Clinical Hypnosis
Clinical Hypnosis is a method of focused concentration that enables a person to utilize the creative part of their brain, often considered the right brain, to solve problem issues that seem resistant to change. A process of "trance" facilitates this learning and problem solving. Everyone experiences trance daily in a natural way. When you are driving your automobile down the highway and you can't remember what you have seen for the past mile or two, you are in some state of trance. . . . Trance usually involves an altered state of consciousness, which can be marked by a slower brain wave pattern, compared to being fully alert. However, a person is not necessarily unconscious. There may be an alteration of consciousness. . . . Hypnosis is simply guiding a person into the trance process often directed by a goal statement put forth by the individual. Some popular myths about hypnosis are that a person relinquishes control to the hypnotherapist and can be influenced to behave in ways that would conflict with their values or not be in their best interest. Ethical applications of clinical hypnosis seek to enhance a person's strengths and find creative ideas "outside the box" that help overcome barriers to change. A person can also be trained to use "self hypnosis" to pursue goals that are important to them.
Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP seeks to rearrange the way we experience certain situations. It begins by having a person seek out and experience a "generative resource situation," or an experience where a person, at some point in their lives, felt very positive, competent, creative, and resourceful. If the person cannot recall such an experience, they can be guided to make one up just as they would like it to be. Next, the person is asked to describe a problem issue, including the situation where it occurs, in specific terms. From this point, the therapist can select from a number of specific strategies, to help the person reach this goal. Such strategies are then pursued until completion.
Healing From The Body Level Up (HBLU)
HBLU is a way to get at problem experiences that are limiting our present behavior. The person does not have to have any conscious recollection of these problem experiences. The procedure calls for "muscle testing," often by pressing down on a person's arms after asking a series of "yes-no" questions. After a person's body energy balance is calibrated, information is collected by asking a series of diagnostic questions and noting a yes or no response based on the way a person's arms move. Among the diagnostic questions is an inquiry regarding the presence of "access phobias for certain emotions" for example, anger. Access phobias are blockages to experiencing certain emotions which may have developed during a person's earlier years. Such blockages may have been necessary during childhood to tolerate certain difficult life experiences. As a person reaches adulthood, these blockages may prevent awareness of certain emotions and experiences necessary to understanding sources of present problem issues. . . . Further information about HBLU is available at www.JASwack.com. Judith Swack, Ph.D., formulated the HBLU procedure and trains psychotherapists to utilize this method.
Family Systems Therapy
Family Systems Therapy looks at the couple or family as a system. Systems, whether a family or a biological cell in our body, have several predictable qualities. One is that they resist change. Systems will go to great lengths to enhance their survival. With some of these family systems, the methods used to preserve themselves can lead to serious dysfunction. While the term "dysfunctional family" may be overused, it often points to certain kinds of maladaptive patterns. Much has been published regarding features of families where one or both parents have a dependence or addiction to certain substances such as alcohol or mind-altering drugs or medication. One feature of many such families is a tendency toward promoting certain often "unspoken rules." One rule is that members, including children, should not have personal feelings and should not discuss them. Expressing personal preferences may be viewed as selfish or disloyal to the family. Another rule may be to minimize or deny the presence of dysfunction such as a parent's addiction issues. . . .
Family Systems Therapy seeks to work the family as a couple or system. This means that there is not a search for the good guys or the bad guys or people with white hats or black hats. Rather, the therapist seeks to assess what is contributing to conflict and dysfunction in the system. This serves to minimize blame directed toward any family member. It does seek to understand what is not working well in the family system. The therapist may propose changes for consideration.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a technique developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., that has been employed to neutralize trauma incurred through such events as airplane and auto accidents, rape, other forms of physical violence, acts of mass destruction, as well as sources of anxiety and phobic reactions. The procedure involves having a person visualize a troubling event. The person is then invited to think of a current negative belief, an emotion they experience as they look at the picture and consider the negative belief, and then to locate where in their body they experience this emotion most intensely. The person is then asked to rate the intensity of their discomfort as they experience this event. Initial research indicates that this approach can be effective in clearing experiences, which contribute to anxiety, post-traumatic stress reactions, and other problem behaviors.
Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
TFT is an approach developed by Roger Callahan, Ph.D. This approach involves tapping certain acupressure or "meridian points" of the body to help resolve certain problem issues. The therapist guides the person to tap designated points of their body as they experience certain problem issues. This procedure can be helpful to relax, prepare for sleep, and to diminish the discomfort associated with certain traumatic or otherwise unpleasant experiences. Further information describing this approach has been presented and published by Roger Callahan, Ph.D., and Fred Gallo, Ph.D.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
EFT was developed by Dr. Gary Craig. It is a modification of TFT but also involves tapping the body at certain "meridian points." It is based on the assumption that "the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system." The initial step or the "setup," involves a tapping sequence to clear blockages to the body's energy system. This step is important for the beneficial impact of subsequent tapping procedures. Initial blockages, known as a "Psychological Reversal," are caused by negative thinking, which often occurs subconsciously. After the initial tapping sequence, to clear this psychological reversal, other tapping procedures are applied to the "energy meridian points," while thinking of the problem issue until it is cleared. For further information, consult the EFT Web site: www.emofree.com/trauma.htm.
Children and Adolescents
Children often exhibit problem issues through their behavior. They do not have the skills to clearly identify and express their feelings as much as adults. Hence, they may be confused about how to deal with troubling feelings, situations, and experiences. The initial step calls for the therapist to do an assessment with the parents, the child, and school or day care personnel as appropriate. This assessment may begin to suggest sources of the problem. So called "rule outs" help to narrow down the possible causes for problem issues. Further assessment may be called for to more clearly identify the source(s) of problem issues.
In Summary
In the field of counseling and psychotherapy, there are no silver bullets to resolve all problem issues for all individuals. Since we are complex and different individuals, it is important to do an initial assessment of the person. This calls for empathic understanding of a person's experience, a review of the person's life (often going into childhood years), a review of important events in a person's adult life, and an assessment of a person's strengths, coping skills, accomplishments, commitment to a specific problem issue, and priority goals. . . . This may lead to using other strategies with the problem, attacking other problem issues, or completing and concluding the counseling relationship.
