Subliminal Therapy

Using the Mind to Heal

Edwin K Yager

• Publisher: Crown House Publishing
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781845907280
• eBook ISBN: 9781845907655
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Psychotherapy Counselling
• Index: Psychology

Subliminal Therapy is a technique that utilizes hypnotic phenomena for therapeutic purpose without requiring a formal trance induction. The protocol is effective as a sole intervention or as an adjunct to other forms of treatment. In this volume, the reader is introduced to the concepts and applications of Subliminal Therapy and taught its protocol as well This includes establishing identifiable communication with the unconscious domain, uncovering influences that are causing current problems, and resolving those influences.The logically applied protocol of Subliminal Therapy engages unconscious process to uncover the causes of presenting problems, whether manifesting physically, emotionally, intellectually or behaviorally, and then to resolve that influence through re-framing and re-conditioning. The causes of psychogenic problems are usually not consciously recognized; only the resultant symptom - the disability - is apparent. Subliminal Therapy provides a practical, efficient and logical way to identify the cause, as well as a practical, efficient and logical way to resolve its influence. Although Subliminal Therapy may be new concept for professionals, it has been evolving over the past thirty years into a most efficient protocol. The technique has proved especially effective in the treatment of anxiety and the effects of early abuse such as sexual dysfunction, unresolved anger and psychogenic medical problems.

Chapter I

Background and Concepts

In this chapter I present the concept of Subliminal Therapy from conception through its evolution. After an overview of the technique, I present its clinical acceptance, structure, advantages, limitations and appropriate areas of application.

Origin of the Concept of Subliminal Therapy

I first conceived the technique I named Subliminal Therapy (ST) in 1974. As with all developments in our field, the concept evolved from knowledge of the work of others who I will duly acknowledge. At that time I had transitioned from a career in engineering into the world of psychotherapy and was applying my engineering way of thinking to explain human behavior as I had learned about it in my studies and through personal observations. I noticed that consistent, conscious self-control of behavior, a concept I had accepted as reality, was an illusion. Undesired thoughts, habits and behaviors of many kinds are commonly and repeatedly experienced against our will. In spite of our cultural admonition to be in conscious control, I recognized that subconscious functioning is the locus of control.

Moreover, I came to recognize that the subconscious domain is not a unified whole as conventionally regarded; instead it is sub-divided, with distinctively different parts representing learned beliefs, skills, limitations, personality traits, values and behaviors that are sometimes in conflict with each other. This fact, I came to understand, was the root of many problems that my patients presented. I also understood that these parts were created in the course of life experiences, i.e., they were conditioned responses. This concept of a divided subconscious is not new. I found similaritieswith Ego State Therapy by Watkins (1979), Freud (1938) and within the principles taught by Jung (1916, 1933).

It seems that when an experience occurs and a lesson is learned, a new part of the mind is created. ‘Something’ is present in the subconscious domain now, something that was not there before the experience occurred. This something may manifest consciously in the form of emotion or compulsive behavior; however, conscious awareness of the influences prompting the emotion or behavior is rarely present. This subconscious part represents the learning that occurred in the course of the experience and may thereafter continue to play an active role in the person’s life, maintaining the theme of the original lesson. For example: If a child learns he is stupid – as might happen if he is called stupid by a person seen as an authority – the part of his mind that was created in that situation may continue to influence his life by compromising his self-image. He may also continue to behave stupidly based on the subconscious belief that he is stupid. On the other hand, if the lesson is positive, such as, “You are smart,” the part created continues to influence his life in positive ways. The accumulation of a multitude of such parts, each derived from life experiences, seems to constitute a major portion of the subconscious domain, with the balance representing genetic and perhaps spiritual factors. Also, reinforcing experiences or conflicting experiences create reinforcing or conflicting parts. This way of thinking about the mind is fundamental to the concept of ST. In this model of the mind, therapy consists of identifying the problematic parts and then reconditioning them to support the current needs and values of the individual and society.

In the model of the mind upon which Subliminal Therapy is based, three levels of mental functioning are apparent: Consciousness, the Subconscious domain and a level of Extra-Conscious capability. The similar construct of Freudian psychoanalysis comes to mind, corresponding to the Id, Ego and Super-Ego. However, in Subliminal Therapy the work of therapy is accomplished in the extra-conscious domain, while in psychoanalysis the work is accomplished consciously.

Our conscious abilities are at once awesome and limited. On the awesome side, there is love, creativity and intelligence. On the limited side, we commonly hold an exaggerated expectation of our ability to control ourselves. We envision abilities to make desired changes that are quite beyond our capacity to execute. Examples include abilities to self-cure phobias, compulsions and irrational convictions, as well as limitations typically recognized as irrational, yet that continue in spite of the exertion of conscious will.

