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AGING – IT’S ALL IN YOUR MIND!

AGING – IT’S ALL IN YOUR MIND!

By:  Patricia V. Scott, Ph.D., C.Ht.

aging

Did you know that your perceptions create your reality?  I see it practically every day in my hypnotherapy practice.  How a person “frames” getting older, or anything else, projects into their environment and into the very cells of their body.  When someone comes to me, I listen to how they describe their life, their “self”, and their perceptions about their past and future.  The unconscious mind acts out whatever direction we give it with our internal and external dialogue and imagery.  If we start looking for wrinkles or aches and pains, our unconscious begins to act on creating that which we are focusing on, thinking it is our goal.  Research on depression found that in time through focusing on all of the problems and “bad” aspects of one’s life, the cells literally begin to lose the ability to “recognize” happy or pleasurable experiences.  The cellular receptors adapt to the environment of their surroundings, and that includes the energy vibration of thought.  If the majority of thoughts are those of “sadness”, the cells will develop more of the receptors designed to recognize “sadness”, and fewer of those they aren’t utilizing.  This is why someone will eventually seem unable to experience happiness, even when it seems to be right in front of them.

 

Back to staying young.  Many years ago, I noticed that youth is an attitude.  I know people who are 30 and act “old”, and people in their 80’s and 90’s who are “young”.  A positive attitude toward life not only affects your emotions, it affects your skin, internal organs, immune system, and each and every cell of your body.  One of my first great teachers, Dr. Bruce Lipton, wrote a book called “The Biology of Belief”, which would be interesting for those who require a more scientific explanation.  Dr. Lipton was a professor of cellular biology and did research at Stanford University which verifies how thoughts affect the cellular structure, and can even alter the DNA.  In my private practice I find that as soon as someone begins to change the habit of focusing on the negative prospects of aging into a new habit of focusing on and expecting new, positive and exciting experiences and opportunities associated with the next phase of their life, they immediately get a new sense of optimism, their energy increases, their minor aches and pains become less evident, and they actually start to look & feel younger.  It is simply a matter of “re-training” the mind by changing the focus of attention, and hypnosis and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) facilitate this change more rapidly and at a higher level of mind.

“We always move in the direction of our most dominant thought”

A great philosopher once said, “We always move in the direction of our most dominant thought”.  Ask yourself, “What do I think about most of the day?”  If the answer is “something I don’t want” such as “looking and feeling old”, then be careful.  Your unconscious mind thinks that is your goal and has no choice except to act on creating it.  When you catch yourself thinking or focusing on what you don’t want, interrupt that thought and “reframe” it to what you do want. (Hint:  It will probably be the opposite of what you were just thinking!)  I hope these insights will assist those of you who are in search of ways to improve the quality and quantity of your lives.  With just a little effort and practice, you can develop new habits of thinking and behaving that can help you to stay young in attitude and appearance, and active and optimistic about life.  So pay attention to your thoughts and create a long, happy and healthy life for yourself.

 

Here is an affirmation I created to get me through one of the most challenging times in my life:

“Today brings wonderful and unique experiences and opportunities

that will never happen again…..BE HERE NOW!”


 

Patricia is a Board Certified Medical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Practitioner, Certified Master Trainer for the International Association of Counselors & Therapists, Life Fellow with the International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Association, and President of UP Hypnosis Institute in Palm Harbor, Florida.

For more information on Patricia go to:  www.UPHypnosis.com

Self-Hypnosis for Childbirth… What Is It? How Does It Work?

Pregnancy hypnosis

Self-Hypnosis for Childbirth… What Is It?  How Does It Work?

 By Jan Segers Rysdon, M.A., C.Ht.

 

When I introduce my comfortable childbirth program to women, they ask, “How is it possible to be comfortable?  Labor and delivery mean PAIN!”  Yes, women emphasize the last word, but I quickly eliminate it from their vocabulary and focus on the word “COMFORT.”  The truth is, childbirth creates a natural state of ecstasy that is life transforming.  Utilizing self-hypnosis and deep relaxation techniques magnifies that state and creates comfort before, during, and after the wonderful birthing journey.

 

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of heightened, focused attention best achieved through physical relaxation.  You do not sleep. Your mind is alert and always in control.  All hypnosis is self-hypnosis and unlocks your own inner intelligence to allow desired changes leading to enhanced control over the body’s responses.  Most anyone can be hypnotized, even teenagers and children.  Each person responds differently and goes into a state of trance appropriate for the individual and the situation.  Learning self-hypnosis and other important strategies generally takes several sessions; a session may last 60 to 120 minutes depending on the work to be done.  The American Medical Association accepts the therapeutic use of hypnotherapy, and many scientific studies have revealed the benefits of hypnosis.

 

What do Moms-to-Be learn?   How do they use self-hypnosis?

