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Self-Actualization and Hypnotherapy

19
Jun
posted by admin               filed under Articles, Tim Brunson PhD
Tim Brunson, Ph.D

When the Esalen Institute’s Michael Murphy wrote his classic The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolutions of Human Nature, he boldly stated that mankind can easily move in either the direction of Enlightenment or rapidly devolve into the dark morass of ignorance and evil. This should not have surprised anyone who has even a layman’s appreciation of world history. Indeed, every Dark Age is preceded by a Renaissance. The opposite is also true. This applies not only to society as a whole. The state of an individual’s happiness and fulfillment can easily move toward a better life or despair. This article explores the question of choice and the role that hypnotherapy may play.

What immediately comes to mind is the hierarchy of needs model first proposed by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper A Theory of Human Motivation. In it he states that we concern ourselves with five basic levels: physiological needs, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. He believed that we are only motivated to seek achievement at higher levels once we are fully satisfied that our needs are met regarding the subordinate ones.

Interesting deductions can be realized once my Pattern Theory is superimposed onto Maslow’s hierarchy. If you accept that everything in us and around us is comprised of patterns with structure and encoding, and an be recalled, and that patterns are constantly adapting and harmonizing with each other, you can equate satisfaction of needs at a particular level with the idea that its patterns have been completely harmonized. Once that is done, our human nature has the unusual characteristic to actively seek a new sense of dissatisfaction that tends to drive us to seek new disharmonies (i.e. a different Maslow level) to resolve. This idea is very congruent with the mathematical concept of Chaos and my Unified Transformation Theory. Thus, out of harmony, which is a calm darkness, comes the desire to seek the light (i.e. Enlightenment) that can only be found in the next high level. Of course, as Murphy warned, there is always the possibility that we can look for solace by searching for satisfaction in a lower level. Just think of the decline of the Roman Empire as an example.

I would hope that individuals – and societies – would always seek fulfillment at higher levels. Using Maslow’s model, it would appear that the epitome would clearly be self-actualization. (Of course, I would like to add a spiritual level on top of that.) Yes, there is a danger that a person can go in what I consider the wrong direction. However, once someone understands the possibilities, they then can make an informed choice. As obvious as this may seem, it is clear that many of my clients and patients have failed to realize that they have a choice as they are unaware that they have been making the one that leads to misery rather than happiness.

Once the choice is made – a decision that is synonymous with “selective thinking” – then the role of hypnotherapy should be fairly obvious. Hypnosis is a process that facilitates overcoming habituated behavior and the resistance that stands in the way of change. Therefore, it is very well suited to assisting a person empowering their ability to select their future. Moving toward a more moral, creative, spontaneous, and resourceful life then becomes a doable option.

There are many approaches that a hypnotherapist can use to facilitate a subject’s journey toward self-actualization. The first involves thought-stopping. The subject must develop the ability to immunize themselves from self-doubt. Showing them that they have the ability to change their mental and physical states goes a long way toward establishing the requisite level of self-belief and self-confidence – which is the second approach. Thus, it is important that the hypnotic operator convince them that they have the power to change and to realize their choices. I generally call this empowerment. And lastly, hypnotherapy should include a mental rehearsal in which the desired end-state is clearly experienced as having already been achieved. This associative awareness must be sufficiently stimulating – or as I typically say, antithetical – to further assist in helping them overcome resistance and to induce an entraining adaptation of the mind and body.

I want to go a step further here. A competent ANNH-trained hypnotherapist will realize that they should also seek to develop the neural substrates associated with the desired state or skills. For instance, if the change implies increased abilities to imagine, exercises designed to enhance the right prefrontal cortex would be in order. Essentially, the therapist must look at the brain as a virtual “toolbox” containing valuable tools that must be optimized. Of course, this may happen as a side-effect of traditional hypnotherapeutic approaches. However, the effectiveness of the interventions can be most definitely enhanced once the operator’s knowledge of neurophysiology and ability to affect it is at a sufficient level of proficiency.

