)

4. Hypnotic Intervention (20 min)

Goal: Breaking avoidance

Examples:

• Best Possible Self /pendulation

• N.A.D

• Be With / Agree With / Bring On

• Changing Rules

• Imagined practice

• Metaphors and future pacing

Stress: non-resistance; 1 small thing different; address barriers and work with

resistance; externalize; work with resistance; ego-strengthening

5. Homework assignment and

check motivation (10 min)

Goal: positive early outcome


Recent research suggests that hypnosis and mindfulness practices inhabit a

common domain, namely with respect to the role of suggestions1. Although

there are general distinctions between the major aims of mindfulness (ex:

cultivating an observer’s mind) versus hypnosis (ex: shifting perceptions to

change behaviours), there is also much overlap and blurring of boundaries

between the two practices. As an illustration, hypnosis programming for weight

loss often includes mindfulness-based visualizations and teachings, such as

learning to experience the sensation of cravings without over-identifying or

acting upon such sensations. By comparison, mindfulness-based weight loss

programs teach mindful eating practices while also often employing hypnotic

visualizations (ex: imagery of a strong tree that can withstand various external

conditions or emotional “storms” while remaining centred and strong like a large

oak tree, rooted in the ground of mindful awareness).

The mindful hypnotherapist is able use his/her expertise and training in both

mindfulness and hypnosis to determine when a mindfulness-based therapeutic

tool will be more valuable for a client than a hypnotic intervention and vice-

versa. In addition, the skilled psychotherapist is ideally able to integrate

mindfulness, meditation and hypnosis interventions into client-centred

programming that is customized to the presenting issues at hand. Here are just

some examples of how the inter-play between mindfulness and hypnotherapy

has been built into clinical counselling practices:

• A client with a history of severe trauma was taught mindfulness-based

techniques such as breathing exercises and the body scan, to help in the

stabilization phase of treatment. During this same phase of treatment,

the client was given a pre-sleep self-hypnosis program that included

1 Lynn, S.J., Malakatris, A., Maxwell, R., Mellinger, D., and van der Kloet, D., 2012

“I hope clinicians who have

embraced mindfulness

discover that mindfulness

approaches are more

strongly related to patterns

and dynamics of hypnosis

than they may have realized.”

Dr. Michael Yapko, 2011

The Mindful Hypnotherapist


embedded suggestions for a positive future (to assist with normalizing

sleeping patterns and cultivating a preliminary sense of looking forward).

• A client with chronic anxiety, who had not responded positively to

MBSR nor mindfulness/meditation practices, stated that she wanted a

more “directive” and “no nonsense” way of dealing with her “insanely

busy mind.” Since the client responded well to formalized induction

and classical style hypnosis intervention, the seven foundations of

mindfulness were taught over a three-month period, using

visualizations and hypnotic suggestions.

• A client who stated he wanted to try hypnosis but was repeatedly

“unable to be hypnotized” was responsive to the therapist’s invitation

to try a guided meditation, beginning with a Body Scan. The Body Scan

served as a non-threatening induction, and the client achieved full-

body catalepsy in the hypnotic state, following the Body Scan and

suggested hypnotic deepeners.

The Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist who regularly practices mindfulness

becomes much more skilled in trance-work interventions. While the full

extent of what happens intra-psychically in a hypnosis session is not yet

completely understood, recent scientific research on mirror neurons along

with client and therapist reports of increased rapport and other hypnotic

phenomena such as “magic” occurring in sessions, indicate the following:

Being able to stay present and heart-to-heart engaged (emotionally,

mentally and spiritually) with your client’s hypnotic journey, is

essential for an outcome that involves the client making full contact

with his/her deepest levels of inner wisdom and creative

imagination. The mindful hypnotherapist has the ability to

courageously “hold the client’s working space” without mental

distraction, for clients to do their very best internal work.

From a brain-based perspective, both hypnosis and meditation practices

encourage slower brain wave activity conducive to relaxation. In addition, both

practices are associated with changes in frontal attention systems in the brain1.

The inter-relationships between gene expression, neurobiology and trance-

work have been researched extensively by Dr. Ernest Rossi, of the U.S.-based

Neuroscience Research Group. Rossi states that in any situation of problem-

solving, billions of connections in the brain begin to light up, as the thinker

moves through a 4-stage creative change process which involves:

1. Novelty (curiosity)

2. Incubation/numinosum (frustration)

3. Inspiration (A-ha! Moments)

4. Neurogenesis/Integration

1 Spiegel, White, and Waelde, 2011


Ernest Lawrence Rossi, Ph.D. According to Rossi, the only job of the hypnotherapist is to help the person

turn on the creative neuron-based activity, so that the “inner genius” located

within the billions of neural connections can illuminate content as a client

moves through the 4 stages of change. Rossi’s research tells us that the

average person moves 12 times a day through a cycle of natural neural

rhythms of arousal-to- relaxation. In 1-2 hours, the brain waves complete a

full cycle. Rossi emphasizes the role of mirror neurons and their role in

motivating the change process. Gene expression is “turned on” by novelty

and surprise, thus hypnosis can stimulate neurogenesis and the building of

new neural pathways, hence client insight.

As Hypnotherapists, we have a golden opportunity to ignite gene expression

for clients – in trance, there is a gene-to-gene dialogue taking place which

mimics this same dialogue that takes place in our dreams, thereby

illuminating relevant data for clients!

Whether we call it hypnosis, visualization, or deep meditation, the brain is

doing the same thing whenever a person is in a trance state. If someone is in

a state of deeply absorbed and focused attention, that person can be said to

be in a trance state. Trance work can be incorporated through various

methods in a client session, whether that be formal hypnosis, visualization,

energy work, or even a provocative and mesmerizing CBT discussion. Good

therapy requires attention with intention on the part of both the therapist

and client.

In the field of clinical hypnotherapy, trance is used as the common thread to

incorporate valuable teachings such as mindfulness principles, cognitive

restructuring, and ultimately - radical behavioural and mental

transformation. Strategic psychotherapy (based on Ericksonian therapy)

draws upon the use of whatever tool or “key” will assist each client, and

trance is used as the glue holding all the keys together.

If you’ve not yet done so, you may wish to experiment with teaching your

clients basic mindfulness and meditation practices. Clients who have the

experience of bringing themselves into a trance or hypnoidal state through a

meditation discipline, are often also able to experience deeper levels of

hypnosis and are generally more amenable to hypnotic interventions. The

following Beginner’s Guide (See next page) is one that your many clients find

useful. These beginner exercises can be integrated (in a clinically appropriate

manner) with hypnotherapy.


Meditation Primer Some Meditation Exercises for the Developing Practitioner

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness generally involves meditation practices and contemplative

exercises designed to bring attention to the present moment, conditioned

mental habits, and intentional ways of being in the world. Mindfulness, as a

reflective way of being and observing, has its origins in Tibetan Buddhism.

Current mindfulness literature is rooted in ground-breaking work that was

completed at the University of Massachusetts by Kabat-Zinn and colleagues

in the late eighties and early nineties. Largely as a result of this work,

mindfulness was introduced in a secular, westernized format to mainstream

medicine.

Kabat-Zinn published many of the early outcomes related to the impact of

mindfulness and meditation for patients at the University of Massachusetts

Medical Centre Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program1. These patients

underwent an eight-week training program known as Mindfulness Based

Stress Reduction (MBSR), a Program that has since been replicated across

various disciplines, in a range of settings, with thousands of people. Since the

1990 publication of Full Catastrophe Living1, many Western social

researchers, educators and service providers have drawn on mindfulness

teachings, to examine and explore their modern relevance in service delivery

to people experiencing the problems of health, illness and everyday life.

What Does the Research Say?

We now know through very recent breakthroughs in medical research on

neuroplasticity and mind-mapping that personality is not static and neurons

are not incapable of re-growth (as believed until very recently). (Begley,

2007). Mindfulness research demonstrates clearly that changes in thoughts

produce measurable, well-studied and proven changes in brain structure and

chemical processing relating to learning, emotions, emotional self-regulation

and social interactions2. Hundreds of studies demonstrate the effects of

mindfulness and meditation on a range of health and mental health

conditions, including general relaxation, lowered blood pressure, lowered

anxiety, improvements in blood sugar, skin conditions, chronic illness and

lowered levels of chronic pain3.

There has been exponential growth in medical and scientific research in the

last 10 years regarding the relationship between neuroplasticity and

mindfulness practices, and the implications of this relationship in the helping

professions.

1 Kabat-Zinn, 1990 2 Claxton, 2005 3 Murphy, Donovan, and Taylor, 1997

Jon Kabat-Zinn defines

mindfulness as “paying

attention in a particular

way: on purpose, in the

present moment, and

non-judgementally.”

Kabat-Zinn, 1994


For example, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz and a team of UCLA scientists demonstrated

dramatic results in brain function and processes in a group of 18 patients with

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), involved in 10 weeks of mindfulness-

based therapy. PET scans after treatment showed marked decreases in activity

in the orbital frontal cortex of the brain– this was the first study to show that

mindfulness meditation changes faulty brain chemistry1.

Another landmark study related to mindfulness-based clinical outcomes was

published by a team of researchers treating and studying depression. In this

study, half of the 145 depressed patients were assigned to an 8-week

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) treatment program, while the

other half received standard treatment. There was a 44% reduction in the

risk of relapse in the group receiving MBCT. This study was replicated in

2004. In the 2004 study, the rate of relapse fell from 78% in the standard

treatment group, versus 36% in the mindfulness group2. As Sharon Begley

reported in 2007 regarding these new studies on neuroplasticity and

mindfulness: “Somehow, mental training (is) altering brain circuits, in what

we might call top-down plasticity.”3

How do I start a mindfulness practice?

You can begin by introducing morning and evening mindfulness practices

into your day. Examples of such practices are included below, along with

other mindfulness and meditation exercises for you to try.

Morning affirmations and gratitude exercises

Each morning, shortly or immediately after you rise, state an affirmation and,

if you wish, an affirmative prayer or reflection. Frame each affirmation as

though it is a reality. For example, don’t say: “I will get along with others.”

Say instead: “I live in peace and harmony with all beings.” Believe your

affirmation, as though it has already happened. The more times each day

you draw attention to and re-state your affirmation, the more likely that you

will create your own reality. Affirmations provide a meditative focus and

mindful tone for each day.

Each evening, before bed, name some things/people/places for which you

are grateful. Allow yourself to focus on and feel the “attitude of gratitude”

and, if it feels right, say your own prayer of thanks.

Daily mindfulness moments

Bringing mindfulness to any activity will transform it into a kind of

meditation. As long as you are doing ANYTHING, you might as well do it with

FULL PRESENCE. Choose any activity (waiting in a line, riding a bus, walking in

nature, washing the dishes, cutting the vegetables... anything!!) and allow

yourself to be “at one” with the activity.

1 Schwartz, 1996 2 Teasdale, Segal, et al., 2000; Ma and Teasdale, 2004 3 Begley, 2007


Make a conscious/mindful attempt to sense your timeless I AM in the midst

of any every-day activity. Sense the I AM that exists without thought or a “to

do” list and simply be in the moment, richly taking in the experience of

cutting up carrots or whatever it is you are doing. In this way, we are

meditating on BEING while DOING.

