Addressing the Other Issues

(This blog was originally posted on November 1, 2016)

Photo by Rick Hustead

To facilitate a positive therapeutic outcome, from time to time, it is necessary to identify and address other issues besides the goal a client wants to work on before we can focus on the stated self-improvement goal. Examples of such conflicts include low blood-sugar levels, passive-aggressive behavior, low self-esteem/low self-confidence and even addiction to alcohol or other substances. Following is a summary of some therapeutic approaches to resolve these other issues.

·         Prevent “bunching” the problems by helping the hypnotherapy client identify and separate each issue and deal with it separately.

·         During the pre-induction speech, incorporate Theory of Mind and the role of suggestibility in learning and unlearning beliefs and behaviors. “Expose why/when/how the problem started, and give hope it can be changed,” advised Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D. “[Provide] logical reasons why the problem started and solutions for what can be done to help him.”

·         Test the client’s suggestibility and sexual personality traits to identify how and which hypnotic suggestions will work best to communicate with the person cognitively and while in hypnosis.

·         Work on changing the person’s negative mental script and any passive-aggressive behaviors by explaining how and why they develop. Explain to the client how building the person’s self-esteem and self-confidence to correct the passive-aggressive act. client

·         Explain to the client how and why nutrition affects emotions and behavior. Discuss the benefits of good eating habits and nutrition. (In some cases it may be necessary to refer the person to a licensed medical doctor for a blood-sugar level test before continuing with the hypnotherapy.)

·         While the client is in hypnosis, suggest that the person will have a venting dream to continue working out the issues being addressed in hypnotherapy, Dr. Kappas advised.

·         Block the client’s suggestibility and make the person receptive only to the hypnotherapist’s hypnotic suggestions. “We want to suggest him deeper and deeper so we could give him ideas that wouldn’t depreciate,” the hypnotherapist said.

·         Introduce the Mental Bank to help the client work toward achievable goals and replace the unconscious negative script with a positive one.

·         If the client is dealing with an addiction to alcohol or drugs, hypnosis and hypnotherapy are great tools to help a person follow Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, etc. guidelines during rehabilitation from a substance addiction. However, when I work with an individual to help break this addictive curve I ask that the person continues to receive support from a sponsor and/or 12-step program during this process.*

*California law allows access by California residents to complementary and alternative health care practitioners who are not providing services that require medical training and credentials. The purpose of a program of hypnotherapy is for vocational and avocational self-improvement (Business and Professions Code 2908) and as alternative or complimentary treatment to healing arts services licensed by the state. A hypnotherapist is not a licensed physician or psychologist, and hypnotherapy services are not licensed by the state of California. Services are non-diagnostic and do not include the practice of medicine, neither should they be considered as a substitute for licensed medical or psychological services or procedures.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2017

Change Your Attitude

(This blog was originally posted on September 5, 2015)

                A lot of the time, the way we deal with a stressful situation comes down to our attitude about what is going on. If we believe a minor inconvenience is a major disaster, we are likely to behave like it is. As soon as we perceive a threat in the environment, the subconscious mind goes into fight/flight mode, kicking the adrenal system will kick into high gear and flooding the bloodstream with adrenaline. Whether we are more likely to run away or stand up to the challenge and try to change the outcome of the situation depends a lot on our expectations about that outcome, based on our subconscious life script. If we can change these expectations, we can also change our behavioral response to that situation and the outcome of that scenario.

                One version of this philosophy is a quote from the film Barbarosa: “What cannot be remedied must be endured.” In other words, if we cannot change or improve our circumstances, we may still get through the challenge with minimal physical and emotional distress by gritting our teeth and ploughing through. Don’t make any waves or draw attention to yourself, just do whatever you need to do to deal with the situation until our luck improves. Alternatively, we can follow the Mother Superior’s advice to Maria in The Sound of Music: Climb every mountain. If and when we encounter an obstacle along our journey to fulfilling a dream or achieving a goal, continue to push forward toward your goal. Look for alternative strategies and different paths that you can take to get where you want to be.

                In his book titled Success Is Not an Accident: The Mental Bank Concept, Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D. explains how a person’s subconscious mental script and subconscious messages ultimately influence how and where the individual will direct energy and effort to realize a goal. Everyone has the power to achieve a goal, Dr. Kappas says, if the “correct” mental script for that success—like a road map or a recipe—is available and in place for the person to follow. However, if you don’t possess a subconscious mental script that compels you to pursue a goal when times are tough, repeated exposure (experience) to negative outcomes  may further jade your optimism about the likelihood of achieving the success you desire.

Hypnotherapy and therapeutic guided imagery can help you rewrite those negative mental scripts and help you to see that silver lining in the darkest of clouds. Remember: every belief and behavior you have learned can also be unlearned. Hypnosis is an effective, drug-free and natural way to help you override (i.e., unlearn) that previous mental script and override negative habits or beliefs that no longer work for you. so you can start living the kind of life you want and deserve to be living.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/

© 2015