Don’t be surprised the next time you are in for a visit with a psychiatrist and you are offered anti-depressants instead of psychotherapy - according to a study report covered in the Los Angeles Times regarding psychiatry.
Anti-depressants are one of the largest-selling classes of drugs in the medical industry and insurance companies, not the psychiatric professionals, are calling the shots in determining their use.
From 2004 to 2005, 28% of patients received psychotherapy compared to 44.4% of patients between the years of 1996 and 1997. This 15% drop is largely due to the insurance reimbursement policies. Quite frankly, the insurers subscribe to the notion that it is easier and more cost effective to drug you up than to talk you up. Doctors are provided a better financial incentive for a 15 minute medication management visit than a 45 to 50 minute outpatient psychotherapy session.
The report also said that psychiatrists who provided psychotherapy only for their patients dropped to 10.8% in 2004-2005 from 19% in 1996-1997.
Is this decline in psychotherapy only happening because of these money grabbing insurance companies or are the patients partly to blame in searching for a quick fix? This is what Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University Medical Center asks/suggests.
Whatever the reason for this increase in psychoactive medication – financial incentives or the impatience of our society or both – just be aware of the changes in how psychiatrists do business.
Medication Increasingly Replaces Psychotherapy, Study Finds
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/healthlawprof_blog/2008/08/medication-incr.html
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Monday, August 11, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Who’s the happiest – men or women?
Although I haven’t delved into this area in my work, ABC News reported the results of a research study and got me thinking about it. Many of my clients have battled many different negative issues in their lives – in other words these clients were unhappy – and they are both men and women.
I cannot say one way or the other which gender is happier. But what I can say is that since 2000, I have had more female clients who called me for hypnosis sessions because they suffered depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts and relationship issues than men. These women were composed of students, corporate types and housewives.
The majority of the male clients that contacted me wanted to deal mostly with enhancing their confidence in their professional life, goal setting, and jumpstarting the motivation to start or grow their own business. Only a handful of men who called me battled depression, anxiety or had relationship issues – and those were usually the artistic, emotional and/or right brain types.
Generally speaking, I have found that men focus more on external factors (career oriented, learning something new and gaining material things) and women are focused more internally (feelings, relationships, health, concerned about their looks and/or aging).
From my experience, unwillingness to change, not accepting life, having difficulties in snapping back from adversity, strong sensitivity and negative emotions are some causes for unhappiness.
An article on the New York Times discusses different studies that were made precisely on this topic. One point I found of interest is that in the 1970s women “reported being slightly happier than men. Today, the two have switched places.” Perhaps the answer is here:
“Since the 1960s, men have gradually cut back on activities they find unpleasant. They now work less and relax more. Over the same span, women have replaced housework with paid work — and, as a result, are spending almost as much time doing things they don’t enjoy as in the past. Forty years ago, a typical woman spent about 23 hours a week in an activity considered unpleasant, or 40 more minutes than a typical man. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90 minutes.”
However, some researchers who have studied the use of time contend that:
“Women are not actually working more than they were 30 or 40 years ago. They are instead doing different kinds of work. They’re spending more time on paid work and less on cleaning and cooking.
What has changed — and what seems to be the most likely explanation for the happiness trends — is that women now have a much longer to-do list than they once did (including helping their aging parents). They can’t possibly get it all done, and many end up feeling as if they are somehow falling short.”
This trend is even visible among high school kids. Apparently 25% of males vs. 22 percent of women report being happy. More males are becoming happier while the percentage of “happy” females remained the same since the 1960s.
One researcher mentions that perhaps women were happier before because they did not have as many ambitions as they do today. Some people, the research says, have not caught up with the “gender revolution.”
Nonetheless, I have women come to me who work and those who do not work and are supported by their significant other. Some that do not work cannot accept the dependency while others take it for granted. I see a huge problem with self-esteem issues, which is a topic that is not mentioned in the NYT article nor the ABC News report.
Living only inside of one's own world without accepting life around him or her is what I have seen to cause unhappiness in many. Locking into an idea and not ‘letting go’, living in the past, battling anger issues, or being argumentative will also cause unhappiness in either gender.
Below is the clip from the ABC network mentioning which gender is happier.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=9075328
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
I cannot say one way or the other which gender is happier. But what I can say is that since 2000, I have had more female clients who called me for hypnosis sessions because they suffered depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts and relationship issues than men. These women were composed of students, corporate types and housewives.