Beginner’s mind moments

Each day, notice something or someone, with the quality of a “beginner’s

mind.” In other words, notice things in the same way a baby looks at

something or someone. For example, in an everyday conversation with a

family member, notice and feel how unique and beautiful this person is. You

don’t have to share your observations with the person, simply notice the

observations, and allow a compassion to fill your being. Try focusing 100% of

your energies on this other person’s reality (what they are feeling, thinking,

how they are living) – Be in the moment with the person (empathy) without

focusing back on your own reality. Behold this life with admiration and

respect.

You can look at pets, trees, nature and others in a similar regard. Children in

everyday interactions are good focal points for “beginner’s mind” moments.

You can even do this with the bank teller, the person who serves you coffee

in the morning, or maybe the neighbour who has lived on your street for

years, but with whom, you’ve never really spoken.

Sitting Meditations

The attached hand-out from “Full Catastrophe Living” provides some seated

meditation activities. In addition, you can bring “object meditation” into your

seated meditations. During object meditation, you focus on any mundane

object such as a pen or cup. Choose something that is not likely to elicit

emotion or thinking. Keep your attention on the object, paying attention to

every detail of it. Do this for about 2 minutes or longer if you can. As

thoughts, judgements, labels or object analyses come to your mind, do not

get involved with such thoughts. You want to perceive something with full

presence...let the thoughts or the “voice in your head” become quieter.

Situational awareness

Be aware of one pleasant or unpleasant situation/event AS IT IS HAPPENING.

Notice your body and sensations. Observe your feelings, beliefs, breathing at

the time of the event. If the situation is a pleasant one, take in and be in the

pleasant situation as fully as you can be – clear of any distractions, thoughts,

and/or urges to “DO” something.

If the situation is an unpleasant one, maintain presence and see if you can be

aware of a “calm centre” in the midst of the chaos. Be focused and aware of

your every thought, impulse, urge and action in this situation. If you end up

“losing it” in the situation, simply observe yourself losing it and work

consciously on observing, feeling and letting go. When something is done, let

it be done.


As soon as possible, regardless of the outcome of the situation, WRITE IT

DOWN. Provide all details on the situation, what happened before, during

and after. Most importantly, what did you learn about the situation? What

did you learn about your beliefs, your patterns, your thoughts, etc.

Peaceful Presence Principles

Borrowing from the writings of Eckhart Tolle and the Dalai Lama, allow

mindful presence to be the main current of daily doings. Peaceful presence is

the point we want to come back to in our lives, as often as possible

(recognizing it’s not possible to be peaceful at all times). “Peaceful presence”

principles include:

ENJOYMENT – Find opportunities throughout each day to be joyful. Embrace

these opportunities, however small, as often as you can. Feel yourself smiling

inward and allowing joy in, as much as possible.

ENTHUSIASM – Joy, with a goal.

PRESENCE OF MIND – When we cannot enjoy moments (e.g.: in moments of

sadness or boredom), let us at least be aware of and accept that life is just,

well... life. As the well-known scripture tells us, there is a time to laugh and a

time to cry. Be fully present with each of life’s moments. As life moves

through us, and as we move through our journeys, let us be AS AWAKE AS

POSSIBLE. For example, when something stressful occurs, imagine saying to

yourself something like: “well, here is stress.” Allow acceptance in and be

fully aware of how you are responding to stress. Be mindful of the fact that

stress is not permanent, everything passes. Be aware of all of your options

and thoughts in any given situation. Rather than fighting or running away

from problems, make some attempts to stay mindful and centred, to learn

from each moment.

GRATITUDE – Cultivating and nourishing gratitude and thankfulness can be

done in many ways. For example, the next time you say, “thank you”, make

eye contact with the giver, genuinely feel gratitude and appreciation for this

person. Another exercise for deepening gratitude is through eating. For one

day, make a conscious commitment to eat gratefully – enjoying and

savouring each bite, every taste and every swallow of the food you are

eating. One meal may take an hour if you commit to doing this...maintain

your focus on the food, the flavour, the sensations and imagine yourself

being thankful for the food, your ability to eat, to taste, etc. Of course, saying

grace before a meal is also a nice way of bringing gratitude into every day.

“Enthusiasm knows where it

is going, but at the same

time, it is deeply at one with

the present moment.”

Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth


A final note on meditation When the mind wanders during meditation....

• Don’t fight the thoughts away. Notice your thoughts and any

emotional “charge” they carry for you. Maintain an observer’s mind:

Notice, feel, and let go. Notice the part of you that is the “calm centre”

in the midst of the busy thoughts and bring your focus back to the

calm centre.

• Gently continue in bringing your mind’s focus back to the breath or

the part of the body or the situation which is the focal point for the

meditation

• Over time, you will be surprised at how well you can train your mind to

reach points of stillness and calm

• Remember 2 important concepts in ALL of your meditations:

1. Non-judgement: Steer clear of analyzing, judging, labelling your

meditative experiences as “good” or “bad” or anything else.

Meditation is what it is. Withhold judgement ...this is a good

practice to get into, in general. Mindful living is about BEING WITH,

not being superior or being a judge of anyone or anything

2. Non-striving: The best way to meditate is to just do it...free of

expectations. Do not expect anything to happen. Do not strive for

any particular result. Just be still – that is all. If you get caught up in

goals or results that you want, you will lose out on the richness of

simply being. Be still and allow meditation to run its course – do

not try to control it.


Hand-Out: Breathing and Body Scanning:1

1. Breathing Exercises:

ONE

• Get into a comfortable position. If sitting, assume a “dignified” posture and consciously relax your shoulders

• Close your eyes and bring focus of attention to your abdomen

• Allow the abdomen to rise with the in-breath, and feel your belly go down as you exhale

• Practice “being with” the breath as it moves through your body

• As your mind wanders, gently guide it back to your breath. You may need to do this several times.

• Get into the breath and FEEL every aspect of it, moving thorough you.

TWO

• Simply be aware of your breath at various points in the day. Consciously feel the breath as it moves through you. Don’t force it in any special way. At times, you can visualize breathing into points of tension in your body (e.g.: shoulders, jaws, etc.). Be mindful/aware of yourself as you breathe in life. Be grateful for your body, for your breath. Make a conscious attempt to “befriend” your breath as a centering tool for any time of business, stress and doing.

2. Body Scan:

• Lie or sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take some time to focus on the breath as per above exercises.

• Feel the “whole” body and all the sensations within it. Scan for stress, general feelings of peace. You may wish to visualize your whole body, perhaps surrounded by light or warmth.

• Once you feel the energy or feel “at one” to some extent with your breath and body, bring your attention to the toes of the left foot. (proceed to your foot after a few minutes of “whole body” sensations, regardless of whether or not you feel ready to do so)

• Imagine breathing into your toes and breathing out from your toes in your left foot. Take time to feel every sensation in your left toes. If you are not feeling anything, simply notice that you are not feeling anything.

• When you feel ready, leave the toes, consciously breathe into them and visualize them dissolving in your mind’s eye. Let go and move on...focus a few moments on the breath, and now move to a focus on the sole of your foot, the heel, top of foot, etc.

• Move gradually up your left leg, then your right side, then up through the hips and whole body – focusing on and breathing into/with each part of your body as you scan.

1 exercises are taken /adapted from: “Full Catastrophe Living” By: Jon Kabat-Zinn

References

Begley, S. (2007). Train Your Mind, Change

Your Brain. New York: Random House.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe

Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and

Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness. New

York: Hyperion.

Lynn, S.J., Malakatris, A. et al (2012). Do

Hypnosis and Mindfulness Practices

Inhabit a Common Domain? Implications

for Research, Clinical Practice, and

Forensic Science. Journal of Mind-Body

Regulation, Vo.2, Issue 1.

Ma, S. And Teasdale, J. (2004).

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for

Depression: Replication and Exploration of

Differential Relapse Prevention Effects.

Journal of Consulting and Clinical

Psychology, Vo.72, no1.

Murphy, M., Donovan, S. et al (1997). The

Physical and Physiological Effects of

Meditation: A Review of Contemporary

Research 1931-1996. Petaluma: Institute

of Noetic Sciences.

Rossi, E. (2008). The Deep Psychobiology

of Psychotherapy: Towards a Quantum

Psychology of Mindbody Healing.

Republished in The Breakout Heuristic: The

New Neuroscience of Mirror Neurons,

Consciousness and Psychotherapy, The

Milton H. Erickson Foundation Press.

Schwartz, J. (1997). Brain Lock: Free

Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive

Behaviour. New York: HarperCollins.

Spiegel, D., White, M. et al (2010).

Hypnosis, Mindfulness Meditation, and

Brain Imaging. Hypnosis and

Hypnotherapy. Santa Barbara: Greenwood

Publishing Group.

Tolle, E. (2008). A New Earth: Awakening

to Your Life’s Purpose. New York: Penguin

Books Ltd.

Yapko M. (2011). Mindfulness and

Hypnosis: The Power of Suggestion to

Transform Experience. New York: W.W.

Norton & Company.


Anxiety: An Overview

The most common types of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia

• Specific phobias

• Social anxiety

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

All anxiety is characterized by some common themes:

• Low tolerance/intolerance of discomfort and uncertainty

• Poor internal locus of control (often accompanied by fear of

abandonment /dependence issues, especially in panic disorder)

• Avoidance behaviours

• Pervasive cognitive distortions

(e.g.: catastrophizing, perfectionism, globalizing)

• Panic reaction (except in G.A.D)

• Often, hyper-vigilance/perfectionism

(excessive worry about what others will think)

Hypnosis with Anxiety, Panic and OCD

“Love looks forward, hate

looks back, anxiety has eyes

all over its head.”

Mignon McLaughlin


Regardless of the anxiety symptoms, the part of the brain being used during

panic/excessive worry is the “alarm centre” response (amygdala). The vicious

cycle of panic is activated as follows:

Panic, Worry and Phobias Rolled into One: OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by

the presence of persistent, repetitive and intrusive thoughts (obsessions),

leading people to engage in bizarre behaviours (compulsions) to avert an

imagined negative outcome or catastrophe. It is the 4th most common

psychiatric disorder, with about 1 in every 40 people affected1.

The most common and basic types of OCD include: checkers;

washers/cleaners; orderers and repeaters; hoarders; pure obsessionals;

religious obsessions; avoiders (e.g.: avoiding certain numbers; fear of certain

words or saying something wrong, etc.).

From a scientific perspective, PET scans show increased chemical activity in

the orbital cortex (where thoughts and emotions combine) of the person

with OCD, and also in the alarm centre portion of the brain. Various other

1 Hyman and Peck, 2005


parts of the brain are affected, making individuals hyperaware of stimuli, and

also lacking in capacity (of the caudate nucleus) to filter out unwanted

thoughts. There is a decreased level of serotonin, and an overactive “early

warning system” in the brain.

Symptoms of OCD or any type of anxiety tend to “flare up” in times of stress.

The most promising research to date on OCD and anxiety, points to

interventions that target the following 3 areas:

• Relationship to OCD /panic /anxiety

• Cognitive restructuring (thinking patterns)

• Behavioural and skills-based training (concrete skills)

It’s all in the Thoughts...

The following are the most common cognitive distortions found in persons

with obsessions, worries and ritualizing behaviours:

Common Cognitive Distortions

Overgeneralization/ Global thinking

Catastrophizing

Perfectionism Persistent Doubting/ perceived helplessness

All or nothing thinking Externalizing

Personalizing Magical thinking

Required certainty and sense of safety/comfort

Neat Brain Stuff

The way we are thinking, and perceiving is constantly affecting our brains,

our cells, and our entire evolution as a species. We now know that our

thoughts do indeed change the structure of our brains, thanks to

breakthrough and recent studies in neuroscience. We know from MRI

studies that left pre-frontal lobe activity is associated with positive feelings,

whereas right pre-frontal lobe activity is associated with anger and anxiety.