The art and science of hypnotherapy is all about facilitating choice. I would like to hope that the choices that subjects make always move them upward to new more fulfilling levels. By understanding the role of our skills in helping a person achieve harmony and satisfaction at each level and assisting their transcendence to the next higher one, we provide a valuable service to the public.

Source: Tim Brunson, PhD

The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD’s and MP3′s.

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Understanding the Difference Between Belief and Thought in Therapy

31
May
posted by admin               filed under Articles, Tim Brunson PhD
Tim Brunson, Ph.D

The words belief and thought are the two most misused ones in the English vocabulary. The difference is a vital to understanding the transformation process. This is important to anyone seeking change in themselves or others. This includes improving performance, effecting accelerated healing, and resolving any dysfunctions in how we behave – and think.

A belief involves the relationship between a perception or concept and a previously established meaning and understanding. In other words, I may say that I think that today is Friday. But that is incorrect. Saying that I believe it is Friday is what I actually mean. When our senses detect an object, we receive a suggestion, or our imagination conceives an idea, our brain is designed to rapidly find previously programmed associations. This allows us to instantaneously establish meaning and develop an understanding. For this to work we need to have already programmed our mind with the correct association. As this is a programming phenomenon, beliefs are synonymous with habituated mental patterns and behaviors. In other words, we are programmed to become who we are. The role of a therapist or someone seeking self-transformation, is to change these beliefs.

On the other hand, thinking is an entirely different subject. When perceptions, suggestion, and imagination are not readily matched with existing patterns of meaning in your brain, then new associations must be developed. This process is often very uncomfortable and may even cause considerable mental suffering as the adaptation process occurs. This happens since belief habituation is a dominant human characteristic. Indeed, for the vast majority the word happiness can be defined as the situation that exists when habituated beliefs are not challenged, i.e. the expected and routine always happen. (That is, of course, unless a person has habituated the thinking process. In that case, mundane belief habituation would be a source of unhappiness to the thinker.)

Let me give an example of the difference between the two. Suppose you are in a window-less room that has one door. Previously you were taught that the door represented the potential action of leaving the room. That established meaning is a belief. It has been programmed into you. You do not question it. However, what if you desired to leave the room and tried using the door, but could not get it to open. Or, suppose that the room had no door. If you were committed to your exit plan, how would you get out? Your solution would be the byproduct of the thinking process, rather than a belief.

Your clients and patients come to you because they have dysfunctional habituated beliefs. These patterns represent a level of comfort as they are known and expected. However, somehow they have recognized that their belief patterns have come into conflict with each other. For example, their desire to take illegal drugs may conflict with their belief (i.e. value) that staying out of jail is important. They realize that these conflicts refuse to allow them to be happy and may even affect their relationships, health, and possibly lead to self-destructive behaviors. This motivation to change comes into conflict with their new-found realizations. They come to you for help.

Changing belief patterns requires a thinking process. New perceptions, suggestions, and imagined phenomena must enter their brain. These must be sufficiently antithetical to become powerful enough to promote change. This adaptive and entraining process is the same as a thinking process. Any study of Dr. Milton H. Erickson’s therapeutic methods will reveal his continual use of challenging situations that encourage this to happen. Additionally, Bill O’Hanlon’s do one thing different concept also supports my point. However, the problem that I frequently notice is that the success of such an intervention relies on the subject’s competence when it comes to thinking. Indeed, if a person has extremely strong habituated beliefs, they may have less ability to change – and be more susceptible to acquiring addictive behaviors. Likewise, a clinician’s mental rigidity will also tend to retard progress.

The ability to think, which is the hallmark of creative and inventive minds, requires two essential characteristics. The first is cognitive flexibility that comes when the brain’s energy concentration can smoothly shift from one set of functions to another. (Please note that I am not referring to pathologically damaging multi-tasking.) The second characteristic is the development of competence in the parts of the brain that are uniquely associated with the thinking process.