The majority of the male clients that contacted me wanted to deal mostly with enhancing their confidence in their professional life, goal setting, and jumpstarting the motivation to start or grow their own business. Only a handful of men who called me battled depression, anxiety or had relationship issues – and those were usually the artistic, emotional and/or right brain types.
Generally speaking, I have found that men focus more on external factors (career oriented, learning something new and gaining material things) and women are focused more internally (feelings, relationships, health, concerned about their looks and/or aging).
From my experience, unwillingness to change, not accepting life, having difficulties in snapping back from adversity, strong sensitivity and negative emotions are some causes for unhappiness.
An article on the New York Times discusses different studies that were made precisely on this topic. One point I found of interest is that in the 1970s women “reported being slightly happier than men. Today, the two have switched places.” Perhaps the answer is here:
“Since the 1960s, men have gradually cut back on activities they find unpleasant. They now work less and relax more. Over the same span, women have replaced housework with paid work — and, as a result, are spending almost as much time doing things they don’t enjoy as in the past. Forty years ago, a typical woman spent about 23 hours a week in an activity considered unpleasant, or 40 more minutes than a typical man. Today, with men working less, the gap is 90 minutes.”
However, some researchers who have studied the use of time contend that:
“Women are not actually working more than they were 30 or 40 years ago. They are instead doing different kinds of work. They’re spending more time on paid work and less on cleaning and cooking.
What has changed — and what seems to be the most likely explanation for the happiness trends — is that women now have a much longer to-do list than they once did (including helping their aging parents). They can’t possibly get it all done, and many end up feeling as if they are somehow falling short.”
This trend is even visible among high school kids. Apparently 25% of males vs. 22 percent of women report being happy. More males are becoming happier while the percentage of “happy” females remained the same since the 1960s.
One researcher mentions that perhaps women were happier before because they did not have as many ambitions as they do today. Some people, the research says, have not caught up with the “gender revolution.”
Nonetheless, I have women come to me who work and those who do not work and are supported by their significant other. Some that do not work cannot accept the dependency while others take it for granted. I see a huge problem with self-esteem issues, which is a topic that is not mentioned in the NYT article nor the ABC News report.
Living only inside of one's own world without accepting life around him or her is what I have seen to cause unhappiness in many. Locking into an idea and not ‘letting go’, living in the past, battling anger issues, or being argumentative will also cause unhappiness in either gender.
Below is the clip from the ABC network mentioning which gender is happier.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=9075328
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Why Affirmations Work?
Tools needed:
1. Affirmations (general affirmations provided below)
2. Conscious mind - the 'chef'
3. Subconscious mind - the 'big pot' on the stove
When people experience hopelessness in their lives, they usually drop into a state of mind called depression. This depression, if left intact long enough, will cause the decrease of those feel-good chemicals inside of the brain. Depletion of those positive chemicals just makes life intolerable – with the lack of energy, isolation, a feeling of dejection; in essence, one’s life becomes miserable.
How does a depressed person offset this state of mind? Some commonalities depressed people share are an inactive lifestyle and engaging in negative self-talk. To get outside of this state of mind, the depressed person should become active (walking, dancing, biking, bowling, etc) and use positive self-talk (Affirmations) to change that negative chatter that goes on in the back of the mind.
Becoming active is really a no-brainer; however, the affirmation part may take some convincing as to why this would work.
This is how affirmations work:
Think of your subconscious mind as a big pot sitting on the stove and your conscious mind as the chef that fills the pot with different foods. The chef can put anything in this large pot, in addition to the water for cooking, then turn the stove on and let it boil. The pot can contain chicken soup, veggies, corn or potatoes or any food that requires boiling and any food that the chef wants to put into the pot. The chef can even put some rocks, dirt or sand in this pot (it's the chef's choice!) along with water and the pot then contain boiled rocks, dirt or sand.
But would anyone want to consume these ‘negative’ things (rocks, dirt or sand) even though the chef put them in the pot? The interesting thing about this pot on the lit stove is that it doesn't reject, argue, debate or complain with the contents the chef gives it (even though the rocks, dirt or sand aren't good for cooking or consumption). The pot’s job is only to cook what the chef put inside it with no questions asked. At the end of the cooking, the chef gets the contents back in a different form; typically, an edible form only if he/she put in the right contents.