Recent research shows us that when a person is in trance, there is increased

activity in the left pre-frontal lobe, and a decrease of activity in the right pre-

frontal lobe1. By changing our mental activity, we change the circuitry of the

brain and its neural pathways.

1 Davidson, 2000; Davidson and Irwin, 1999

“Evolution is an hourly and

daily process.”

Charles Darwin


There has been exponential growth in medical and scientific research in the

last 10 years regarding the relationship between neuroplasticity and

mindfulness practices/mental training, and the implications of this

relationship in the helping professions. For example, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz and

a team of UCLA scientists demonstrated dramatic results in brain function

and processes in patients with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD),

involved in 10 weeks of mindfulness-based therapy. PET scans after

treatment showed marked decreases in activity in the orbital frontal cortex

of the brain– this was the first study to show that mindfulness meditation

changes faulty brain chemistry in OCD clients1.

Another landmark study related to mindfulness-based clinical outcomes was

published less than ten years ago by a team of researchers treating and

studying depression. In this study, half of the 145 depressed patients were

assigned to an 8-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

treatment program, while the other half received standard treatment. There

was a 44% reduction in the risk of relapse in the group receiving MBCT. This

study was replicated in 2004. In the 2004 study, the rate of relapse fell from

78% in the standard treatment group, versus 36% in the mindfulness group2.

As Sharon Begley reported in 2007 regarding these new studies on

neuroplasticity and mindfulness: “Somehow, mental training (is) altering

brain circuits, in what we might call top-down plasticity.”3

A 2008 Harvard study analyzed the genes of meditators against non-

meditators to measure impact of meditation on gene expression. In a one-

hour experimental session, an average of 77 genes were “turned on” in the

non-meditators sample. In this same one hour, 2-3000 genes were “turned

on” in the advanced meditators sample. For novice meditators, about 1000-

1500 genes were affected. The study concluded that the genetic effects of

meditation may have long-term physiological consequences, including the

slowing down of the aging process4.

The inter-relationships between gene expression, neurobiology and trance-

work have been researched extensively by Dr. Ernest Rossi, of the U.S.-based

Neuroscience Research Group. Rossi states that in any situation of problem-

solving, billions of connections in the brain begin to light up, as the thinker

moves through a 4-stage creative change process5:

1. Novelty (curiosity)

2. Incubation /numinosum (frustration)

3. Inspiration (A-ha! Moments)

4. Neurogenesis/Integration

1 Schwartz, 1996 2 Teasdale, Segal, et al., 2000; Ma and Teasdale, 2004 3 Begley, 2007 4 Dusek, Otu et al., 2008 5 Ernest Lawrence Rossi, Ph.D.


According to Rossi, the only job of the hypnotherapist is to help the person

turn on the creative neuron-based activity, so that the “inner genius” located

within the billions of neural connections can illuminate content as a client

moves through the 4 stages of change. According to Rossi’s research, the

average person moves 12 times a day through natural neural rhythms of

arousal-to-relaxation. In 1-2 hours, the brain waves complete a cycle, thus

Rossi allows 1.5-2 hours per client session. Rossi emphasizes the role of

“mirror neurons” and their role in motivating the change process. Gene

expression is “turned on” by novelty and surprise, thus hypnosis can

stimulate neurogenesis and the building of new neural pathways, hence

client insight.

As Hypnotherapists, we have a golden opportunity to ignite gene expression

for clients– in trance, genes will mimic the gene-to-gene dialogue that takes

place in dreams, thus illuminating relevant data for clients!

How exciting!!

Mindfulness, Cognitive Therapies and the

Role of Trance

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness generally involves meditation practices and contemplative

exercises designed to bring attention to the present moment, conditioned

mental habits, and intentional ways of being in the world. Mindfulness, as a

reflective way of being and observing, has its origins in Tibetan Buddhism.

Current mindfulness literature is rooted in the ground-breaking work at the

University of Massachusetts by Kabat-Zinn and colleagues in the late eighties

and early nineties. Largely as a result of this work, mindfulness was

introduced in a secular, westernized format to mainstream medicine.

Kabat-Zinn published many of the early outcomes related to the impact of

mindfulness and meditation for patients at the University of Massachusetts

Medical Centre Stress Reduction and Relaxation Program1. These patients

underwent an eight-week training program known as Mind-fulness Based

Stress Reduction (MBSR), a Program that has since been replicated across

various disciplines, in a range of settings, with thousands of people. Since the

1990 publication of Full Catastrophe Living1, many Western social

researchers, educators and service providers have drawn on mindfulness

teachings, to examine and explore their modern relevance in service delivery

to people experiencing the problems of health, illness and everyday life.

Kabat-Zinn refers to 7 foundations of mindfulness, and these foundations

inform the structure of mindfulness-based psychotherapy interventions

1 Kabat-Zinn, 1990

Jon Kabat-Zinn defines

mindfulness as “paying

attention in a particular

way: on purpose, in the

present moment, and

non-judgementally.”

Kabat-Zinn, 1994


What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is based on both cognitive therapy

(targeting thoughts) and behavioural therapy (targeting behaviour). CBT

interventions help people to examine and challenge their thoughts and

beliefs, alongside challenging and changing their behaviours. Common

methodologies in CBT include Socratic questioning, thought records, role

plays and cognitive restructuring of faulty belief systems / thinking patterns.

Exposure and Response Prevention (E/RP) is a common CBT method used in

the treatment of OCD, panic and phobias. With E/RP, the client is exposed

gradually to the feared object or situation (graduated exposure). The SUDS

scale is used to determine progress in exposures. Gradually, the person

builds up to the point of exposure to greatest anxiety-producing situation,

and also gradually increases length of time in delaying the ritual or

compulsion. The goal is habituation.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapies:

Growing from the mindfulness movement, mindfulness-based

psychotherapies (including MBCT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) have recently become more widely

researched, adopted and accepted within the mental health field, especially

in the treatment of persons with mood and anxiety disorders. All

mindfulness based cognitive therapies merge the principles of CBT with the

approaches of mindfulness, thus emphasizing the following:

• Being in the moment

• Decentering (being aware of sensations, thoughts, feelings – without

the narrative)

• Radical acceptance

• Non-attachment/Letting go

• Non-doing

• Compassion

How do we put it all together?

(mindfulness, cognitive therapies and trance)

Whether we call it trance or meditation, the brain is doing the same thing, if

there is focused attention involved. Thus, trance work can be incorporated

into client sessions from a number of pathways: a meditation session, a Tai

Chi or Reiki session, a provocative and mesmerizing CBT discussion, a deep

hypnosis or a light trance state...it’s all trance work. Good therapy re-quires

attention with intention on the part of both the therapist and client.

“The aim of the program

is freedom, not happiness

or relaxation”

Segal, Williams, Teasdale –

founders of “mindfulness based

cognitive therapy


Trance is used as the common thread to incorporate mindfulness principles,

cognitive restructuring, and ultimately – radical behavioural and mental

transformation. Strategic psychotherapy (based on Ericksonian therapy)

draws upon the use of whatever tool or “key” will assist each client, and

trance is used as the glue holding all the keys together.

The Basic Recipe: Strategic Trancework

• Individualized Induction

• Yes-set

• Suggestion(s)/Metaphor(s) regarding cognitive target #1

• Suggestion(s)/Metaphor (s) regarding cognitive target #2

• Move from general to more specific

• Reframing (optional interaction) and behavioural suggestion

• Motivating/ego strengthening (optional interaction)

• Post-Hypnotic suggestion

• Closure

• Disengagement

Putting it all together for OCD

• A flexible blend of classical and clinical hypnotic interventions

• Self-Directed, skills-based and educational training

• Individualized mindfulness training

• Short-term, solution-focused and structured sessions

• Ongoing cognitive and behavioural targets/goals (SMART approach)

The Role of Faulty Beliefs

Deeply held and conditioned belief systems and cognitive patterns consistently

override and over-power suggestions and behavioural-based interventions.

Some of the most common flawed beliefs include the following:

• To be worthwhile, I must do everything perfect

• I have to be prepared, be on guard and be ready for the worst

• I can’t handle uncomfortable symptoms. I can’t handle...

• Not preventing harm is just as bad as causing harm; I have to be

sure ...

• Having a bad thought is as terrible as doing a bad deed/I’m a bad

person

• I must get rid of unwanted thoughts

Interventions “permit and provoke” discomfort and uncertainty. The therapy

objectives are: cultivation of internal locus of control, self-support, and

new cognitive and behavioural skills.


Internal Locus of Control and Focus

Self Support

Cognitive Skill sets: Sample Interventions

Behavioural Skill sets

Clear mind meditations Recovery phrases* Cycle of worry psycho-education

Graded exposures (self-directed)

“Going inside” and core self-trance work

Calming breaths, teaching self-hypnosis

Noticing the Thoughts/ reframing or thought stopping

In vivo or imagined behaviour rehearsals (amplify panic symptoms in session)

Tonglen and Letting go meditations

Body Scan and trance practice for panic responses

Development of Observer mind

Teaching pattern disruption (e.g.: singing worry, worry time, writing down obsessions, loop-played obsessions...)

Everyday mindfulness activities (I AM... I am here)

Relaxation training N.A.D. or 4-step Distraction techniques

De-emphasis of thought content

Supportive self-talk scripts (must replace external reassurance seeking).

Emphasis on “Life is Messy, then you die” and “you never really know for sure”

Playing the OCD “game”

Mindfulness foundations exercises

Teaching EFT and energy medicine techniques

Motivational interviewing for development of risk-taking

Role plays

TEACH: FEEL FEAR, DO IT ANYWAYS!




*Some Examples: Helpful Recovery phrases:

It’s not me, it’s my OCD

Not mine! Ignoring...

Feels real, no big deal

It’s okay, I can handle this

This discomfort...that’s the price I pay for freedom

This is not an emergency...

Not answering the “what if “question

“Don’t know, don’t care, and keep moving”

“Step away from the thought...Stop, drop and roll”

I might... (faint/die from contamination/cause father’s

heart-attack), and I CAN HANDLE THAT

I don’t want to do this (exposure) – well! – Great practice!

– I’m going’ in

All is well


Trance Themes/Homework:

Anxiety and OCD Clients

Trance work should begin upon first contact with the client. It is crucial that

all of our interactions, inside and outside of the formal trance, are targeted

at de-hypnotizing the client from his/her current trance of doubt, shame

and/or avoidance.

Trance Themes & Metaphors:

• Behavioural rehearsal in hypnosis (be careful not to set client up)

• Parts therapy

• Empty Chair

• Core Self and somatic processing

• Regression/Future pacing

• Pendulation

• Inner/Higher advisor

• Systematic Desensitization

• Inner child /Reprinting work

• Meditative Trance work (e.g.: breath awareness, body scan)

• Recovery movie (light or deep trance)

Metaphors

• Child having a tantrum

• Schoolyard bully

• Diving into the deep end

• Water metaphors (floating, diving in...)

