By Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Hypnotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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There are several styles of hypnotherapy that are commonly adopted by practitioners and not all styles work well for all clients. One way to access what style might work best for you is to respond to this question: How do you normally respond to people telling you what to do? If you are the type of person who feels secure when you have instructions and direct requests, the directive approach will most likely work for you. If you find you are rebellious when people tell you what to do, a more permissive approach will suit you better. When you interview a prospective hypnotherapist you might want to question her about her training and style to discover if you will feel comfortable and be responsive to her approach. The following is a basic overview of the different styles of hypnotherapy to help you understand your options.

Directive Approach

In the directive approach, the hypnotherapist guides the client into a state of hypnosis and the hypnotherapist gives the client suggestions. People are most familiar with this approach to hypnotherapy because it is the technique that is most similar to what we witness with stage hypnosis and see in the movies. And, clients expect that if they go for a hypnotherapy session that the hypnotherapist will give direct suggestions. Read the rest of this entry

By Beth S. Patterson, MA, LPC, Grief & Loss Topic Expert Contributor

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The intense and painful experiences of grief are generally considered “normal.” However, when those experiences are extremely distressing, unduly interfere with day-to-day functioning or do not subside to a manageable level over time, the bereaved may be experiencing complicated or traumatic grief. Complicated grief has been proposed as a new diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and suggested components of the diagnosis include (1) that sufferers experience bereavement by death; (2) that their reactions include intrusive and distressing symptoms, including yearning, longing and searching for the deceased; and (3) that the bereaved exhibit at least four marked and persistent trauma reactions, which may include: “avoidance of reminders of the deceased, purposelessness, feelings of futility, difficulty imagining a life without the deceased, numbness, detachment, feeling stunned, dazed or shocked, feeling that life is empty or meaningless, feeling a part of oneself has died, disbelief, excessive anger or bitterness related to the death, and identification symptoms or harmful behaviors resembling those suffered by the deceased” (Mitchell et al, 2004, p. 13).

Even in cases that do not fit the criteria for complicated grief as described above, the events surrounding the death may be sufficiently traumatic to interfere with daily functioning or result in unrelenting distress. As a psychotherapist specializing in grief and loss, I have found EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to be an effective tool for alleviating trauma in grief. As in grief, trauma affects the whole person — body, mind and spirit, and on a hierarchy of needs, trauma must be dealt with in order for the healing process of grief to proceed in a healthy, and healing, fashion. Read the rest of this entry

By Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D., Body-Mind Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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Achieving her goals was a bit too easy for Nadine.
Thirty-five year old writer and director Nadine got three clients as soon as she put the word out about her new venture as an acting coach. Her script for a TV show was accepted and she was hired to direct the production. She was amazed at how quickly and effortlessly everything was falling into place.

Nadine’s dreams were about to come true. Her talents were prized and she felt giddy with excitement. Expressing her creativity felt authentic but scary. She dared to imagine being famous. She dared to imagine herself happily married with a family. She dared to imagine having it all. Read the rest of this entry

By Arthur Becker-Weidman, Ph.D., Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is an evidence-based, effective, and empirically validated treatment is composed of a variety of elements and based on a number of principles that have strong empirical support. Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is, in some respects, an amalgam of effective principles of treatment. This article will describe the elements of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and a few of its underlying principles.

It is helpful to remember that everything begins with building an alliance. “Without an alliance there can be no secure base. Without a secure base there can be no exploration. Without exploration there can be no integration. Without integration there can be no healing.” Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The search for effective tools to help people quit smoking has been underway for many decades, with scores of mental health professionals devoting some or all of their careers to assisting clients curb the habit. A study aiming at addressing smoking with the help of virtual reality has recently concluded, with positive findings that may make the technological technique popular for cessation programs. Participants who crushed virtual cigarettes as part of a smoking cessation program showed significantly greater rates of abstinence and lowered nicotine addiction at the end of the treatment and at a six-month follow up than participants who squeezed a virtual ball. As virtual reality technology advances, so too may addiction treatment programs.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Roswell Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Mona Barbera, Ph.D., Internal Family Systems Therapy Topic Expert Contributor

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David Brooks, New York Times columnist, was recently inspired by the movie, “Where the Wild Things Are.” He wonders if we are one person, with an ingrained, stable character – or are we different people in different situations, tripping around the truth with one person and going whole hog honest with another?

His thoughts, and the movie, offer us a great forum to explain Internal Family Systems (IFS).

