Dream Therapy & Hypnosis Part 2

(This blog was originally posted on January 9, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Microsoft
The “venting stage” of dreams allows you to let go of emotions/energy you don’t need to hold anymore.

 

            While we sleep, the subconscious processes the millions of message units that the mind has received during the day. Dreams, which occur during the REM (rapid-eye movement) stage of sleep, are the “dumping ground” in which the subconscious essentially purges the mind of information that it no longer needs. There are three major REM activity periods:

·          Wishful thinking stage. These dreams occur during the first third of the evening (period of sleep). This REM stage is the shortest and has the least (lowest) electrical amplitude. The majority of message units that your mind is processing are useful information; these dreams are the least intense.

·          Precognitive stage. This is the second major REM period. Dreams are longer and more intense. During this stage, you are likely to wake up from a dream with insight and answers to a problem you have been considering, because the information (resolution) was already in your mind. Remember, the mind only knows two things: knowns and unknowns—what is familiar, and what is unfamiliar. Actual “programming” of the lift script occurs at this stage of sleep; this new program becomes the autopilot that guides your day.

·          REM stage. This REM period occurs during the last third of the sleep cycle just before or up to an hour before waking up. The dreams that occur during this stage—“venting dreams’’—are the longest, most intense and best-remembered dreams. They are particularly valuable because your subconscious mind is dumping or letting go of the energy associated to emotions and information that you no longer need to carry around with you.

When you do not allow yourself to vent this information through dreams, you are holding in energy and inhibiting your ability to deal with daily stresses. When I work with clients, I provide a safe environment in which they can interpret their dreams and further vent the emotions (energy) associated with the dream, in hypnosis. I also provide a hypnotic suggestion that the client will release any remaining energy or emotions, etc. associated with their therapeutic issue in a venting dream, which we can discuss and work through in the next hypnotherapy session.

Protein, such as almonds and peanuts are a great go-to snack to prevent a sudden drop in blood-sugar level that is associated with the development of phobias.

 

 

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

Dream Therapy and Hypnosis

(This blog was originally posted on January 8, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

Dreaming helps your body maintain emotional and mental health.

            Whether you are sleeping or awake, the mind constantly perceives stimuli and processes those experiences as message units. Dreams are the language that the subconscious mind uses to speak to the conscious mind to make sense of all of that information you have collected during the day. The more message units you can take in during the day, the higher the amount of stress you can tolerate. Every night when you go to sleep, the subconscious mind is tasked with resolving your subconscious mind’s reaction to this stress in the form of dreams.

            When we are awake (conscious), we speak in linear language, but dreams are nonlinear. They may be metaphoric and symbolic; or, they may seem to have a “plot” and run from start to finish like a movie. Regardless of the format, your dreams are a direct language of the subconscious mind, and your subconscious mind is telling you what you need to know.

Dream analysis is often the first opportunity that I have to establish a working relationship with my hypnotherapy client. I use reflective listening to guide and support the person to interpret the meaning of his or her dream. Then, as I gauge the content of the person’s dreams, I can incorporate the language/symbols of the dream to create the hypnosis script help him or her change specific behaviors to achieve the stated therapeutic goal.

 

 

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 Health and Well-Being

(This blog was originally posted on January 5, 2014)

 

Image courtesy of Fotolia

Hypnotherapy incorporates the client's words to increase
motivation to follow healthy behavior and improve well-being.

One of the most common requests I receive is to help someone, through hypnotherapy, to live a healthy lifestyle. Each person will have a specific issue or area that he or she would like to address and/or focus on or improve or change. Hypnotherapy is such an effective tool to facilitate these health-related behavior changes because the hypnosis scripts incorporate the client’s own words and motivations to achieve those goals. I  reinforce these suggestions by creating suggestibility-specific scripts (e.g., physical or emotional suggestibility) with which my client's subconscious mind will identify, accept and understand so that he or she can easily and comfortably accomplish their objectives, including:

·         Lose weight or maintain weight lost

 

·         Stop smoking 

·         Improve quality/quantity of sleep 

·         Exercise/increase physical activity 

·         Reduce/manage stress 

·         Make healthy food choices 

·         Drink more water/increase hydration 

·         Improve/increase motivation to follow the new lifestyle regimen.

 

 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/.

 

Handwriting Analysis

(This blog was originally posted on February 5, 2014)

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

 

                Handwriting is a manifestation of what we consciously think, but it is motivated by a subconscious ideomotor (automatic physical) response. The way you write—the shape and size of each letter, whether you connect the letters and even the speed of your writing—are literally a reflection of your behavior and personality traits.