• Sports metaphors

• Background noise

• Prisoner/prison walls

• Butterflies/nature metaphors

• Automobiles/drive metaphors

The Importance of Homework

Homework should be assigned every meeting, and even BEFORE the first

meeting! Homework exercises might include:

• Play of the day/Recovery sheets and solutions focused homework

• Thought Record (more for generalized anxiety and panic disorders)

• Listening to CDs (Self-hypnosis)

• Visualization List/Writing out New Reality Tale

(future pacing exercises)


• Thought stopping

• Breathing exercises, meditations

• Stickers, affirmations, points

• 1 thing different/1 thing that scares you

• Lab experiments (clipboard exercises)

• Foundations of Mindfulness (1 foundation per week)

• Mapping the Territory/Reclaiming the territory

• Observer/Commentator

• Self-talk/Key recovery phrases

• The “3-D” exercise (Dramatized? Deadened or Discovered/Directly

experienced?)

• The “4-B” exercise (Lynn Lyons exercise)

Individualized Programming

Every first session should, ideally include:

• Assessment and rapport building

• Psycho-education: What’s going on from brain-based perspective?

• Brain-training overview/programming

• Confidence building/allegiance

• Truisms (Yes-set) and trance work (ideal is CD or MP3 take-home to

begin homework)

• Q and A/Homework

Each session after the first should emphasize:

• Expect anxiety

• Externalize anxiety

• Experiment with a new approach to anxiety

Individualized, age-appropriate interventions can be use in the

implementation of the above. An individualized/custom worry tool-kit should

be developed in collaboration with the client, by the 3rd or 4th session


The Case of Linda

Session 1:

Intake and assessment; Taped CD of “heavy hand” distraction; psycho-

education (brief EFT introduction, but client didn’t like; attempted somatic

processing, but client asked to stop the process). Client enjoyed being

informed about cycle of worry and role of alarm centre, etc.

Session 2:

Client reported some success in using “heavy hand” distraction while driving

and noticed her worry thoughts (but could not stop them most of the time).

Client stumbling blocks: asking “what if”. Session included a 5-minute object

meditation and the introduction of mindfulness/”being with.” We discussed

how to respond to the “what if” question and a list of recovery phrases was

developed. Client refused to close eyes, refused trance work beyond the

meditation. A discussion took place regarding her “recovery movie.” An Mp3

made outside of session was sent to client (Ericksonian/generative focus on

doing versus feeling; incorporation of recovery phrases, recovery movie).

Session 3:

Client was successful with homework and reported having a good week,

despite triggers such as parents out of town. Client practiced exposure for 10

minutes (hospital parking lot) and waited for anxiety level to drop from 8-4.

Focus of session: Systematic desensitization (light trance) and imagined

exposure for higher level fears/change in attitude to: “I’m Going In”. With

confusion induction, client successfully went into deep hypnosis.

Case Studies

Homework: Listen to CD

Homework:

1. Listen to Mp3 daily.

2. Do one exposure, using

techniques discussed.

3. Beginner’s mind homework.

Homework:

1. Listen to recording of session daily,

2. Increase exposure (negotiated),

3. Mindfulness practice exercises: Letting Go/Non-judgement (Observer versus commentator) (Drops in river)


Session 4:

Client went into hospital waiting room and waited for anxiety to drop to level

3. Focus of session: safe place induction to introduce more

paradoxical/provocative response to triggers (I want to feel more

anxious/willingness to do something radically different). In addition, a “core

self” tape was made. Continued discussions regarding cognitive and

behavioural responses to stimuli.

Session 5:

Discussed client highlights and what she did differently to avoid panic

attacks. A great few weeks reported with noticeably less panic. Client is

decreasing meds and continuing self-directed exposure work. Still avoiding

doctor appointments. Client reports interesting dreams of being sick and

needing mother to reassure her. Another dream: being kidnapped and taken

from child-hood home. Regression work to happy memory and lessons

learned – future pacing to series of sensitizing events; parenting of “inner

child” introduced as trance theme.

Session 6:

Client successful with doctor’s appointment and continued self-talk/changing

reaction to anxiety. Split screen visualization used. Continued discussion on

how to respond to events, with new attitude.

Session 7:

Client reported 1 incident of seemingly isolated panic attack. Somatic

processing and regression work attempted to locate pre-panic thoughts, but

not successful. Discussed the natural process of anxiety fighting back. Client

reported continued success with driving out of comfort areas. Emphasis was

on value of trusting/using vigilance to stay calm in the midst of a “anxiety

storm.” Travel metaphors used in naturalistic trance work (dancing all the

way back to a deep knowing in the midst of not knowing....).

Session 8:

Client now off all medication, and reports feeling great. Has been going to

doctor visits regularly and practicing exposures (1 big risk was a solo drive far

out of comfort zone). Family members noticing improvements in her attitude

and approaches. Client reports finding “singing the obsession” to be most

helpful method of pattern disruption. She is also catching her thoughts at the

onset, regularly...sticking to her script of recovery phrases. Client stated: “I

think it’s that I don’t want to grow up.” We discussed this at length and built

Peter Pan imagery into discussion (Wendy is never trapped in that grown-up

place, but she’s not trapped in the nursery, either...).

Homework: Listen to MP3;

Exposure; Notice 1 highlight to

report re: paradoxical response

(wanting to increase anxiety),

and 1 highlight to report of

resisting the urge to “give in”

to anxiety mind.

Homework: Mp3; doctor’s

appointment.

Homework: negotiated exposure

work. Introduced pattern

disruption techniques.

Homework: paradoxical practice

and report-back on a highlight; 1

big risk activity; pattern disruption.


The case of Donna

Session 1:

Donna presents with moderate range OCD symptoms (YBOCS scale) which

include ritualistic hand-washing (over 20 times per day); cleaning (e.g.: daily

laundry and washing of clothes that might “feel” dirty); and avoidance

patterns related to sexual obsessions. She is very interested in mindfulness

and has a yoga practice. Following intake assessment and psycho-education,

began to explore core fear (“I’m a Bad Person”). Began “Cherished Life”

statement. Taught BAM and NAD.

Initial brief hypnotic intervention: Parts of Me / Making decisions based on

goals not feelings

Session 2:

Donna came with completed homework and reported that she was able to

restrain on hand-washing a couple of times each day and was feeling

hopeful. We discussed her motivation for recovery work, and we went over

the framework of RESTRAIN/ RETRAIN / MAINTAIN. Developed handwashing

restraint program with maximum allotment of 10 blue cards per day (BE

WITH was chosen as her preferred strategy). Donna wrote a “BE WITH”

coping statement and completed the “Willingness to Suffer” scale with a

score of 35 (scored lowest on risk-taking). Donna was given a playlist of

motivational songs to listen to while running, etc. (Brand New Chick).

Hypnotic intervention: Running...hitting runner’s wall...moving past the

pain. Used imagery of new runner’s path, new levels of risk, new marathon

with highest prize.

Session 3:

Donna achieved 70% success rate with Restrain program. Discussed cognitive

barriers to achievement of 80% and completed in-vivo exposure work with

germs (bottom of shoe). Practice non-reassurance/no escape/make room

for. Developed Exposure program to complement HW restraint program

(att).

Hypnotic intervention: Napoleon and French Revolution / rules had to

change for the sake of freedom

Homework: Cherished Life

Statement; Listen to recording;

journal “something different”

based on BAM method and

NAD teaching; What has OCD

taken away?

Homework: Listen to recording;

Follow Blue Card restrain program


Follow E/RP program


Session 4:

Donna reported 80% success with both HW restraint program and the

exposure homework. Assigned higher level exposure homework with

ingesting germs from bottom of boot daily; Taking a no-check walk daily.

Practiced exposure work in office on “I’m a Bad Person” (by creating tape of

“The Molestation”) as Donna asking to move more intensively into RETRAIN

programming. Donna raised issue of “clearing” compulsion. We reviewed

attached “THE CHOICE” and her clearing cycle.

Hypnotic intervention: Prison walls and clearing

Session 5:

Donna reports 90-100% success with all exposure homework related to

germs. However, she achieved only 40% success with non-clearing. Her “bad

person” thoughts are becoming more stressful. We developed “I’m A Bad

Person - I’m Guilty” hierarchy and wrote Molestation Messages (flip charts,

notes in wallets, in pockets, etc.).

Hypnotic intervention: Somatic drop-down and Tonglen

Session 6:

Donna reported 60% success rate with non-clearing. In office, we practiced

“Tell the Kiddie Porn Story” and Donna was able to exercise calm and

openness to this exposure exercise (was highly agitated previously).

Motivational counselling. Donna agreed to continue with same homework,

working up to 80% success rate.

Session 7:

Donna reported 80% success rate with non-clearing and indicated that she is

about 75% complete (show of hands) in her recovery journey. She says she

feels there has been a lot of progress and “things are definitely shifting.”

When asked about how she will know there’s been a recovery, Donna gave

examples of internal markers (e.g.: not feeling stress when triggered) and

had difficulty discussing behavioural indicators. We discussed “putting cart

before the horse” philosophy vis-a-vis behavioural which include Chuck E

Cheese outing day and practice of Reversal of Energy in crowds.

Hypnotic Intervention: Drops in the River (emphasizing letting guard down)

Session 8:

Donna reported success with homework and was proud of the mall homework.

She was feeling a “surge of revved up energy” that felt restless and we practiced

somatic inquiry and “staying with” exercise. She said she felt the terror of

surrendering to vulnerability, and we used most of session to practice this.

Hypnotic Intervention: Dropping down and through


“Tell the Story” of molestation/

pedophilia; Continued HW restraint

and regular exposure homework;

Use NAD for non-clearing.

Homework: Handwashing 4-6

times a day, and continued

exposure work; imagined

exposure 1x daily (Tell the Story);

Reduced maximum quota per day

for clearing.

Homework: Continued daily

clearing quota; Willingness

homework includes daily mall-walk

Homework: Listen to recording,

continued Willingness homework.


Session 9:

Donna came to session reporting that she felt impact of Tonglen-type

exercises for first time, experientially. Afterward, she began to run every

morning, and started giving herself higher level (Magnify) exposure

exercises. She then experienced a fatigue and what she described as too

much anxiety. Expressed frustration with herself. Focus of session was on

self-compassion and Metta, along with key phrases of “Even this…” with a

gentler approach to fear.

Session 10:

At check-in, Donna’s hands still at 75% point -- feeling frustrated with

stagnation. When asked again about markers for success, Donna began

focusing on feeling benchmarks, but corrected herself and we discussed

behavioural goals. A good deal of session spent focusing on mental striving

versus self-compassion /giving up the fight. She is still ranging between 60-

80% success rate with non-clearing, is engaging in risk taking, but also

reports mental self-reassurances and some avoidance behaviours. States she

is unwilling at this time to engage in higher level Willingness exercises related

to child molestation fear.

Hypnotic intervention: From dark forest (with emphasis on “Even this…”) to

entering caste of light (Focus on ego strengthening)

Session 11:

Donna came to session saying that things are really “crystalling” for her, and

that she is feeling a change from having to do everything with her mind, to

feeling self-compassion and just “going with the flow.” She reports that she

feels more self-acceptance and has been experimenting with “Even this…”

feeling a deep energetic change. She finds herself taking more risks (e.g.:

taking subway every day, “leaning in” to crowds rather than clenching), is

going out more on social outings,

Hypnotic intervention: Self-compassion (Stop. Be still. Stay.).