Your subconscious mind is the same as the pot on the lit stove...it doesn't reject, argue, debate or complain with the contents your conscious/chef (even if the thoughts were negative) gives it. If your conscious mind gives it negative thoughts or negative experiences it will cook these thoughts/experiences for you and feed negativity back to your life; and potentially cause a host of issues such as: overloaded emotions, depression, anxiety, guilt, stress, anger and/or poor health. In essence, this means a hard life for you. If your conscious mind gives your subconscious positive thoughts, it will cook these thoughts for you as well and feed positivity back into your life with happiness, inner peace, fun and good health - a much easier life for you.
Now, you have to ‘consciously' make the choice as to what you want your 'subconscious' mind to cook - positive thoughts or negative thoughts, a good life filled with inner peace, happiness and enjoyment or one filled with anger, depression, fear, obsessive thoughts or ill health...this is your life and this is your choice. No one else can make this decision for you!
Your subconscious mind is a tool/gift you were born with and you can use it as you see fit. It is very powerful if we know how to use it and it is very powerful even if we don't know how to use it – it is just the way it is designed. The very nature and relationship between the conscious (chef) and the subconscious (pot) mind can make our lives miserable or it can make our lives peaceful!
These general sayings (or the specific ones you create) below will help your conscious mind (your chef) 'program' your subconscious mind (your pot) and your subconscious mind will never reject the 'positive programs' (affirmations) in the same way that it doesn't reject the 'negative programs' (anxiety, anger, depression, fear, guilt, obsessive thoughts and panic) that many people give their minds each day.
The affirmations are designed to keep your chef/conscious mind busy and out of your own way while you are ‘programming’ your pot for happiness and success.
If you say your affirmations each and everyday, your chef (conscious mind) will put positive contents in your pot (subconscious mind) and you will receive positive thoughts in your life which will eventually change your behavior and outlook on life!
I know it sounds easy and it really is as long as you do your affirmations - please read them aloud to yourself for stronger effect.
The below affirmations are general. You can use them ‘as is’ or modify them or just create your own. If you need to, print them and carry them with you at all times or until you don't need to say them anymore - say them in the morning, noon and night or any time you feel less than stellar.
For how long should you say them? Scientists say it takes about 21 days to create a habit. I say, use them until you begin to see positive change in your thinking/behavior.
1. I love myself and enjoy being with myself each and every day
2. My self-esteem and self-confidence will increase each and every day
3. I will remove negative thoughts and negative people out of my life
4. I will always seek inner peace in my life
5. I will make a commitment to myself to seek fun and happiness each and every day
6. I will bring in more positive activity into my life each and every day
7. My health gets better each and every day
8. I will breathe in positive energy and let go of all negative energy each and every day
9. My family brings me happiness
10. I bring myself and my family happiness
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
1. Affirmations (general affirmations provided below)
2. Conscious mind - the 'chef'
3. Subconscious mind - the 'big pot' on the stove
When people experience hopelessness in their lives, they usually drop into a state of mind called depression. This depression, if left intact long enough, will cause the decrease of those feel-good chemicals inside of the brain. Depletion of those positive chemicals just makes life intolerable – with the lack of energy, isolation, a feeling of dejection; in essence, one’s life becomes miserable.
How does a depressed person offset this state of mind? Some commonalities depressed people share are an inactive lifestyle and engaging in negative self-talk. To get outside of this state of mind, the depressed person should become active (walking, dancing, biking, bowling, etc) and use positive self-talk (Affirmations) to change that negative chatter that goes on in the back of the mind.
Becoming active is really a no-brainer; however, the affirmation part may take some convincing as to why this would work.
This is how affirmations work:
Think of your subconscious mind as a big pot sitting on the stove and your conscious mind as the chef that fills the pot with different foods. The chef can put anything in this large pot, in addition to the water for cooking, then turn the stove on and let it boil. The pot can contain chicken soup, veggies, corn or potatoes or any food that requires boiling and any food that the chef wants to put into the pot. The chef can even put some rocks, dirt or sand in this pot (it's the chef's choice!) along with water and the pot then contain boiled rocks, dirt or sand.
But would anyone want to consume these ‘negative’ things (rocks, dirt or sand) even though the chef put them in the pot? The interesting thing about this pot on the lit stove is that it doesn't reject, argue, debate or complain with the contents the chef gives it (even though the rocks, dirt or sand aren't good for cooking or consumption). The pot’s job is only to cook what the chef put inside it with no questions asked. At the end of the cooking, the chef gets the contents back in a different form; typically, an edible form only if he/she put in the right contents.