Habituated beliefs are neurologically concentrated in the temporal and parietal regions of the brain. Conversely, thinking is predominantly a feature of the higher brain functions represented by the advanced human frontal lobe. A person who is predominantly driven by habituated belief patterns will not have the same neurological development in their frontal lobes – and especially their prefrontal lobes. This means that even when the clinician uses challenging interventions, their client simply does not have the mental “muscles” required to respond as hoped. This is why it is necessary to have a multitude of techniques so that you can find one or more that will achieve the desired result. A person with more developed thinking competency – which may very well be the same as a higher IQ – will respond to challenging interventions. Otherwise, a more directive approach of providing them with new belief patterns will most likely be the best approach. These new patterns can be installed through direct suggestion or some type of parallel, metaphorical communication.

The other critical mental characteristic involves the existence of the two aforementioned thinking characteristics in the mind of the clinician. Does the clinician possess the cognitive flexibility and the frontal lobe thinking competency required to effectively use creative and challenging interventions? Or, are they stuck in a rigid mindset controlled by schools of psychological theory and/or the strictures of peer-established associations? As educational and certification programs tend to emphasize indoctrination rather than critical or flexible thinking, assuming that multiple graduate degrees and certifications equate with intellectual thinking is an unfortunately erroneous illusion.

While a balance toward habituated belief pattern rigidity in the minds of the subject or therapist is a real consideration that needs to be considered, this is not an insurmountable problem. As pointed out above, when working with any subject it is necessary to make the correct assessment and choose appropriate interventions. However, this does not negate a clinician’s opportunity to continually encourage their subject to engage in more and more intellectual thought. As increasing thought competency is correlated to more efficient transformation, this should be encouraged. Of course, this applies to the clinician, who should always seek novel ideas even if they seem farfetched.

Although I often get accused of seeking to argue semantics, it is our precise use of the symbols and meanings related linguistics that differentiates one from the banal and allows a movement toward a more accurate understanding. By grasping the difference between the concepts of belief and thinking, a clinician can understand the why their subject seems to be hopelessly mired in restrictions of their limited beliefs. It is through the development of competent thinking capacity that our true human potential as a creator of our destiny emerges.

The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD’s and MP3′s.

Source: Tim Brunson PhD

Hypnosis World Summit Audio Interview Excerpts

Hypnosis World Summit

Audio Interview Excerpts

Take a moment to listen to sample excerpts from each of the Hypnosis World Summit Presenters by clicking on the links located here.

People in over 60 countries streamed more than 40,000 presentations over the 10 day live summit. Because of popular demand, you can now download all of the 24 speakers on MP3 to listen at your leisure or have the MP3 shipped to you on CDs.

Click Here to Order Now!

Click HERE to Order Now!

BONUS: Included in each package PDF transcripts of every speaker!

This is a limited time offer, please act now!

Limited JV Discount Save 33% On Full Hypnosis World Summit Package

Use the Voucher Code: “SUMMIT”

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Professional Hypnotherapy – Reality, Dream or Illusion

22
May
posted by admin               filed under Articles, Audios, Tim Brunson PhD
Tim Brunson, Ph.D

In 1957, Harvard professor, Samuel P. Huntington wrestled with the role of a professional military in relationship with their civilian masters. He defined professionalism as an association bound together by a common code of ethics. Even though his views have been occasionally referenced as authoritative by others, the elusiveness of the meaning still ranges from the extremes of elitism to almost humorous banality. At one end it refers to the most educated among us and at the other includes anyone who performs services for remuneration. Yet somewhere between the most skilled surgeon and members of the world’s oldest “profession,” there must be an appropriate place for competent clinical hypnotherapists. My intention here is to explore the definition of the term “professional” and to discuss its relevance to our practices.

Dictionaries tend to be just a tad more specific than common usage. According to one explanation, the word professional could reasonably describe anyone engaged in a similar trade or occupation. Furthermore, while a lack of a formal dues collecting association of pick pockets would eliminate them from Huntington’s criteria, my experience working in the criminal justice system has revealed that even these crooks tend to have minimal ethical standards. Hence, as they are in a common “trade,” they too could claim professional status.