Session 12:

Donna reports doing well in homework, and in challenging compulsions with

“I give up this fight” self-talk. She says she has begun to feel anxiety due to

work situation, and she has begun subtle avoidance - thoughts relating to

sexual content becoming more pervasive. Practiced “in-vivo” exercise with

sand-play figurines. Since Donna is reading Thich Nhat Hanh, used breathing

in /breathing out affirmations, followed by “staying with” energy during the

figurine play. Donna reported feeling surprised and proud she got through

this exercise and feels ready for higher level risk-taking as homework.

Homework: Continued same

Willingness work; Success journal

of surprises.

Homework: Donna still not willing

to work on higher level exposures

(child molestation) but did agree to

decrease maximum quota on non-

clearing; continue non-avoidance

exercises and listen to tape/

practice self-compassion.

Homework: Figurine Play at

home; Go to daycare in work

building and talk with friend who

works there - try to find excuses

to be around kids.


The Case of Jackie

Session 1

Jackie is a woman in her 20s presenting with Body Focused Repetitive

Behaviours (trichotillomania and skin excoriation). Client has background of

perfectionism, eating disorder, anxiety and low self-esteem. She reports that

CBT was unsuccessful in helping her. She also reported that she went to a

hypnotherapist in the past who gave suggestions for “feeling intense pain”

with each compulsive action. This hypnotic intervention resulted in a

cessation of the BFRB for a short time, but then symptoms returned and

exacerbated with follow-up and repeated hypnosis sessions.

Jackie stated she wanted to try hypnosis again, since she did notice an initial

success with trance-work. She is currently spending 3-4 hours a day on

compulsive rituals. Therapist and client put together a collaborative

treatment framework to include hypnotherapy to be delivered within an

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach combined with Habit

Reversal Training.

Focused Interventions: Cherished Life Statement; Identification of

pattern/cycle which was related to the automatic trigger thoughts of “I’m

hideous.” Initial hypnosis focused on safe place with anchor mudra as

suggested competing response (client enjoys mudras as part of yoga

practice). Avoidance and pre-compulsive behaviours/triggers identified.

Session 2

Client reports success with “Be with” phrase and was able to defer for 15

minutes more than 1x per day. She also listed to tape regularly.

Focused Interventions: Introduced “BAM” method and collaborated on 1

“magnify” exposure exercise (V-neck and off-shoulder clothing). Coaching on

acceptance-based cognitive responses to feelings and thoughts related to

shame and embarrassment. Used Tug of War metaphor to emphasize and

practice. Further discussion on Cherished Life.

Hypnotic Intervention: Elevator induction with suggestions of “a new way of

being that is perfectly imperfect.” Acceptance of imperfection.

Session 3

Client reports 10-15-minute maximums of bathroom rituals (previously

hours) 2x per day. She was successful in going to park with no make-up; She

also followed through on daily magnify exercises and stated that she felt

“giddy and empowered, but also ugly.” Has been using squishy balls as

competing response behaviour and is practicing daily self-hypnosis.

Focused Interventions: Much of discussion focused on Jackie wanting to

transcend self-hate. Client was taught Metta, but she resisted the self-

Homework: Audio daily; deferral

with acceptance phrase and “be

with” practice; pattern interruption

with stress balls.

Homework: Self-hypnosis daily;

Magnify exercise daily; pattern

interrupt; continued deferrals

of 15 minutes.

Homework: 1 ugly walk per day;

self-compassion exercises;

continued exposure/willingness

exercises; quota (10 checks per

day) for mirror checks; daily

meditation or self-hypnosis.


compassion — therapist used modified meta-visualization, with self-

compassion suggestions brought in at end.

Session 4

Jackie is continuing to successfully complete weekly homework, and sessions

have moved to bi-weekly. She states she feels ready to “let it all go.”

Hypnotic Intervention: Energetic Pathway protocol for regression. Somatic

bridge re: “I can’t be myself - you can’t see me.”

Jackie revisited a childhood memory of being embarrassed and shamed by

mother; processing work resulted in Jackie renegotiating the memory and

integrating new perception and experience.

Session 5

At check-in, Jackie reports great success with the quota system, and is down

to 5 short mirror-checks per day. She is also pushing herself with

willingness/magnify exercises — has deliberately gone to more public places

with no make-up. She finds “agree and proceed” as preferred acceptance-

based mantra to trigger thoughts related to avoidance and BFRB. She also

reports greater ease in speaking and relating to her mother.

Hypnotic Intervention: Prominent tree metaphor with added imagery of

weather patterns and imperfections/discomforts on the outside, while

strong and on path in the inside.

Session 6

Jackie reports she is now at 5-6 minutes per compulsive bathroom routines,

at twice per day. She is feeling like she is “80% better.” The compulsions are

not strong, and the picking has become a “non-issue.” Client reports that she

has begun obsessing about her weight. These obsessions have not translated

into altered eating behaviours, but she reports urges to exercise more and

“cover up belly fat.” Therapeutic discussion focused on transfer of ego-state

energy, and the comparison of ego states to rooms in a house was presented

metaphorically.

Hypnotic Intervention: Rooms in a house with a “great room” of messy joy,

with embedded suggestions for embracing imperfections, and mindfulness

with what is.

Homework: Energetic Ego State

exercise before bathroom rituals;

Bathroom rituals at maximum of 8

minutes per day.

Homework: continued self-

hypnosis and quotas re: checks and

times for BFRBs. Continued

willingness exercises.






Session 7

Client is now dating and enjoying a new job. She is beginning to feel

overwhelmed with demands of new job vis-a-vis perfectionist tendencies.

Continued maintenance of timed routines and quotas on checks. Continued

non-avoidance behaviours.

Hypnotic Intervention: Drops in the River — embedded suggestions for

mindful presence with emotions and cognitions.

Session 8

While Jackie was listening to her audio, she spontaneously saw an internal

image of giving herself a hug. She impromptu practiced mirror work with

affirmation: “I am willing to learn to love you.”

Session focus was on “I don’t want ____________ and I completely accept

__________”

“I don’t like ______________ and I completely accept

___________________________”

Hypnotic Intervention: Elevator induction with focus on self-acceptance and

letting go.

Session 9

Jackie is successfully practicing phrases like:

• “I don’t like redness on my skin, and I CAN LOVE myself even with

redness on my skin.”

• “I hate feeling judged by others, and I CAN LOVE myself even when I

feel this way.”

• “I don’t like feeling like I look hideous, and I CAN LOVE myself even with

these feelings.”

She reports still checking approx. 3x a day, but they are “minimal” looks in

mirror. Her bathroom routines are now down to 3-4 minutes per ritual. She

is still noticing thoughts coming up about weight, but this has not been

accompanied by any compulsive behaviours. She is able to resist urges to

“correct” redness or perceived skin imperfections, about 80-90% of the time

(self-reported), and reports that when she does pick or pull, it’s short and

that she can move on much more quickly and easily. Counselling and

coaching session focused on acceptance-based reframes and self-

compassion work re: relationship triggers.






Session 10

As client wanted to experience regression again (found it very helpful and

noticed big changes after last regression), most of session was dedicated to

another regression. In this regression, Jackie visited a pre-natal experience of

absorbing mother’s shame and depression. During post-processing reframe,

Jackie visualized a chalkboard with all toxic thoughts and phrases erased and

replaced with the phrase: “You are Free.”

Session 11

Termination Session. Jackie states that she has forgiven herself for all her

years of self-deprecation and bodily abuse. She reports talking more

positively to herself and has been practicing self-compassion exercises

regularly. She shared that she is finding herself better able to say no,

especially at work and in relationship with boyfriend (saying no to automatic

tendency to over-give). She says that she is regularly saying “good enough”

and “whatever” while often going public places with no makeup. Jackie has

forgotten to check on some days, and also reports some days of no picking.

The hypnotic intervention was a traditional meta-based visualization,

commencing with self-compassion. Jackie was able to accept this

intervention without resistance.


Object Gaze (Long Induction)

Suggestions for objects: candle flame; hypnotic picture on wall; or nature imagery

Please find an object to rest your gaze on now.

As you gaze deeply into _________

Allow the gaze to soften in ways that bring relaxation in waves, wave after wave of relaxation spreading with your gaze in

a feel-good, day-dreamy sort of way.

Future Tense

Soon, you’ll notice that your body is naturally becoming more relaxed

Without you even having to think about it

Waves of relaxation travel from the top of your head down into your cheekbones

Relaxing your whole face

While waves of relaxation also spread down

Into your arms

So, your arms will become more relaxed with each breath in

And your legs will become more relaxed

With each breath in,

Your whole body, with each breath,

Will become very relaxed

And soon, you’ll drift into a very peaceful state. Feeling safe, secure and comfortable.

Inductions


Now in a moment I’m going to count from 10-1

On each count, I’d like you to blink

Now, you can choose whether you blink quickly or slowly or at some pace peacefully in between.

But, here’s the important part, so please listen carefully:

Let each time you blink be an indication to your creative unconscious that you are moving into a deeper, peaceful

hypnotic state.

As you do this, your mind will become naturally more relaxed

And your body will become naturally more relaxed

And so, all the muscle groups in your body will become much more relaxed

SO relaxed that even the tiny muscle groups in your eye-lids won’t want to work anymore….

and the eyes will just naturally, wonderfully close. Maybe they’ll close at the count of 3, maybe 5, maybe even at 8. You can

be curious about that for now - wondering when those eyes will close.

For now, I’d like you to listen for my count from 10-1. And remember, on each count: blink your eyes. So, it will look like this

(DEMONSTRATE 10/9/8)

Good. So, go ahead now

And gaze deeply into _________

Allow the gaze to soften in ways that bring relaxation in waves, wave after wave of relaxation spreading with your gaze in


Present Tense

Now your body is relaxed

Without you even having to think about

So, enjoy those waves of relaxation travelling from the top of your head down into your cheekbones

Relaxing your whole face

While waves of relaxation also spread down

Into your arms

So, your arms are now much more relaxed with each breath in

And your legs are now much more relaxed

With each breath in,

Your whole body, with each breath,

Is very relaxed. Very at ease. Feeling safe, secure and comfortable.

And you can let yourself drift more and more into this very peaceful state that you’re experiencing now.


And in a moment, I’m going to count from 10-1

Remember: On each count, I’d like you to blink

You can choose whether you blink quickly or slowly or at some relaxing pace in between.

The important thing, as you may recall, is this:

Each time you blink will be an indication to your creative unconscious that you are moving into a deeper, peaceful

hypnotic state.

As you do this, your mind is now more relaxed

And your body is now more relaxed

And all muscle groups in your body - so relaxed

SO relaxed that even the tiny muscle groups in your eye-lids won’t want to work anymore and so the eyes will just naturally

close. Maybe they’ll close at the count of 3, maybe 5, maybe even at 8.

So, listen to my count now:

10 (prompt, if needed, to blink)

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

(If eyes close before 1, state: “good, keep the eyes closed while I continue to count down)

Directive

Keep your eyes softly closed now and enjoy that wonderful, peaceful sense of deep relaxation.

Post-Hypnotic Suggestion

Each time you go into hypnosis, you’ll find it easier and easier to get into this state very quickly and without

much effort at all.

(INSERT SUGGESTIONS HERE)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________


Re-Alert

Now, take some time to gradually re-orient yourself back into an alert state. As you allow yourself now to emerge from

hypnosis, take with you the feelings of calm, refreshing energy that will keep you feeling confident, focused and alert for

the day ahead.

