Fear & Phobia New Client

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Permalink Reply by Robert A Roberts on September 5, 2008 at 9:41am

Hi Doreen, seems like you get some of the interesting clients too. What I would do in this situationis take care of the worst first. I would start out with the dizziness when her eyes are closed, following SRT mode, if that dizziness could speak what would it say? From there I would address her panic attacks, same method. Next I would go for her fear of lonliness then the closed in places, it sounds like they are all inter related. From there definately work on her nutrition, self confidence and self esteem. You may also have to go back to when the house was robbed-how did she feel at that time,etc. I hope that this helps and if you need to do a remote I will help in any way I can. Bob Roberts

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Permalink Reply by Seth-Deborah Roth on September 5, 2008 at 11:55am

Hi Doreen,

You might try , even with eyes open, Reverse Spin with laughter. Explain all anxieties have a spin, up & around , or other way etc. Have her describe spin. Take it our of body in front of her, think of inappropriate laughter at some time in her life (ie. in school someone laughing so hard milk came out of their nose and you couldn't stop laughing), feel the laughter and put it into spin then ut spin back into body & notice the difference. Melissa Tiers (melissatiers.com from NYC) explains this SO well. She loves to share her info.

Let me know how it goes.

Warm Regards,
Seth-Deborah

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on September 5, 2008 at 1:59pm

Thank you to both Robert and Seth-Deborah,

Now Robert I was planing to do what you suggested next, like working with her dizziness, following the body part, but I am not sure what following SRT mode means? is it like "Setting The Camera Mode" something like teaching her that in theory each camera is preconfigured with a set of modes, for example: the attempt to set the mode of the camera associated with the camera user, to set the mode of the atmosphere, the color, the energy before taking the perfect picture or movie...

Just want to know, that I do understand what you suggest, or it is something else, sometimes I may know what it is but when it is just the initial letter, I get confused....
You said something very interesting here, and it was Doreen you get get some of the interesting clients too :) and just before I open my emails and received your answer, this is exactly what went throw my mind :) and this is the answer my spirit gave me....when I ask me: Doreen why do you get all this interesting clients, I swear just like that... and my brain didn't fail... I call it my spirit, you can call it my intelligent mind :)

Ok.. This is the answer I got, and in the same exact wording, because i did write it down... I may missed a little but what ever came up it is original and yes I had to look up the spelling since I was not familiar with some of the world or their meanings, so I used a Hebrew english dictionary lol:..

Here it goes:
Your friends and clients tend to fall toward you, because in a way you are like them…. Or they are like you…. at least in the ways that make them feel relaxed sharing with you their deepest personal secrets, pain or fear. The reason to why you are attracting this people are the most amazing reasons, you have attracted the people who challenge you with their differences. It may be an understandable difference mirroring in their outward manifestation or an undetectable but authoritative realistic bearing, If you go back during your life growing up to this day, you will understand that the circle of friends and family you had grow up with, were the one who confronted you with their unlike behavior of understanding and communication in life.

You can desire to refuse to accept this audience that you attract, or you can also accept helping them and at the same time also to learn from them and be grateful for attracting this interesting people to you, after all they too have a place in this universe.
I hope that answers why I am attracting this interesting people to my life or practice....

New, Seth-Deborah, I loved your Reverse Spin with laughter idea, I will defiantly look into that and educate myself even more, any information you can share, will be appreciated.

Thank You, Doreen

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Permalink Reply by Robert A Roberts on September 8, 2008 at 11:14am

Good answer Doreen, I like the challenge, it helps us to grow. As far as the"mode" goes I would start with a bridging technique by addressing the dizziness, what would it say? How old was she when you joined her? Something along those lines to get a dialogue started, then do the same with the fears etc. I hope that she comes back to you and by the way, how did you do with your anxiety client? Success in everything,
Bob Roberts

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Permalink Reply by Gerry on November 5, 2008 at 4:39pm

