MODULE3HypnotherapyTraining

AndrewFarquharsoninfo@hypnotherapy-now.co.uk

AbstractSuggestionTherapy:Suggestiontherapyisthesimplestformoftherapy,andyoushouldalwaysstartyoursessionsusingthesimpletechniquesfirst.Suggestiontherapyisjustwhatitsays,usingthepowerofsuggestiontogetyourclienttoupdatethatcomputerprogrammeintheirheadandrunanewmorebeneficialprogramme.

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SeminarandWorkbookTrainingfortheprofessionalHypnotherapist.

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SuggestionTherapy

Suggestiontherapyisthesimplestformoftherapy,andyoushouldalwaysstartyoursessionsusingthesimpletechniquesfirst.Suggestiontherapyisjustwhatitsays,usingthepowerofsuggestiontogetyourclienttoupdatethatcomputerprogrammeintheirheadandrunanewmorebeneficialprogramme.Forexample:Ifaclientreportsfeelingstressed,yousuggestthattheycanfeelcalmandrelaxed.Suggestionisanimportantpartofhypnosis.Suggestionisapropositionforbelieforactionthatisacceptedbyhypnosissubjectwithoutanycriticalthought.Whenyouputsomeoneintohypnosistheybecomemoreresponsivetothesuggestionsyoumake.Whilemakingsuggestionsyoucommunicatewiththesubconsciousmindofthepersonwhichhelpsyoutosucceedduringhypnosis.Thereare6typesofhypnoticsuggestions,andwewillcoverthese.RelaxationSuggestionputsyouatease,introducesastateofreceptivityandestablishescomfortablefoundationforfurthersuggestions.Ithelpsyoutofocusinwardwhileshuttingoutexternalconditions.Example,feelyourmusclerelaxandfeelyourneckandshouldersrelaxandastheyrelaxyouwillfindyourmindrelax...

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DeepeningSuggestionputsyouintoadeepertrance.Deepeningsuggestionsimproveyourtrancestateinadifferentwayandprovideanactivitywithasinglefocus.Forexample,youreyesareclosedandtheyaresoshutthatyoucannotopenthem.Youreyesaretightlyshut,verytightlyshutandtheyaresotightlyshutthat...DirectSuggestiongivesyoucertainactionsandinstructionswhicharesimpleanddirecttothepoint.Directsuggestionsaregiventorespondtothewordsratherthanimages.Forexample,youfallasleepgentlyandquickly,enjoyingarestfulpeacefulsleep,sleepingsoundlythroughthewholenightandwakingrefreshed...ImagerySuggestionaugmentsothersuggestions.Imagerysuggestionscreatementalpicturesandsetscenesforspecificpurposes,suchastorelaxortocreatesuchenvironmentthatallbehaviourscanbereprogrammed.Forexample,youfeelyouareasstrongastheyoungmanyouwerewhenyouhithomerunsonthesandlot.Youcanfeelthebatinyouarms...IndirectSuggestionshavetwomajortypes.Infirst,thedesiredemotionalstateisfocusedoninterviewinghisorherpastexperience.Inthenexttype,thehypnosissubjectismotivatedduringtheinductiontorelievetheexperienceandpositiveemotionaccompaniedit.Forexample,Iwonderhowawareyouarethatmanypeoplerespectyou,andadmireyou...Metaphorsandanalogiesarewidelyusedinsecondtypeofindirectsuggestiontogivesuggestionsoutsidetheconsciousawarenessofthesubject.Indirectsuggestionsarehighlyindividualised.Eachsuggestionmustfitthesubjectandhis(her)specificproblems.PosthypnoticSuggestionisasuggestionwhichisgivenduringhypnosisforanactionorresponsetotakeplaceafterthehypnoticexperience.

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FormulatingHypnoticSuggestionsAllsuggestionsmustbepositiveonesandofrealbenefittotheclienttoaccept,sotheymustbeformulatedinsuchawaythatisacceptabletotheclient,sothattheycanbeacceptedbythesubconsciousandinturnbecomeareality.Itisimportanttoconsiderwhatapproachismostsuitableforeachindividualclient.Someclientswillacceptverydirectsuggestions,almostlikecommands,othersmayrespondbettertoindirectsuggestions.Rememberthesubconsciouswillonlyacceptasuggestionforchangeifitthinksthesuggestionyouaremakingisbetterthantheprogrammeitiscurrentlyrunning.Thefollowingexercisesaredesignedtoteachyouhowtodeliversuggestions.EXERCISE1Asyouarealreadyaware,suggestionscanbeDIRECTorINDIRECT.Someclientsmaypreferandreactbettertooneratherthantheother.Goodhypnotherapistsensurethateverysuggestionisapositiveone.Thefollowingsuggestionsarenegativeinthattheymentiontheunwantedbehaviour(rememberwedon’tmentiontheunwantedbehaviour)Negativesuggestionsareunlikelytogetyouaresult.PleasespendafewminutesexaminingthesesuggestionsandwritedownanequivalentDIRECTPOSITIVEsuggestion,whichmeansthesamething.Ihavedonethefirstoneforyousothatyouhavesomeidea.YOUWILLSTOPSMOKING youwillreturntobeinganonsmoker.YOUWILLLOSEWEIGHTYOUWILLSTOPBITINGYOURNAILSYOUCANSTOPBEINGANXIOUS

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YOUNOLONGERHAVEPANICATTACKSYOUWILLNOTWETTHEBEDYOUWILLNEVERFEELPANICATTACKSAGAINYOUWILLNOTFEELTIREDALLTHETIMEYOUWILLBEABLETOCONTROLYOURTEMPEREXERCISE2Havinglookedatthewaywecanchangenegativesuggestionsintopositiveones,thistimewewouldlikeyoutospendafewminutesexaminingthesesuggestionsagainandwritedownanequivalentINDIRECTPOSITIVEsuggestion,whichmeansthesamething.Ihavedonethefirstoneforyousothatyouhavesomeidea.REMEMBER:Yourclientmayreactbettertoindirectsuggestions,iftheydon’t,thenchangeyoursuggestionstodirectone’s,butALWAYSkeepthempositive.YOUWILLSTOPSMOKING Perhapsyoucouldnowreturntobeinganonsmoker.YOUWILLLOSEWEIGHTYOUWILLSTOPBITINGYOURNAILSYOUCANSTOPBEINGDEPRESSEDYOUNOLONGERHAVEPANICATTACKSYOUWILLNOTWETTHEBEDYOUWILLNEVERFEELANXIOUSAGAIN

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YOUWILLNOTFEELTIREDALLTHETIMEYOUWILLBEABLETOCONTROLYOURTEMPERProcessforTherapySessionsInitialConsultation(mosttherapistsofferafreehalfhourconsultation.).ThatinitialcontactThisisthefirststage,andthisiswheretherapportbuildingbegins.Shakeyourclientshandandintroduceyourselfwithasmile.Inviteyourclienttotakeaseatinyourtherapyroomandconsiderofferingtheclientadrink.HowdoyouthinkIcanhelp?Askingthisquestionwillprobablybringouttheirbeliefsastohowhypnotherapycanhelpthem.Itwillalsoleadthemintotellingyousomethingabouttheirpast.Keepyourlanguagepatternspositiveandshowlotsofconfidencethatyouareabletohelpthem.ExpectationsandObjectives.Findoutwhatyourclientexpectsfromyouandmakesurethatwhattheywantisactuallyrealistic.Talkabouttimescales,howmanysessionsit’slikelytotake.ExplanationofHypnosis,whatitis/whatitisn’tThisisanimportantpart,ensuringthatalltheirmisconceptionsareexpelledandtheyhaveafullunderstandingofwhathypnosisisandisnot!–Isuggestthatyoure–readthispartofthecoursenotesgivenonweekendoneandhereyoucanusethesame“patter”withallyourclients.N.BIusuallytakepaymentatthispoint,beforestartingthesession.

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InductionUseaninductionsuitableforyourclient,bynowyoushouldhavesomeideaofyourclient’scharacterandtailoryourinductiontosuithim/her.DeepenerUseappropriatedeepenerstotakethemtoaworkinglevel.Somemayneedalittlemorethanothers.DELIVERAPPROPRIATETHERAPY.PickmeupandPositiveSuggestionsEndyourtherapysessionwithaquickroundup,i.e.“youwillnowfindthateverythingwillhappen–exactlyasIhavesaiditwillhappen”)‘Overthenextfewdaysyouwillfeelfantastic’AwakenanddismissAfteryouwakeyourclient,immediatelychangethereheadspacebychattingabout“nothing”forawhile.Giveyourclient5minutesorsotocomeroundbeforeleaving.Post-HypnoticSuggestionsPosthypnoticsuggestionisasuggestionwhichisgivenduringhypnosisforanactionorresponsetotakeplaceafterthehypnoticexperience.Posthypnoticsuggestionsmaybeforanaction,afeelingoraninternalphysicalchangetooccur.Forexample,sometimeinthenextdaysbeforetheendoftheweekyouwillnoticeasuddenflashoflight,orhearanunexpectedsoundandthatwillinstantlyremindyouofallyouhavelearnedheretodayandyouwillbefilledwiththatwonderfulfeelingofreleasethattellsyouthatyouhavereturnedtobeanon-smoker...