Moms-to-Be begin my Comfortable Childbirth Education Program at any point up to Week 30.  The earlier pregnant women learn how to create comfort by using the techniques and tools taught in the program, the easier it is to use them during the birthing experience.

While in my classes, Moms-to-Be transform negative thoughts and beliefs by talking about childbirth and creating positive and joyful expectations. New terminology for the journey becomes paramount; for example, “contraction” becomes “pressure.”  She also learns self-hypnosis and progressive relaxation techniques to assist her in focusing, relaxing, and releasing fear which will assist in creating positive thoughts and emotions. Learning and using the “Comfort Tools” and techniques for any uncomfortable physical moment or experience before the baby arrives easily empowers women to be ready for the actual birthing journey.  Daily, Moms-to-Be take time to practice self-hypnosis.  Repetition of this exercise assists the unconscious mind to make necessary changes in the body.

Visualization is another key element of self-hypnosis.  With creative visualization and mental imagery, women also connect with their babies and prepare their bodies’ muscles for the journey.

Childbirth is a journey, a climb; it’s work and each turn in the journey requires deep focus.  The Partner serves an invaluable role in Mom-to-Be’s achieving the optimum state of focus and deep relaxation.  The partners rehearse and practice many times before the due date to ensure Mom-to-Be will automatically reach the optimum state of relaxation when the real birthing journey begins.

 

Hypnosis WORKS for Childbirth!

Self-hypnosis taught in my Comfortable Childbirth Education Program is a welcome addition to information learned in other childbirth education classes.  Hypnosis offers many benefits including the following:

  • helps minimize pain and pressure
  • prepares the body’s muscles
  • empowers the mother-to-be
  • improves emotional well-being
  • may reduce the length of labor
  •  releases stress, fear and anxiety
  • may reduce the need for drugs
  • triggers the body’s relaxation response
  • helps ensure rapid postnatal recovery
  • And much more!!!

 

One of my clients wrote me after she delivered her baby:  “The hypnosis for birthing worked as far as I’m concerned… After the birth [my husband] was the first in line to say how easy it was. It was more emotional, and he was there for that part, concentrating on his new baby girl because there was no pain for his loving wife.”

Another client told me that one of her affirmations for childbirth was, “This is going to be easy.” After she gave birth, she asked me to tell other women, “It most definitely was.”

If you are interested in exploring the wonderful benefits of hypnosis for a joyful birthing journey, consult with a Certified Hypnotherapist who specializes in creating comfortable childbirth.


 

Jan serves her clients by using and teaching hypnotic techniques that create changes necessary to achieve happy, healthy, and productive personal and professional lives.   Learn more about Jan at www.JanRysdon.com.

 

 

Connecting with the Unborn Child

Connecting with the Unborn Childchildbirth

By Okka Holthuis, DNM

Dr. Anne Spencer asked that I expand on the thought of asking an unborn child to shift from the breach position within the mother, to allow a safe and comfortable birthing experience for all. As hypnotists we know that verbal communication is a small part of the total communication we have with ourselves as well as with others.

We also know that just by recalling an experience, we can stimulate an emotion again, re-creating a feeling to a degree that can be felt clearly on a cellular level. Just like now, when you take a deep breath and go back to a moment in time when you felt calm and relaxed …. notice the physical response in your body. And when you remember a moment when you were angry at somebody  …. again just notice the changes in your body. Or when you remember the moment when somebody unexpectedly gave you a present …. and notice that response.

Already this little exercise shows us how emotions change our physical experience, travel throughout our entire body, effecting all cells. Emotions like joy and calmness bring about that we feel good in our bodies, emotions of stress or anger create tension.

Let us expand that awareness by following the idea of quantum physics that all is energy and everything is interconnected, and  apply this toward a Mom, a Dad and an unborn child. It then might not seem too difficult to imagine, that thoughts and feelings of a Mom- or Dad-to-be will reach the unborn child. Now, on the other hand, how would it be when we allow for the possibility that the child could communicate with the parents as well?

Then the connectedness between child and parents and the ability to communicate establishes a bond we can use very effectively in our work.

Even when a pregnancy is healthy and joyful, an intimate connection through communication between the parents and the unborn child is beneficial, not only throughout the pregnancy but far beyond. And especially in situations like premature contractions or a breach position, which usually cause feelings of stress, fear or helplessness, this communication can be used as a powerful tool. Stress and fear are contracting emotions. The body is in tension, obstructing the flow of energy – and in that having an adverse effect on the baby.

In order to stop this cycle, I have found it helpful to focus Mom’s attention away from the issue and towards the baby. When a Mom knows how to enter a state of altered consciousness, relaxing into being with her unborn child and asking the child what he or she needs in order for the situation to improve, at least three things happen:

— Firstly, the mother has something ‘to do’, which takes her attention away from the fearful or stressful situation and at the same time empowers her. This shift of attention often already allows the body to start to relax.