Hi Doreen the spin technique is to get the client to explain where they feel the anxiety/fear in their body (often in their stomachs hence term stomach churning) maybe even get the client to even give it a colour(9 out of 10 times it will be red) then get them to visulise the fear spinning in front of them while looking at what triggers the fear then stopping the spinning and flipping it over and spinning in the opposite way adding some relaxation or comedy to it, also changing the colour . Running the memories or what triggers the fear while spinning in the opposite direction adding some comedy as you can find something scary and funny at the same time. While spinning the comfort look at the same triggers.
I find that explaining to the client why they feel dizzy or pins and needles or why their hear beats so fast and hard during a panic attacks really does help.
I use CBT, NLP, Hypnotherapy with my clients suffering anxiety
If the client is having panic attacks my first step is always explaining to the client that when the panic attacks recur and the person develops an intense apprehension of having another attack. This fear—called anticipatory anxiety or fear of fear—can be present most of the time and seriously interfere with the person's life even when a panic attack is not in progress.
Re-educate the unconscious mind so that it understands that the situations that currently trigger your panic attacks are not actually dangerous. Put a stop to the thoughts that lead to anxiety, and to replace those thoughts with realistic, rational thoughts.
A panic attack cannot cause heart failure or a heart attack.
- A panic attack cannot cause you to stop breathing.
- A panic attack cannot cause you to faint.
- A panic attack cannot cause you to "go crazy."
- A panic attack cannot cause you to lose control of yourself.
I go through exercises with my clients so they can understand the symptoms of panic will not harm them
Spinning around on the spot with their arms out stretched for 10 spins (most can only mange about 4 on the first attempt.
Sitting with head between their legs for 30secs then getting up very quickly
And panting as to hyperventilate.
So the associations such as oh Im dizzy I’m going to faint can be revaluated
Explain to the person cannot hurt you, anxiety is felt by everyone and its important because it’s there to protect you, the purpose of anxiety is to give you energy to get away from danger.
People that suffer from panic attacks focus on their symptoms; these symptoms are there for protection.
Heart pounding...helps pump blood around the body to run away from danger
Breathless...may feel freighting but it’s useful it helps get more oxygen to where it is needed.
Pins and needles....happens because the circulation changes... the blood gets re-directed to where it thinks it is needed, such as thighs, and big muscles.
Dizzy....A little less blood going to the head, as the body doesn’t need to think clearly while running away. all it thinks of is I’m out of here.
When they notice their heart pounding in a panic attack...get them to say to their self ...that’s a good thing my hearts pounding, it helps my body for flight, it may be happening at the wrong time; it’s a normal thing just simply happening at the wrong time.
Panic is an amazing paradox. It’s the scariest experience we are capable of, and yet it is completely harmless

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Permalink Reply by Gerry on November 5, 2008 at 4:53pm

I believe that the most effective way of treating a phobia is by focusing on the RAS.
If the sensory input (sound, taste, the feel of the memory) gets re-routed from the Amygdala to the Hippocampus the memory is going to feel extremely different.I would use the fast phobia cure with the phobias but for the panic attacks I would go a head with the cognitive behavior exercises.
Doreen im sure you know about the fast phobia cure but if you want to mail me thats fine, always good to get another persons take on it

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Permalink Reply by Stephen Gruber - www. ask-the-hypnotist.com on September 6, 2008 at 2:51am

Hello Doreen,
I would definitely start with the "one issue at a time" approach and would also deal with the diziness first. One idea would be (that I would most likely try) is to get her to describe a safe place first so you have some where to take her if need be (as if you were going to do the desenitization) and then have her experience the dizziness and regress her on that.
Stephen
ask-the-hypnotist.com

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on September 6, 2008 at 11:02pm

Thanks, lets hope she'll be back.
I have learned from her, that she tries every thing at list once and if she is not cured she does not come back, of course we signed the agreement and i stress the fact that it is a team work and I am not offering her a magic pill, but my gut feeling tells me .. I may never see her again and if I do, it will be for one more session...

She changes too many therapist, seen each one for one time, even the doctor who prescribed her the anti depression... don't get me wrong she goes back only when she needs a refill... the last one suggested hypnosis, because, she new the pattern...
she tried acupuncture, shiatsu, reiki healing, i don't even remeber all the list, and that is why I tolled her, you must decide what you want for your self and stick to it...