At the beginning of their first hypnotherapy session with me, I ask my clients to write a few sentences that describe their reasons/motivations for seeking hypnotherapy to change a specific behavior. Handwriting does not reveal the age or gender of the writer; nor will it enable me (or anyone else) to determine whether the person is right- or left-handed or to predict the writer’s future. However, handwriting will reveal the person’s mood, personality traits, suggestibility and subconscious motivations at the time of writing this sample. I analyze specific characteristics of the writing, not the content of what is written, per se, to identify, confirm or negate the writer’s specific personality traits and how those traits affect behavior.

I use these observations plus the information that the client provides for me during the pre-hypnosis component of the consultation to create a powerful hypnotic script that will help the person achieve specific, vocational and avocational self-improvement goals. Handwriting analysis is also useful to help a client identify other issues (e.g., stubbornness, low self-esteem/self-confidence) that may be impacting the presenting issue, and which the person may want to address during this or a future hypnotherapy session.

 

 

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

It's Only the Wind: Anticipatory Anxiety and Equestrians

(This blog was originally posted on January 15, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

 

                One of the first things people learn about horses is that these animals (can) shy or “spook” at anything and everything—but wind is Public Enemy Number One. Even if it is just an errant breeze rustling the leaves in a tree overhead on an otherwise still day, the breath catches in our lungs and our heart pounding in our chest. If the Santa Ana Winds snaps a tree bough nearby, all bets are off: we instinctively prepare our bodies to make an unscheduled dismount in case (when) our horses bolt and head back to the security of the barn. We tighten our grip and/or shorten the reins (to get better control of the horse’s head and try to prevent him from looking at anything), collapse our ribcage and assume a “fetal position,” as described by Sally Swift, look down at the ground (ostensibly to choose the perfect landing spot, just in case) and tighten every muscle in the body as we prepare to hang onto our panicked steed (if we can) as soon as he takes off.

Your subconscious mind is likely to send these kinds of instructions to your body if your mental script and previous experience, knowledge and expectations tell you that this is how your horse will react in a specific situation. Consequently, your anticipation of a possible problem, or “anticipatory anxiety,” will virtually guarantee that your horse will act like there is really a problem because your body has told him that there is one. Here are some suggestions and visualization exercises that I provide for equestrians to override this automatic fear response so you can both enjoy the ride.

1.       Be sure to eat some protein before you ride/work with your horse to help reduce anxiety and stabilize your mood. (For more information about the role of nutrition and anxiety, see my blog titled Nutrition and Development of Phobias).

2.       Spend a few minutes practicing deep-breathing exercises before you go out to work with or ride your horse. While you are relaxing in an area of peace and quiet, visualize, imagine or picture the kind of ride you want to have with your horse. Sit up straight and tall in the saddle. This posture enables you breathe deeply and easily, which will help you to relax. It also tells your subconscious mind that you are relaxed and confident.

3.       Think about/reflect on a very good ride or time that you recently spent with your horse. Bring up the positive images and emotions associated with that experience and then anchor that association by pressing or rubbing together the thumb and index (pointing) finger of either hand. You can activate this anchor any time to remind yourself how good, enjoyable, etc. it is to ride or be with your horse.

4.       Send/think only positive images and expectations about the ride you are about to have: “I am confident and relaxed when I am on my horse. I am having a great ride.” Only use adjectives and emotions in this imagery that will increase your confidence, sense of control, etc. for and during the ride.

5.       Reassure your horse that you are in control and are your horse’s leader during the ride. Give him plenty of ­physical/vocal rewards such as pats and praise, etc. to let him know that you are there and will take care of everything; all he needs to do is listen to you and do what you ask him to do. This physical and vocal contact isn’t just for your horse; it is also a way to comfort and reassure you, and reinforce your role of the brave, confident herd leader in your subconscious mind.

6.       Practice some simple mounted exercises such as figure-eights, lateral work, etc. so you must focus on riding and interacting with your horse and your horse must focus on you (not what is going on around him).

7.       Activate your finger-press anchor throughout the ride, as needed.

I hope these suggestions help you to relax and enjoy the time you spend with your horse, regardless of what is going on around you. I am not a riding instructor, and I encourage everyone to consult with a trainer or instructor to resolve riding and horse-related issues. However, I have found from personal experience as well as my hypnotherapy work with other equestrians that setting positive expectations for a good ride is the most effective way to achieve that goal. For more information about my hypnotherapy work with equestrians, please contact me via my website at www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com.

 

 

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

 

               

And the Wisdom to Know the Difference

(This blog was originally posted on April 4, 2014)

 

 

                Sometimes, it seems like one of the most powerful human desires is the one for control. We want to control some aspect(s) of our social or physical environment. We want to control our behavior. (Hey, that’s what hypnotherapy is good for, right?) Or, we want to control (change) someone else’s behavior. Can hypnotherapy help you achieve each of these goals?