— Secondly, when Mom begins to listen to her child, her own inner chatter has to stop – we cannot speak and listen at the same time – in other words she removes herself once more from her own feelings and tension, thus allowing her body to relax further.

— Thirdly, the child has the experience prior to entering this world that s/he is listened to while the parents learn that their child – on a very deep level – knows what is best form him/her, and trust can be established.

Miracles seem to happen when this communication and bond is established. Babies turn from a breach position by themselves, premature contractions stop, a birthing process begins naturally without inducing it.

Sometimes it seems that a baby just needs some encouragement to come into this world, sometimes it is entirely different. As unalike as we are as individuals can the insights of the unborn child be. When we learn to listen and to trust the answers, we might be surprised about the outcome.


Okka Holthuis is an experienced and respected Health Practitioner (a degree in complementary medicine from Germany), Doctor of Natural Medicine, certified as an hypnosis instructor, NLP practitioner and Spiritual Counselor and has dedicated her life to supporting others improve their life’s situation. Visit Okka at www.rainbowhealingcenter.com

The Rituals of Hypnosis

hypnosis ritualsThe Rituals of Hypnosis

By Daniel F Cleary

 Think about what you do when you first awaken. Perhaps you lie quietly and listen to the sensations of which you are aware or see yourself succeeding in the activities of the day ahead. Now, some people get right out of bed and become active immediately. I don’t know which is your way, nor do I suggest that you change any little thing. But we do change little things all the time and sometimes we overlook other little  things.

Rituals can be little things: the way we celebrate our beliefs, the way we greet our loved ones or even the way we approach our choices and challenges of life. Rituals are tools we use to deal with the
experience of life. We may assign special meaning to the word or create rituals to place greater significance upon events in our lives. A ritual may be as simple or complex as needed. So how do we create a ritual and how important is it in our lives? The answer is simple: I don’t know. You do.

And you may wonder what Rituals have to do with Hypnosis. Here again, you already have some idea in mind. Consider that the way we listen may involve a ritual we use toward awareness of others as a method of enhancing rapport. We all have our rituals and they are all important.

Now when we become more aware of our perceptions, influences and rituals we can more easily recognize those of others. In this way we may begin to discover that by using the simple rituals of learning that are already a part of our lives, we can learn new things in ways which are familiar.

Consider that every thought, idea and experience has had an effect on the way that we perceive our lives. Remember a time when you were successful. A time when everything that you had done to succeed worked just the way you imagined and you realized your goal. You may have received recognition from others or just the inner awareness of satisfaction not only in the event but of the unlimited potential within.

Even if we consider the simple rituals in life as habits, we can begin to notice that these are patterns we use to succeed in certain ways. These patterns allow us to repeat certain tasks without having to
learn anew HOW we accomplish the set outcome. There may be certain rituals that we employ to open our inner communication allowing a greater awareness of inspiration. We may have rituals that we use to permit the conscious mind to explore while we are involved in repeated activities; some feel a conscious elevation when jogging, playing music or praying. Others, like myself, enjoy the ritual of entering trance when we assist clients in order to be more aware of the energies which may guide us, perhaps it is an empathic connection we establish. How do you enter trance? What is your ritual?

Notice the similarities of actions and perceptions in different contexts and notice the ways we can use them in assisting change. A weight management client once told me that she was frustrated by the time
it was taking to achieve her goal: she believed she had no patience and worse, that when she was thus frustrated she ate inappropriately. She was ready to consider failure. I knew from our discussions that her passion was gardening and asked her to tell me about that, saying that I supposed that you would put a seed in the ground, cover and water it, then in the morning, ala Jack of beanstalk fame, there would be a great huge plant. She shook her head in the way one would at the inaccuracy of a small
child. “No” she said, and proceeded to tell me in great detail of germination, fertilization, pruning and more that I do not recall. When she paused long enough for me to speak, I said “Growing plants must
require a lot of patience. I wonder how long you will take to grow your body to the size you choose.”

 Over the years I have found that my clients always know more about healing and transformation than I could ever suppose. It is my job to assist them in accessing that vast awareness and utilizing it their lives. Some clients will respond to metaphors and they will provide clues to the best of them. Others will give us the script for the direct transformation they can accept. All of us can create transformation in an
instant, the words and methods that we require to allow ourselves permission to accept the transformation is the ritual.

When working with clients, I believe that my best is accomplished when I do the least in terms of “deciding” what to do. I instigate, encourage and assist them to identify their resources and access the
ritual to realize transformation. I utilize the trance they bring into the office (because they already do that one well) and help them to discover a compelling understanding which convinces them of immediate and
continued success.


