A Place of Non-Judgment

(This blog was originally posted on September 29, 2014)

         What is the key to a successful hypnotherapist and hypnotherapy session? It is giving the client a place of non-judgment in which to work on his or her self-improvement issues.

In a pivotal scene of Shonda Rhimes’s series, How to Get Away With Murder, law instructor Professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) explains how she can tell whether her client is innocent: “I don’t care.” I admit that example is extreme: I help people achieve their vocational and avocational self-improvement goals, not represent them in a capital crime. Having said that, I must and do approach each client from a similar position of non-judgment (unconditional positive regard) as Professor Keating to help my clients feel comfortable, relaxed and open to do the intensive inner work that hypnotherapy often entails.

         Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D., believed that it is not a hypnotherapist’s role or responsibility to make moral value judgments about a client’s situation or circumstances. Rather, it is up to the therapist to “buy the symptoms” of and provide information about the client’s presenting behavior.  According to Dr. Kappas, the hypnotherapist’s only role is to repair the problem that the client has brought. The only exception is if the client is a victim of or threatens violence against himself or herself or another person. In that case, the therapist is obliged to warn or intervene on another person’s behalf, or call authorities if necessary, he said. (I also follow this policy, which I explain to my clients when we start working together.)

     There is no right or wrong when it comes to the client’s life and world view. When the hypnotherapist takes this approach, it facilitates helping the person through the bad times and guides the person to happier times, he advised. “The moment you make a judgment call, you lose the client.”₁

1.        1. Intimate Conversations With Dr. John Kappas. 1989. Video series, Lesson 1

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/.

© 2015

Hypnotherapy for Children and Teenagers

(This blog was originally posted on February 27, 2014)

 

                 

                Over the years, many of my clients have wanted to work on similar self-improvement issues: increase self-confidence/self-esteem, improve sport performance, increase focus/memory, manage fears and phobias, or to overcome social anxiety. The majority of these clients have been adults. However, I can and do work with children and teenagers. For the most part, a child’s hypnotherapy session is very similar to the grown-up’s: I discuss what behavior(s) the person would like to change, and I use the context of John Kappas, Ph.D.’s Theory of Mind to explain how the current, unwanted behavior was established—and how it will be replaced by a more effective, desired strategy. During hypnosis, I provide general suggestions for relaxation and guided imagery that is specifically tailored for my client. Following are some of the major differences between my hypnotherapy work with children (under 18 years old) and adults:

1.       I must have a signed consent document from the child’s parents in order to work with anyone under 18 years old. If the parents are divorced and share custody of the child, both parents must still sign a consent-release form which I provide. If only one parent or has custody of the child, the legal guardian must sign the document.

2.       The parents and legal guardians have a legal right to know some details about the hypnotherapy that their child or teenager is receiving. They also have a right to know whether the minor is using drugs or engaging in underage sex or dangerous behavior, or is threatening to harm him- or herself or others.

3.       I respect the youngster’s right to privacy and confidentiality whenever possible, but I also encourage the individual to confide in his or her parents, if/when it is appropriate.

4.       When I work with minors, I always invite my client’s parents or guardian to be present during the hypnosis.

5.       The amount of time a young child will spend in hypnosis during the hypnotherapy session will be much shorter than what an adult or even a teenager will spend. While I typically use breathing/relaxation exercises to induce hypnosis in all of my clients, I also employ some kind of eye-fascination technique to hypnotize a child under age 14. (I usually do not use eye-fascination techniques to induce hypnosis in an adult).

 

As a certified hypnotherapist, California law allows me to provide hypnotherapy as a complementary or alternative treatment to help my clients to achieve vocational and avocational self-improvement goals (Business and Professions Code 2908). If your child or teenager’s issues are, or become, beyond my scope of expertise as a hypnotherapist, I will refer you to a licensed medical doctor or psychologist for further evaluation and/or treatment.

 

 

 

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/.

© 2015