1. Beginning to emerge from hypnosis now

2. Feeling yourself getting back into regular consciousness

3. Feeling alert, awakened and refreshed. It feels great!

4. Getting ready to open your eyes as you feel your fingers and toes

5. FULLY BACK NOW. AND OPEN YOUR EYES

Feeling great, feeling alert and refreshed!

Elevator Induction

(Bolded instructions for Operator)

Allow yourself to move naturally into a more relaxed state of being. Take your time to commit, this time…to set your

intention….and move to a slower pace. That’s right.

And as you do that, settling into a slower pace… a more relaxed space… in whatever way you do that - you can close your

eyes and mentally relax the muscles around the eyes… and in the jaw… the neck, and all the muscles around the head and

forehead and the eyebrows.

It’s really just a process of softening. Softening the face, almost as though you are smiling gently inward… Let your

shoulders drop and you let go of a little more tension around the shoulders and the neck and the head and the face. And

take a nice breath in. Good. And breath out. And on the next breath in, count mentally for an inhale of four, 1 -2 -3- 4,

good. And do that again and see if you can exhale to a count of four… So, the inhale is a slow deliberate count of four and

the exhale is a slow deliberate count of four. Just practice that for a couple of times.

And as you do that, you might begin to become more and more focused on and aware of your internal experience. And of

course, you are also aware of external sounds, distractions. But they don’t have to be distractions. They can simply be the

sounds of the heartbeat of life that continues on around you and brings you comfort and safety, anchoring you more and

more, deeper and deeper into an internal experience that’s your very own. Just by breathing in and out (optional: guided

4x4 breathing).

And in your mind’s eye now, create the image of an elevator (or cozy mini-meditation room, if there is a phobia of

elevators). You may actually visualize or see an elevator. Or you might imagine that you see an elevator. It’s fine either

way. But, you do it, imagine the elevator doors opening up and you move into your elevator. And you become aware of

how this is indeed YOUR elevator. Almost like your own little elevator room, that’s just for you. It’s your perfect place of

relaxation and comfort. And as you decorate the elevator walls in your mind, the elevator walls further insulate you in your

own internal reality, deepening your experience of going inward.

Your custom design elevator space is so very comforting to you. There may even be a place to sit or meditate or lie in this

special, cozy, one-of-a-kind elevator. Just for you. Breathing in and breathing out… Something about that simplicity can

feel simply peaceful. And you can also become aware of perhaps buttons on the elevator wall by the doors… or maybe it’s

some sort of panel or system that indicates what floors you will be visiting as the elevator moves downward. And even

though it is not moving just yet, you become aware or imagine you are aware of what that panel looks like. How you will


know that you are on each floor. Will it be buttons that light up? What colours? Will it be voice command that indicates

each floor? Whatever system it is, design it now in your mind’s eye. Really take a few moments to carefully craft and create

this wonderful internal experience of your custom-made elevator. Your haven, your signal, to your unconscious mind, that

all is well, and it is time to proceed on a journey that has already begun. Take your time.

And so, imagine now that you are on the 20th floor. And I will count down and, on each count, you will imagine stopping at

each floor, but the doors will not open. You will simply notice a gentle stopping, a deep pause… and moving down again,

gently, at a perfect pace for you. So, you move down from the 20th floor, very naturally, very gradually to floor 19 and as

you do that - because you stop briefly at 19 - you feel calmer… You move to 18 and it’s calmer yet. And 17… even more

relaxed… And 16, noticing what you notice as you notice less and less. And moving down even further into relaxation in a

peaceful sense of letting go to 15. And Noticing and maybe even relishing this deep level of relaxation and moving even

further down to 14 and 13, more and more… very, deeply relaxed. You might even be surprised with how relaxed you are at

12, and perhaps how more and more… deeply aware, insightful as you let go. Moving from 11 to 10. Deeply down now

from 10 to 9. Becoming less and less concerned with external realties. You can remember to forget or even forget to

remember, because it doesn’t even matter - the main thing is the peace that embraces. Like a warm blanket that wraps

itself to a level of your perfect comfort - as you peacefully, pleasantly drift down to 8. Peacefully, deeply, at your own pace.

Enjoying, freeing, that sense of 7. In your own way, for a change… 6… 5.

So natural it is now… to let go and you give yourself permission. And I wonder if you can go just a little bit deeper… for 4…

And 3. Very deeply now. To a beautiful sense of stillness and wonder to level 2. Because you can … Look forward to letting

go, all the way down… to level 1. And at 1, the doors open.

(ADD DEEPENING IMAGERY AND SUGGESTIONS HERE)

Optional: Deepening Journey Metaphor

…and you are aware now, that you are in a building feeling very peaceful. In this peaceful beautiful building. Perhaps there

are windows. You even notice sounds or if you hear any sound. As you move across the floor away from the elevator now.

Moving towards doors that lead outside. And you put your hand the door which leads you outside into wide open fresh

air… You find yourself on a sidewalk… And where ever you are in your mind is perfect for you… And so, you continue

walking along the sidewalk. Noticing what you notice… Peaceful walk, peaceful walk and gradually the sidewalk becomes

grassy… And you are aware that you are moving into a more natural setting. Less concrete, and more grass, and more

field. You move more and more into the field. And you gradually become aware that in this field, this expanse, there is a

pathway… And so, you’re now walking that pathway. Notice how pleasant this is, how you feel now… And what the

pleasant pathway looks like. Perhaps you have a sense of how you’re dressed and maybe what’s on your feet… So, you

walk along the pathway… And you’re aware that this pathway is leading somewhere. And even though you don’t know

where exactly, there’s a sense of looking forward to following along. Looking forward to… walk your path. You have a

vague sense of the commitment it takes to walk your path…

And for a moment you might hesitate about that. After all you came from, you can always turn back. But you make a

decision now… on how to proceed, to continue walking your path, and you do so. And notice how nice it feels to move

forward along the path. Eventually, whether that path is straight or narrow or wide or windy or hilly or rocky… However,

that path looks, whatever shape it takes, you follow it, and you follow it, and you follow it… And eventually it leads to a

fork in the road… A branching off into two directions. So… you stop here and pause for a moment, not sure in which

direction to proceed. Right or left. This way or that. And you’re also aware that somewhere ahead on the path is a very

beautiful beach. And you very much want to get to that beach. And it dawns on you, that if you take one branch from the

path it will lead directly and quickly to the beach. And you’re aware that the other branch in the path also leads to the

beach… where the sand is soft… where the water is clear… and the sun brightens the sky… so clearly. You decide right then

and there, which path you will take… you really are committed to walking this path… And so, you proceed one foot in front


of the other. You proceed because it feels good to move forward. (OPTIONAL: may not be used in situations of grief: It

feels good to say goodbye to one path and to move clearly with intention, with focus, with clarity in this direction now).

And you proceed… Even though at one point, there is some hilly terrain… and it gets tiring climbing up that hill… and

negotiating the terrain… And even though you may be aware that it might be easier to turn around… you’ve made a

commitment with focus, with intention… And so, you simply anchor in this commitment as you climb to the top of the hill.

Optional: Ego Strengthening and Moving Forward Suggestions

(especially indicated for clients with background struggles)

There’s a large bird flying overhead, and you can hear its calls and sense its majesty with all of nature, beckoning you,

encouraging you, to continue… Until you are all the way on the top of the hill, and from the top of the hill you have a bird’s

eye spectacular view of the beach. And you’re so close now, so close you can almost taste the smell of the beach and the

air. And feeling so much more confident now that you’ve made it this far. And so, the only choice is to keep going. And the

sun seems to shine brighter as you celebrate that choice, that success. Knowing the success of reaching the top of the hill

was born out of a long journey and a difficult climb upward. But all that is behind you now and it fades completely from

your mind, fades completely out of your visual screen. It doesn’t even matter, it’s as though it didn’t even exist. All that

matters is where you’re going. And you’re picking up your pace now, and feeling so much more confident, so much more

liberated. So free… to almost run now toward the beach, feeling your feet on the sand as you make contact with your

destination. Enjoying that… You may even hear the waves gently and beautifully lapping on the shore. And that reward of

liberation, proceeding with confidence. And so really, really… feel and see yourself now on that gorgeous beautiful expanse

of beach and sun. And the rays of sun warming your skin, your face, even your hair and your hands. And the perfect

temperature of the water. And the perfect sounds and smells around you. And breathe in all this beauty. And here you

become aware that this is a very special place and time for you. Meant just for you.

Optional: Reframing and Integrating Time-Line

And you become aware that on this beautiful beach, there is a gentle wave taking shape now in the water. And this wave

represents to you and reflects back to you all of your past. Especially your past images that relate to the issue that you

have now. You notice all those images of yourself, your past self, dancing in the wave. And you go forward into the water,

with a curious and gentle view, meeting the wave peacefully, allowing it to wash over you, cleansing, healing, wash over

you completely… and the wave naturally dissolves into the water. And then it’s gone. And, you feel so refreshed and

cleansed, purified and healed by that wave. And you are grateful, so grateful for this.

And smiling inwardly again, you sense another wave gently, gradually taking shape. And interestingly, this wave represents

for you where you are now especially with that particular struggle, around confidence, around _________. And you allow

this wave and all of its images of your present-self, struggling, pondering, striving. All the images, all the words, all the

thoughts in this present wave, picking up now as the wave grows larger and bigger… And you allow it to wash over you

completely and it feels good as it washes over you, cleansing, healing. And as the wave dissolves back into the water from

which it came, you can easily let go completely of that present wave. And it feels good to do that, because you are very

aware now of something in the distance — a new wave approaching, a beautiful and pleasant new wave — perhaps it’s a

different colour and shape than the others, a different feeling altogether… And that beautiful, gentle wave that is coming

to meet you now. This wave represents your future. Your future… based on where you are heading with confidence into…

your future… with focus, with clarity. Your future success. Confident, liberated, healed. You see all the images of your

future-self now coming to meet you. And with outstretched arms you allow that wonderful wave of the future to meet you,

and move through you… and merge with every molecule and every cell in you… and in the water around you… And you feel

so healed now. And this brings you comfort, and you decide to, somewhere along the beach now, celebrate your new

reality. The one new reality you’ve created simply by walking your path, staying on it, being committed, being focused.


You’re celebrating your new reality. You decide to celebrate this with a gentle rest, a nap. You stretch yourself out

somewhere along the beach in perfect proximity to the sun’s rays, the amount of warmth being just right for you. Warming

you, basking in the glow and radiance of the sun. And you have a rest… reflecting, reflecting on your new reality.

Optional: Future-Self and Anchored in Commitment

And in your rest and your reflection, you become ever so peacefully, wonderfully, blissfully aware of a figure, a gentle

healing figure coming towards you. Coming to meet you on the beach. This is your future-self coming to meet you now on

the beach. You allow that image to take shape: yourself, five years from now. Your future-self that has walked this path,

and continued to walk it, for the last five years.

This future-self is here, to impart wisdom with you. And so, you take this opportunity to have a dialogue with your future,

wise self. Your future-self shows you - through an image in the water - a scene of what you will be doing five years from

now… so, you peer into the scene of yourself five years from now. Notice what you’re doing; who is around you; notice

what your wearing. The scene coming more and more into focus. You might even be happily surprised by what’s happening

in this scene. The snapshot of you in the future, what you’re doing, what you’re saying, how you’re carrying yourself, how

you’re walking, how you’re talking.