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Theyaresuggestionsmadetoyourclientwhilstinhypnosiswhichwillbecarriedoutoncetheclientiswakened.Usuallyatriggerwordisimplantedandwhenthetriggerwordis"fired",theclientwillimmediatelyfallintohypnosis,i.e.‘sleep’tendstobethewordusedbystagehypnotists.Stagehypnotistsuseposthypnoticsuggestionsallthetime.Thehypnotistmaysaytothevolunteer"everytimeyouhearmesaythewordKING,youwillshout"ElvisisKing",or"everytimeyouhearthenextpieceofmusic,youwillthinkthatyouareaballerinaanddancejustlikeaballerina"Ifyouknowyourclientwell,youmaygivehim/herthefollowingposthypnoticsuggestionpriortobringingoutoftrance."AssoonasIawakeyou,youwillimmediatelygoandmakemeacoffee’’Posthypnoticsuggestionscanbehumiliatinganddangerousifnottreatwithrespect.ALLPOSTHYPNOTICSUGGESTIONSMUSTBEUNDONEONCEYOURCLIENTHASNOUSEFORTHEM.Forinstance,tellingavolunteerthathewillbeElviseverytimehehearsacertainpieceofmusiccouldbeveryembarrassingforhimifitisnot"undone",Youwillfindthatposthypnoticsuggestionsareveryusefulintherapy,forexample,aladysufferingpanicattackscanbegiventhetriggerword"relax",andeverytimeshefeelsanattackcomingon,justsayingtheword"relax"willaborttheattack.Sometimesaphysicaltriggercanbeusedforexample"everytimeyoufeelapanicattackcomingon,simplytouchthepalmofyourhand"YoumaywanttoleaveyourclientwiththisPHS"Forthenextfewdays,weeksorevenmonths,youwillfeelabsolutelyfantastic’’

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BackgroundReadingYoumaythinkyou'retheabsolutemasterofyouremotions,butthatwhole"consciousness"thingisjustathinscrapingofself-awarenessoverahugenetworkofevolveddrivesandcompulsions.Ifyoucanhonestlysayyou'renotaffectedbyyoursubconsciouswiringthenwe'reflattered,becausewedidn'tthinkmanyBuddha’sreadthissite.SomeexcellentexperimentsinbehaviouralresearchwereconductedbyProfessorSusanMinekaintheeighties.Sheworkedwithmonkeysandvideotapes,andunlikemostrecordedworkfeaturingmonkeysfromtheeighties,hersdidnotfeatureskateboards,wackyescapesfrominepthitmenorevenasingleharebrainedschemetoraisefundsforthelocalyouthcentre.Itwasaboutfear.Wildmonkeysaredeathlyafraidofsnakes-tothepointwherethey'llstarvetodeathratherthanreachacrossevenafakesnaketogetfood.Sincelearningthisfearbyexperienceisaliterallyshort-livedsolution,thisfearwasthoughttobehereditary.Monkeysbornincaptivityexhibitednosuchfear,however,whichseemedtoholethehereditaryidea-untilMinekagottogethersomeprimatesfortheultimatehorrormovie.Byshowingsomemonkeysfootageofawildmonkeyutterlyterrifiedofsnakes,shetriggeredthesamehystericalresponsesinthosewhohadneverseentheobjectoffearwouldneverseeitandwerenevergoingtobeatanyriskfromit.Wecan'tcommentonwhethertheUSDepartmentofHomelandSecurityreadthisresearch.Further,attemptstotriggerafearofflowersbyshowingfakefootageofamonkeyscaredofplantsfailed.Itseemedthatthe"snakessuck"wiringwasalwaysthere,butuntilitwasexternallytriggereditnevermanifested.Thesameresearchalsoshowedhowtocombatthesephobictrip-switches:byshowingthemamonkeythatwasn'tscaredofsnakes,evenifthatwasafakemonkey,theterror-reactionwasstronglyreduced.WhichtechnicallymeansyoucouldmakeachildimmunetolettingthemwatchChuckNorrismovieswhenyoung.Becauseallthesephobic-factorsseemasapplicabletohumansastheyaretootherprimates,withapplicationsinchild-rearingandanxietymanagement.Theyweren'tjustdoingthisresearchbecausesomebodywantedthejob"monkeyfrightener."

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AnchoringTranceStateIfyouarenotfamiliarwiththeterm‘anchoring’,itisatermthatreferstothetendencyofoneelementofanexperiencetobringbacktheentireexperience.Youhaveallhadtheexperienceofwalkingdownthestreetandsmellingsomething,andthenyouarebackinanothertimeandplace.The‘smell’servesasareminderofsome‘other’experience.That’sananchor.Couplesmighthaveasongthattheycall‘’oursong’’.That’sananchortoo.Everytimetheyhearthatsong,theyre-experiencethefeelingstheyhadforeachotherwhentheyfirstcalledit‘oursong’.Byanchoringthetrancestate,itcanmakeiteasiertoinducetranceonproceedingsessions.Thisisusuallydonetowardstheendofthefirstsession.Anchorthetrancestatebygivingyourclientthefollowingsuggestion.INTHEFUTUREITWILLBEEASYFORYOUTORELAXTHISDEEP.EVERYTIMEWEWORKTOGETHERYOUWILLFALLBACKINTOTHISDEEPSTATEOFRELAXATION,NATURALLYANDEASILYJUSTBYLISTENINGTOTHESOUNDOFMYVOICE.

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ConditioningyourClientDuringthefirstsessionwithyourclient,itisimportanttoanchorthedepthofhypnosis,andalsotogiveyourclienttheposthypnoticsuggestionsimilartothefollowing:-“Inthefuture,everytimewemeetforfuturesessions,youwillfinditeasierandeasiertoenterthehypnoticstate.Infactyouwillrelaxmuchmuchdeeperwitheverysession"Youcananchorthetrancestateasfollows:-"AnytimeinthefuturethatItouchyouontheshoulderlikethis....Youwillimmediatelycomedowntothislevelofrelaxation"Youwouldnormallydothistowardstheendofthisandeverysession.Youwillfindthatwhenyourclientpresentsforfuturesessions,theinductioncanbecutshortandmerlealteringthetoneofyourvoicewillveryquicklyinducehypnosis.

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MetaphorsforTherapyBackgroundReading"EveryWhodowninWhovillelikedChristmasalot,buttheGrinchwholivedjustnorthofWhovilledidnot..."(Seuss,1957)Formostofyouwhoreadthisofferingshouldrecognisetheabovequote.Why?BecauseitisoneofthemostfamousintroductionstooneofthemostfamousmodernChristmasstories.Christmas,formanyofusholdscertainfondmemoriesfromourchildhood.Christmasisanchoredinmanyofusasapleasanttimetojustenjoyfamilyandfun.Thisanchoringmakestheuseofmetaphorscompletelyrelevantinthehypnoticcontext.MetaphorsareakeycomponenttoEricksonianHypnotismandinmyviewoneofthemostcreativepartsofallhypnotism.Oftenwithhypnosisweattempttoelicitavarietyofstatesinourclients;moreoftenthannotthesearepositivestates.Metaphorsassistthehypnotisttoelicitthesestatesinawaythatweareallaccustomedto.Remember,formanyclientsthereisanaturalconcernorfearrelatingtohypnosis;metaphorsmakeiteasiertoguidetheclientintohypnosis.Metaphorsarenotjuststoriesforthesakeofit.Therearetwodifferenttypesofmetaphorsthatcanbeusedeffectivelybyhypnotists:deepstructureandsurfacestructure.Deepstructuremetaphorsarestorieswhicharetoldinwhichthemeaningandpurposeofthestoryisnotobviousbasedontheplot.AnexampleofthisisthestoryoftheWizardofOz.IoftentellthisstorytoexplainthetherapeuticprocessinthatthehypnotistisanordinarymanwhohadinsightwhichmadeitpossibleforhimtoassistDorothy,theScarecrow,theTinMan,andtheCowardlyLiontoachievetheirgoals.Nowthebeautyofdeepstructuremetaphoristhateveryonecantakewhatevermeaningtheywishfromit.Inthat,thehypnotistisnottryingtodirecttheclient,butislettingtheclientmakehisorherownway,basedontheirowncognitiveprocess.Surfacestructuremetaphorsareusefulaswell.Thesestoriestendtohaveanobviouspoint.Casestudiestendtobeacommonexampleofthis;"Aclientofminehadasimilarissue…….."Thishelpstofosterbothrapportaswellas

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allowstheclienttoeaseintothehypnoticexperienceasothershavedonepreviously.Whilstmetaphorisaneffectivewayofinducing/deepeningatrance,itcanalsobeaneffectivewaytodeliverhelpfulsuggestions.Thismethodofdeliveryisreferredtoasindirectsuggestion.Thismeansthatthesuggestionsareimpliedratherthanstatedabsolutely.ThismethodoftrancewasfavouredbyEricksoninthelaterpartofhislife.Thefollowingisareasonableformulawhichshouldhelpyoutodesignmetaphorswhichareuniquetotheclient:Themajorpurposeofametaphoristopaceandleadaclient'sbehaviourthroughastory.Thebasicstepstogenerateametaphorareasfollows:

1. Identifytheclient'sissues2. Howdoestheclientmanifesttheirissue?3. Whatchoicesand/orresourcesareneeded4. Establishappropriateresourceswhichaclientcanutilisethroughoutthe

storyConstruction

1. Removepersonalreferencestotheclient.Theclientshouldnotappearinthestory,buthaveacharacterrepresenthim/herandothersrelevanttotheirissues

2. Createastorywhichmirrorstheclient'ssituationwithoutmakingadirectlink

3. Haveawayfortheclienttoaccesstheresourceshe/shemightneed.4. Finishthestorysothatthecharactersinthestorycomeupwithan

effectiveresolution,inotherwordsgivetheclientahappyending.5. Keepyourresolutionasambiguousasnecessaryorbespecificallyvague,

itisnotthehypnotist'sresponsibilitytotelltheclientwhattodo,onlytomakethespacenecessaryfortheclienttocomeupwiththeirownresolution.

