Contemporary Hypnosis
Volume 14, Issue 2, pages 126–131, June 1997
Stuttering modification using hypnosis: an experimental single-case study
Guy J. Moss, David A. Oakley*
Article first published online: 16 FEB 2006
DOI: 10.1002/ch.94
Copyright © 1997 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Abstract
This experimental single-case study examines hypnosis as an anxiety management and ego-strengthening technique for stuttering modification. The fluency of a 29-year-old male with a severe overt stutter was measured in controlled conditions over a baseline period, 12 hypnosis sessions and five follow-up sessions, using standardized reading material. In hypnosis the subject was taught anxiety management and self-hypnosis techniques alongside covert rehearsal of coping with stressful situations. Fluency improved immediately during hypnosis and a steady increase in fluency was seen over sessions on the standardized materials when tested both before and after hypnosis. On the basis of post-hypnotic suggestion and directed practice, these marked improvements in speech production seen in the laboratory were generalized to everyday situations. The subject also reported a considerable improvement in his general physical and mental well-being. The significance of these results for the use of hypnosis as an adjunct to speech therapy are discussed. Copyright © 1997 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Are you ready to create positive lasting change in your life, starting right now?
Monday, August 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Choose love not fear...666
The carbon atom has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons... 666, sound familiar?
Carbon is the building block for all life on Earth! Carbon is the most prevalent element in the Universe.
The Carbon atom is the chemical basis for most of the molecules that are important to maintaining life. These molecules include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, as in DNA, the chemical that contains our genetic code and the development and functioning of all known living organisms
Carbon is the key for photosynthesis, which ultimately provides food for all living things on Earth.
It always surprises me when someone worries about my phone number...206-719-6660.
Verizon's computer randomly gave me my phone number that happens to contain the numbers 666. When I was ordering my new phone, the Verizon customer service guy saw the numbers on his screen (before I knew what it was) and he asked me how I felt about 6's. I laughed and asked "Why? Does it have three 6's in it?" He said, "Yes and the last lady screamed at me!" I explained that there is a reference in the Book of Revelations in the Bible to the apocalypse that says 666 is the number of the "Beast" which is interpreted by some as referring to the devil and all things evil, oh my.
I love mathematics. The language of numbers is universal, logical and scientific.
The number 666 (666 / 6*6*6 = 216 / 2160 / 21,600, etc.) is a mathematical sequence or code found throughout nature and helps us understand the universe, from ourselves to basic structures of matter, to the planets and the stars.
The number 666 has many references in Sacred Geometry, Color, and Harmonics. There are many variations on a theme of obtaining the number 666 from all manner of diverse sources. In fact, there are really too many references to 666 for one not to consider that perhaps there is something really beautiful, intelligent, interesting and positive about the number.
666 has always interested me, because Sacred Symbols often face attacks by certain groups in order to remove their power, or create fear.
Numbers do not create hate and fear, only people do that.
Beliefs and knowledge manifest our reality, so I believe in choosing love, not fear.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Permissive, not Authoritative, Hypnosis
"The Ericksonian approach, or Permissive Approach, acknowledges every person as a unique individual that has unique behaviors and ways of entering a trance state and receiving suggestions. The subject knows how to relax and how to enter a trance state. The hypnotist merely acts as a guide into a hypnotic state.
Before Dr. Milton Erickson developed the Permissive Approach, the prevailing method of hypnosis was known as Authoritative Hypnosis.
In Authoritative hypnosis, the hypnotist has a power relationship over the subject and uses relaxation techniques on the subject in order for them to enter a trance state. For example, one might be reminded of the popular image of stage hypnotists when they say, “You are getting sleepy” or “Your eyes are getting heavy” (Alman, 1983, p. 26).
The idea is that the hypnotist must act in a way to get the person’s conscious mind out of the way in order to open up the unconscious, usually attempting to put consciousness “to sleep” (Alman, 1983, p. 26).
In Authoritative Hypnosis, the unconscious mind if viewed as a reservoir or a fertile piece of ground in which one can “implant” suggestions. According to this approach, the unconscious is like a basement where experiences are stored and lay stagnant unless they are aroused by some external stimuli.
Also, according to this approach to unconsciousness, the hypnotist must then tell the unconscious mind what it should do.
This approach is also faulty, because the unconscious mind is not a neutral space which will do whatever the hypnotist tells it to do.