On the other hand, many dictionaries and encyclopedias focus on more than shared skill sets and ethical codes as the minimal requirements for a trade or occupation to be classed as professional. Rather, they mention two basic requirements. The first is a substantial and specialized skill or body of knowledge, and, secondly, extensive academic preparation. The strictest interpretation would therefore limit the use of the label professional only to those who have achieved the highest academic achievement in their respective field.

Some authoritative resources therefore limit the use of the term to only people such as medical doctors, lawyers, and those who have achieved doctoral-level status. While the members of these groups could thus undeniably refer to themselves as professionals, real estate agents, secretaries, and sanitation engineers could only unjustifiably use the term. I know that many readers would not accept this statement as politically correct. However, this highlights the regrettable fact that somehow the noble and honorable practice of a trade or occupation no longer provides sufficient social status lest it is simultaneously called a profession.

Does the loose and imprecise interpretation provide hypnotherapists a working definition that serves any purpose? Unfortunately, this seemingly popular interpretation is too often espoused at hypnotherapy conferences. Regardless, this serves only as a pejorative that hurts our credibility among licensed health care providers. In order to understand why I say this, one only has to look at who makes up our “profession” and to compare our self-image to that of the typical health care professional.

Within the hypnotherapy community, we have three predominant categories of practitioners. One is the person who has undertaken non-academic, skill-producing training that at best may qualify them for the trade of a hypnotist. (If such school possesses any governmental licensure it is almost always at the trade rather than post-secondary level.) While the graduate often displays considerable skills and talents, the dubious public recognition of their credentials is predominantly the result of a lack of acceptable, universally adhered to standards. Indeed, a certification as a clinical hypnotherapist can range from 20 to 300 hours of training depending on the granting organization.

The second group involves practitioners of medical or psychotherapeutic occupations, some of whom meet the strictest definitions of professionalism in their respective fields. Regardless, most of them have extremely limited training in hypnosis and often have less hypnosis-related talent than average members of the first group. Yet, they do bring to their practice the richness of their other qualifications. The third group includes those who have pursued what could be accurately considered the “highest academic standards” within hypnotherapy by receiving some form of doctoral degree that is legally recognized by a governmental authority – although not by a wide range of accreditation bodies. However, a lack of standardization among such degree-awarding institutions continues to be a problem.

So at this point you are probably wondering why I even care to discuss professionalism in regards to hypnotherapy. My reason is simply this. Over the years I have seen the clear value of the practice of hypnotherapy and believe that its true potential requires it to be considered a separate and distinct profession. This is not meant so much as a benefit to practitioners as to provide a valuable service to the general public. Over the past several decades the discoveries and trends involving mind/body integration and the human brain clearly highlight the potential role of suggestion and imagination for healing and happiness.

A well trained, professional clinical hypnotherapist is the best resource for such interventions. However, as long as some people see the clinical use of hypnosis merely a tangential adjunct to medicine and psychology, research and scientific discourse will continued to be hampered by self-styled practitioners with limited training to include those who insist on producing redundant peer-reviewed papers of dubious value. At the same time, the current associations of practitioners – including both those licensed in other fields as well as the unlicensed – are too slow to improve standards, as it may affect their profitability by limiting the size of their membership roles. Overcoming these obstacles represents just a few of the growing pains of our emerging profession.

Competent and highly trained clinical hypnotherapists will have access to those who will benefit from their talents only when their credibility begins approximating that of the occupations and professions that currently have both “cultural authority” and legal mandates. This means that if hypnotherapy is to be only a trade or occupation, the field merely needs to achieve the level of standards of training, education, and certifications comparable to that of practical and registered nurses, physical therapists, and licensed counselors. If we chose for hypnotherapy to hold its own among medical and mental health professionals, as a minimum we must insist that our doctoral-level programs meet recognized standards – such as producing relevant dissertations that closely approximates American Psychological Association guidelines – and become recognized by a rigorous peer review accreditation system.

