Explain the Origins of Symptoms for Which Hypnoanalysis Is Appropriate and Analyse the Different Techniques Learnt in Class (rgression, Free Association and Inner Child)

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During hypnosis, moving back in time in the imagination is referred to as a regression. (1.2) Hypnotic regression therapy is ideally suited to clients who have a problem with a core cause that originated in the client’s past and often in childhood. (Hunter 2012) Regression therapy is a more interactive form of therapy where the therapist guides the client to a point where the initial sensitizing event took place. The client is encouraged to talk to the therapist during hypnosis and the therapist can question the client accordingly. There are various methods that can be used in regression therapy. In cases of compound cumulative trauma, associations can be made by guiding the client through their life looking at similarities of cognition, behaviour and anxiety levels. (Hunter 2012) Age regression can be used to take the client back to a specific age when the ISE is thought to have occurred, or the client can be taken back in time by calendar years. The Affect Bridge technique uses an emotional feeling as a bridge through time to regress a client back to the origin of those emotions. (Hunter 2015) Regression therapy often creates a genuine re-experiencing of the memory at the primary process level, accompanied by emotional, perceptual and even behavioural components that are presumed to have occurred at the time the event first happened. Even if not complete, regression is often very useful in identifying the root cause of an issue the client wishes to address (Watkins, Barabasz 2008) (1.2)

Because the emotions attached to past events may be quite strong, abreactions will often occur when a repressed emotion is released or when the client makes connections on their own, so the therapist must be sufficiently experienced to deal with these abreactions. While these abreactions can be concerning to the therapist, the appropriate release of emotions that have been supressed in the subconscious for a long time can have a very therapeutic effect and lead to release and relearning, allowing the client to change the behaviour they wish to change. (Hunter 2015) The therapist must avoid interfering during abreactions. Clients must be allowed to release their emotions and given sufficient time to do so. Clients are often worried that they will remember more than they can handle, or things that are best left uncovered. This is a risk but the subconscious is there to protect us and can still do this even when we are hypnotised. (Hunter 2012) Therapists must be careful not to lead the client and create false memories. Memories can be embellished and distorted in ways that could damage other people. In order to avoid this it is vital that therapists guide rather than lead the client to repressed memories and emotions. In Hunter’s view, the best way to avoid inappropriate leading is to stick to asking “W” questions; who, what, when, where, why and how. (Hunter 2012) (1.2)

Inner child therapy works with healing the inner part of us that relates to the child that we were. (1.2) If we had a childhood free of trauma then the state of our inner child will not affect our adult experience and personality. However, if this is not the case then the inner child will affect the way we are as adults and we may develop dysfunctional patterns of behaviour. The need for inner child work may arise when a client refers to a traumatic event in their past, or states that their problem originated from an earlier incident in their life or where the client gives responses or uses language that is immature or inappropriate to their present age. (LaBay 2003) As children our feelings may not have been validated and may have been ignored and in inner child work we access these ignored feelings and help the client to acceptance and healing. Under hypnosis the client imagines making contact with themselves as a child and talking to and reassuring the child, allowing healing to take place in a gentle, slightly dissociated way (Fone 2008). The events that occurred can then be reframed with the knowledge and experience of the client now as an adult. Inner child therapy is not usually sufficient to heal childhood trauma in the long term. However, it can be a useful therapy together with other forms of analytical therapy. (1.2)

In conclusion, the behaviours and symptoms for which hypnoanalysis is appropriate originate from the subconscious mind when it is in conflict with the conscious mind as a result of past trauma creating neuroses such as panic attacks, phobias, irrational fears and low self esteem. The techniques of regression, free association and inner child therapy are useful hypnoanalysis tools to uncover the root cause of these symptoms in order that they can be addressed and resolved. These techniques are not necessary for the majority of clients but can be very powerful if used by therapists with sufficient experience and training in cases where the ISE for a particular neurosis is not clear.

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References

Fone, H, (2008) Emotional Freedom Technique For Dummies. UK: Wiley & Sons.

Hunter, C. Roy and Elmer, Bruce N.(2015) The Art of Hypnotherapy, 4th Edition. Wales: Crown House Publishing Ltd.

Hunter, C. Roy and Elmer, Bruce N. (2012) The Art of Hypnotic Regression Therapy: A clinical guide. Wales: Crown House Publishing Ltd.

Hunter, C. Roy and Elmer, Bruce N. (2010) The Art of Hypnosis, 3rd Edition. Wales: Crown House Publishing Ltd. 2010

LaBay, M.L. (2003) Hypnotherapy: A Client-Centered Approach. USA: Pelican Publishing Co, USA.

Nair, M.G. (2013) Manage Your Mind Manage Your Life. USA: Xlibris LLC.

Peiffer, V. (2013) Principles of Hypnotherapy: What it Is, how it Works, and what it Can Do for You. London: Singing Dragon.

Vaillant, G.E. (1992) Ego Mechanisms of Defense: A Guide for Clinicans and Researchers. USA: American Psychiatric Press.

Wain, R. (2012) Could You Be A Brilliant Coach, Hypnotherapist Or NLP Practitioner?. UK; Cressinghams.

Watkins, J.G. and Barabasz, A. (2008) Advanced Hypnotherapy: Hypnodynamic Techniques. New York: Routledge.

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Bibliography

Fone, H. (2008) Emotional Freedom Technique For Dummies. UK: Wiley & Sons.