This theory of hypnosis is often ineffective, because if the person cannot enter a trance when the hypnotist tells them to, then they are viewed as simply “unhypnotizable”.
Milton Erickson believed that every person has the ability to enter a trance state, and every person does so on a daily basis (see Haley, 1986).
The unconscious, according to Erickson, is a living and active participant in the psyche, and “knows” what is best for the person.
Erickson saw the unconscious as intelligent and autonomous. He said the trance state is, “An opportunity for the subject to set aside his or her identification with any limiting conscious processes and shift into a context (i.e. trance) where he or she can access and utilize resources for therapeutic gain” (Zeig, 1980, p. 89).
Notice the shift in language; the hypnotist is not forcing the subject to enter into a trance state, but instead allowing them to do it themselves.
Using this approach, hypnotherapy treats each subject as an entirely unique person.
Erickson would say that “the hypnotist should utilize the subject’s present reality, affirming that what they are feeling is perfectly fine and that it can lead them into a desired outcome (e.g., experience trance)” ( Zeig, 1980, p. 89)
For Erickson, to accept the person’s reality meant that the hypnotist must have the attitude that what the subject is doing at any given time is valid. The person has perfectly good reasons for seeing the world in whatever way that they do. In comparison to the authoritative approach, this means that the person can never be unhypnotizable.
To accomplish this, Hypnotherapists engage in what is known as “pacing” and “leading.”
“Pacing” means that the hypnotist relays the person’s communications back to them, not attempting to coerce them in any way, in order to build trust and rapport between the subject and hypnotist.
The term “leading” means that the hypnotist communicates ideas or behaviors that are slightly different from the ones the subject is currently experiencing. However, these communications are slightly closer to the desired trance state.
For example, a hypnotist may say to a person, “You are sitting there, looking at me, breathing deeply, and as you shift in your chair you may also begin to shift into a state of comfortable relaxation” (Zeig, 1980, p. 90). The above quotation is a good example of pacing and leading, in that the subject’s non verbal communication is acknowledged, accepted, and then a new lead is proposed by the hypnotist.
This process of pacing and leading is continuous in hypnotherapy, like a spiraling stair case.
Any sort of resistance to a given lead is not really resistance at all, and certainly does not mean that the subject cannot be hypnotized. All it means is that the given lead does not work for that person. So the hypnotist can throw it out and try something new, thus actually doing something constructive because the hypnotist now knows what does not work for that person (Zeig, 1980, p. 89-90).
Erickson also emphasized the use of indirect language to allow the subject’s unconscious to reveal itself in whatever way it feels is best.
For example, if I say the word “sky” there are an infinite number of images that can be associated with that word. Someone could see a bright blue, clear sky. Someone else could see a blue sky with clouds, or a completely cloudy sky.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy utilizes this indirect language so that the subject can communicate their own association to the language presented, rather than conforming to a prefabricated idea that the hypnotist imposes on them.
Ericksonian therapy is concerned only with guiding the individual as he/she exists in the present, and so there would be no need to “dig up” past negative or traumatic experiences.
In fact, many times Ericksonian hypnotherapy is successful at treating the symptoms of a subject (sometimes eliminating them), which will allow the person the ability to look back at their experiences on their own in a calm manner (Zeig, 1980). "
adapted from Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Kevin Sprenkle
Before Dr. Milton Erickson developed the Permissive Approach, the prevailing method of hypnosis was known as Authoritative Hypnosis.
In Authoritative hypnosis, the hypnotist has a power relationship over the subject and uses relaxation techniques on the subject in order for them to enter a trance state. For example, one might be reminded of the popular image of stage hypnotists when they say, “You are getting sleepy” or “Your eyes are getting heavy” (Alman, 1983, p. 26).
The idea is that the hypnotist must act in a way to get the person’s conscious mind out of the way in order to open up the unconscious, usually attempting to put consciousness “to sleep” (Alman, 1983, p. 26).
In Authoritative Hypnosis, the unconscious mind if viewed as a reservoir or a fertile piece of ground in which one can “implant” suggestions. According to this approach, the unconscious is like a basement where experiences are stored and lay stagnant unless they are aroused by some external stimuli.
Also, according to this approach to unconsciousness, the hypnotist must then tell the unconscious mind what it should do.
This approach is also faulty, because the unconscious mind is not a neutral space which will do whatever the hypnotist tells it to do.