6.

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Metaphorsbridgethegaptonewresourcesandchoices.Metaphorsallowclientstomovefrompresentstatetodesiredstateseamlessly.Bothclientsandhypnotistsneedtorealisethatthereisadifferencebetweentheclient'spresentstateanddesiredstate.Metaphorsfacilitatethenecessarymovementfortheclienttoselfactualise.Metaphorsareapowerfultoolinordertoembedimportantmessagesintopatient'sunconsciousminds.Atdifferentpointsinthetreatmentprocesscertainmessagesneedtobeplantedfordifferentreasons.ThePhilosopherandtheKingOncetherewasakingwhohadawisephilosopherlivinginhiskingdom.Thekinghatedthephilosopherbecause,everytimethekingwantedtotrickthephilosopherandmakehimlooklikeafool,thephilosopherturnedthetablesandmadethekinglooklikeafool.Thistimethekinghituponanideatotrickthephilosophersothekingcouldhavehimkilled.Thekingcommanded,"Bringmemyphilosopher."Theguardbroughtinthisoldmanwithalongwhitebeard."Howcanyourhumbleservantbeofassistancetoyou,ohmightyking?"askedthephilosopher."Seethis?"thekingshotback,showingtheoldmanatinybirdinthemiddleofhispalm.Thekingfoldedhishandaroundthebirdandputitbehindhisback."Now,wisephilosopher,"thekinggrowledatthephilosopher,"isthebirdaliveordead?"Thephilosopherthoughtfast.Ifhesaid"alive"thekingwouldsqueezethebirdtodeathandthenkillthephilosopher.Ifhesaid"dead"thekingwouldshowhimthebirdlivedandwouldkillhim.Thephilosopherthoughtdeeplyforalongmoment.Asmilebrokeoutonhisfaceandtheoldmansaid,"Asyouwish,greatking.Theresultwillbewhateverthekingwishes."

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Ahypnotherapistusesisomorphicmetaphorsbyofferingdirectsuggestionstoahypnotizedpersonwithastoryandamoral.Theunconsciousistheorisedtomakeaone-to-oneconnectionbetweentheelementsofaproblemsituationandtheelementsofametaphor.Asimpleexampleisachildwhoisachronicliarmightbetoldthestoryoftheboywhocriedwolf.Hisorherunconsciousmindwouldthencreateaparallelbetweentheprotagonistofthestoryandthechild,whichwouldmakehimorherrealisethatchroniclyingcouldleadtodisaster.Theinterspersalmetaphorisusedwhenthehypnotherapistusesastorytodistracttheconsciousmind.Thisstoryiscalledprocessinstructions.Thisstoryalsocontainsindirectsuggestionsthatreachtheunconscious,askingittofindamemoryofasimilarlearningexperience,andthenusethismemorytomakeachangeinacurrentproblem.Metaphorisadevicecommonlyusedinlegend,children'sandfairystoriesinwhichaseeminglyinnocuoustalefullofcolourfulcharactersisusedtocarryafardeeperunderlyingprincipleintothereader'sconsciousness.Aswellasbeingadeviceforconveyingsuchmeanings,metaphorcanalsobeusefulforproblemsolving.Thetechniquethatfollowsdemonstrateshowtoactivelyusemetaphorasatoolforremodellingproblemsintoformswhichmakethemamenabletoapproachbytangentialandoriginalthinkinginaformthatcanyielduniqueandotherwiseinaccessiblesolutionswhensucharerestructuredintermsofthegivenproblem.Children’sstories,legends,andfairytalesoftenendwitha“moraltothestory”,thismoralisusuallybasedonthehiddenmeaningstothestory.Metaphorscanbeanextremelypowerfultoolintherapy.Mostpeopletalkinmetaphors,forexample:“Sixofoneandhalfadozenoftheother”“Painintheneck”“Twobagsshortofaload”“Thickastwoshortplanks”Whendesigningametaphor,thetherapistmustconsiderthementalityoftheclient.Ifhe/sheisgoingtotellafairystory,willtheclientacceptit?

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MetaphorssendtheclientonaTranderivationalsearch.Theclientwillrelatethemetaphortohissymptom.Eachclientwilltranslatethemetaphorinadifferentway.Thesearchgoesonatunconsciouslevel.'Themetaphors,whentold,shouldmakesenseatconsciouslevel.However,atunconsciousleveltherewillbeadeepermeaningandthustheunconsciousmindwillrelatetothesymptom.Anexampleofthiscouldbeatreebendinginthewind.Theconsciousmindmaynotinterpretthisasametaphorfornewbehaviour.Bookshavebeenwrittenonmetaphorsalone.It’sworthwhileforthetherapistwholikestotellstories,tobuyoneofthesebooks.Someofthemetaphorshavebeautifulthemestothem.Eveniftheydonotmatchtheclient’ssymptomtheclientwillfinditapleasantexperience.Therefore,nothingislost.Apartfromusingthestorytodeepentranceitcanalsobeametaphorforlife.Listeningtothestory,theclientcanbeawareunconsciouslythatthereisaparalleloftheirownlifeexperiences.Becauseasametaphoritisopenended,non-specific,theclientcanutiliseittosuittheirsymptom.Peoplemakesenseofmetaphorsintheirownway.Ametaphorgiventoagroupofpeoplewillhaveadifferentmeaningtoeachperson.Thisappliesalsotonominalisations.Whenthemetaphorparallelsaperson’slifeexperience,hewillmaybemakeuseofittherapeuticallyforchange.Shouldtheclientnotmakeuseofittherapeuticallynothingislostasitisstillanidealwayofdeepeningthetrancestate.Ihaveamassedacollectionoflifemetaphors.Somewerepersonallyauthoredbyme,andsomeIobtainedfromthenetandothersources.Thecomparisonsoflifetothingsandobjects.Lifeislikeaseed.Itwillnevergrowunlessplantedandnourished.Lifeislikeariver.Withallitsbendsandrapidfalls,onemustfollowtherightpathorelseyou'llloseyourwaytothesea.

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Lifeislikeabagel.It'sdeliciouswhenit'sfreshandwarm,butoftenit'sjusthard.Theholeisthemiddleisitsgreatmystery,andyetitwouldn'tbeabagelwithoutit.Lifeislikeeatinggrapefruit.Firstyouhavetobreakthroughtheskin;thenittakesacoupleofbitestogetusedtothetaste,andjustasyoubegintoenjoyit,itsquirtsyouintheeye.Lifeislikeabanana.Youstartoutgreenandgetsoftandmushywithage.Somepeoplewanttobeoneofthebunchwhileotherswanttobetopbanana.Youhavetotakecarenottosliponexternals.And,finally,youyouhavetostripofftheoutercoatingtogetatthemeat.Lifeislikecooking.Italldependsonwhatyouaddandhowyoumixit.Sometimesyoufollowtherecipeandatothertimes,you'recreative.Lifeislikeajigsawpuzzle,butyoudon'thavethepictureonthefrontoftheboxtoknowwhatit'ssupposedtolooklike.Sometimes,you'renotevensureifyou'vegotallthepieces.Lifeislikeamazeinwhichyoutrytoavoidtheexit.Lifeislikeridinganelevator.Ithasalotofupsanddownsandsomeoneisalwayspushingyourbuttons.Sometimesyougettheshaft,butwhatreallybothersyouarethejerks.Lifeislikearoomfullofopendoorsthatcloseasyougetolder.Lifeislikeapuppydogalwayssearchingforastreetfulloffirehydrants.Lifeislikeapokergame.Youdealoraredealtto.Itincludesskillandluck.Youbet,check,bluff,andraise.Youlearnfromthoseyouplaywith.Sometimesyouwinwithapairorlosewithafullhouse.Butwhateverhappens,it'sbesttokeeponshufflingalong.Lifeislikeanovel.Youaretheauthorandeverydayisanewpage.Lifeislikephotography.Wedevelopfromnegatives.Lifeislikemoney.Youcanspenditanywayyouwish,butyouonlyspenditonce.

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Lifeislikeanonion.Youpeelofflayerafterlayerandsometimesyouweep.Lifeislikeawhisper.Ifyouonlytryandstopwailingyou'llsuddenlyrealisethatitisthere.Lifeislikeapencil.Youcanbesharpened,youcancorrectmistakes,andyoucanleaveamark.

