Abreaction, Cognition and All Places in Between

This is to shift a discussion from another post. Hypnothoughts is the ideal place for like-minded professionals to come together in order to share, learn, and teach. The discussion was about the face of modern therapeutic techniques. I'm interested in discussing the different approaches people have used and their successful and not-so-successful forays into various modalities.

I approach this discussion in the same way I approach discussions about CQB or close quarter battle. What?!? Combat and hypnosis...surely I must be joking. I have taught CQB (basically SWAT tactics) for a number of years and have heard the same arguments hundreds of times. If there are 5 men in a room discussing CQB tactics there will be 6 opinions regarding its nuances. What comprises an immediate threat, proper movement formations, etc? One of the reasons discussions about CQB and hypnosis become so heated is because there are a number of experienced people that have been successful using a set of techniques and beliefs are formed based on our successes along with an ego identification. Regardless of beliefs, at the end of the day in CQB the right answer is the one that didn't get you killed...in hypnosis the right answer is the one that helped the client.

As far as modern therapy goes I agree with Michael Ellner in regards to abreaction as an ends unto itself. I think that "talking therapy" with an emphasis on abreaction has given way to cognitive models of therapy (CBT, REBT, etc) as a result of the effectiveness of the latter. I think that in hypnosis there is a misconception that regression therapy is, at its core, abreactive therapy. In my experience abreaction does occur but it is not usually the focus of a session.

I recently wrote an article for J.E.T. that I don't want to rewrite here but I will cover a couple of the main points regarding my opinions on regression and catharsis. The catharsis that most people associate with regression is that of abreaction. It is an Aristotelian catharsis with the intent to "purge" accumulated negative energies by emotional release. It was this type of catharsis, I believe, that Breuer had touched upon in his "talking cure" that was adopted by Freud as psychoanalysis.

Another type of catharsis is that of J.L Moreno, creator of Psychodrama. This is the catharsis that I feel is best utilized in regression therapy as opposed to abreaction. I believe this type of catharsis feeds into the cognitive process. If we say that cognitive therapy includes identifying distorted thinking, changing emotional responses and giving a client new tools for the future then I believe that discovering an ISE and reinforcing events can lead down a path of cognition with proper integration. It seems that cognitive therapy focuses more on the present than on past events but through hypnosis and integration I think we can achieve similar results.

I will admit that I have been strongly influenced by Gil Boyne's Transforming Therapy and Churchill's Regression Hypnotherapy.

I am interested in the approaches other hypnotists are using as their primary modality. Whether it be parts, direct suggestion, a neo-Ericksonian indirect metaphorical approach, or your own creation.

1. What "style" (if any) would you say you use the most?
2. Who were your influences?
3. What is it about your style or your practice that you enjoy the most?
4. What types of practice have you used and either not found results with or not felt comfortable using.
5. Do you feel that hypnosis should change with emerging psychological trends?

And please feel free to add any other questions or answers that you feel could be addressed.

Dave

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 23, 2009 at 8:13am

Bravo!

I am going to put my thinking cap on and find some time to respond -- I'll be back-

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Susan French on November 23, 2009 at 8:22am

Hi Dave,

You sound very, very knowledgeable and that you speak from a great source of knowledge. Good for you. I always appreciate that.

I started having some really bad reactions in clients from regression hypnotherapy and I stopped doing it. I kind of agree with Michael E's take on it being a Sacred Cow.

I also came to the conclusion that reaction or abreactive therapies had been replaced because they were found often to cause retraumatization in the brain, the body and the mind. I've been struggling with that for some years now because I couldn't figure out or find a way to neutralize old trauma without risking retraumatization.

Also, the more updated information suggests that constant chewing on and revisiting old wounds doesn't necessarily help a client go past them and that they can sometimes make it worse. I agree and had come to that same conclusion.

I am now taking a wonderful course called the Rewind Technique from the great people at Uncommon Knowledge: Mark Tyrell, Roger Elliott, Jill Wooten and Kirsten Asher. This way of handling trauma, ptsd, old grief seems to avoid the retraumatization problem and so far as been extremely effective.

Take a gander at their website. It is a treasure trove of free information and guidance. Everything I purchased from them, especially the trainings, so far , has been right on the money. I think the link is www.uncommonknowledge.com. You can also find it by googling Mark's name and following the links.

I'm very impressed with their up-to-date information, the fact that they back their information with the latest in scientific and neuroscience info and that I NEVER feel hustled by them to buy, buy, buy...always a plus in my book.

I just wish that they would consider making their mp3's in a woman's voice as well, perhaps an American woman with a sweet, hypnotic and trained voice who shall remain nameless...lol.