The subconscious domain seems to be the repository of influences from life experiences and totally lacking in the ability to be proactive. This domain is analogous to the random access memory of a computer: it is subject to change and motivated to action in response to outside stimulus, and it provides data to associated functions such as speech, yet it is not capable of self-initiated action. It is intelligent only in the sense that it is capable of learning and relearning. Importantly, it is the domain that is (conditionally) subject to the influence of direct hypnotic suggestions.

The extra-conscious mind, on the other hand, seems to have self-awareness. That domain has the ability to ‘think’ in the same way that we think consciously, i.e., to reason, to relate cause and effect, and to extrapolate. The extra-conscious domain usually possesses a sense of the value of the self and is willing to cooperate in improving the status of the self. I cannot explain how a person could function normally without a unifying – and perhaps guiding – influence in the subconscious domain. Such an influence must provide direction and purpose, as well as facilitate communication among these sub-divided elements I refer to as ‘parts’. This seems to be the role of the extra-conscious domain, to which I initially assigned the name ‘Control’. However, I shortly realized a different name was needed, since ‘Control’ was factually a misnomer (arbitrary control does not seem to exist there), and I have since used the name ‘Centrum’.

I cannot objectively validate Centrum as an entity, as opposed to a hypothetical construct, to the satisfaction of a determined skeptic. I can, however, validate Centrum to the subjective satisfaction of my patients and myself. And, after interacting with the Centrums of several thousand patients, I have reached subjective conviction of its validity. It is clear to me that there is a higher level of intelligence in all of us, an entity that is positively disposed toward our wellbeing. On more than one occasion patients have affirmed Centrum as their “Soul”. I am satisfied that it does not really matter what name is applied. Validation of Centrum occurs in the process in which Centrum is engaged to accomplish the desired change. Patients may initially express reservations; however, as soon as the process has begun, and Centrum has demonstrated its existence, patients cease to raise questions.

The Clinical Acceptance of Subliminal Therapy

Early in its development, I was concerned about the model of Subliminal Therapy being too unconventional or too unusual to be accepted as legitimate by mainstream psychotherapists. Such acceptance was never a problem with my patients; they were participating with enthusiasm. Professionals, on the other hand, did not have the full picture; they were typically exposed to only the basic theory of ST without the benefit of personal experience or validation by clinical trials.

My concerns were based in reality; even today a few clinicians continue to regard Subliminal Therapy as bizarre and too far outside the mainstream. On the other hand, I have trained psychologists, masters-level therapists, medical students and physicians in its use, doing so without the unconventionality barrier being a problem. As its reputation expands and research data has accumulated, ST has experienced broader acceptance, and those clinicians familiar with its use are vocal in promoting its concepts. Insofar as patients are concerned, while a few may have reservations initially, and some may be too polite to express those reservations, few of them maintain those reservations when the stage has been set and therapy has begun.

I believe we will see broader clinical acceptance only as research data affirms the effectiveness of ST, and such research has not yet occurred to the degree necessary. Yet data are gradually accumulating, and this unconventional approach to personal change is being affirmed as the outstanding, effective and efficient technique I know it to be.

Overview of the Process

In this segment of the book, I divide the process of Subliminal Therapy into five phases, describing each phase and providing flow charts in Appendix A to guide clinicians in learning its application.

Phase I

Phase I consists of building rapport with the patient, educating the patient about the technique and clarifying the goal(s) of therapy. This phase typically requires thirty minutes to an hour, depending upon the skill of the therapist, as well as the patient’s openness to new concepts. The time may be shortened if the patient has had previous exposure to ST, either via the Internet (e.g., via my website, www.docyager.com) or by having read Subliminal Therapy: Utilizing Subconscious Abilities in Therapy (Yager, 1999), a booklet I created for the purpose of introducing the concepts to patients.

Phase II

This phase consists of establishing communication with the patient’s Centrum, determining Centrum’s willingness to supp...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Praise
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Prologue
• Preface
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter I : Background and Concepts
• Chapter II : Theory and Assumptions
• Chapter III : The Process of Subliminal Therapy
• Chapter IV : Applying Subliminal Therapy
• Chapter V : Case Illustrations
• Chapter VI : Typical Problems Encountered
• Chapter VII : Research on the Efficacy of Subliminal Therapy
• Chapter VIII : The Subliminal Therapy Institute, Inc.
• Chapter IX : Other Considerations
• Appendix A: Flow Charts
• Appendix B : General Information to be Provided to the Patient before Treatment
• References and Further Reading
• Index
• Author’s Statement
• About the Author
• Copyright