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THEGREATASIFAfterinducinghypnosis,proceedasfollows:-Iwouldliketotellyouastoryofayoungprincewhowasdeterminedtobethekingofhiscountry.Now,thisyoungprincehadsomeconcernsaboutbeingking,forhewasworriedabouthisabilitytobealeader.Oneday,hegotoutofbedwaddlingandquackinglikeaduckandrefusedtoeatanythingbutduckfood.Thekingwasgreatlyupsetsohecalledinthewisestmaninthekingdom.Whentoldofthesituation,thewisemansaid,"givemethreedayswiththeprinceandhewillbecured."Thewisemanwenttothedooroftheprince’sroom,knockedandwasinvitedin.Thewisemanwaddledintotheroomandquackinglikeaduck.Theprinceandthewisemansoonbecamegoodfriends.Thatnightthewisemanslippedoutoftheprince’sroomandtoldthekingtohaveclothesplacedonthechairsforthenextmorningWhenmorningcame,thewisemangotoutofbed,waddledacrosstheroom,quackinglikeaduck,andputonhisclothes.Theprincesaidtohim,"youcan'tbeaduck,duckscan'twearclothes."Thewisemanreplied,whereisitwrittenthataduckcan'twearclothes?"Theprincesaid,"WellIguessyouareright,andhe,too,putonhisclothes.Thatnight,thewisemanagainslippedoutoftheprince'sroomandtoldthekingtoputduckfoodonaplateandputtheplateonthetable.Thenextmorning,thewisemangotoutofbed,waddledacrosstheroomquakinglikeaduck,putonhisclothes,satdownatthetableandbegantoeatfromtheplate.Theprincesaid,“Youcan'tbeaduck...ducksdon'teatfromaplate.”Thewisemanreplied,“Nowhereisitwrittenthataduckcan'teatfromaplate”Theyoungprincesaid,"Iguessyouareright"Andhebegantoeatfromtheplate.Thatnight,thewisemantoldthekingtoputhumanfoodontheplate,andplaceforkbytheplate.Thenextmorningthewisemangotoutofbedwaddledacrosstheroomquackinglikeaduck,putonhisclothes,satdownatthetable,pickeduptheforkandbegantoeat.Theyoungprincesaid,“Youcan'tbeaduck,ducksdon'tuseforks.”Thewisemanresponded,“Whereisitwrittenthatduckscan’tuseforks?”Theprincesaid,Iguessyouareright.“Andhe,too,pickedupaforkandbegantoeat.”Laterthatdaythewisemansaidtotheprince,Imustreturntomyownbarnyardtoday,butIwouldliketoleaveyouwiththisadvice:Rememberthatournationalholidayiscomingupnextweekandasyouknowournation'sfavouritefoodfortheholidayisduck.Ifyoudon'twanttoendupassomeone'smaincoursefortheholidaymealcontinuetoactasifyouwereaprince."Theprincedidsuchagoodjobofactingasifhewereaprincethatheeventuallybecamethegreatestkinghis

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countryeverhad.(Actasifyouareanon-smokerandyouarebecauseanonsmokerdoesnotsmoke.)Nowifyoulikeyoucanapplyabitofdirectorindirectsuggestiontherapy,orleaveyourclienttheirforawhile,orwakeyourclientintheusualway.VisualisationVISUALISATIONtechniquescanbequitesimpleandyetsoeffective.Visualisationmethodsaremanyandvariedandifthetherapisthasaflairforvisualisations/hecaninventmanymore.Holidayscenes,thegarden,beachorcountrysidewehavealreadycoveredonthecourse.However,itisequallyimportantthatthetherapistisawareofthedislikesoftheclientwhens/heisproposingavisualisedscene.Itisnogoodsuggestingasunnydayonthebeachiftheclientdislikesthatformofrelaxation.Thisinformationwillhavebeengatheredinthequestioning.Whenusingvisualisationtechniques,thetherapistmustgettheclient’sconfirmationthats/hecanvisualisethescenethetherapistisdescribing.Thisconfirmationcanbeanodoftheheadoranideamotormovementofafinger.Itisnotmuchusethetherapistcarryingondescribingasceneiftheclientcannotvisualiseit.Visualisingcrystalballsisonewayofallowingtheclienttoseethem,astheywouldliketobe.Itisalsoawayofgettingridofnegativethoughtsandfeelings.Visualisingascenewherethereisamagicboxinvolvedisanother.Mostclientsliketohavefairystoriesrelatedtothem,andagoodtherapistcanmakegooduseofsuchstories.AnothervisualisationwhichIfindtobeveryeffectiveisthe"junkroom"scene.Thisentailstheclientsortingthroughallthejunkintheirmind,riddingthemselvesofunwantednegativefeelings.

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GUIDEDIMAGERYSomestudentswillhavealreadydonesomeguidedimageryexercisesinthepast.However,theguidedimagerycanbeenhancedbyproceedingthejourneywithahypnoticinduction.EMBEDDEDMETAPHORItisagoodideawhenusingguidedimageryorvisualisationtechniques,toembedmetaphoricscenarioswithinthem.Forexample,mentioningclimbingmountains,climbingfences,openinggates,collectingandburningdeadwood,willallhaveasignificantanduniquemeaningtotheclient.Thefollowingguidedimageryisanexcellentexampleofaguidedimagerywithembeddedmetaphor.

pg.22

GUIDEDIMAGERYWITHEMBEDDEDMETAPHORTHEFOURSEASONSAfterinducinghypnosis,proceedasfollows:-NOWTHATYOUAREFEELINGSORELAXED,ICANCALLUPONTHEPARTOF?THATKNOWSALLABOUT?.....THEPARTTHAT’SBEENLOOKINGAFTER?ALLTHESEYEARS,ANDDEEPDEEPINSIDEOF?THEREAREMEMORIESOFALLKINDS,ANDIWONDERIFYOUCANREMEMBERATIME,PERHAPSWHENYOUWASSMALL,ATIMEWHENYOUWEREABLETOUSEYOURIMAGINATION.ATIMEWHENYOUUSEDTOBEVERYIMAGINATIVE....WELLTHATABILITYTSSTILLTHEREANDIWOULDLIKEYOUTOUSETHATABILITYHEREANDNOWASISPEAK.IWOULDLIKEYOUTOIMAGINE5BEAUTIFULSTEPSLEADINGDOWNAPLEASANTPATHLEADINGTHROUGHABEAUTIFULWOODLAND,ANICEPLEASANTSPRINGFEELINGINTHEAIR.ANDASYOURSTOODTHEREWAITINGTO60DOWNTHESE5STEPS,IWILLCOUNTEACHSTEPASYOUGODOWN,ANDWITHEVERYSTEP,YOUWILLBEABLETORELAXDEEPERANDDEEPER.Getconformation.SODOWNYOUGOTHENONTOTHEFIRSTSTEP,DOWNONTOTHE2NDSTEP,GOINGDEEPERANDDEEPERASYOUHITTHE3RDSTEP,ONTOTHE4THSTEP,ANDSODEEPONTHE5THSTEP.ANDTHEREYOUAREATTHESTARTOFTHISBEAUTIFULWOODLANDPATH,ITSSPRINGTIME,ANDYOUCANFOLLOWTHATPATH,ANDASYOURWALKINGDOWNDEEPINTOTHEWOODS,PERHAPSYOUNOTICETHELEAVESSTARTINGTOGROWONTHETREES,MAYBEYOUCANSEETHEDAFFODILSANDTULIPSSTARTINGTOBUD....MAYBEYOUCANSMELLTHATFRESHSPRINGAIRASYOURWONDERINGALONGKICKINGATTHEDEADLEAVESONTHEFLOOR,DODGINGTHEPUDDLESANDSTEPPINGOVERANYOBSTACLES.THISISTHETIMEOFYEARTHATTHEBIRDSRETURN,READYTOMAKEANEWSTART,ANDONCEAGAINBUILDINGTHERENEST,READYTOREARTHEIRYOUNG,PERHAPSYOUCANSEETHESWEETBIRDSCOLLECTINGBITSANDPIECESFORTHEIRNEWHOMES....PERHAPSTHESUNSHINEISALITTLEHAZY,BUTTHATFRESHSMELLOFSPRINGLINGERSAROUNDYOULIKEASCENTFROMHEAVEN.