In many ways hypnotherapy is following in the footsteps of well-regarded professions. I have carefully studied the emergence of the highly reputable US medical profession – incidentally whose educational institutions little over a century ago were producing practitioners who were regarded as little more than charlatans. Likewise, the difficult evolution of the profession of psychology has had its own tribulations as it was birthed from the medical and scientific groups. Also, I am intrigued by the history of the chiropractic medicine field, which successfully grew into a science-based profession that clearly has all the vestiges of cultural acceptance and authority. So, the struggles regarding the development of an independent profession of hypnotherapy should be expected to be no different.

Whether hypnotherapy follows the trade and occupation route – meaning that we need to stop calling ourselves professionals – or we see the higher recognition, the choice will eventually have to be made. I pray that this is the latter and not the former. And, if my hopes are to become true, we must carefully review our qualifications and standards, assure that our recognized associations are a catalyst – rather than an obstacle – for the promotion of the field as a profession, and we must encourage communication and cooperation between reputable degree-producing institutions.

The increased recognition of the power of the mind to affect physiological processes warrants a professional class of practitioners, whose primary focus is on the role of suggestion and imagination as a legitimate intervention for healing and personal development. However, it is only after we meet the standards of the other healing professions that we will have a significant availability to the public. Therefore, we must realize that it is not our common interests, collegial camaraderie, and sense of identity and ethics that defines us as a group of professionals. Rather, it is our ability to approximate the stringent academic requirements of other healing professionals that will gain us an entry into the realm of full recognition and legitimacy.

Tim Brunson, PhD

The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD’s and MP3′s.

Limited JV Discount Save 33% On Full Hypnosis World Summit Package

Use the Voucher Code: “SUMMIT”

Hypnosis World Summit Audio Interview Excerpts

Hypnosis World Summit

Audio Interview Excerpts

Take a moment to listen to sample excerpts from each of the Hypnosis World Summit Presenters by clicking on the links located here.

People in over 60 countries streamed more than 40,000 presentations over the 10 day live summit. Because of popular demand, you can now download all of the 24 speakers on MP3 to listen at your leisure or have the MP3 shipped to you on CDs.

Click Here to Order Now!

Click HERE to Order Now!

BONUS: Included in each package PDF transcripts of every speaker!

This is a limited time offer, please act now!

Limited JV Discount Save 33% On Full Hypnosis World Summit Package

Use the Voucher Code: “SUMMIT”

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Master Learning and Improve Your Reading Skills & Retention

20
May
posted by admin               filed under Audios, Interviews, Products, Tim Brunson PhD

Dr. Tim Brunson at HypnosisAnswers

Dr. Tim Brunson shares how you can harness the natural ability of your brain to make lasting changes in your life. He takes you through the three steps to master anything while developing a masters brain.

In this audio clip, Tim Brunson takes you through the process of mastering learning and improving your reading skills and retention.

Click this link to play audio excerpt

Hypnosis World Summit Audio Interview Excerpts

Hypnosis World Summit

Audio Interview Excerpts

Take a moment to listen to sample excerpts from each of the Hypnosis World Summit Presenters by clicking on the links located here.

People in over 60 countries streamed more than 40,000 presentations over the 10 day live summit. Because of popular demand, you can now download all of the 24 speakers on MP3 to listen at your leisure or have the MP3 shipped to you on CDs.

Click Here to Order Now!

Click HERE to Order Now!

BONUS: Included in each package PDF transcripts of every speaker!

This is a limited time offer, please act now!

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Guided Imagery of Hypnosis

18
May
posted by admin               filed under Articles, Tim Brunson PhD

Frequently I hear or read therapists and members of the media loosely using the terms hypnosis and guided imagery. Rarely do their comments reflect any knowledge of the definition, similarities, or differences between the two. This gives the public the impression that they are two separate concepts. This is partially true and partially false.

Hypnosis has been defined many different ways. Many authorities, such as the American Medical Association, explain that hypnosis is an altered state in which the subject is highly suggestible. Others talk about increased access to the subconscious mind, a term which I often object to as an inaccurate concept. One of the definitions that I prefer is that hypnosis is a state where a person’s critical faculty is bypassed and selective thinking can occur. This was David Elman’s definition. There is another definition that I like even better – one that is based upon traditional thought as well as recent innovations in mind/body health and neurology. According to this train of thought, hypnosis is the process whereby resistance to change is reduced and selective thought becomes more efficient. It seems that final definition more closely explains why the phenomenon produces results. Note that with this view an altered state may occur. However, it is not a requirement.