Your subconscious mind is the same as the pot on the lit stove...it doesn't reject, argue, debate or complain with the contents your conscious/chef (even if the thoughts were negative) gives it. If your conscious mind gives it negative thoughts or negative experiences it will cook these thoughts/experiences for you and feed negativity back to your life; and potentially cause a host of issues such as: overloaded emotions, depression, anxiety, guilt, stress, anger and/or poor health. In essence, this means a hard life for you. If your conscious mind gives your subconscious positive thoughts, it will cook these thoughts for you as well and feed positivity back into your life with happiness, inner peace, fun and good health - a much easier life for you.
Now, you have to ‘consciously' make the choice as to what you want your 'subconscious' mind to cook - positive thoughts or negative thoughts, a good life filled with inner peace, happiness and enjoyment or one filled with anger, depression, fear, obsessive thoughts or ill health...this is your life and this is your choice. No one else can make this decision for you!
Your subconscious mind is a tool/gift you were born with and you can use it as you see fit. It is very powerful if we know how to use it and it is very powerful even if we don't know how to use it – it is just the way it is designed. The very nature and relationship between the conscious (chef) and the subconscious (pot) mind can make our lives miserable or it can make our lives peaceful!
These general sayings (or the specific ones you create) below will help your conscious mind (your chef) 'program' your subconscious mind (your pot) and your subconscious mind will never reject the 'positive programs' (affirmations) in the same way that it doesn't reject the 'negative programs' (anxiety, anger, depression, fear, guilt, obsessive thoughts and panic) that many people give their minds each day.
The affirmations are designed to keep your chef/conscious mind busy and out of your own way while you are ‘programming’ your pot for happiness and success.
If you say your affirmations each and everyday, your chef (conscious mind) will put positive contents in your pot (subconscious mind) and you will receive positive thoughts in your life which will eventually change your behavior and outlook on life!
I know it sounds easy and it really is as long as you do your affirmations - please read them aloud to yourself for stronger effect.
The below affirmations are general. You can use them ‘as is’ or modify them or just create your own. If you need to, print them and carry them with you at all times or until you don't need to say them anymore - say them in the morning, noon and night or any time you feel less than stellar.
For how long should you say them? Scientists say it takes about 21 days to create a habit. I say, use them until you begin to see positive change in your thinking/behavior.
1. I love myself and enjoy being with myself each and every day
2. My self-esteem and self-confidence will increase each and every day
3. I will remove negative thoughts and negative people out of my life
4. I will always seek inner peace in my life
5. I will make a commitment to myself to seek fun and happiness each and every day
6. I will bring in more positive activity into my life each and every day
7. My health gets better each and every day
8. I will breathe in positive energy and let go of all negative energy each and every day
9. My family brings me happiness
10. I bring myself and my family happiness
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Monday, June 23, 2008
NIRVANA
“To cease blowing” (as when a candle flame ceases to flicker) is the literal translation of this Sanskrit word. Many people may search for it through spirituality, meditation or some form of spiritual exercise such as yoga or tai chi. This practice is an integral part of Eastern philosophy. Other people, especially some of us in the Western world, aren’t aware of its existence or may have heard of it but don’t really know how, or even have enough time to attempt to, experience it. And then there are others - the skeptics - who would deem it absolutely ludicrous to even think of this concept, let alone having it play a role in their lives.
In our society, we have been groomed to work hard and study hard without being given an understanding of how to relax and take off the stress on the road towards success. For this reason, many experience the problems which come from an overloaded brain and a too harsh, oftentimes rigid and clinical, lifestyle.
So what does Nirvana mean to you? I think it may have different meanings to different people. Some of these meanings may include a desire for: inner peace, relaxation, bliss, clarity, and compassion for others.
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words – but a video is on another level.
Watch how this brain scientist -- Jill Bolte Taylor -- found Nirvana in her life.
Hopefully it moves you towards your search for Nirvana as it has me!
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
In our society, we have been groomed to work hard and study hard without being given an understanding of how to relax and take off the stress on the road towards success. For this reason, many experience the problems which come from an overloaded brain and a too harsh, oftentimes rigid and clinical, lifestyle.
So what does Nirvana mean to you? I think it may have different meanings to different people. Some of these meanings may include a desire for: inner peace, relaxation, bliss, clarity, and compassion for others.
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words – but a video is on another level.
Watch how this brain scientist -- Jill Bolte Taylor -- found Nirvana in her life.
Hopefully it moves you towards your search for Nirvana as it has me!
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Dedication to LOUISE HAY
Despite being a high school drop out because of a pregnancy at age 15, Louise Hay went on to become one of the best selling authors in history; she owns her own publishing empire and perhaps affected the New Age community like no other.