pg.23

ANDNOWASYOUCOMETOWARDSTHEGATE,YOUCANFINDAWAYTOCLIMBOVERTHATGATEANDCONTINUETOWALKALONGTHEPATH.Getconformation.NOWIWANTYOUTONOTICEAVERYSIGNIFICANTCHANGE,ITSGETTINGWARMER,THESUNAPPEARSHOTTER,THEFLOWERSAREBLOOMING,THEBIRDSARESINGING,ITSVERYVERYHOT,THESKYISBLUETHESUNISSHINING,ITSSUMMERANDTHETREESAREGREENANDBEAUTIFUL,THECATTLEAREGRAZING,MAYBETHEREAREOTHERPEOPLEOUT...WALKINGONTHISHOTSUMMERDAY,...PERHAPSTHEYHAVEADOG....YOURFEELINGWARMANDRELAXED,...PLEASANTANDHAPPY....ANDYOUMAYNOTICE,JUSTUPTHEREINFRONT,THERE'SAFENCECROSSINGYOURPATH,NOW,FINDAWAYPASTTHEFENCE.Getconformation.NOWTHATYOUAREPASTTHEFENCE,YOUIMMEDIATELYNOTICETHATTHESUNSCOOLINGDOWN,ITSABITCLOUDY,ANDTHELEAVESAREFALLINGFROMTHETREES,TURNINGBROWNASTHEYCLUTTERYOURPATH,YOUNOTICEASCENTOFAUTUMN,PERHAPSACOOLAUTUMNBREEZE,ANDBECAUSEYOUADRESSEDAPPROPRIATELY,YOUFEELWARMANDCOMFORTABLE.YOUCANCONTINUETOSTROLLALONG,DRAGGINGYOURFEETTHROUGHTHECRISPAUTUMNLEAVES,LISTENINGTOTHEGENTLEAUTUMNBREEZE,AVOIDINGTHEPUDDLESANDTHEMUD.....FEELINGGOODFEELINGHAPPY....FEELINGCONFIDENT.YOUARENOWAPPROACHINGAVERYPLEASANTSTREAM,WHENYOUGETTOTHESTREAM,IWANTYOUTOFINDAWAYOFGETTINGTOTHEOTHERSIDE.WHENYOUHAVEMADEITTOTHEOTHERSIDE,YOUCANLETMEKNOWY?????Getconformation.YOUNOWNOTICEHOWMUCHCOLDERITSBECOMING,DRESSEDAPPROPRIATELY,YOUDON'TFEELTHECOLD,ITLOOKSASTHOUGHITMAYSNOW,ANDASWINTERSETSIN,PERHAPSYOURBREATHISTURNINGTOSTEAMASYOUEXHALE,ANDASTHESNOWFALLS,YOUNOTICEANIMALTRACKSINTHETHICKSNOW,PERHAPSBIRDS,ORMAYBEEVENSQUIRRELSSTRUGGLINGTOSURVIVEINTHESEDULLCOLDDAYS.ANDASTHESNOWFALLS,YOUAPPROACHINGTOALARGEOPENHILL,AHILLCOVEREDINSNOW,PERHAPSTHEODDPINETREEONTHEHILL,YOULOCATETHEPATHAND

pg.24

PROCEEDTOCLIMBTHEHILL,YOUNOTICEAWOODENCOTTAGEATTHETOPOFTHISHILL,AVERYPLEASANTCOTTAGE,YOUSEEAGENTLEFLICKEROFLIGHTINTHEWINDOW,YOUPROCEEDTOCLIMBTHISHILLLEADINGTOTHISBEAUTIFULCOTTAGETAKINGTWOSTEPSFORWARD,ANDSLIDINGBACKASTEP,THESNOWISFALLINGANDYOU’RESTRUGGLINGTOGETTOTHISBEAUTIFULCOTTAGE,BUTMAKINGPROGRESS,ANDYOU’REFEELINGTIRED,FEDUP.ASYOUAPPROACHTHECOTTAGEDOOR,YOUNOTICETHROUGHTHESLIGHTLYOPENDOOR,ABEAUTIFULLOGFIRE,BURNINGWITHPASSION,THEROOMISEMPTY,THERE'SNOONEAROUND,ONLYYOU...YOUCANWALKTHROUGHTHEDOORANDINTOTHISVERYPLEASANTWARMROOM,TAKEOFFYOURWETCOAT,HANGITBEHINDTHEDOOR...TAKEOFFYOURWETBOOTS,ANDLOOKAROUND,THEFIREISREAL,ITSWARMANDPLEASANT,ANDJUSTOVERTHEREYOUWILLNOTICEAVERYPLEASANTCHAIR...THETYPEOFCHAIRYOUWOULDLIKETOSITON,RIGHTINFRONTOFTHATBLAZINGLOGFIRE.SOOVERYOUGO,TOTHATCHAIRANDIWANTYOUTOTAKEABIGDEEPBREATHASYOURELAXANDSINKDEEPLYINTOTHATCHAIR.Nowifyoulikeyoucannowapplysomepositivesuggestionsthatareapplicabletoyourclient.Oryoucouldleavethemthereinpeaceforafewminutes,priortocountingthemout.

pg.25

ContingentSuggestionsContingentsuggestionsconnectthesuggestiontoanongoingbehaviour.Thisisausefulsuggestionandhasapparentlybeenusedformorethanonehundredyears.Contingentsuggestionscanbegivenduringhypnosisandwithpost-hypnoticsuggestionwhereatriggerorcueisneeded.Thelinkwordsare:as,when,untiletc.,anexampleis:“youcangodeeperasyourelaxmoreandmore".Herewehavethehypnoticsuggestionlinkedtotheongoingbehaviour.Itiscommonlybelievedthatsuggestionsmaybemademoreeffectivebyconnectingthemtogether.Hereisanotherexample:"beawareofyourbreathingasyourelaxmoreandmore.Byconnectingtwoormoresuggestionstogethermakesitmoredifficultfortheclienttonegatethem.Whenthetherapisthasbecomeawareofthechangeinminimalcuesoftheclienthecanfeedback,whichinturnhelptoinduceanddeepenthetrancestate.EmbeddedCommandsEmbeddedcommandsareusefulwhenyoufeelthatyourclientmayrejectyoursuggestions,Ialsotendtofindthistobeveryusefulwhenworkingwithchildren.Basically,youwouldfirelotsofsimple,truesuggestionsatyourclient,thentheonesuggestionthatyouwanttoemphasiseisembeddedamongstthem.

pg.26

Example.“Youarefeelingrelaxed”“Youmayfeeltinglingsensationsaroundyourbody”“Youcanrelaxtentimesdeeper“Youwillnowwakeinadrybed”“Youcanfocusonthesoundofmyvoice”“Themoreyourelax,themoreyourbreathingslowsdown”“Youmayfeeltheneedtoswallow,that’sok”

pg.27

MemoryRegressionandRevificationWhatisaRegression?Acommonselfhelptechniqueisregression.Asusedbyahypnotist,aregressionisareviewofsignificantorremarkableeventsbytheclientwiththehypnotistservingastheguide.Thisdefinitionholdstrueforconsultinghypnotistsregardlessofwhetherwearereviewingtheeventsofaclient’spresentorpriorlives.WhataretheApplicationsinHypnosis?Regressioninhypnosiscanhelpyouuncoveramemory.Itcanhelpwithfindingaseeminglylostitem.Regressionisareliablevehicleforrootingouthidden,repressedorsuppressedcausalfactors.Inmanycasesofstressororexcessiveworry,thecausesareunknowntotheconsciousmind.Butthesubconsciousmind,vastlylargerandmorepowerful,istheseatofallmemory.Itcanbringforthinformationandeventsrelatedorpertinenttotheproblemsbeingexplored.Rapportbetweentheclientandhypnotistisavitallyimportantfactorinsuccessfulregression.Hypnoticexplorationsintothepastcanuncoversensitiveandpersonalrevelations,andsolidtrustandcomfortbetweentheparticipantsisessentialtotheachievementofgoals.

BackgroundReadingLookIntoMyEyes:

ForensicHypnosisinFamousCourtCases

"Youaregettingsleepy.Verysleepy."PrivatedetectivePaulGreythinkstohimselfandthenlaughsatthisstereotypicalbeliefofhowhypnosisworks.Onlyheknowsit’snotthatsimpleandahypnotisedpersonisn’tasleepeventhoughtheGreekrootwordinhypnosisishypnosis,whichmeanstosleep.UnderhypnosisPaulmightappeartobeasleep,butheisactuallyinastateofalteredconsciousnesscharacterisedbyheightenedawareness,deeprelaxation,andsuggestibility.Thereisdecreasedactivityinthemuscles,slowedbreathingandheartrate,butthemindandsensesbecomemorealertandmemoriesbecomemoreaccessible.Whenhypnotised,Paulcanvividly