And you turn toward your future-self on the beach, who is now watching you watching the scene of yourself in the future…

and you can look into the eyes of your future-self and simply ask: how do I get there? How did you get there? From here to

there… what is the most important thing I need to know now?… And just listen. Just listen for words of advice… or perhaps

an image… or however it is that your future-self imparts wisdom to you… Allow for that wisdom to sink in. Fully.

And as that advice, as that wisdom for you sinks in, your future-self gives you a gift, maybe the gift is a phrase or an

affirmation. Or maybe the gift is something from nature, or a symbol of something. But see your future-self giving you this

very special gift and receive it from your future-self. See, feel and sense this gift fully. This gift is your reminder that you’re

never alone. You always have your wisdom. And your reminder to you of where you are headed with focus, full

commitment, no hesitation, full confidence. And you are determined to proceed. And as you allow that image of your

future-self to leave your visual screen, that sense of focus and commitment sinks in to every cell, every layer, every aspect

of your being. There is no hesitation, it is done. And as that sense of calm, focused, very focused liberation, sinks in even

deeper, you pledge allegiance… you pledge allegiance to this commitment to your future-self, above all else, no matter

what. Really allow that to sink in and be absorbed at every level of consciousness, every level of awareness, every level of

self. Let it guide you in the next few days, weeks, months, years to come. Let this be the time you will re-member as the

turning point. And with full allegiance to that commitment to your new reality.

Re-Alerting

I will now count you up from 1-10. But know that you can always, very quickly, easily and effortlessly, return to the core of

yourself, to your infinite wisdom that is beyond all thought, beyond all emotion, beyond all external circumstance. You

can return easily and effortlessly at any time to your core truth.

10 Taking your time to gradually integrate all of the new learning

9 Gradually re-orienting yourself to the present moment

8 Bringing your mind back into your body…

7 Good, a nice healing and refreshing breath in…

6 Moving into regular consciousness now, with a gratitude and a new sense of renewed com to your path.

5 Feeling your body here now. Feeling your arms and your legs.


4 Coming more and more back with your mind fully in your body now, feeling refreshed and alert. Take another

refreshing breath in.

3 Feeling your fingers and your toes, giving them a wiggle, feeling so happy for the journey that you’re on, feeling

grateful and recharged.

2 Fully aware, re-vitalized, re-focused. Excellent. Feeling wonderful in every way!

1 All the way back now… a big stretch, all the way back in, OPEN YOUR EYES, COME ALL THE WAY BACK NOW… You’re

Grateful for your lessons and your path.

Special Place (with naturalistic induction lead-in)

Instructions to operator: Begin with gradual deepening, and transition to “yes-set” (example: you know, you

mentioned to me that it took you longer than expected to get here to the office today... (embedded suggestion: good

things worth waiting for); and I don’t know what exact route you took, but I do know that you were probably curious

about the first meeting and what would happen; and you’ve been curious about things in the past, too... projects... new

beginnings... not knowing how things would turn out... It’s interesting how one can look forward with anticipation... and

yet not know... at the same time... (embedded suggestion – possible to feel more than one emotion at the same time)...

And, isn’t it also interesting how even as you sit there now reflecting on all this, you might notice relaxation spreading

more and more, as you might be wondering... looking forward... anticipating... what next?

And you can... spread that relaxation... notice how it spreads, maybe in waves, maybe in just a felt sense of a blanket of

warmth or comfort... spreading... notice how that comfort moves through you – perhaps from your head and facial

muscles down... perhaps across your shoulders… into your arms… the relaxation travelling like gentle moving waters down

the arms and the hands… and into the tributaries of the fingers…

As the body relaxes, so do does the mind - making it easier and easier to let go. The way a small child holding onto a

balloon, lets go of the string on the balloon, and the balloon rises… into the air… and as it moves farther and farther up

into the skies… it appears smaller and smaller…

It’s curious how calming that can be - watching something get smaller and smaller like watching while holding onto an icy

snowball in the palm of one’s hand… observing and feeling how that cold, icy snowball gets smaller and smaller in the

warmth of the sun… and how the coldness transitions into warmth. And gets warmer and warmer. Just by letting go.

And how you do that... How you CAN LET GO is completely up to you. How you’ll use your wonderful, one-of-a-kind

creative imagination to open up to a peaceful, one-of-a-kind gateway to that MUCH WISER, MUCH DEEPER part of

yourself... that part is up to you.

I’d like to suggest that you take some sort of pathway or bridge to help you meet with this deeper, wiser part of yourself…

in your own special place, a sanctuary in the mind’s eye. So, imagine, if you will, in your mind’s eye now… some sort of

pathway or bridge that will you take to your own special, magical place of the creative imagination.

Maybe it’s a bridge or a road or water-way that takes you to your special place. Whatever way or path you take… do that

now. Allow yourself to go to your special, healing place - maybe your special place is real or maybe it’s imagined - maybe

you see it in your mind’s eye, or maybe you just imagine you see it. Maybe you feel it. It might be a place in nature or

somewhere else. It’s perfect for you. The temperature is perfect, the colours are perfect and pleasing to you, even the

sounds around you begin to surround you in feeling so relaxed, so safe, so comfortable.


Take some time to decorate your special place with a sound-scape and all the imagery of wonder and delight... gentle,

peaceful sounds… gentle, peaceful colours… notice how the mind can design just the right sounds and deep feelings of

serenity. How that just happens... there may be serene bursts of tranquil and new colours and a tapestry of tranquility

and peace... this special place almost paints itself into existence. You can almost smell the aromas that for you represent

deep relaxation…

This is your place, your time. For you to enjoy. You might find a place to sit or lie in here. You feel very at ease… Very

Happy on the inside, close to even glowing on the outside.

Whatever needs to be added for your ease, just simply add it now.

Ask your unconscious creative mind to do that for you. While you fully appreciate the experience of a deep inward

journey - Fully appreciating your time, knowing this is your time, to feel wonderful in every way.

I’ll stop talking now to allow you to take this time - a looooong time in hypnosis and a short time in real time, to just enjoy

- letting that comfortable peace seep into every cell, every molecule, every aspect of your entire being... curving its way all

the way around your DNA... making its way to a resting place, a special place - deep within.

Awakening

And... Smiling inward... you allow yourself to very gradually and gently re-orient yourself. To help you do that, I’ll now

count from 1-5.

1 - Bringing your mind all the way back into the body now...

2 - Taking a nice, deep refreshing breath in...

3 - Coming all the way back

4 - Refocused, rejuvenated, feeling great....

5 - Open your eyes - fully awake.

And feeling wonderful!

The Power Is In Your Hands - Induction

In this induction, the “problem” is used as a primary content pathway for facilitating a more mentally receptive state for

helpful hypnotic suggestions.

(Bolded instructions for Operator)

Induction

(can be open or closed eyes)

I’d like to begin with an energy exercise that involves you thinking about a problem you’d like to work on. Think about a

problem now. You know, at various points in your life you’ve had to problem-solve; And, I don’t know when the last time

was for you that you had a dilemma - maybe it was a simple decision-making dilemma like what to have for dinner, or

maybe it was something that felt bigger. But I do know that you’ve had at least some experience with decision-making.

Decisions you’ve been happy about and maybe some you’re still wondering about. And, I do know, that if you’re human,

you’ll know exactly what to do when I say: “Focus on a problem.”


It doesn’t require much thought to focus on problem. And for you... right now... it doesn’t have to take much effort, to

focus on A Problem. The problem. It may seem counter-intuitive to be asked, in a therapeutic session, to think about the

problem. But, actually - what you’ll find as we go through this exercise... is that often what seems like the big, scary

PROBLEM takes over so much of our awareness (If client’s eyes are closed: ask to open: view hands: Use hands to

symbolize “taking over”), that all of our energy is used to HOLD US IN (use hand to demonstrate), to tighten us up... and

this takes a lot of mental effort (demonstrate with hands).

And, the thing that happy people have figured out is HOW to LOOK AT THE PROBLEM (Use hand motion to demonstrate

looking at hand), in such a way (and there IS an artful way to look at a problem - I’m going to show you how in a

moment)... that the energy of the SOLUTION (use hand to demonstrate) is freed up... and once that solution energy is freed

up... it’s free to MOVE (move hand to demonstrate)... and then, YOUR unique, one-of-a-kind, super-creative, brilliant

unconscious healing energy becomes free to problem-solve IN YOUR UNQUE WAY (bring hands together), to heal and

resolve.

So, are you ready to try this healing energy exercise now? (Good. Close eyes)

To help you do this, in a few moments, I’ll count from 3 to 1, and when I get to 1, I’m going to use the word: “STRIVING.”

When you hear the word “striving”, you can allow yourself to just go ahead and try to get yourself deeply absorbed into the

energy of the problem - allow yourself to get fully into all the striving and trying and thinking and over-thinking about the

problem. It will just be for a FEW MOMENTS... No big deal, no over-attachment to the content of the problem... but, for the

purposes of this exercise - FOR THOSE FEW MOMENTS... I’D LIKE YOU TO EXAGGERATE the energy of this problem issue as

you allow it to move through you - all the way (demonstrate: wincing eyes, clenched jaw and fists, etc.). You’re going to

allow the problem to represent itself completely in the way your body feels, the way your shoulders and jaw feel... allow

this energy to magnify and express itself as though you can become a “statue” of THE PROBLEM.

So, here we go now. Thinking about the problem. Getting more and more into it. Feeling it. 3-2-1. STRIVING. So, go ahead

now:

Allow yourself to just go ahead and try to get yourself so fully, so deeply absorbed into the energy of the problem - yes,

that’s right... allow yourself to fully get into all the striving and trying and thinking and over-thinking about the problem.

AND REALLY EXAGGERATE the energy of this issue as you allow it to move through you - all the way. Allow the problem to

represent itself completely in the way your body feels, the way your shoulders and jaw feel... allow this energy to magnify

and express itself as though you can become a “statue” of THE PROBLEM.

Good. Excellent. Notice the feeling and energy of the problem. Feel it fully. Good.

And now - just shake that off... yes, that’s right (demonstrate relaxing, “shaking off” energetic presence)... take a nice,

healing breath in. And, relax.

And now, to help you really feel the difference between striving energy and healing energy, I’m going to again count from

3-1 (or ring bell), but this time, I’ll use the word “HEALING” and when I do... allow your body and mind to soften and centre

into healing energy completely. However, you do that. Just for a few moments - softening and loosening. Opening to a

feeling of lightness and rightness - healing energy as it restores and rejuvenates just as completely as you can... resting into

that highest, and most centered and present, solution-focused version of YOURself, YOUR energy, YOUR highest self.

Ready?

Okay, here we go. 3-2-1 (or ring bell). HEALING. Yes, go ahead - Fully and completely now:

Allow your body and mind to soften and centre into healing energy completely. However, you do that. Just for a few

moments - softening and loosening. Opening to a feeling of lightness and rightness - healing energy as it restores and

rejuvenates just as completely as you can... resting into that highest, and most centered and present, solution-focused

version of YOURself, YOUR energy, YOUR highest self.