In “Where the Wild Things Are,” Max the child is torn between loving and needing his mother and raging at her. He falls into another world, populated by strange, wild creatures that he tries to control. They want him to build a world free of burdens and pain, but sadly, he can neither build the world nor control the creatures. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Each year as the sun begins to tuck its familiar summer warmth into a gray blanket of clouds, some people just can’t seem to get into the Autumn spirit. Feelings of loss, sadness, remorse, and other negative and often strong emotions may arise, making it difficult to enjoy day to day living. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, can be difficult to control, and finding a positive treatment mechanism is a goal among many mental health professionals. Recently, a study at the University of Vermont showed that the application of cognitive behavioral therapy, especially when administered with light therapy in combination, was linked to a significantly lower rate of recurrence of SAD among participants than recurrence levels reported a year after therapy implementation by those receiving light therapy alone, as well as those in the wait-list control group.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Concord Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Elinor Nygren Szapiro, MA, LPC

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Although we no longer expect to see a hypnotist wearing a top hat and swinging a watch on a chain, hypnosis still conjures up images of mystery and loss of control. Don’t worry; you won’t be leaving your therapist’s office clucking like a chicken. However, you may be surprised to find some very pleasant changes occurring after a hypnotherapy session.

An often-asked question is: What actually happens in a hypnosis trance? How does it feel to be in one? Read the rest of this entry

By William “Sandy” Pryor, MA, LPC, MT-BC, Gestalt Therapy Topic Expert Contributor

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When I tell colleagues that I am a Gestalt therapist, I generally hear “so you hit pillows” or “so you just talk to an empty chair.” The general lack of understanding of basic underlying theory and guiding philosophy is surprising given the approach’s popularity and influence over that last 60 years. In this article I would like to describe and discuss a concept that is at the heart of Gestalt therapy. This concept is the Gestalt “cycle of experience.”

In Gestalt Therapy, the self is not seen as a static thing but rather as a continually evolving process that is defined and illuminated by how the organism (client/person) makes contact with his or her environment. This process, when completed in a healthy and unimpeded way, generally follows a process called the “cycle of experience.” This cycle is a basic map for how a person becomes aware of a need, mobilizes to meet that need, and achieves satisfaction. The key phases of the process are sensation, awareness, mobilization, action, contact, satisfaction, and withdrawal/rest. Read the rest of this entry

By Aylee Welch, LICSW, Body Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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Human beings are fascinating bio-psycho-social organisms. What makes up a person? Traditional psychotherapy works toward congruence in a person’s thinking, emotions, and actions/reactions. There are many therapeutic techniques that have been developed over time to explore and improve these aspects of our life. We do exist on several levels simultaneously, but are we limited to thoughts, emotions and actions? If we look at life and the human experience we see that there are five basic levels on which we function. There is the Intellect/Thought, and the Emotions and Actions as mentioned above, and we also exist in the physical realm, the level of the Body. For many people there is also an acknowledgment of something larger and beyond ourselves and the “seen” world that contributes to our life force. Many people have experiences in the Spiritual realm that is considered an additional level of existence. Therefore a person is a psychosomatic unity (psyche plus soma, meaning physical) that exists on all five levels. Body-oriented therapy (Somatic approaches, Core Energetics, Core Evolution, Bio-Energetics, Bio-dynamics) understands that the body is profoundly affected by our life experiences and the body, in turn, affects our future. Read the rest of this entry

By Jaffy Phillips, MA, Hakomi Topic Expert Contributor

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Hi, my name is Jaffy Phillips. I am a certified Hakomi therapist, and I have studied a number of other body-centered approaches to therapy as well. I volunteered to be the topic expert for Hakomi therapy here at Goodtherapy.org because I feel that Hakomi makes such an important contribution to the larger field of psychotherapy, and because it is really the foundation of my own practice.

There are so many wonderful things about Hakomi that it is impossible to address them all in one short article. Instead, what I would like to do here is to speak a bit about what makes it so special to me, and to briefly introduce some of the topics I will be covering in upcoming articles (monthly). Read the rest of this entry

By Roni Weisberg-Ross, L.M.F.T., Abuse Topic Expert Contributor

When we think of children who have been sexually abused, we think of fear, anger and violence. Most sexual abuse survivors talk of the terror and disassociation surrounding the abuse. Many still feel that way as adults and don’t enjoy sex now, even in a loving relationship. But there are those who have a more complicated story to tell. These survivors may have hated their abusers but experience an unspeakable shame over the fact that their bodies responded sexually to the abuse. They cannot live with the knowledge that they were sexually stimulated even as they were being raped. Now they are not only healing from the abuse but from the additional belief that they were partially responsible for the abuse - and that they may even have deserved it.

