The role of hypnotherapy in Acceptance
It's not always easy to accept the changes we have decided to make in our lives, such as quitting smoking, getting healthier or becoming more organized. Yet these decisions can be essential for improving and bettering ourselves.
Some of you may have found the previous sentence perfectly acceptable, while others deem it completely unacceptable. And still more might find themselves undecided. So now I'm curious - what is the success rate for overcoming depression when one believes that it's incurable as opposed to those who understand there are steps they can take to better their chances? Believing that you can shape the result of a situation is paramount to your recovery trajectory. While we may not be able to alter what has already transpired, we have the power and capability to create our own future - one step at a time.
Embrace the Evidence: Clinically Proven Care for Acceptance
The most prevalent form of psychological treatment is psychotherapy or counseling. A specific type of acceptance therapy known as ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is both a form of psychotherapy and a branch of clinical behavior analysis. It is an evidence-based psychological intervention that combines acceptance and mindfulness strategies with commitment and behavior-change strategies to enhance psychological flexibility.
Harnessing the Magic: Hypnosis as a Powerful Treatment for Acceptance and Transformation
Hypnosis has shown effectiveness in fostering acceptance or creating a "yes-set." For many years, experts in human relations and sales have recognized the significance of obtaining an initial affirmative response when influencing someone. Skillful orators aim to secure affirmative responses from the audience to establish a mental state of acceptance. As far back as 1936, Dale Carnegie emphasized this principle, referring to it as "the secret of Socrates." Rather than telling people they were wrong, Socrates employed his method, now known as the "Socratic method," which involved posing questions that his opponent would agree with. Through a series of affirmative admissions, he gradually led his opponent to embrace a conclusion they would have vehemently denied just minutes earlier.
Practitioners of solution-oriented hypnosis can deliver messages of acceptance, validation, and acknowledgment. They do not seek to change or analyze experiences as inherently problematic. They challenge problem-focused perspectives such as blame, impossibility, invalidation, and non-accountability. Instead, they offer new possibilities for attention, contextual shifts, such as changes in biochemistry, time, space, cultural habits, and influences, to normalize and therefore value and validate alternative perspectives.
For individuals interested in exploring alternative approaches to acceptance, hypnosis can be an effective tool.
An article titled "Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and Change: Unconditional Self Acceptance and Hypnosis in CBT" in the Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy discusses various factors contributing to long-lasting therapeutic change. It highlights the importance of rational disputation, endorsement, and unconditional self- and other acceptance. The article suggests that incorporating hypnotic work on unconditional self-acceptance as an adjunct can support therapeutic progress across different themes.
Measuring self-acceptance can be challenging due to its abstract nature and its tendency to remain buried and unacknowledged. However, several commonly used methods can help assess self-acceptance. These include the Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale (GESS), Emanuel M. Berger Expressed Acceptance of Self and Others scale, Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire (USAQ), and Self-Acceptance Subscale of the Scales of Psychological Wellbeing (SPWB).
If you are unsure and wish to gauge your mental health, consider taking a free mental health check. A mental health assessment typically takes around 15-20 minutes and can assist in identifying any issues causing problems in your life PsychologyToday website..
If you're experiencing a crisis and need immediate support, there are organizations you can reach out to:
LifeLine: A national charity in Australia that offers 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. You can access confidential online chat support through their website: LifeLine Crisis Chat. For more information, visit LifeLine website.
Beyond Blue (Australia): Offers 24/7 support services, including brief counseling, for individuals going through a difficult time. You can speak with a counselor by calling 1300 22 4636 or access their support through online chat. Learn more at Beyond Blue Support Service.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (USA/America): Provides free and confidential support for individuals in distress, along with prevention and crisis resources for people in the United States. Visit their website 988 Suicide & Crisis Line.
13YARN: A national helpline in Australia specifically for Indigenous people who are going through tough times and need someone to talk to. They offer a confidential and culturally safe space to discuss needs, worries, or concerns. Reach out to them for support.
Tired of feeling taken advantage of and accepting too easily? It may be due to your unconscious ‘Fuzzy function’. This concept explains why you can or cannot accept certain situations. Don't let this natural part of yourself hold you back from embracing new experiences, take control today!
Your brain is naturally equipped to take on specific tasks, depending which side of the brain you use. The right hemisphere has a predilection for form and design while the left hemisphere enjoys handling details and working with language. Additionally, your right cerebral cortex prefers melodic sounds over words or syllables.
Have you ever noticed that if you hold a ball in your left hand and speak or sing at the same time, it enhances your performance? That's because speaking and balancing are controlled by the same side of your brain. When both sides cooperate, known as "spill-over" effect, this results in an advantageous outcome for tasks performed on either side. For instance, when singing melodies (a right hemisphere function) has an advantage with visual input from the left field. Interestingly enough however; holding a ball in the right hand impairs one’s performance instead of improving it!