I ‘discovered’ her accidentally. A few years ago, my wife was on a trip to her home in Europe when she met a friend who told her about Louise. This friend was battling breast cancer and incidentally, Louise had suffered cancer as well.
I received a call from my wife one day while she was on her trip. She told me that I needed to get a book called “Heal Your Body” by Louise L. Hay. I said, “Louise who?” as I was writing down her name. She said that her girlfriend, the one with the breast cancer, had this book and it had helped her tremendously in her thinking, helping her become more positive.
So I went out to look for this book and was surprised to find that it was so small and thin – less than one hundred pages. I also found that the whole book was about affirmations from a mind/body perspective. In other words, Louise discovered that our mind or our thinking could affect our body in certain ways; the same way she found out that her cervical cancer stemmed from not ‘letting go’ of the abuse she suffered as a child.
I had heard of mind/body communication but more so from books and journals of science – never from an ‘affirmation’ point of view. When I read over the many ailments listed in Hay’s book, along with probable causes of the ailment and associated affirmations or new positive thinking, I thought to myself – no way!
I know I am not from the ‘Show me’ state of Missouri but I wanted proof. Yes, I read many of her testimonials but I wanted to experience it first hand. So what better way for me to do this than to try it out on some of my clients who were battling emotional and/or physical pains.
This is how I did it: I would get a call for a session appointment -- let’s say the client was suffering from constipation. Typically the way I would work with this type of issue (before reading Louise) was through general suggestions about the flow of nature and balance. After reading “Heal Your Body”, I would ask the client during the consultation if she had any of these issues: “Refusing to release old ideas. Being stuck in the past or sometimes like to keep what she has and not share with others.” To my surprise, the client would agree to all of the above. Since this was the case, I would tailor the suggestions around these affirmations. This particular case actually happened and this approach caused the lessening of her constant bouts of constipation and today, she’s happy to tell me, she is doing much better.
But I didn’t stop there. Even though Louise had one point in her win column (on Constipation, that is), I wanted to test it on another client. I got a call from a client who had suffered from lower back problems for years. She had gone back and forth to chiropractors, general medical doctors, and even had surgery. So I asked her if she ever worried about money or felt that she didn’t have financial support (Louise’s mind/body connection for lower back pain). The client agreed, surprised that I had guessed all of this, and I made my suggestions accordingly. It eased her pain tremendously. In fact, she reported to me years later that she was still lower back pain free.
Of course I tested it on others as well and each time, the client would agree with the mind/body communication and causes of their ailments. So I have to say, this little book has been a gem for me and my clients.
Now I cannot guarantee that anyone else will receive these results by reading this book and practicing the affirmations but I can say that they worked for me and some of my clients.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/magazine/04Hay-t.html?_r=1&ref=books&oref=slogin
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Sunday, May 25, 2008
THE PROCESS OF CHANGE
When people walk into a mental health professional’s office (be it a psychotherapist, psychologist, counselor, or hypnotherapist), they are seeking change in their personal or professional life.
Also, even though they may have a desire to break habits such as smoking, addictions, overeating, anorexia, anger, fear or need relationship help, more often than not their issues may be more ‘emotion-based’.
This means that while the mental health professional is busy working on helping with a client or patient's weight loss, an eating disorder, or depression, there is usually an underlying culprit for these conditions that is hiding behind the scene. If these emotions are not handled or at least discussed, the mental health provider may be ‘barking up the wrong tree,’ and ultimately the client or patient may walk away saying that ‘therapy’ or ‘hypnosis’ doesn’t work.
We are not all created equal – what may mentally, emotionally or physically affect one person may not affect another or at least not in a similar way. Some people are more sensitive than others whether through genetics or they have been made that way by social factors – parents, guardians, peers, colleagues, intimate relationships or the person’s own personality or proclivities. Some people are so emotional that just getting them to think and operate logically is a challenge, and to guide them towards functioning consistently can be like pulling teeth.
This work in The Process of Change is not only left up to the mental health provider. Much of the responsibility of change lies with the client, and the first thing this individual must do to change is precisely to ‘embrace change’. This is so important, so I will say it again. The first thing a person must do in order to change is to ‘embrace change’. This means that the client must make a conscious decision and then put forth effort to change and also to maintain the positive results of the change until it all becomes second nature – which is the ultimate goal.