pg.28

remembereventsfromearlychildhood,likethefirstdayofschool,butinsuchdetailhecouldtellyouwhathewore,whathisteacherwore,andallofthesurroundingshethoughtwerelongforgotten.OnhiswaytohishypnosisappointmentPaulisabletofocussopreciselyonhisdrivingthatheblocksoutallthestimuliaroundhim,yethestillknowswhatisgoingon.Hedriveshiscar,butthenwon’trememberhowhegotthere.Yet,obviously,hewasstillincontrolofthecar:hedidn’trunanyredlightsorhaveawreck.Paulhasexperiencedaformofself-hypnosis,thatpracticallyeveryonecanachieve–hehaslosttrackoftime.Hypnosispatientsareoftensurprisedtheirsessionshavelastedtwohoursorlonger,yettheyfeelasifhardlyanytimehasgoneby.Uponarriving,Paul’shypnotistdispelssomecommonmisconceptionsabouthypnosisspreadthroughitsportrayalinHollywoodmovies,ontelevision,andhypnosisstageshows.ThehypnotistexplainsthatPaulcannotbemadetodivulgesecrets,beforcedtotellthetruth,orget"stuck"inhypnosis.Paulcannotbemadetodocrazyorembarrassingthingsliketakingoffallhisclothesoractinglikeachickenunlessheisalreadymotivatedtodosooritispartofhisunderlyingpersonality.ItisimportanttorealizePaulcanlieormakeupinformationwhileunderhypnosisbecauseofthehighlysuggestiblestate;however,thiswouldhavetobesomethinghewouldalreadybewillingtodo.Inotherwords,thehypnotistcannotcontrolPaul.Evenunderhypnosishewillnotdoanythingagainsthisownwill.HypnosismakesPaullessinhibited,liketheeffectsofalcoholordrugs,howeveritisnotdangeroustohim.Paulandhishypnotistknowthemultitudeofusesforhypnosisbesidesentertainment.Itsusesincludethetreatmentofmanymentalandphysicalconditionslikephobias,overeating,smoking,schoolorsportsperformance,andself-confidence.ThemostfascinatinguseofhypnosisandthereasonPaulwillbehypnotizedistousehypnosistosolveacrime–forensichypnosis.ForensichypnosishasbeenusedinsomehighprofilecasessuchastheBostonStrangler,TedBundy,andSamSheppard.Firstofall,forensichypnosismustbeconductedbyatrainedprofessionalwhoknowshowtogetinformationwithoutleadingawitnessoraccidentallyimplantingasuggestionormemory.Secondly,veryexactingproceduresandstandardsmustbemetduringthehypnosissession.Last,whenthecasegoestocourtthejurymustconsiderthefourdangersofhypnosisindecidingthecase.Thefourdangersare:(1)suggestibility–ahypnotistcould"suggest"arace,height,eyecolor,etceterawhichthesubjectacceptsastruth;(2)lossofcriticaljudgment–underhypnosispersonalbeliefsandprejudicesmayinfluencehowaneventisinterpretedduringrecall;(3)confabulationorlies–apersonwhohasareasontoliemaycreatelieswhileunderhypnosisorgapsinthememorymaybefilled

pg.29

inwithfalsematerialthatsupportsaself-interest;(4)memorycementing–afalsememoryseemssorealtothewitnessthathedevelopsfalseconfidenceinit.Ifalloftheaboveconditionsaremet,thenhypnosistestimonymaybeusedincourtandhasinmanycasesbeenusedsuccessfully.OnesuchsuccessfulcaseisthatofserialkillerTedBundy.TheodoreRobertBundywasthehandsome,charmingstrangerwhostalkedyounggradeschoolandcollegegirlsandconfessedtokillingmorethanthirtyofthem.NooneknowsforsurehowmanywomenTedBundykilledstartingin1974.OnJanuary15,1978NitaNearyreturnedtoherChiOmegasororityhouseandsawamanrunningdownthestairs,aclubinhishand.Shesawtheprofileofhisface.Fourgirlslivinginthehousehadbeenbrutallybeaten;twoofthemdied.OneweeklaterNitawasputintoahypnoticstateandquestioned.SheselectedaphotoofTedBundyfromaphotoline-up.Approximatelyonemonthlater,onFebruary9,1978,amaninawhitevanabducted,brutalised,andkilledtwelve-year-oldKimberlyLeach.ClarenceAndersonwastheoneeyewitnesstotheabductionwhichtookplacenearKimberly’sschool.Andersonunderwenthypnosistwicetorefreshhismemory.Thereafter,heidentifiedthemaninthewhitevanasnoneotherthanTedBundy,andtheyounggirlasKimberlyLeach.Aftertwoescapesfromprisonandelevenyearsoftrialsandappeals,TedBundywasconvictedfortwocountsoffirstdegreemurderintheChiOmegakillingsandadeathsentenceforthemurderofKimberlyLeach.TheodoreBundyfinallyconfessedtonearlythirtymurdersandwaselectrocutedinFebruary1989surroundedbycheeringandcelebrationsincludingfireworksand"BurnBundyBurn"t-shirtsales.InthecaseofSamSheppard,forensichypnosissavedaninnocentman.SamSheppard’scaseistheoneonwhichthemovieTheFugitivewasbased.Convictedofmurderinghiswife,eventhoughheconsistentlyclaimedthata"bushy-haired"intruderdidit,Dr.SamSheppardwaslaterlegallyexoneratedofallcharges.ItbeganinJuly1954whenMarilynSheppardwenttobed,leavingherhusbandSamdownstairswherehefellasleepwatchingtelevision.Samawoketohiswife’scallsandfoundherbeingbeatenbyanintruder.Hestruggledwiththemanandwasknockedunconsciousbyablowtothehead.Themedia’sspinoftheeventsincludedan"affair"andrumorsofSam’s"darkside"whichresultedinaconviction.Aftertenyearsinjailandvariousappeals,SamSheppard’scasereturnedtocourt.Hisdefensewasconductedbythenowfamousandbrillianttriallawyer,F.LeeBailey.ThroughoutthetrialF.LeeBaileywasabletoconvincethejurorsthattheoriginalpoliceinvestigationhadbeensloppy,ignoringevidencesuchasacigarettebuttinthetoiletalthoughnooneinthehouse

pg.30

smoked,andthatnomotivehadbeenestablishedforwhyDr.Sheppardwouldkillhiswife.Dr.Sheppardhadalsobeenexaminedunderhypnosis.Hedescribedtheattackerandrememberedfeelinghisneckcrushedundersomeone’sfootandhearingsomeonetalkaboutwhethertokillhim.Hesaidthepersonwalkedwithalimp.Thejuror’svotesinthecasewereforacquittal.ThedecisiontousehypnosisinthecaseofAlbertDeSalvo,a.k.a.theBostonStranglerisuniqueandcontroversial.ThirteenwomenwerekilledintheBostonareafromthesummerof1962toJanuary1964,allvictimsofaserialkillerwholikedtosexuallymolestandkillthewomenintheirapartmentsbystranglingthemwitharticlesoftheirclothing.Noneofthekillingsgaveanyindicationofforcedentry,whichmeansthewomenhadletthekillerintotheirhomes.Fivepolicejurisdictionseventuallybecameinvolved,interviewingover30,000people,collectingthousandsofpiecesofevidenceincludinghundredsofthousandsofdocuments.In1961,AlbertDeSalvohadbeenarrestedforposingasamodellingagent,knockingonwomen’sdoors.Thosewomenwhowereinterestedhadallowedhiminsidewherehemeasuredthem;somehadsexwithhim.Hechangedhismethods,andin1964wasarrestedforenteringwomen’sapartmentsandrapingthem.Hewouldeithertalkorforcehiswayinandcaressthewoman.Sometimeshewouldhavesexwithher.Heclaimedheneverhadsexifthewomanwasunwilling.ThepolicepsychiatristbelievedthatAlbertDeSalvowasmovingthroughpsychosexualstages,inwhichmurderofthewomenwasthenextlogicalprogression.AlbertDeSalvoconfessedthecrimestodefenselawyer,F.LeeBailey,claiminghewastheBostonStrangler.Aftermorethanfiftyhoursofquestioning,BaileywasconvincedAlbertDeSalvowastellingthetruth.PartoftheinterrogationincludedputtingDeSalvounderhypnosis.Whilehypnotized,DeSalvodescribedthemurderofoneofthewomen,EvelynCorbin.Duringhissessionhewasabletogivedetailsthathecouldn’thaveknownunlessEvelynCorbinhadtoldhimherself,includinginformationabouthermedicalconditionandawarningfromherdoctortonothavesex.Descriptionsofothermurdersandthewomeninvolvedhadsimilarresults,enoughtoconvincethepolicedetectives.ForensichypnosiswasusedintheRobertKennedyassassinationandthekidnappingofJimmyHoffa,aswellasotherhigh-profilecases.Butforensichypnosisisn’tjustusedforhigh-profileorfamouscourtcases.Ithasbeenusedhundredsoftimesformoreeverydaykindsofcrimesfromconveniencestorerobberiestobankstick-upstorapesandchildmolestationcases.Solet’sgetbacktoPaul,ourhypnotismsubject.TodayPaulisbeinghypnotisedtohelpsolvethemysterybehindthedeathofanAtlantasocialite.

pg.31

NikkiSillsfelltoherdeathfromherseventeenthstoryapartmentbuilding.AsawitnessPaulcouldpossiblyrememberunderhypnosiswhetherhesawherjump,accidentallyfall,orgetpushedover.Ifshewerepushed,hisevidenceanddescriptionoftheculpritcouldsolvehermurder.ThedifferencebetweenPaul’scaseandtheothersaboveisthatPaul’scaseisfiction,partofthenovelRunner’sHigh,butthepremiseremainsthesameforbothfictionandreality.Forinvestigatorsandpolicealike,forensichypnosisprovidesavaluableinvestigativetoolinconjunctionwithotherevidence,andaidsthemintheirquesttofindtheguiltyparty.Oneofthemoreimpressivephenomenaofhypnosisistheabilityoftheclienttorecalllonglostmemorieswheninhypnosis.Allmemoriesarestoredawayintheunconsciouspartofthebrainandmostofthemcanberecoveredwhentheproperassociationpathwaysarestimulated.Thefollowinghypnoticphenomenaarerelatedtomemory,hypermensia,ageregressionandrevivification.HYPERMENSIAThisreferstoanincreaseinmemoryrecallgreaterthanthatachievedatnonhypnoticlevels.Agoodhypnoticsubjectcanrecallmemoriesthathavebeenforgottenformanyyears.AGEREGRESSION