 

 Daniel F Cleary is the chief cook and bottle washer at Hypnosis for Health Learning Center.  He is a frequent presenter at hypnosis conferences and workshops across the country and abroad.  We are honored to have his contribution here which is used with permission. For more info about Dan and his work, be sure to visit his website at danclearyhypnosis.com or send him some email at info@danclearyhypnosis.com

 

Myths and Misconceptions about Hypnosis

hypnosis myths

 

 

Myths and Misconceptions
about Hypnosis

By Michael Watson, CHt

 

 

One of the first things that a therapeutic hypnotist must do in order to establish rapport and trust is to clear up some of these misconceptions. Included here is a list of several false ideas that some clients may hold and which must be addressed.

• It is the power of the hypnotist that causes hypnosis to occur

Many unethical hypnotists like to capitalize on this idea, yet hypnosis is a collaborate process that arises as the natural result of a special communication between two people. The idea that the hypnotist has some mystical “power” that causes hypnosis is disempowering to the client and contrary to the therapeutic process. Some would say that “all hypnosis is self-hypnosis” and that the hypnotist is simply a facilitator of the natural process.

• Some people can be hypnotized and others cannot

Because hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomena and we all go in and out of trance throughout the day, we know that it can be experienced by anyone. The issue is more a matter of working cooperatively with the client and training them in hypnotic process. If the client is willing to participate in the hypnotic experience, it is not a matter of whether the client can be hypnotized or not, but rather a question of how to best facilitate it.

• You can be hypnotized to do things against your will

This is a commonly held idea that has it’s source in stage shows and other venues that capitalize on the “power” of the hypnotist. It’s worth noting that occasionally a similar issue is raised – “Can someone be hypnotized to do things they wouldn’t normally do?” Of course, the answer to that question is “Yes” when you consider that the purpose of hypnosis is often to do things differently than we have done in the past. However it’s notable that these changes are not against the client’s Hilgard’s (1977) work at Stanford demonstrated a principle known as “The Hidden Observer” which indicates that there is part of the client which monitors the hypnotic process and which will protect them from responding in a manner that violates their ethical and moral standards.

• You could get “stuck” in hypnosis

On rare occasions, a client may not choose to emerge from hypnosis as quickly as the hypnotist request emergence, and as a result this misconception has developed, but the hypnotized client always has the ability to come out of trance. If, for example, the hypnotist simply left the room without completing the process, the client would wait for a while and then just naturally return to waking consciousness.

• Under hypnosis you will always tell the truth and could even reveal personal secrets

You can lie under hypnosis just as easily as in the waking state. In fact, as hypnosis gives you greater access to unconscious resources, you may even be able to tell more creative lies when in trance.

• Highly intelligent people cannot be hypnotized

Studies have indicated that more intelligent individuals can enter hypnosis more easily and can make even better use of their trance experiences.

• You will be unconscious if you are hypnotized

Much therapeutic hypnosis is performed interactively with the client and the conscious attention is often involved. On other occasions, a client may tend to “drift” away from time to time, but always retains the ability to pull the attention back. This misconception is a statement of the fear that clients have of being out of control and as such it is unfounded. Once again, the “hidden observer” is aware and can attend to anything that might arise during the hypnotic session.

• You will be relaxed if you are hypnotized

While in clinical practice relaxation is generally in integral part of the hypnotic experience, it is by no means a requirement of the trance state. Hypnosis has been defined as a state of concentrated, focused attention and can be thought about in the same way as the experience of being “captivated” by a movie or a good book …. If these stories are stimulating (as in an involving action film or a compelling mystery), one might not be relaxed, yet the focused involvement could easily be described as a naturally occurring hypnotic state.

• Hypnosis is therapy

This is a very common misconception. The fact that one is in hypnosis, does not necessarily mean that the trance in therapeutic. Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can be used as an adjunct to therapy. Many hypnotists are capable of facilitating good trances, but with no therapeutic results. When you are doing hypnotherapy, it’s important to remember that after the induction, something of therapeutic value needs top be done. I often encounter lay hypnotists who seek additional training because, as they say, “I know how to perform an induction, but don’t know what to do next.”

• Hypnosis can be used to recall historical events with great accuracy

There is a phenomena in hypnosis referred to as “hypermnesia” which implies an increased capacity to remember things that have happened in the past. While there seems to be an increase in the vividness of the memory, the accuracy of the details are still open to question. There has been great debate, especially in the forensic community about hypnotic memory and it’s use has been banned form legal proceedings in several states. In therapy, however, the information recovered in age regression (revivification) or simply by asking the client to remember an event continues to be useful information as it reflect the client’s understanding of the situation being recalled.

Visit Michael’s  website at www.phoenix-services.org

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Hypnosis Education Association 2015
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