I have heard and seen clients go into different therapists’ offices and later come into my office with the idea of ‘change me’ and ‘change me’ today—without ever giving much thought that the onus of this change, at least in part, relies on them. Yes, the therapist has many tools in his or her tool belt to bring about change for his clients. But at the end of the day, again, the client must be willing to change or at least make the necessary adjustments in his or her life just as much, perhaps even more so, as the therapist wants to help make the change in the client’s life.
This concept is similar to a football coach giving a play on the sideline to his quarterback for execution. The coach may draw up the plan, advise the best way to run the plan, even give a plan ‘B’ if plan ‘A’ doesn’t work; but after is all said and done, it is up to the quarterback to make it happen on the field.
When I hear about some people who have been in therapy for 10, 20 or more years for the same issue, it makes me wonder if the client is not ‘embracing change’ or if there should be a ‘change’ in the therapist who is working with them.
Without ‘embracing change’, we are left holding ‘a bag from the negative past’. Yes, I know, change doesn’t come easy. How do I change a ‘feeling’ or ‘behavior’ I have carried around with me for years – maybe even since childhood or my teen years? Facing the ‘unknown’, even if the ‘unknown’ is good for us is a difficult task – it is uncomfortable. Holding on to a ‘known thought, behavior or mindset’ even if the ‘known thought, behavior or mindset’ is negative may be ‘comfortable’ for us because it is all we know.
The first thing you must do to ‘embrace change’ is to strongly dislike your ‘comfort zone,’ especially if this ‘comfort zone’ promotes a negative lifestyle, causes you depression, arguments in your relationship(s), health problems, has you living in the past, brings setbacks to your world, or even destroys or limits your quality of life. The second thing you must do is to put aside your stubbornness or unwillingness to do things differently – hard-headedness will prevent change from happening. Having an ‘I am right, they are all wrong mindset’ doesn’t help. Third, if you find a good therapist, please listen to the advice, take it to heart and implement it in your life. And fourth, bring fun into your world. Find something that brings you happiness – a hobby, art, music or discover your creativity or something new about yourself; join social groups or anything that will make life lighter and take your mind off the negative. If you look for negativity in any part of life, you will find it; just as if you look for the positive in life, you will find it as well.
Once you religiously follow these steps, concrete, effective change is around the corner.
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Also, even though they may have a desire to break habits such as smoking, addictions, overeating, anorexia, anger, fear or need relationship help, more often than not their issues may be more ‘emotion-based’.
This means that while the mental health professional is busy working on helping with a client or patient's weight loss, an eating disorder, or depression, there is usually an underlying culprit for these conditions that is hiding behind the scene. If these emotions are not handled or at least discussed, the mental health provider may be ‘barking up the wrong tree,’ and ultimately the client or patient may walk away saying that ‘therapy’ or ‘hypnosis’ doesn’t work.
We are not all created equal – what may mentally, emotionally or physically affect one person may not affect another or at least not in a similar way. Some people are more sensitive than others whether through genetics or they have been made that way by social factors – parents, guardians, peers, colleagues, intimate relationships or the person’s own personality or proclivities. Some people are so emotional that just getting them to think and operate logically is a challenge, and to guide them towards functioning consistently can be like pulling teeth.
This work in The Process of Change is not only left up to the mental health provider. Much of the responsibility of change lies with the client, and the first thing this individual must do to change is precisely to ‘embrace change’. This is so important, so I will say it again. The first thing a person must do in order to change is to ‘embrace change’. This means that the client must make a conscious decision and then put forth effort to change and also to maintain the positive results of the change until it all becomes second nature – which is the ultimate goal.
I have heard and seen clients go into different therapists’ offices and later come into my office with the idea of ‘change me’ and ‘change me’ today—without ever giving much thought that the onus of this change, at least in part, relies on them. Yes, the therapist has many tools in his or her tool belt to bring about change for his clients. But at the end of the day, again, the client must be willing to change or at least make the necessary adjustments in his or her life just as much, perhaps even more so, as the therapist wants to help make the change in the client’s life.
This concept is similar to a football coach giving a play on the sideline to his quarterback for execution. The coach may draw up the plan, advise the best way to run the plan, even give a plan ‘B’ if plan ‘A’ doesn’t work; but after is all said and done, it is up to the quarterback to make it happen on the field.
When I hear about some people who have been in therapy for 10, 20 or more years for the same issue, it makes me wonder if the client is not ‘embracing change’ or if there should be a ‘change’ in the therapist who is working with them.
