In need of some advice

I have a difficult case I would like to get some input on

I have a client with burning mouth syndrome. I have seen her three times. The first time was a consultation. At that time I had her imagine her pain give it as size, shape, color, weight, and smell, then box it up and take it to a trash bin ad dispose of it. She reported a mild difference and decide to book three sessions to address this issue. The next session I taught her self-hypnosis and also took her to a magic mountain covered with snow. This was a place where there was healing in the air. I had her breath in the air like sucking through a straw, feeling the air cooling, healing air. she reported feeling the cooling and I had her bring it forward to the present moment and counted her up to an awake state. When she opened her eyes she reported the burning was unchanged.

At the second session we worked on a numbing sensation she has on her cheek area. I used a metaphor where a storm took down a telephone pole and a master electrician set about rewiring the connection. I did a Elman induction and tested how relaxed she was and I feel I had her in a place where she had by passed the critical factor but again she reported little difference.

I have her for one more session that she has already paid for and I would really like to get her some relief. I really don't know which direction to go with this last session. I am open to suggestions.

She did tell me that she did not practice the self hypnosis because she was too busy. That makes me question her commitment to her own self healing.

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Permalink Reply by Erick J Lundin on March 2, 2012 at 2:14pm

After all those approaches, why not regress to the cause?

Also, if she cannot "find" even 30 seconds to practice self-hypnosis, there may be a part blocking her. I had to do parts therapy because a part of an alcoholic, that I was treating, was punishing her by not letting her use self-hypnosis and was interfering with the regular sessions .

Permalink Reply by Chris Witherspoon on March 2, 2012 at 2:24pm

That is one of the options I was contemplating. She does have trouble engaging her imagination. I am wondering if this is being a hinderance.

Permalink Reply by Vicki S Stuart on March 2, 2012 at 2:32pm

While I haven't treated anyone with burning mouth syndrome, I'm always up for brainstorming! So here are a few ideas. Has her doctor given her a list of things in her life she needs to change? Drinking more liquids, avoid tobacco, acidic foods, spicy-hot foods, coffee, soft drinks? Has her doctor suggested she find a way of relieving stress? If she is not doing self-hypnosis, I wonder if she is doing the lifestyle changes her doctor has recommended. Having changed my diet completely because of UC, I know how difficult it can be, and it may be helpful to desensitize her and create new habits to address those issues. Since stress is a major part of burning mouth syndrome (from what I've read), and she is not doing self-hypnosis, which would relieve the stress, you may want to address her empowerment, and give her hypnotic suggestions to love and respect her body, and to be grateful for her body's signals to her. Have you discussed what burning mouth syndrome means to her? Is there shame and fear involved? Is there disgust or helplessness? Is she looking for a magic bullet to take all of her problems away? Does she realize that lifestyle changes require work? Find what has motivated her to change in the past and use those skills to make the necessary changes in the future. And finally, I have recently found Martin Rossman's book Fighting Cancer From Within, and absolutely adore his inner healer journey. After a progressive relaxation, go to a very special, very beautiful place of healing. Explore the place and notice if there is anything special there, sounds, fragrance, special quality of the air, etc. And then become aware of anything that feels healing, perhaps the beauty or the peacefulness, the temperature, the fragrance, it doesn't matter what you find or if you can identify it specifically, just experience it and relax. And then when ready, invite a figure to appear that is wise, caring, and knows a great deal about healing...accept the image that comes, notice if you feel calm in this figure's presence, and whether you feel its caring for you and that it can provide you with healing. (If not, dismiss that image and call in a different one.) And then let the inner healer give guidance in some way.

Permalink Reply by Ron Thompson on March 2, 2012 at 2:37pm

Maybe try a problem solving solution. Have her own mind seek out the issue and solve it.

Use lots of letting go of old thoughts and images and habits and emotions and let her know her mind has the solution and it making the changes NOW!

It has the power to do that. .

In hypnosis , ask her mind to tell you when it will fix the issue.

I have a good script for this if you need it.

Ron

info.nhc@shaw,ca

Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on March 2, 2012 at 2:44pm

Hi wow she is so busy she couldn't do the self hypnosis, i would get her even busier she may then be to busy to have a burning mouth!!!

Parts seems a logical step to take, I would also use some defusion from her thoughts and some mindfulness skills/tasks that are built in to some everyday activities so she cant be to busy for them which just sounds like a little Experiential Avoidance.