This theory of hypnosis is often ineffective, because if the person cannot enter a trance when the hypnotist tells them to, then they are viewed as simply “unhypnotizable”.
Milton Erickson believed that every person has the ability to enter a trance state, and every person does so on a daily basis (see Haley, 1986).
The unconscious, according to Erickson, is a living and active participant in the psyche, and “knows” what is best for the person.
Erickson saw the unconscious as intelligent and autonomous. He said the trance state is, “An opportunity for the subject to set aside his or her identification with any limiting conscious processes and shift into a context (i.e. trance) where he or she can access and utilize resources for therapeutic gain” (Zeig, 1980, p. 89).
Notice the shift in language; the hypnotist is not forcing the subject to enter into a trance state, but instead allowing them to do it themselves.
Using this approach, hypnotherapy treats each subject as an entirely unique person.
Erickson would say that “the hypnotist should utilize the subject’s present reality, affirming that what they are feeling is perfectly fine and that it can lead them into a desired outcome (e.g., experience trance)” ( Zeig, 1980, p. 89)
For Erickson, to accept the person’s reality meant that the hypnotist must have the attitude that what the subject is doing at any given time is valid. The person has perfectly good reasons for seeing the world in whatever way that they do. In comparison to the authoritative approach, this means that the person can never be unhypnotizable.
To accomplish this, Hypnotherapists engage in what is known as “pacing” and “leading.”
“Pacing” means that the hypnotist relays the person’s communications back to them, not attempting to coerce them in any way, in order to build trust and rapport between the subject and hypnotist.
The term “leading” means that the hypnotist communicates ideas or behaviors that are slightly different from the ones the subject is currently experiencing. However, these communications are slightly closer to the desired trance state.
For example, a hypnotist may say to a person, “You are sitting there, looking at me, breathing deeply, and as you shift in your chair you may also begin to shift into a state of comfortable relaxation” (Zeig, 1980, p. 90). The above quotation is a good example of pacing and leading, in that the subject’s non verbal communication is acknowledged, accepted, and then a new lead is proposed by the hypnotist.
This process of pacing and leading is continuous in hypnotherapy, like a spiraling stair case.
Any sort of resistance to a given lead is not really resistance at all, and certainly does not mean that the subject cannot be hypnotized. All it means is that the given lead does not work for that person. So the hypnotist can throw it out and try something new, thus actually doing something constructive because the hypnotist now knows what does not work for that person (Zeig, 1980, p. 89-90).
Erickson also emphasized the use of indirect language to allow the subject’s unconscious to reveal itself in whatever way it feels is best.
For example, if I say the word “sky” there are an infinite number of images that can be associated with that word. Someone could see a bright blue, clear sky. Someone else could see a blue sky with clouds, or a completely cloudy sky.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy utilizes this indirect language so that the subject can communicate their own association to the language presented, rather than conforming to a prefabricated idea that the hypnotist imposes on them.
Ericksonian therapy is concerned only with guiding the individual as he/she exists in the present, and so there would be no need to “dig up” past negative or traumatic experiences.
In fact, many times Ericksonian hypnotherapy is successful at treating the symptoms of a subject (sometimes eliminating them), which will allow the person the ability to look back at their experiences on their own in a calm manner (Zeig, 1980). "
adapted from Ericksonian Hypnotherapy and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Kevin Sprenkle
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Energy Tip:Escape the Grip of Fear
"When you are caught in fear, anxiety, or a phobia, try tapping a point on the Triple Warmer (TW) meridian. TW governs the fight, flight, or freeze response, and can help alleviate the fear. Use this simple technique the next time you feel fearful or anxious.
1. Sink into the fear.
2. Place your hand over your heart and start tapping the back side of your hand halfway between your wrist and fingers, aligned with the point where your fourth and fifth fingers converge (see image on right). Tap there for about one minute.
3. If you still feel the fear, repeat the same process on the other hand.
Even for a long-standing phobia, repeated use of this technique will begin to alter the underlying energetic pattern.
Triple Warmer meridian not only governs the flight, fight, or freeze response, it also governs habits. So you may need to tap this TW spot on the hand (also called the "gamut point" in Energy Psychology) for an extended period of time before TW lets go of the pattern."
Adapted from Donna Eden's book Energy Medicine, 2008 Tarcher/Penguin.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
How do you feel about getting old?