Without ‘embracing change’, we are left holding ‘a bag from the negative past’. Yes, I know, change doesn’t come easy. How do I change a ‘feeling’ or ‘behavior’ I have carried around with me for years – maybe even since childhood or my teen years? Facing the ‘unknown’, even if the ‘unknown’ is good for us is a difficult task – it is uncomfortable. Holding on to a ‘known thought, behavior or mindset’ even if the ‘known thought, behavior or mindset’ is negative may be ‘comfortable’ for us because it is all we know.
The first thing you must do to ‘embrace change’ is to strongly dislike your ‘comfort zone,’ especially if this ‘comfort zone’ promotes a negative lifestyle, causes you depression, arguments in your relationship(s), health problems, has you living in the past, brings setbacks to your world, or even destroys or limits your quality of life. The second thing you must do is to put aside your stubbornness or unwillingness to do things differently – hard-headedness will prevent change from happening. Having an ‘I am right, they are all wrong mindset’ doesn’t help. Third, if you find a good therapist, please listen to the advice, take it to heart and implement it in your life. And fourth, bring fun into your world. Find something that brings you happiness – a hobby, art, music or discover your creativity or something new about yourself; join social groups or anything that will make life lighter and take your mind off the negative. If you look for negativity in any part of life, you will find it; just as if you look for the positive in life, you will find it as well.
Once you religiously follow these steps, concrete, effective change is around the corner.
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
Monday, May 19, 2008
HYPNOSIS AND GOD
Sometimes I receive calls from potential clients who are active in their religious community (primarily, but not exclusively, of the Christian and, to a lesser extent, Muslim persuasions). The main question these people had for me related to the fact that they wanted to know if God would approve of hypnotherapy.
They would go on to tell me about all of the negative things they had heard about hypnosis from the church… things such as: it is associated with devil worshipping or witchcraft and if you allow someone to “play” with your mind, you may be inviting demons to reside inside you. They would also say that their pastors would not approve of hypnosis or that hypnosis is not mentioned in the Bible.
I even had some clients come and tell me that they visited their pastors before contacting me and talked to him about it. I was amazed, just as much as the clients themselves, at the response they received. When they would tell their pastor that they were considering hypnotherapy for their personal issues, they either received a reaction of laughter, a near chastisement, or a berating of hypnosis. One response none of my clients received from their pastors is something like: “How can this hypnotist help you overcome your problems? What did he say he could do for you?” So even though the pastor warned them against hypnosis, he didn’t provide any solutions. And here’s the way all of this sounded to me: it was like watching a person have a heart attack on the street, and simply standing there, watching, without making a move to call an ambulance.
Yes, there may be many myths about hypnosis and how it has sometimes the practice of it has been abused (e.g., the antics of stage hypnosis, a Svengali type of hypnosis as portrayed in movies and NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming in television commercials). These are actions you or I may not approve of, but one cannot defame hypnosis and, for example, ignore the mishaps of members of other professions. Our news is full of stories of doctors charged with malpractice for giving the wrong medication and/or ordering the wrong procedure; teachers abusing their students, corrupt police officers who were sworn in to serve and protect the community and instead indulge in corruption, brutality and abuse of power; and pastors and priests accused of defrauding their flock, or committing infidelity and/or pedophilia. Does this mean that we should condemn all of the members of these professions because of a few bad apples?
I don’t profess to have a direct phone line to God or pretend to know all of the answers in regards to what he wants us to do every minute of every day – but I can say that after analyzing some of his creations, such as humanity in the form of man and woman, I have formed my own conclusions.
Since man has been (and is) walking around with a piece of high tech equipment (his brain) on his shoulders that is great enough to build computers, cars, airplanes, large skyscrapers, furniture, iron and concrete bridges, and the very churches and mosques in which Christians and Muslims pray, I would suspect that God would want us to understand his creation much more than we actually do.
Without understanding the capabilities of the brain and the nature of emotions, our prisons, drug rehabilitation centers and mental institutions will continue to fill up with destructive, fragile and confused men and women. As I said before, I am not an expert on God’s thinking but I would suspect that he wouldn’t want to see his creations go to waste with negative thinking and poisonous emotions. Yes, praying is a blessing which would certainly help a person in need. But to paraphrase an old biblical saying: “You can give a man a fish and he will eat for one day but if you teach him how to fish (in this case, teach him how his mind and emotions work), he will eat for a lifetime.” Also: “God will help you if you help yourself”. Any of this sounds familiar?