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Beforeregressingaclientbacktoapasttraumaticexperience,askyourselfthefollowingquestions:-1.AmIdoingthistoprovethatIcandoit....myego.?2.Isitreallynecessary?3.Willmyclientreallybenefit?RememberthatyouCANNOTchangethepast,butyouCANchangethefuture.Rememberthatyourclienthastuckedthesememoriesoutofthewayforhis/herowngood,youmayuncoversomethingyourclientwasNOTawareof,thiscouldinfactmaketheclientworse.RememberthatthememoriesmayNOTbetrue(falsememorysyndrome),soyoucouldexposeyourclienttoatraumathatsimplydidnotexist,thusworseningthesituation.Remember,yourclienthasalreadygonethroughthetraumabefore,doeshe/shereallyneedtogothroughitagain?Inageregressiontheclientistakenbacktosomeearlierperiodinhislife.Hecanrememberalltheincidentsofhislifeofthatparticularperiodandcandescribethemvividlyandaccurately.Althoughtheclientgoesbackintothepastandmaydescribepasteventswithconsiderablefeeling,hedoessowithadultintelligenceandpersonalityandusesthepasttenseinrelatingtherecalledevents.Someclientsareabletogobackintothepastspontaneously,yetothersneedmoretimetoachievethisphenomena.Whenregressingtoapastexperienceandrecallingtheeventstheclientcanstaydissociated.Thisallowsthemtocopebetterwiththememoryifitistraumatic.Ageregressionisbeneficialasameansofobtaininganabreactionforemotionaltraumasandasameansofuncoveringrepressedmemoriesofatraumaticevent.REVIVIFICATIONRevivificationisatypeofregressioninwhichtheclientreturnstoaformerpointintimeandactuallyreliveshispastexperiences.Hespeaksandbehavesasachildandexperiencestheemotionsevokedbytheeventinthewaythatachildofthatageexperiencesemotion.Inrevivificationallmemoriesfollowing

pg.33

theagetowhichtheclienthasregressedareforgotten.Inotherwordstheclientactuallybelievesthattheyaretheyoungerself.Whenattemptingaregressionorrevivification,thetherapistneedstosettheframe.Thiscaninvolvetimeswhentheclientremembersthingstheythoughttheyhadforgotten.Asthetherapistusesanalogiesandmetaphorsaboutlostmemoriestheclientstartsregressing.

pg.34

REVIFICATION(ASSOCIATED) REGRESSION(DISASSOCIATED)

Clientwillbespeakingpresent

tense.

Therapistspeakspresenttense.

Clientisveryemotional

Speakingintonalityandlanguage

ofchild

Nomemoryofbeingtheadult

Clientfeelsemotionalandphysical

pain

Clientwillbespeakingpasttense.

Therapistspeakspasttense.

Clientislessemotional

Speakingintonalityandlanguage

ofadult

Clientisawarethats/heisan

adult.

Clientfeelsnophysicalpainbut

maybeemotional

Duringasession,clientsoftencyclebetweenthetwostates.Thereareanumberofwaysofhelpingaclienttowardsregressionorrevivification.Herearesomeofthem:1.Gettingaclienttorememberahappytimelikeabirthday,Christmasetc.,askingthemtogobackashortstepatatime.Bygraduallyworkingbackwardsfromnowintothepastthetherapistcanassisttheclienttoregress.Thiscan

pg.35

beusefuliftheclienthasforgottenwhatitsliketofeelgood.Ioftenusethistechnique,butremember....doNOTaskyourclienttogoback,...justaskhim/herto"REMEMBER",thehappytimeandgetthesamefeelingsnowashe/shedidthen.2.Watchingpagesofacalendar.Flippingthembackwardsthroughtime.3.Seeingaphotoalbum,realorimagined,oftheclientslife,againflickingbackthroughthepagesastimepassesfurtherandfurtherintotheclientsmemory.4.Staircasetechnique:Askingtheclienttovisualisebeingonastaircaseandgoingthroughadoorintoapastmemory.Anotherstaircasecanappearandanotherdoorwaytakingtheclientdeeperintothepast.Timelineregression

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Thetimelinetechniqueisprobablythesafestandmosteffectivewayofregressingpeopleforfunorfortherapy.Itisaveryaccuratewayoffindingtherootcauseofapresentingproblem.Withthistechnique,thetherapistsuggeststotheclientthats/hecanimaginealinegoingbackintothepast.Withsomeclientsthislineintothepastcanbedirectlybehind,withotherclientsitmaygoofftotheside.Onceaclienthasacknowledgedthereisalines/heisaskedtofloatupabovethetimelineandthenfloatalongitintothepasttheclientisthenaskedtodropdownintoapasteventintheirlivesandidentifywheretheyare.Procedure1. Inducetrancestate2. Setthescene(i.e.suggestthereisalineoftimejustbehindhim/her).3. Identifycolourofhappytimesremembered.(notecolour)4. Identifycolourofhappytimesforgotten.(notecolour)5. Identifycolourof“significanttimes”.(notecolour)

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Nowaskyourclienttoimaginewalkingbackalongthetimelinetoasignificanttime(signifiedbythecolourofthesignificanttimes).Whenclientishoveringaroundthesignificanttime,countto3andonthreetellclienttojumpintothetimeandallwillbecomeclear.Note:whenusingthistechniqueforfun,itisimportanttoidentifythecolourofbadtimessuggesttotheclientthatundernocircumstanceswillhe/sheexplorethesetimestoday.REGRESSIONUSING“CLEAN”LANGUAGETheuseofwhatisoftencalled“cleanlanguage”isessentialforanytherapistwhoisinterestedingivingonlytheverybestofhelptohis/herclients.Itmeansnotattemptingtobringyourclienttoatruthorrealisationbyanymeansotherthantheirownthoughtsand/orwords.(subjectiveinterpretations)itmeansnotencouragingthem,byspokenwordortoneofvoice,tosearchforsomethingwithinthemjustbecauseyoubelieveORwonderifit’sthere.Itmeansusingwordsandtonesthatconveyonlywhatyoumean,andwhatyoumeanshouldbeonlywhatyousay.Putmoresuccinctly,itmeansGUIDINGandnotLEADING.Ofcourse,therearemanytherapists,Ericksonianinparticular,whorelyonthecapacityofthehumanmindtoreadfarmoreintowordsthanisactuallythere;theuseofmetaphorisagoodcaseinpoint,butthen,thewordsareconstructedinan“artfullyvague”mannerinorderto...GUIDEandnotLEADtheclient!Cleanlanguageisofprimaryimportancetothosewhoareorientatedtowardsthetalkingtherapies-regressionandhypnoanalysisespecially.ButweshouldALLrememberthatourclientsareinahighstateofsuggestibilitywhentheyfirstenterourofficeorconsultingroomatthebeginningofasession.Weshouldbeawarethatwhateverwesaytoaclientcancarryhiddenimplicationsandthatenhancedsuggestibilitycantooeasilybethecauseofthoseimplicationsactinglikesuggestion.

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It’sthelanguageemployedwithinthetherapeuticstatethat’sthemostimportant,though.GUIDINGhelpstouncovertheclient’struthLEADINGimplantsthetherapistsideaofapossibletruthbutwhichwillatbestpartiallyalleviatetheclient’ssymptom(s)fornomorethanashortwhile,atworstpositivelyguaranteethattheclientwillneverbeabletofindtherelieftheyseek.Yourclientsbelievethatyouareknowledgeableandawareofthingswhichtheyknownothingabout,and,ofcourse,theyareright;theywouldnotbecomingtoyoufortreatmentifthiswerenotthecase.Theyknowyouarean“expert”atunderstandinghumanbehaviourandtheybelievethatyoualreadyhavesomeideaofwhatiswrongwiththemandwhytheyhavetheirparticularsetofsymptoms.Therefore,ifyousuggest,albeitonlybyimplication,thattheremaybesomethingmoretowhattheyaretellingyou,thentheywillmakestrenuouseffortstofindit...allwellandgood,exceptforthefactthattheywillbesuretofindsomethingeveniftherewas,inreality,nothingtofind.Ifyoufindyourselfdoubtingthatfact,justrememberthatthehumanmindhasapredispositiontokeeponlookingforwhatitexpectstodiscover.Ifwearelookingforevidencethatsomebodydoesnotlikeus,forexample-probablyoutoffearthatwemightfindit-wewillTOTALLYignorethetwoorthreeoreventeninstancesthatseemtoshowtheopposite.WewillkeeponlookingforthatONEpieceofevidencethatwearesearchingforuntilwefindit-orsomethingelsethatcanbeeasilymisconstruedas“proof”.Thenwearetriumphant!Andthatbeliefsystemhasbeenreinforcedandtheknowledgethatyouarenotlikedhasbeenconfirmed.Thisfamoussayingiscertainlytrue:“Beverycarefulwhatyoulookfor,becauseyou’llfindit.”Nowconsiderthefollowing.Theclientsays:“IrememberDadcomingintomyroom.”Thetherapistmightsayanyofthese:“Andwhatdidhedo,afterhecameintotheroom?”