"Gary Douglas wants us to truly know that getting old is a choice. Access Consciousness tools and body processes allow us to experience a different approach to aging that is not based on dogma or collective unconsciousness.
People’s thinking needs to change in three ways:
1.It is not diet and exercise that creates longevity; it is a healthy point of view with no judgement.
2.Deciding that life after 45 is a down-hill slide is not obligatory; it is simply buying into someone else’s insanity.
3.It is vital to open your mind to the possibilities and start creating an amazing life after 45.
The idea of "talking to your body" and asking it to be an ally, a playmate or a co-conspirator in the creation of your life, your looks and your pursuit of joy, enjoyment and wonder."
People’s thinking needs to change in three ways:
1.It is not diet and exercise that creates longevity; it is a healthy point of view with no judgement.
2.Deciding that life after 45 is a down-hill slide is not obligatory; it is simply buying into someone else’s insanity.
3.It is vital to open your mind to the possibilities and start creating an amazing life after 45.
The idea of "talking to your body" and asking it to be an ally, a playmate or a co-conspirator in the creation of your life, your looks and your pursuit of joy, enjoyment and wonder."
Monday, June 4, 2012
Suggestion
Direct vs Indirect Suggestion: Understanding the Broad Context of Suggestion
"Virtually all writings comparing and contrasting the use of direct and indirect suggestions in hypnosis refer to the structure of language. But there is much beyond the way we word suggestions that can have a major suggestive impact. These impacts are something we need to be keenly aware of in order to give maximum benefit to the influence of suggestions. Body language, facial expressions, tone and volume of voice, gestures, timing, eye contact, physical contact such as a handshake, gender, age, bearing and appearance, including health, body type and clothing can all be major indirect suggestions that affect the meaning of our language. The meaning of language will also affect and be understood by each individual uniquely because of the various personal meanings and connotations each of us associates to words and phrases, and by the emotional state, mood and expectancies of your client.
Further indirect suggestions are given by colors, harmony of styles, cleanliness, temperature, aromas or odors, condition of the office, reception area, facilities and office building, and by the function, form, style and quality of furniture. Various additional aspects of location include the size and prestige of the city or town, neighboring offices and adjacent buildings, section of city or town and immediate neighborhood, people one may encounter in the vicinity of your office, and noise levels. Cultural and semantic factors also influence the meaning of suggestions, including the culture and language in which you and your client meet and converse, and each of your backgrounds and life experience. Time of day or night, current events and seasonal factors, including holiday periods, can be indirect suggestions that affect the way language influences people at a particular time.
There are many indirect influences in the written word as well as the spoken word. When seeing a suggestion or opinion in writing we are influenced by the venue, be it a book, magazine, newspaper article, advertisement, letter, email or billboard, and whether it be from a friend, a relative, an organization we belong to, a government agency, or spam email. When reading a book the quality of writing, the book's quality and size, the cover, the background and additional writings of the author, etc., all add a context that affects the meaning and attention given to suggestions.
There is no such thing as a simple, independent direct suggestion. The context of a so-called "direct suggestion" always has a great many indirect surrounding influences. In fact the distinction of such influences becomes blurred, and some of the influences may be considered direct rather than indirect, depending on the situation and moment in time."
Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP offers very effective support for all kinds of behavioral changes, and provides self-hypnosis techniques to change mental, physical and emotional states with ease and speed.
NLP is not about exploring or analyzing the content of an issue, but instead is oriented around effectively shifting from the state associated with the presenting issue or problem to the desired state (or resource state) through rapid trance techniques which employ neurological processes to achieve results.
Through NLP inner resources are developed and activated. NLP works with the brain, using the way the brain processes experiences, information, beliefs and feelings for the purpose of making positive cahnges in your life.
NLP techniques can be used both in light or medium trance states, and once learned in trance can be easily used in a waking state to support achieving goals as well as achieving ongoing emotional balance and harmony.
NLP is not about exploring or analyzing the content of an issue, but instead is oriented around effectively shifting from the state associated with the presenting issue or problem to the desired state (or resource state) through rapid trance techniques which employ neurological processes to achieve results.
Through NLP inner resources are developed and activated. NLP works with the brain, using the way the brain processes experiences, information, beliefs and feelings for the purpose of making positive cahnges in your life.
NLP techniques can be used both in light or medium trance states, and once learned in trance can be easily used in a waking state to support achieving goals as well as achieving ongoing emotional balance and harmony.
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