By recognizing these imbalances, the hypnotist who is attempting to help their client enter a trance can become more methodical in deciding how they should communicate with them. Milton Erickson's client would always fly into an uncontrollable rage when she heard the name 'Dolly'. The client's reactions appear as if they are left with no other options. They follow a ‘hear then feel’ pattern, which is classified under fuzzy functions; these can limit the choices available to them in managing their behavior. Fuzzy functions are inputs that can be visually or auditorily represented, but instead of being stored in the associated representational system, it is interpreted and understood differently. These fuzzy functions may not always be clear-cut or straightforward; however, they are far from wrong - simply a bit ambiguous at times!
Here is the one way Caring Renewing Your Source of An Imagery Exercise for Caregivers
Take a few minutes to get comfortable and to begin to relax . . . let yourself shift or move to become more comfortable . . . Inhale deeply, and with each exhale feel all of your stress drift away. Allow yourself to relax, naturally and effortlessly...letting go on every out-breath until you find a sense of ease in the moment. . . . Take a moment to step away from the world around you and give yourself some attention. Allow your inner self to come into focus, and take comfort in knowing that the outer world will be there when you return. As you relax more deeply, recognize how much knowledge and understanding has been gained in caring for others.. Understand that what is necessary for you in the moment should be taken advantage of, and remember to treat yourself as kindly as you would others.
Acknowledge the tension in your feet and legs, allowing it to drift away while they sink into a more comfortable position. Feel that sensation course through your body as you urge yourself to relax further and dive deeper still. Notice now how your pelvis, hips, and lower back feel--inviting them all too soften even more deeply than before.. . . Enable yourself to immerse in a state of tranquility and relaxation, as you allow your abdomen - along with all the organs within it - to let go of any tension. Notice how comfortable this sensation is! Allow that same feeling to spread throughout your chest and rib cage, your shoulders, neck muscles (front, back and sides), until every inch of you has surrendered into an ultimate sense of relaxation.. . feel free to move or shift to become even more comfortable . . . release the back . . . and all the muscles up and down alonAs you move your awareness up the spine and out across the back, from the neck right down to your tailbone, focus on welcoming a deep relaxation into each of your shoulder blades. Feel how this pleasant sensation flows effortlessly through every area of tension in both arms - elbows, forearms, wrists and hands - as it steadily trickles all the way down to even fingertips and thumbs. Finally allow that same level of ease to gently permeate over your scalp and forehead for complete inner peace. . . . Allow the muscles of your face to ease into a relaxed state. Notice as the tension in your jaw subsides and the tiny muscles near your eyes become soft. Even allow for you tongue to melt away, embracing this tranquil place that flourishes beneath it all. Take time now to appreciate these few peaceful moments . . .
As you enjoy this relaxation, recall a specific time when you experienced yourself giving loving care to someone . . . when Rekindle the warm, healing feeling you felt in your care with a specific memory. Imagine that moment again now; notice where you are and who is nearby to envelop you with love. Feel yourself being held safe once more as this uplifting sensation of calm washes over you.. . . Be mindful of the sights, sounds and smells around you as you deliver this care with love and compassion. Pay attention to your body language, facial expressions, voice tone and energy - letting it all emanate in a caring yet healing way.
As you envision this, pay attention to the feelings of care and adoration that wash over you from within. Notice where in your body these emotions are most prominent or concentrated? As you recognize this center for feeling, allow those sentiments to blossom and become more intense. You can think of it like a knob on a sound system: crank up the volume so that these sensations expand and encompass your entire being. Let them radiate throughout every part of your being until they fill all space inside—and maybe even outside!
Visualize the power of radiating love and compassion towards those you wish to help . . . perceive how your energy touches them, even in non-visible ways. Imagine the effects that this caring quality has on them; it may be hard to notice at first, but simply take a moment to consider its impact.
Now take a moment to observe the sensation of radiating this energy or feeling towards them. How does your body respond? Is it coming from within, or is there an external source? Pay attention and notice if you need anything else in order to manifest more of these qualities into your life and caregiving journey. What do you require, and where can you attain it?
As the images fade, visualize yourself as a recipient of this nurturing energy. Envision its soothing source to be gentle and powerful at once; an inexhaustible force that sends love, care, and healing in abundance. Allow your body to relax and let this energy fill the space around you. Feel it penetrating every part of your being with its compassionate warmth – bask in its loving glow for moments or minutes more before releasing it into the world again – restored and renewed by what has just transpired within yourself.. Allow the warmth of healing energy to penetrate every cell in your body, from the outermost layer of skin to the core depths within your bone marrow. Imagine this energy radiating outward and filling up several feet around you with its nourishing love. No effort is required here - just enjoy it as long as possible and let it soothe both body and soul.. . As you prepare to reenter the external world, let all of your visions dissipate and take with you any tranquil sensations that have arisen. You may realize when returning outwardly that you are more contented, invigorated, and restored - retaining those peaceful emotions from this short inner expedition. . remember that you can come to this place and connect with this healing energy any time you like by repeating this process . . .When you are ready, take a few moments to become aware of your surroundings - the room you are in, the objects around it and where and when you find yourself in this world. As soon as you come back into wakefulness, bring with you a sense of refreshment that will stay with both yourself and those loved by you.