These clients who sought help from their pastors first and were denied came to me for hypnotherapy sessions in the end and they told me afterwards they were happy they did. My method involved the simultaneous use of multiple techniques, such as behavior modification, coaching/mentoring, career and personal advice for the conscious mind and hypnosis for the subconscious mind to affect both sides of the brain – the left, which represents logic, and the right, which is the seat of emotions. I help my clients move themselves out of their own way which is often their biggest issue.
Hypnotherapy is not here to replace the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the pastor or priest, or to take away anyone’s self control. It is designed to allow a man or a woman to take charge of their life by embracing logic, balancing life, and accepting who they are; thus, getting in control of their “self” instead of letting the mind and emotions control their life. In my humble opinion, this will allow any person to appreciate God’s gifts to them!
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
They would go on to tell me about all of the negative things they had heard about hypnosis from the church… things such as: it is associated with devil worshipping or witchcraft and if you allow someone to “play” with your mind, you may be inviting demons to reside inside you. They would also say that their pastors would not approve of hypnosis or that hypnosis is not mentioned in the Bible.
I even had some clients come and tell me that they visited their pastors before contacting me and talked to him about it. I was amazed, just as much as the clients themselves, at the response they received. When they would tell their pastor that they were considering hypnotherapy for their personal issues, they either received a reaction of laughter, a near chastisement, or a berating of hypnosis. One response none of my clients received from their pastors is something like: “How can this hypnotist help you overcome your problems? What did he say he could do for you?” So even though the pastor warned them against hypnosis, he didn’t provide any solutions. And here’s the way all of this sounded to me: it was like watching a person have a heart attack on the street, and simply standing there, watching, without making a move to call an ambulance.
Yes, there may be many myths about hypnosis and how it has sometimes the practice of it has been abused (e.g., the antics of stage hypnosis, a Svengali type of hypnosis as portrayed in movies and NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming in television commercials). These are actions you or I may not approve of, but one cannot defame hypnosis and, for example, ignore the mishaps of members of other professions. Our news is full of stories of doctors charged with malpractice for giving the wrong medication and/or ordering the wrong procedure; teachers abusing their students, corrupt police officers who were sworn in to serve and protect the community and instead indulge in corruption, brutality and abuse of power; and pastors and priests accused of defrauding their flock, or committing infidelity and/or pedophilia. Does this mean that we should condemn all of the members of these professions because of a few bad apples?
I don’t profess to have a direct phone line to God or pretend to know all of the answers in regards to what he wants us to do every minute of every day – but I can say that after analyzing some of his creations, such as humanity in the form of man and woman, I have formed my own conclusions.
Since man has been (and is) walking around with a piece of high tech equipment (his brain) on his shoulders that is great enough to build computers, cars, airplanes, large skyscrapers, furniture, iron and concrete bridges, and the very churches and mosques in which Christians and Muslims pray, I would suspect that God would want us to understand his creation much more than we actually do.
Without understanding the capabilities of the brain and the nature of emotions, our prisons, drug rehabilitation centers and mental institutions will continue to fill up with destructive, fragile and confused men and women. As I said before, I am not an expert on God’s thinking but I would suspect that he wouldn’t want to see his creations go to waste with negative thinking and poisonous emotions. Yes, praying is a blessing which would certainly help a person in need. But to paraphrase an old biblical saying: “You can give a man a fish and he will eat for one day but if you teach him how to fish (in this case, teach him how his mind and emotions work), he will eat for a lifetime.” Also: “God will help you if you help yourself”. Any of this sounds familiar?
These clients who sought help from their pastors first and were denied came to me for hypnotherapy sessions in the end and they told me afterwards they were happy they did. My method involved the simultaneous use of multiple techniques, such as behavior modification, coaching/mentoring, career and personal advice for the conscious mind and hypnosis for the subconscious mind to affect both sides of the brain – the left, which represents logic, and the right, which is the seat of emotions. I help my clients move themselves out of their own way which is often their biggest issue.
Hypnotherapy is not here to replace the Bible, the Quran, the Torah, the pastor or priest, or to take away anyone’s self control. It is designed to allow a man or a woman to take charge of their life by embracing logic, balancing life, and accepting who they are; thus, getting in control of their “self” instead of letting the mind and emotions control their life. In my humble opinion, this will allow any person to appreciate God’s gifts to them!
John
Clinical Hypnotherapist & Life Coach
Hypnosis & Self-Enhancement Books & CDs: http://www.hypnotizeanybody.com
Hypnotherapy Services: http://www.hypnotherapy4health.com
Joimethod: http://www.joimethod.com
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