I always appreciate people and trainings that are open to new ideas and willing to explore them rather than dismiss them out of hand.

BTW: I don't the rewind technique is unique to them. I think it's an old NLP technique but I didn't feel comfortabe using it until I learned it more precisely from them. NLP is definitely on my short list of techniques and ideas that have to be well-learned by me. For that, I will probably go closer to the horses mouth and take the Andreas' trainings. I really like ConnieRae Andreas' books and I like the things they share on various forums.

Susan

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Permalink Reply by David Parke on November 23, 2009 at 8:36am

Thanks Susan and thanks for the recommendation. I've seen the Uncommon Knowledge site before but I don't have any of their products yet. I'll definitely spend a little cash there now that it comes recommended.

What kind of "bad reactions" were your clients having with regression therapy. Were they uncontrollable abreactions or something completely different?

Outside of trauma and the Rewind Technique what are the techniques that you use? Do you use predominately direct suggestion, parts, etc? Have you seen more success with one particular path than others?

Dave

Susan French said:

Hi Dave,

You sound very, very knowledgeable and that you speak from a great source of knowledge. Good for you. I always appreciate that.

I started having some really bad reactions in clients from regression hypnotherapy and I stopped doing it. I kind of agree with Michael E's take on it being a Sacred Cow.

I also came to the conclusion that reaction or abreactive therapies had been replaced because they were found often to cause retraumatization in the brain, the body and the mind. I've been struggling with that for some years now because I couldn't figure out or find a way to neutralize old trauma without risking retraumatization.

Also, the more updated information suggests that constant chewing on and revisiting old wounds doesn't necessarily help a client go past them and that they can sometimes make it worse. I agree and had come to that same conclusion.

I am now taking a wonderful course called the Rewind Technique from the great people at Uncommon Knowledge: Mark Tyrell, Roger Elliott, Jill Wooten and Kirsten Asher. This way of handling trauma, ptsd, old grief seems to avoid the retraumatization problem and so far as been extremely effective.

Take a gander at their website. It is a treasure trove of free information and guidance. Everything I purchased from them, especially the trainings, so far , has been right on the money. I think the link is www.uncommonknowledge.com. You can also find it by googling Mark's name and following the links.

I'm very impressed with their up-to-date information, the fact that they back their information with the latest in scientific and neuroscience info and that I NEVER feel hustled by them to buy, buy, buy...always a plus in my book.

I just wish that they would consider making their mp3's in a woman's voice as well, perhaps an American woman with a sweet, hypnotic and trained voice who shall remain nameless...lol.

I always appreciate people and trainings that are open to new ideas and willing to explore them rather than dismiss them out of hand.

BTW: I don't the rewind technique is unique to them. I think it's an old NLP technique but I didn't feel comfortabe using it until I learned it more precisely from them. NLP is definitely on my short list of techniques and ideas that have to be well-learned by me. For that, I will probably go closer to the horses mouth and take the Andreas' trainings. I really like ConnieRae Andreas' books and I like the things they share on various forums.

Susan

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 26, 2009 at 7:21pm

1. What "style" (if any) would you say you use the most?

My style is Client Centered and from there I take an eclectic approach that depends on the client that I am working with. I am also excited about and experimenting with offering my services in a "Guided" self-help format.

2. Who were your influences?

Mesmer, Franklin, Braid, Bernheim, Freud, Pavlov, Platonov, Einstein, Leary, McLuhan, Erickson, Korzybski, Lewis, McGill, Tebbetts, Zarro, Weiss and Paul knowingly or unknowingly informed my current hypnotic theories and practice.

3. What is it about your style or your practice that you enjoy the most?

In terms of style, what I enjoy most is being in the "Zone" with my clients-
In terms of my practice, what I enjoy most is helping people in crisis - when they need help the most --

4. What types of practice have you used and either not found results with or not felt comfortable using.
I am effective and comfortable with all of the approaches and techniques we are discussing. I keep all of them in my toolbox. I generally briefly describe various techniques and models and let my clients decide on what works for them. During the last ten years, fewer and fewer clients were interested in regressive or hypno-analytic approaches and I rarely use them in my practice...

5. Do you feel that hypnosis should change with emerging psychological trends?

I believe that modern emerging psychological trends reflect popular culture and that should inform how we market our professional services to clients and allied professionals.

Michael E.

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Permalink Reply by Fable Goodman on November 27, 2009 at 12:19am

For the moment,

Having just woke up to get a quick cup of tea, and tidy my room for a client his morning,
I will just echo Micael's 'Bravo',
and Susans comments about your well thought out and well written
opener to this thread.

I will come back to it later.

Love and hugs,

Fable