And as soon as I tolled her, Ok, I will see you next week, is the time will work for you? And she said: .. I want to see what will happen...

So I tolled her, that's fine, you decide if you ready to work as a team, because it takes two to tango.

I didn't see any other way of handling that beside being honest...

Doreen

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Permalink Reply by chris john on September 7, 2008 at 2:17am

after reading about her ailments, i guess if you can only manage to get one session
in with her,
maybe do something for her claustraphobia and a confidence boost.

at least it should help with at least 3 possibly 4 of her phobia's.

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on September 8, 2008 at 1:49am

Thanks...

Tomorrow I am having a 12 year old with almost the same problem only with school, it is to a point that he wont go to school, he starts vomiting?

The mother will try to take him to school again this Morning and if he will not stay, they will call the doctor and me, so I can see him...

The boys Mother was refereed to me by another mother from school, who's child had almost the same anxiety symptoms, not sure about the vomiting? It was two years ago, the anxiety was around his specific teacher and one of her other son seen me a year later, he had the same symptoms only before an exam...

I have the feeling that this boy will be easy, since the mother shared with me, that one of the teachers want the kids to call him Doctor, not a Mister, no Sir, not even a teacher but a Doctor? he is the science teacher.

Now, the kid is worried what will happen if he will forget to call him a Doctor?
I asked the mother to talk to the teacher, and she said she have and her son was their as well, I mean on the phone...This is what the mother said to me, that the teacher tolled her and her son that the kids need to have an authority and respect for him, and this is what he expects to be called...
"He is lucky I am not the Mother"

Any ways, I have explained to the mother that I am not a doctor and she should take her son to be seen by a doctor, and that I will be happy to see him after the doctors visit, so it seems tomorrow I will be busy.

I'll check my emails before or after or between clients.

Thank you to all of you...all, Doreen

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Permalink Reply by Philco on September 8, 2008 at 11:53am

Hi Doreen -

An interesting patient indeed. Of course, as I have never met her, please take my comments as being general rather than specifically targeted at her.

It is very tempting to directly address the presenting symptom as it reassures the patient that their demand is being met and allows the therapist to form a protective "bond" with the client -- also, we can avoid the anxiety of taking a longer route and hoping that the patient sticks with it. Remember, the client will always attempt to transfer their anxiety to you, and then leave the work as soon as they succeed!

However, I think it may be a mistake to focus on the presentation. If you succeed in giving the patient coping skills to reduce the impact of her symptoms, it is almost certain that new symptoms will emerge to bring her back to the defended, anxious state. And defence is what this is all about. Something (maybe her nasty boss, maybe something else) has "shaken her tree" and threatened the (falsified) world fed to her by the ego. Something of childhood (almost certainly a repressed trauma) has begun to float to the surface and her symptom is a defence against remembering. She is probably acting-out also. Don't even get me started on the "loop" she has created in the parasympathetic nervous system (...I think - I forget almost all my neuroscience!).

As I said, an interesting - and challenging - patient.

I think she needs to be allowed to speak in a therapeutic setting, in conjunction with medical supervision. Remember, there is a profound physical dimensions to these problems.

Could you combine a "counselling" (i.e. listening) approach with your hypnotherapeutic work? If you do go down this route, say as little as possible and watch for unusal forms of speech, strange memories and physical/emotional responses that seem inconsistent with the context. Gently encourage her to speak about such things freely, without censoring her thoughts.

I hope this has been of some help -- I realise that my psychoanalytical approach is not the norm on these fora, but maybe something in what I have written will be of utility.

Regards -

Philco

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Permalink Reply by Doreen Cohanim C.Ht on September 8, 2008 at 3:34pm

Philco,

Excellent... I did feel that she was attempting to transfer her anxiety to me, and then leave me all to myself, only she wasn't as successful.

I always combine a "counseling" (i.e. listening) approach with my hypnotherapy work, That is how I gather allot information and if needed I use their own messages to reinforce the suggestions, that if it is appropriate of course.
In her case, not sure she will be back, and I am still waiting to find out if she is going to see her therapist or not, since from what I know, she wasn't planing to go back?

Doreen

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