I would also possible use a metaphor about commitment and self healing and the client being the secret to there own success. I once had a client who had IBS and said he could not be hypnotised, i asked if if he new how to hypnotise himself. He replied of course so I said OK if you do that I will jump in when you have taken yourself where you need to go. He sat back closed his eyes and went off somewhere, I just jumped on board and did what we do!! Sometimes a lack of imagination or results in a session can be control issues on the clients side, not saying it is just may be something to think about.

We all get tough ones from time to time, keep your faith in yourself and your own abilities to know what to do, from what Ive read your a pretty awesome hypnotist. smiles Nath

Permalink Reply by Erick J Lundin on March 2, 2012 at 2:48pm

My other thought is if she is having problems engaging her imagination, tailor the suggestions and experiences specifically to whether she is visual, auditory or kinesthetic and use a scene that is familiar and happy to her such as the classic "at the beach".

Permalink Reply by Diane Edwards on March 2, 2012 at 3:08pm

Hi Chris,
I agree about questioning your clients commitment to change. Maybe she's expecting someone else to 'fix' it.
But if you have one last chance how about giving the burning sensation a name and then questioning it.
What is your purpose?
Are you here to hurt ......? If so, why? If not, are you here to help?
It's got be be either to help or hurt her.
And I would look a little deeper as to what part it might be playing in her life.
Just my thoughts.......
Do let us know what happens

Diane Edwards
http://www.DianeEdwards.com

Permalink Reply by Angie Hernandez on March 2, 2012 at 4:34pm

I kind of wonder what words are so hot in her mouth that they "burn" her. Does she know about when this sensation started? I have a client who is very busy but under great stress. I gave her homework to practice visualizing her stress-free cottage every time she used the restroom. She was to imagine this for 1 minute. She also has trouble visualizing on her own. This week she reported she did her homework and found it a sanctuary. She also said at one point she heard a sound in the kitchen and smelled cookies. She found her grandmother baking in the kitchen! This was a big step for her. Maybe your client could find a free moment in the bathroom also!

Permalink Reply by Chris Witherspoon on March 2, 2012 at 5:44pm

Thank you all for your in put. I am really leaning toward regression.

I love your suggestion Diane. I will have to work this in to the next session.

I gave her a good pep talk on how important it is to use hypnosis and to visualize the rewiring to take care of some nerve damage we are working on. I will see if she took it serious or if she thinks hypnosis is a magic wand.

Vicki, I have explored the stress aspect. That is the reason I taught her self hypnosis on the first visit. We have established that this burning sensation is a false alarm, that it has no purpose and it is no longer necessary.

Nathan, you are such a good story teller. I'llhave to dig deep for a good metaphor

Ron how do I contact you fro the script?

Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on March 2, 2012 at 6:15pm

Hey Chris,

I had great success with a client who suffered facial nerve pain for several years...Chinosis was the cure! (Yes, she achieved a full recovery) It's Jonathan Chase's version of EFT that combines hypnosis with a gentle rubbing of the meridian points, perfect for facial sensation issues.

Permalink Reply by Chris Witherspoon on March 2, 2012 at 6:34pm

Kelly,

Checked out Chinosis. It looks interesting. I'll look into it for future reference.

Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on March 2, 2012 at 7:46pm

"Ya know -- Some people need a few sessions to develop their hypnotic skills and abilities and our goal is to motivate you to develop those skills and abilities which is why practicing self-hypnosis is essential to reaching your goals..."

If visualizing is not her cup of tea -- Use imagery that involves feelings Consider using the Ellner/Barsky Detox with the suggestion that neutralizing the emotional charge should produce noticeable benefits in today's session and use what ever improvement she gets to promote practice and additional sessions...

Chris Witherspoon said:

Thank you all for your in put. I am really leaning toward regression.

I love your suggestion Diane. I will have to work this in to the next session.

I gave her a good pep talk on how important it is to use hypnosis and to visualize the rewiring to take care of some nerve damage we are working on. I will see if she took it serious or if she thinks hypnosis is a magic wand.

Vicki, I have explored the stress aspect. That is the reason I taught her self hypnosis on the first visit. We have established that this burning sensation is a false alarm, that it has no purpose and it is no longer necessary.

Nathan, you are such a good story teller. I'll have to dig deep for a good metaphor

Ron how do I contact you fro the script?