Healing Scripts

Using Hypnosis to Treat Trauma and Stress

Marlene E Hunter

• Publisher: Crown House Publishing
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9781845900724
• eBook ISBN: 9781845905200
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

Healing Scripts focuses on the use of hypnotherapy to help trauma victims recover as well as helping individuals who are suffering from acute stress disorders. The field of trauma and stress treatment is constantly searching for new ideas and solutions and the hypnotic interventions detailed in this volume are designed to treat the source of the pain and the anguish of trauma so that clients with long term problems can finally be offered some relief.

Section II

Stress Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) refers to an emotional and / or psychological response that is higher than the usual level of distress for the presenting situation and is related to events that have happened in the past which have caused sexual, physical and / or emotional trauma to the person who has been injured.

Although depression, phobias, fears and anxiety frequently, if not always, have their origin in past events, they are often not considered as in the same range as PTSD. This section deals specifically with the several types of response that are endemic in “true” PTSD; however, they can also be adapted to suit the other categories listed above.

The language of hypnosis is somewhat different when working with this client population because of the trauma they have experienced. Words and phrases, although understood cognitively, are frequently perceived on an emotional and perceptual level that might bring quite a different perspective. We need to be aware of this and be careful about the way we use those words and phrases.

You may notice that all of the scripts apparently have a positive result. Needless to say, that may not always be the case. Watch for signs of discomfort and, if necessary, gently suggest that perhaps another time might be better for exploring hypnosis. Then you can offer time to discuss the whole idea of hypnosis more carefully. The client may be very good at hypnosis, very comfortable, when using it for other experiences, but may not be ready for exploring this particular type of situation.

Denial

Denial is the first of the several symptoms included in the general category of PTSD-related responses. The person shakes their head—actually or metaphorically—while thinking, “This isn’t real; this can’t be happening to me.” Often people get stuck in this initial response and don’t know how to get past it. Hypnotic interventions such as those described below may help break the deadlock. The stage of denial can last for a very long time, overlapping with the other stages to create a kind of emotional chaos.

We can think of the denial as being used to bridge the terrible trauma from the previous, relatively comfortable life to the admission (when they are ready to do so) that it did happen—when they can learn how to begin to heal. The client wants, and needs, that bridge.

It is not that there is a “real” version of what happened; it is being able to come to a place where they can acknowledge the experience of it happening.

We also need to remember that the client has been in an altered state during the trauma. There is a difference between that altered state and using the altered state of hypnosis in order to understand how to cope with the memories now. It is important that both client and therapist are comfortable with, and knowledgeable about hypnosis, and that the client already has used and experienced hypnosis and is ready to use it again in this situation.

Strangely enough, the client really wants to be reassured that it did happen—in fact, must know that—in order to begin the healing process. The doubting that it happened has occurred, until now, because it has been just too awful to admit. The client is ready to move on.

From time to time, the emotional factor overwhelms. When that happens, “pushing the pause button” offers a time out, as it were, until they are ready to proceed. That may be in the next minute, the next session or the next month. Usually it only takes a minute or so.

First script

Jenny,Clarifying that she still wants to use hypnosis we have been talking about using hypnosis to relieve some of your distress over the dreadful events of the past. Do you still want to explore those possibilities? Yes, I see you nodding (or some other signal), so we can begin.

MakeShe knows where she has to go, and can let you know—this gives her a semblance of power, which she very much needs yourself very comfortable in hypnosis, going just as deeply into that state as you intuitively know is right for you at this time. Signal to me when you feel you are at the right level. (Signals) Thank you.It’s her hypnosis; she is in control and feeling safe is crucial You know that you can change your level of hypnosis at any time in order to feel safer or more comfortable. (Nods) Good.

Now,Establishing again where she is in reality, and reassuring her that you will not desert her knowing that you are safe in my office and that I am here with you, and will stay with you while you do this, take yourself backwards in time to the day (hour) before those events began to happen. Gradually, let the time in hypnosis time come closer.“Take yourself backwards in time” is an old hypnotic gimmick that always seems to work
Shields are protective, as is some distance between you and what you are watching As that happens, put some distance between you and the events, so that you are watching it from afar, or with an invisible shield between you and the event. Take your time, and let me know when you have reached that state.Reassuring that she is safe in your office, “re-viewing” it You can stay calm, knowing that you are simply re-viewing it from a time-distance. (Signals) Yes, that’s right.

Now,“Change how time happens” is one of those hypnotic disjunctions that works well in altered states of consciousness; the client will just accept it as normal change how time happens, as you are watching this situation evolve. You can just make the time shorter, or longer, depending on whichever is more comfortable for you as you watch. And as the situation unfolds, know that you are there and not there, at the same time,“There and not there” is another example, and also very useful because you are safe in my office, but the event also is very real to you.Confirming that it is normal It is wonderful that we can do and feel both those things at the same time.

As you watch, begin to tell yourself that you are watching a replay ofA replay is very different from the actual experience; one is real, the other is a memory of what was real that terrible time, and because you are watching the replay, so you know that it really happened. You can simply reassure yourself that you are now actually watching the replay,But it really did happen—this is an important acknowledgement and therefore it really did happen to you and so now you can stop the doubting and the wondering about whether or not it was real;You have cleared the barriers and can now move on you know that it was real, and because now that you do know that, then the healing can begin.

Quite often the client will show emotion—tears, huge sighs, or moaning to themselves—and the best thing to do is to let that go on for a few moments, then gently offer encouragement that it is alright now, and that it is nearly time to come out of hypnosis. Bring the client out of hypnosis slowly, again with words of encouragement and validation for the work that they have done.

One of the causes of denial is a sense of guilt—the all-too-common scenario of the victim believing that they somehow caused or invited the trauma. Because that is such a horrendous idea, it is pushed away by the denial that the event even happened.

Second script

Jake,Usually this conversation takes place before the hypnosis begins; it can normalize the client’s concerns. However, we know that clients are in an altered state of consciousness even before the “real” hypnosis begins—indeed, it often begins as soon as they enter the office of a physician or therapist. Therefore we can make use of that time to settle the client and get prepared we have talked about using hypnosis to alleviate some of your anxiety about the assault—even wondering whether it had really happened or if you are just making it up in your imagination, manufacturing it for some reason. Are you still interested in discovering what your subconscious mind has to contribute? Yes? Alright, then just settle back in the chair, make yourself comfortable, and go into hypnosis in your own way, however far into hypnosis you instinctively know is the right place where you can explore that concern, at this time.

Just let me know when you have reached that level of hypnosis. (Signals) Thank you.He gets a chance to go backwards in time, so that he can come into the experience, just as it began to happen. Recognizing what happened before the experience, makes the next part of the memory credible Now, go backwards in time to some time before that event ever happened—perhaps an hour or two before, or a little longer, or a little shorter. See your...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Section I : Pain
• Section II : Stress Disorders
• Section III : Dissociative Disorders
• Section IV : Children
• References
• Index
• Copyright