So where does guided imagery fit in? First, let’s define it. Guided imagery is a process as well. In this case, a therapist – or a person using their imagination without assistance – experiences a series of imagined images. This experience may be more than just visual. They may also incorporate sounds, smells, and tastes. It can be reasonably assumed that the series of images have a general theme such as loosing weight, dealing with pain, stopping bad habits, increasing wound healing rates, etc. The images can be very direct and specific – such as visualizing a wound healing faster – or metaphorical – such as visualizing a garden growing as a parallel communication symbolizing health or many other topics.

Hypnotherapists and other hypnosis practitioners are very familiar with guided imagery as they use it frequently during a session. Once they have their subjects to the point that resistance to change has been reduced, which is a byproduct of the induction step, then they may eloquently use guided imagery to suggest alternatives. Then they may choose to add specific and direct suggestions. When I was first taught by Topher Morrison, DCH, and Richard Nieves, PhD, I was instructed to start with a brief induction and then do extremely long guided imagery sessions. My subsequent study of the works of David Elman and Milton H. Erickson, MD, quickly weaned me off this method. However, I still incorporate meaningful guided imagery within much shorter sessions.

So what is the difference between the two? To many people it is merely a matter of semantics. Many clinicians believe that using the term guided imagery will make their clients and patients more acceptable to the process. What they are doing is hypnosis and misrepresenting the process so as not to scare them. Others will use guided imagery and totally leave out any hypnotic variables. In fact, I know of one popular licensed professional counselor who sells a series of very professional guided imagery CD’s claiming to resolve a myriad of ailments – both mental and physical.

Here is the bottom line. Guided imagery without the advantages of a hypnotic process is a weaker alternative. The mind – and body – will resist change. If you don’t believe me, ask yourself how many times after New Years Day you still date checks with the previous year. You body resists contracting illnesses – just like it resists healing. Once any pattern, such as a habit, has been established, it will resist change. Therefore, although the ideas, concepts, and intentions presented during a guided imagery can be wonderful, unless a patterns resistance to change is eliminated, it will be largely ineffective. What I have discovered is when a subject’s resistance is reduced, any suggestion given – provided that it is not contrary to the subject’s will, ethics, or morals – will be quickly accepted. Yes, those suggestions can be given at that time through the use of guided imagery. However, often a quick suggestion is more efficient. For instance, if I want to help an emergency room patient with an acute pain, quickly bypassing their resistance and giving them a quick suggestion is more powerful and efficient than having them visualizing walking through a warm, colorful meadow. When guided imagery is done well it is relaxing and highly effective. Clearly, there are times when it is appropriate – such as for many highly resistant subjects, for mental issues, chronic pain, and long-term healing – and times that it is not.

Whether using guided imagery with yourself or others, you have a powerful tool that can lead to wonderful changes. If coupled with hypnosis, the speed and depth of potential changes may present a level of intensity not available when it is used alone. There are times that non-hypnotic guided imagery is more appropriate. Most hypnotic strategies – to include waking hypnosis – present the risk that a person’s ability to sense space and time could cause an unsafe condition. Therefore, using hypnosis while driving or operating machinery is not advised. However, playing non-hypnotic guided imagery in the background while doing other activities could reasonably reinforce desired mental programming. Nevertheless, the user should still be warned that such use still may lull them into a mental state other than full awareness.

The ability to use the imaginative powers of a human’s superior frontal lobe is an amazing asset. It is available as a powerful tool that can affect both the mind and body. Individuals who properly use this technique should be aware that it is available as a very intensive tool for change, provided that it is used in conjunction with hypnosis or as an adjunct when not.

The International Hypnosis Research Institute is a member supported project involving integrative health care specialists from around the world. We provide information and educational resources to clinicians. Dr. Brunson is the author of over 150 self-help and clinical CD’s and MP3′s.

Source: Tim Brunson PhD

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