My scope of expertise as a hypnotherapist is to help my clients achieve vocational and avocational self-improvement goals. There is really no way to control or change specific aspects of a physical environment—such as the weather or climate where we live—unless we physically move out of the area. Most of us can’t even rearrange the furniture or décor in the lobby at work without having to get permission from the employer and/or the building’s landlord. Similarly, none of us has the ability to control someone else’s behaviors or beliefs if that individual doesn’t want to make this change. However, we can use hypnotherapy and guided imagery techniques to help us replace our own unwanted habits or belief systems with behaviors that are more effective for us. The skills you practice and learn in hypnosis can also help you adapt to, cope with and even flourish in a challenging personal, social or work situation over which you have no control. Your ability to remain relaxed, focused and calm in this context will significantly reduce or even eliminate any personal effects that the tension in this situation may cause you. You may even find that this ability to control your emotions in this way indirectly influences (changes) the way other people around you behave.

Before the next scheduled interaction with the person or exposure to that environment, work with me in hypnotherapy to help you desensitize to the negative stimuli associated with that encounter. Give yourself permission to let go of any grudges, bitterness or other negative associations you have with this situation. Give the other person(s) permission to own their critical, negative, etc., nature or beliefs that they have previously expressed to you. Then, visualize, imagine, picture or pretend that you are as relaxed, calm and focused when you have that encounter as you are while you are in hypnosis. Anchor that image of yourself responding in a positive, confident and controlled way with the relaxed and comfortable sensation you are enjoying in hypnosis so you can access your new calm and “in control” demeanor when you need to. Even if the other person’s behavior or attitude does not significantly change at that time, you will be better equipped to deal with that challenge.

I liken this attitude and technique to the Serenity Prayer. Most of the time, each of us can change our behavior and, in so doing, truly change a negative or challenging situation into a positive or mutually rewarding experience. Sometimes, we can do absolutely nothing about the circumstance except to just get through it by changing the way we perceive and respond to it. The key to a successful outcome in either circumstance is having the wisdom to know what kind of attitude adjustment we can make at that moment.

 

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

 

The Power of Thinking

(This blog was originally posted on March 7, 2014)

Photo courtesy of Sara Fogan

 

                The first time I saw my future dream home, I was riding in the back of a taxi on my way to a job interview for the Public Health Medicine Department at the University of Hull in 1995. Through the heavy rain, I spotted a three-story, Georgian-style home with bay windows set behind a brick wall on the main road. Lush, green ivy grew up a trellis on one of the walls. There was a circular, gravel driveway and a wrought-iron gate in front of the house which made the property look like it belonged in a Jane Austen novel. In my mind, the property was the epitome of “England.” I wonder who lives there. I would love to live there, I remember thinking. Three weeks later, I returned to the same neighborhood looking for a flat to rent when I started my new job at the university. I could hardly believe my luck when I found an advertisement for an apartment on the property I had so admired. The rent was even within my (new) budget, and I quickly signed the lease.

                Eight years later, a friend at work invited me to visit her property and meet her horse. I had loved horses since I was a very little girl, and always knew that somehow, some way, I would have one of my own. Within a month I started taking riding lessons at a property across the street (literally) from my colleague’s home; by the end of the year—thanks to her recommendation—I was buying my first horse from my new riding instructors.

By the end of the following year, I had also started my hypnotherapy certification at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute. An HMI representative told me about his work as a hypnotherapist and encouraged me to “try” the free introductory course at the college. The idea of hypnotizing people was definitely an “unknown” and even a little daunting to my conscious and subconscious minds when I started the class. However, everything about hypnotherapy resonated with what I imagined I would be doing when, at eight years old, I announced that I wanted to be a psychologist when I grew up. When I learned that I already had a connection with the college through the company where I was working at that time, I just knew that I was on the right path to fulfilling my destiny.

                Are these examples of good fortune? Were they products of divine intervention? Or, were they testimony to the power of the mind to actualize a subconscious desire or script at work? I say the power of the subconscious mind, every time.

                In his book, Success Is Not an Accident: The Mental Bank Concept, HMI founder John Kappas, Ph.D., explains how the mental scripts we program into our subconscious mind determine the outcome of our actions. Whether we imagine a positive or negative result, the SCM follows that subconscious mental script to actualize the goal you “want.” If you tell yourself that it takes an hour to get to work every day or that you are bound to jam your knee on your friend’s coffee table again, that is what will happen. If you imagine that you will have a safe, easy commute to work or that you will find a great spot to park your call when you go to the mall, your SCM will work to make those things happen, too. Moral of the story: be careful and specific in what you want and think about, because you are likely to end up with exactly that.

                Have you ever heard the Hollywood story about the time actor/comedian Jim Carrey wrote himself a $15 million check years before he became famous (and very wealthy)…?

 

 

 

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