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“Aha!Didhe,indeed!”“Didheoftencomeintoyourroom?”“Andwereyoufrightened?”“Ohno!Ibetthatscaredyou!”“Howdidthatseemtoyou?”Anyofthosestatements/questionscouldleadtheclientintosearchingforsomeunpleasant,evensinister,reasonforDadhavingcomeintotheroom.Ifyou’renottoosureaboutthat,askyourselfwhatyouthinkI’msuggestingyourclientmightthink...becauseIhaven’tactuallystatedanything,soanythingyoubelieveImeantisexactlythesortofthingaclientcould“read”.Ofcourse,“Dad”mayhavesimplyturnedoutthelightandleft.Inthiscase,thetherapistsbestresponse,atfirst,wouldbetosayabsolutelynothing,sincetheclientisalreadyengagedinarecallprocess.Onlyifs/heissilentfortoolong(morethan30seconds)orisshowingsomevisiblesighofemotionorreaction-grimacing,crying,breathingfaster,etc.-wouldtherebeaneedforthetherapisttosayanythingatall.Then,a“clean”responsecouldbe:“Andwhathappenedthen?”or,perhaps:“AndyourememberDadcomingintotheroom...andwhathappenedthen?”Reflectingbackpartofwhathasbeensaidisverypowerfulandthe“Whathappenedthen?”carriesnoimplicationsatall.“THEN”AND“NEXT”Interestingly,yourclient’sresponsetosuchaquestionwillnormallybetotellyouwhathappenedimmediatelyafterthat,whereasifyousay:“Andwhathappenednext?”s/hewillbeinclinedtoskiptherestofthatparticulareventandmoveontothenextsectionoftherecall.Thiscanbeuseful;ifyourclientis“standingonmyowninthebackgarden”youcouldrespondwith:“Andyou’restandingonyourowninthebackgarden.Andwhathappenednext?”BesurethatreflectionisEXACTLYthat-anexactcopyofyourclient’swordsandtonalities.Anothergood“clean”responsetosituationssimilartotheaboveis:“Tellmemoreaboutthat...”Thishasanotheruse,too,onthoseoccasionswhenyouhavenotquiteheardwhathasbeensaid(inhypnosis,someclientstalkvery

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quietly).“Tellmemoreaboutthat...”isaWHOLElotbetterthanaskingyourclienttorepeatwhattheyhavejusttoldyou!Makingsureyourclientdoesnothearwhatyouhavenotsaid!Interactionisfraughtwithallsortsofpitfalls,theworstbeingthatyoucaneasilyleadyourclientintobelievingthattheyshouldfeelacertainwayorrememberacertaineventorevenTYPEofevent.Whatweneed,ofcourse,istoensurethattheclientrememberswhats/heneedstoremember,feel/experiencewhatevers/heneedstofeel/experiencetofindpeaceofmind.Theproblemsweregeneratedbythethoughtprocessesthatoriginatedwithintheirparticularmindset;anditisfromthatsameplacethattheiranswersshouldcome.Thetroubleis,itisfartooeasyforthetherapisttoassumetheyknowwhattheirclientisthinking/feelingandactorspeakaccordingly.WhathappensthenisthatTHEIRtherapyisbaseduponYOURlifeexperiences!(rememberpresuppositionnumberone)Notconducivetotherapeuticsuccess,thereforenotconducivetohelpingyoufindnewclientsviarecommendation-themostsuccessfulformofpromotion.Sohereisaworkingstrategyusingaregressiontechniquethatcanhelpyouovercomethesedifficulties.Itdoeshavecertainlimitations,butitcanbeveryfastandeffectivefarmoretimesthanyoumightimagine.Thetechniqueitselfisnotnew,havingbeenaroundforawhileundervariousdifferentguises,themostcommononebeingtheWatkinsAffectBridge.I’veusedthatinthepast,butthisversionofitseemstodobetter,especiallywhenwehaveusedanyformofsubconsciouspreparationworkwhichhas“geared”theclientspecificallytowardsthistypeofwork.Firstofall,youshouldascertainthatyourclientcangetintotheirmindatrulyvividimageofthelasttimetheyexperiencedtheirproblem,oroneofthesymptomsofit.Aftertheinduction,continue:“Thisfeelingyouhaveinsideyouhasbeeninyourmind,stuckthere,forfartoolong...you’vetriedignoringit,you’vetriedpretendingitisn’tthere,you’veeventriedtorunawayfromitsometimes...butnow,youdeservetoletgoofit.I’mgoingtocountfromonetofivenowandasIdosothatfeelingisgoingtoincreaseinintensityuntilit’sasrealasit’severbeenbefore.”

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Count1-5slowly.Increaseexcitation,watchingforsignsofunease(youneedasmuchofitaspossibleorbetterstill,watchyourbiofeedbackmonitor)andslowingthecountdownifnecessaryuntilyoufindit.Abio-feedbackmeterhelpsenormously,here.Hypnosiswill,ofcourse,increasequitedramatically.Then:“NowjuststayfocussedonthatfeelinginyourmindwhileIcountfromtentoone...Yourmindwilltrytomoveontootherthingsperhaps,thoughts,memories,places,maybe...butyourtaskistokeepjustthatfeeling,onlythatfeeling,thereinyourmind,asIcountfromtenbacktoone...andasIcount,yoursubconsciousisgoingtotakeyoubackthroughtime,asiftherewerenosuchthingastime,allthewaybacktoamemoryorapersonoraplaceormaybeevenjustathoughtfromwaybackthen,thathasabsolutelyeverythingtodowiththatfeelinginyourmind.Iwantyouthentotellmetheveryfirstthingyouthinkof,withouttryingtomakesenseofit,justtellmestraightaway,assoonasIgetallthewaydownto1.”Count10-1slowly.Iusuallyallowalongpausebetween2and1.Mostofthetime,atthecountone,yourclientwillofferyousomethingandyouworkwithit,exploringituntilitsexhausted(thisiswherethecleanlanguagecomesin).Thenuseittostartthewholeprocessagain,ifnecessary,untilitbecomesobviousthatyouhavehittheoriginatingcause.It’seasytotell.IfitIStheoriginatingcause,theemotionwillsoonstarttofade;ifthatdoesnothappen,youstillhavesomemoreworktodo.Sometimes,resistancekicksinandwhatyougetis:“Nothing,sorry,nothingatall.”Noproblem!IjustasktheclienttoanswerwhatIaskthemwiththefirstthingthatcomesintotheirmind.Whatmightfollowissomethinglike:Therapist:“Ok,justgivemeyourfirstimpressions...isitlightordark?”Client:“Light...”Therapist:“Ok,andareyouindoorsoroutdoorswhenit’slight?”Client:“Indoors...”Therapist:“Good.Andareyouonyourownorareyouwithotherpeoplewhenyou’reindoorsandit’slight?”(Ifyouasked“Who’stherewithyou?”thatwouldbeleading)

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Client:“MyMumsthere.”Therapist:“Good.YourMumsthere.AndhowoldareyouwhenyourMumsthereandyou’reindoorsandit’slight?”Client:“I’mseven.”Therapist:“You’reseven.Andwhatelseisthereaboutthatwhenyou’resevenandyourMumsthereandyou’reindoorsandit’slight...?”Yougettheidea-useasmanyoftheclient’sthoughtsandasfewofyourownasyoucan.Toimproveyourabilitieswiththistechnique,itwillhelpifyoucanfindawillingfriendorcolleaguewhowillletyoupractice.Instructthemtotellyouwhenyouhavegotitwrong,theninvestigateanypartoftheirlifeyouhaveagreeduponanddeterminetogetasclearapictureofitforyourselfasyoupossiblycan.Listentothequestionsyouaskandanystatementyoumake,andnoticethosewhichmaycarryanyformofassumptionorrestricttheansweringpossibilities-“Anddidyoufeelhappyorsad?”isanexample;thecorrectquestionheremustbe:“Andhowdidyoufeel?”Ofcourse,ifyouaresurethattheanswerisa“coverup”ofsomesort,youcanexplore.Butthenyoumustkeeptheexplorationclean,too!Youcould,forinstance,continuewith:“Andyoufelt(howevertheclientsayss/hefelt)because...?”Duringaninteractivesession,therearemanyotherthingsyoucanasktotriggermemories,alwaysfeedingbackasmuchoftheinformationthatyourclienthasgivenyouasyousensiblycan.Thefollowingareuseful(notinanyparticularorder):ANDWHATHAPPENEDTHEN?

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ANDWHATHAPPENEDNEXT?WHATAREYOUWEARING?AREYOUHOTORCOLD?ISITSUNNYORCLOUDY?HOWDOYOUFEELWHILEYOU’RETHERE?HOWDOESMUM(ORWHOEVER)LOOK?WHERECOULDYOUBEGOING?WHERECOULDYOUBE?WHATCOULDYOUBEDOING?WHATCOULDBEHAPPENINGTHERE?WHERECOULDMUM(ORWHOEVER)BE?(when“MyMumsnotthere”hasbeenvolunteered).It’snotusuallytoolongbeforeyourclientwillsaysomethingalongthelinesof:“Oh,Iremembernow,thiswasthetimewhen...”Then,ofcourse,youworkwithit,exploreitandmaybefreeassociatewithitifnecessary.ThishasoftenprovedtobeanastonishinglyeffectivewayofworkingandI’veusedittogettophobicproblemswithastonishingease-sometimeswithonlytwosessions.