Good. And, I invite you now to open yourself to softening around the edges... just a little bit more, if you can, and feel ready

to do that... an opening as in the way that flowers open up to the sunshine. There might even be a pleasant colour or feel

or image that comes to mind... Yes, NOTICE how that feels. Enjoy this time, your time to simply notice and allow this

energy of no words, no concepts, no constructs - simple, unobstructed awareness... of a gentle, easy energy... resting its

weight so lightly on your shoulders like soft clouds easing those shoulders down. And with each breath in, you can allow

yourself to sink...deeper and deeper in... to this softening energy... like a pleasant, warm breeze around soft, wispy clouds...

a light, inviting breeze that beckons your chin up ever so slightly toward the sun....gentle weights... cloud-filled.... that are

smoothing down your shoulders... chin gently tilting up toward the sun... and now, sitting in a gentle, upright and dignified

position... completely comfortable, completely centered, in a way that represents your best and highest, healing version of

who you really are.

(INSERT DEEPENERS / EGO-STRENGTHENING SUGGESTIONS)

Optional Suggestion: Power Switch

Excellent. Now, keeping your eyes closed and maintaining this tender, softened mental state, Imagine that somewhere

inside of you lies the central control for this best and highest healing part of you. Where would that part of you be? Search

around inside and just notice. Where in your body can you imagine that part of you located?

When you’ve located that internal central control for your highest healing energy, you can deepen your experience of this

by mentally assigning a colour to this highest and best part of you - what would that colour be? And you can also assign a

shape to that healing energy... and you can ask your unconscious creative imagination to show you in colour and shape

how to move that energy through you now.

And, if you like, you can stay here enjoying the experience of this healing energy - going to wherever it needs to go in your

body... whichever part of you needs healing most. It just knows exactly where to go on its own without your help... you can

just watch... allow... and let this healing energy do its therapeutic work for your best and highest good. That’s right. Letting

that happen.

Optional Suggestion and Hypnotic Exercise: Healing Hands

And, if you feel ready to go just a little deeper... I’ll count from 3-1, and when I get to 1, you simply open up the palm of

your hand, and allow that same healing energy - the colour and shape of it - to move a part of itself (but not all of it) out of

your body and into the palm of your hand. You can be curious about which hand will open to that ball or blob or shape of

unique healing energy. You might already feel the tingling or sensations of which hand it will be... that opens up when I get

to the count of 1.

3 allowing part of that energy to swirl itself into a healing shape…

2 the shape moving from inside your body…

and 1... into the palm of your hand.

And just notice how the hand, as it holds that healing energy lightly for you, wants to move. You can observe how the hand

feels as it moves itself naturally in tandem with an open book of solutions and new perspectives for you. Just let the healing

hand move and around and express the solution in its own way. Yes.

If this, the healing hand, your solution hand had a message for that problem you were thinking about earlier - what would

this message be?


And you can naturally and easily let your other hand represent the problem. So, focusing all your awareness for a few new

moments on the other hand - the problem hand - allow this hand to have its own qualities of colour and texture. Notice if

this hand feels heavier or lighter than the solution hand. Allow this hand to express itself as the problem hand moves in its

own way.

Isn’t it wonderful how you can experience the 2 different sensations... those 2 hands can dialogue with each other...

unobstructed by words... through simple movement expression, through energies... the problem and the solution... moving

energies... unconsciously resolve… Yes.

Allow the problem hand to move and express itself fully... the fingers to form into various shapes and to move as the

unconscious does this important work... just allowing... and, the solution hand to do its healing work... those fingers

forming and moving artfully as the unconscious wisdom finds its way into the portals of those hands.

Each hand moving to its own music... own rhythmic swaying to the healing directives of the collective unconscious, the

individual sub-conscious, the mind-soul know-how and deep wisdom of the ages... all that power... in your hands.

And that power... that... solution... moving out in waves and signals.

And that knowledge which comes naturally… that insight…

New shifts in awareness trickling in like waterfalls... settling in like peace does. Naturally, easily, effortlessly.

And let a resolution occur now and be expressed in these moments with the hands... signaling that your unconscious is

doing what it needs now in allowing you to become much more open to helpful suggestions, helping you to unlearn what

no longer serves you… and helping you heal for you best and highest good.

A resolution, a hand-expressed deeper understanding

Deepening your knowledge of that... without you even having to try

Re-Alerting

Your unconscious mind will continue to do its work in healing and resolving... in the next days and weeks to come, while

you rest and even while you sleep, and move through dream states every evening... new insights... shifts and new

perceptions... higher understanding...

In a few moments I’ll count from 1-5... as I do, allow those 2 hands, if they have not already, to come to a healing place

and resolution for now. As you do so, bring yourself gradually back into regular awareness.

1 Looking forward to new insights, smiling inwardly...enjoying the cognitive shifts and new perspectives happening now

2 Coming gradually back now...into regular awareness. Re-orienting yourself to the present

3 All things coming together, feeling peaceful and revitalized

4 Coming all the way back now, your mind all the way back into your body

5 Refreshed, revitalized, OPEN YOUR EYES... nice, healing breath in. Smile


Rapid Induction

Rapid Induction #1: Arm Drop Induction

Put your arm out in front of you like this. Very straight, very locked in. Good.

Now, I’d like you to take a nice deep breath and close your eyes with the exhale. Excellent.

Now, keeping your arm outstretched, imagine your shoulder unlocking

And your elbow unlocking

And in your own time, in your own way… allow that arm to slowly surrender to the gentle force of gravity.

Letting the arm slowly drop…

with nothing you have to do…

Nowhere you have to go…

This is your special time…

That’s right…

And as that hand meets a surface - your leg or the seat of your chair

This is a wonderful indication for you to drop…

Just a little more deeply

Just beneath the surface…

In a relaxed, comfortable way…

Your way… your time…

Letting go a little bit more…

in a way that feels just right for you.

Rapid Induction #2: Object Gaze - Rapid Version

Please find an object to rest your gaze on now. As you gaze deeply into _________

Allow your gaze to soften in ways that bring relaxation in waves, wave after wave of relaxation spreading with your gaze in


Good. Now… you can drop your shoulders and drop your chin ever so slightly. So that your eyes cast slightly upward while

you gaze at your object of meditation. Relaxed shoulders, relaxed jaw. Excellent.

Relax every part of you, especially the tiny muscle-groups in your eyelids that are by now perhaps getting heavier and

heavier. As you notice the eyes getting more tired, more heavy, you can realize that those eyes can close whenever they

want you. And, as you CLOSE YOUR EYES, your brainwaves SLOW DOWN, and it feels wonderful… to DRIFT DOWN

PEACEFULLY and comfortably into your own ideal hypnotic state.

Rapid Induction #3 : The Hand Hold

Would it be alright if you put your hand lightly on the palm of my hand? (obtain permission)

Are you ready to go rapidly into a hypnotic state? Good.

All you have to do is press lightly down on the palm of my hand while I lightly press up.

I’m going to lightly resist (demonstrate) each time you press down (demonstrate).


So, you Press down… I resist. And now you press down… good. (practice resistance briefly).

Now this time, see if you can double your relaxation with each press down.

Press down. Double the relaxation. Good.

Press down again. Doubling the relaxation with each press down. Right.

Now we’ll stop here for a moment.

Take a deep breath in and close your eyes.

Thank you.

I’m going to count down now from 5-1. On each count, You’ll press down as we practiced, and you’ll continue to become

more and more relaxed with each count and each press down. On the count of 1, you will be so relaxed, your whole body

will become loose and limp, and you’ll enter into a very peaceful hypnotic sleep. Let me know with a nod if you

understand these directions (wait of yes signal)

Thank you.

I’ll now count down:

5 - press down. Deeply relax (operator slightly resists)

4 - press down. More relaxed. good

3 - down. Deeper and deeper relaxed

2 - down. Deeper and deeper.

1 - SLEEP (Operator says “SLEEP” while pulling hand abruptly, in a downward motion while snapping fingers).

Rapid Induction #4: The Eye Roll

Get into a comfortable and secure feeling, relaxed position.

As you relax and get comfortable, see if you can find a way to sit with your back straight, shoulders down and look straight

ahead.

Keep your arms, hands and legs loose and limp. Very relaxed.

Good. Shoulders down, jaw relaxed, facial muscles relaxed, body relaxed.

Sitting very comfortably now, move your eyes - just your eyes… to the top of your head or if you prefer, the ceiling.

Imagine there is a window at the top of your head or the ceiling that you can magically look out of. You can look thorough

the window into the bright, blue open sky.

As you gaze at the sky, your eye-lids might become heavier and heavier until they want to close. And as the eyes close, your

level of relaxation depends richly, as you go inward.


Script: Dialling Down Reactivity

From: Affect Regulation Toolbox: Practical and Effective Hypnotic Interventions for the Over-reactive Client.

Dr. Carolyn Daitch, 2007.

Used with Permission.

In Your safe room… there is a desk with a large dial on it… a dial with a needle that points to your current level of tension

(or reactivity) on a scale of 0-11… and when you can see the needle registering on the dial, please nod… (client nods).

OK… Good… And now… I want you to superimpose a shaded area… a zone of comfort… and also a red zone signifying

excessive anxiety or tension… intense reactivity… Perhaps the optimal shaded range goes from 0 or no reactivity to 2 or

3…just a little bit of tension needed to handle situations that arise… and the red zone is from 8 to 11… and, once again,

nod when you are able to visualize the dial with the two zones… (nods).

OK… and, if the needle is not in that optimal range…if it’s on a middle range number… or if it’s in the red zone… can you

utilize the power of imagination to dial the number down… to move the needle into that optimal range?... Again, nod

when you have been able to move the needle into that range… focus on your breathing… deep, relaxed breaths… waves

of relaxation… slowing your pulse… lowering your blood pressure… moving that needle down into the optimal range… nod

when you are there… (Nods). Very good.

Now think of some event or situation that you are worried about or perhaps simply a stressor that is actually… in reality…

just an inconvenience or an aggravation… yet you experience it as much more… with too much intensity.

And now concentrating on the dial, notice what number the needle on the dial is registering. You can use the power of

your mind to dial the number down to be in alignment with the right level of tension that this concern merits. You might

even imagine also using your fingers to turn a knob to move the needle down to that desired level.

Your unconscious mind will advise you as to just the right level… of reaction this concern merits so that you can be

effective, focused, yet relaxed… in control… It may be that no reactivity is in your best interest, or maybe you just need

some emotional energy… to handle the situation with measured reactivity. Now slowly take three deep breaths. In and

out… in and out, relaxing a little bit more… you become more, more, and more deeply relaxed and see the situation that

was upsetting or worrying you, and you see the needle moving down now to where it should be. Can you notice how

much more in control you feel?


Isn’t it nice to know that you are in charge and that you can dial down your reactivity with the power of your mind?

Sometimes the stress of an event or a relationship or some unavoidable challenge will come into your life, and you can be

reassured to know that you can determine how much you’ll react or even if you react at all… Now I am going to be quiet

for a moment or two while you see yourself practicing the calming breath… visualizing your quiet room with its desk and

its dial… and seeing yourself intentionally dialling down as you continue to relax… and enjoy this experience…

Each time you dial down, it will become easier and easier to feel in charge. You can make a daily commitment to dial

down your reactions, and as you do… you may say a supportive statement… You might say the phrase “I am in charge of

my response.” Say that phrase to yourself now three times, and as you do it, store it… integrate it… put it in a mental file…

holding on to it… reinforcing it.”

©Dr. Carolyn Daitch, 2007.

Documents

Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist (C.Hyp) · 2019-04-23 · Object Gaze (Long Induction) ... • Administering hypnotic protocols for pain management, stress reduction, and general