While adult survivors can intellectually understand that as children they were victims of their abuse, they don’t always feel that way. And they certainly can’t accept that fact if they responded sexually. Many of them can’t imagine how a child could respond sexually. So they believe that not only are they dirty, but that they are freaks as well. Yet children do have sexual feelings. Toddlers can sexually arouse themselves. And as they get older, many of them experiment and discover that their bodies respond. The myth that hormonal changes occurring at adolescence are the beginning of sexual feelings is just that, a myth. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Neurological exercises, logical thinking, and meditation are just some of the methods through which people regularly challenge their minds, whether as a necessity or by choice. Recently, a noted neuroscientist has predicted that by the year 2050, mental exercise will be as prevalent as exercise focusing on the physical body. Noting that benefits can range from greater memory recall to an increase in general well-being, the expert backs up his theory with research showing that those who participate in activities like meditation exhibit increased brain activity. As the popularity of mental exercise grows, the prediction may well turn out to be true, causing a boost to international mental health.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Coral Gables Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Holly Holmes-Meredith, D. Min., MFT, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Hypnotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Holly and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

Hypnotherapy is effective, short term, and very result oriented. When you choose your practitioner, make sure he or she is well-trained and qualified to support you in safely and ethically getting the results you want and need. The following are guidelines for potential hypnotherapy clients to consider before getting started.

What is the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist? Hypnosis is a state of consciousness that occurs naturally, can be self-induced, or facilitated by a guide that allows the hypnotee to access an expanded state of consciousness. In the hypnotic state, there is a heightened ability to respond to suggestions, recall memories, access creativity, experience imagination, and activate mind over matter through self-healing and pain management. When therapeutic interactive processes take place in the hypnotic state, the client participates in the form of therapy called hypnotherapy. Read the rest of this entry

By Peggy Gold, MS, NCC, LMHC, Narrative Therapy Topic Expert Contributor

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In my private practice, my clients are often struck by the way I react to their experience and reports of intense emotional pain. Examples of such pain include their expressions of anger, sadness, rage, sorrow, frustration, shame, guilt, or devastation. I see these expressions as entry points for the development of a new, more preferred storyline. A storyline that can be explored with my client and rooted in their own responses to pain, this type of therapeutic inquiry is known in Narrative Therapy terms as “Absent but Implicit.” What is not being said, but is being implied by what is said? Thinking within this framework, I am able to ask questions that help people access what is important to them, what they hold precious, and help them claim their own personal agency.

To explain this concept, I will draw on the analogy of the experience of physical pain. Read the rest of this entry

By Beth S. Patterson, MA, LPC, Grief & Loss Topic Expert Contributor

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Grief theorists, in keeping with Western culture’s emphasis on autonomy and individuation as signposts of psychological health, have long held that disengaging from the deceased is necessary for the successful resolution of grief (Marwit & Klass, 1995). For example, according to the psychoanalytic view of Freud (1917), grief work entails decathecting, or detaching libidinal energy from the deceased. Furthermore, the attachment theory of Bowlby (1969) posits that the bereaved individual attempts to maintain a bond to the deceased until he or she realizes the impossibility of doing so, and eventually “lets go” of his or her relationship to the deceased. Read the rest of this entry

By Lynn Somerstein, PhD, RYT, Object Relations Topic Expert Contributor

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When three year old Susan had a nightmare, she didn’t go to her mother or father for help; instead she ran through the dark hall right past her parent’s bedroom, and headed straight to the kitchen, where she opened the refrigerator, grabbed a loaf of bread, sat down on the floor and started eating. This became a habit, and sometimes she fell asleep on the floor; if her family found her the next morning they told her she was cute, and called her CarboMama. Read the rest of this entry

By Dana Steiner, MA, LCPC, BCPC, Body-Mind Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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In my practice I am often visited by clients who have both physical and emotional concerns. Often they have been to numerous medical specialists in hopes of alleviating a “pain” that continues to go undiagnosed and or untreated. They are frustrated, I am excited. Why?? This is my key to where therapy needs to begin. Sometimes we are plagued by a nagging ache, stomach problems, headaches, etc. The bottom line is the physical pain has been either unexplained by medical doctors or minimized as in our heads. The latter is probably the most accurate (though there are cases where medical treatment or second opinions are required). Through the examination of these symptoms in regards to when they started, what was going on, how they have responded to any treatment, and what makes them better or worse, I can learn a tremendous amount in regards to the client’s emotional pain.

Although eastern medicine has always incorporated both the mind and the body when treating patients, western medicine has a far way to go. Granted, many physicians in our country are more open to the idea of the connection between body and mind however this often goes unrecognized. The result is a patient who is frustrated with symptoms that continue to negatively impact their lives.

When I begin working with such clients, I first make it a point to address them as my client. Saying they are a patient not only sets up a hierarchy that is not helpful to counseling, but assumes they are sick and I will treat them. This is not how therapy works. In my view, clients are in need of tools and I am here to provide the appropriate tools and support their use in alleviating the client’s “pain” both physical and emotional. The physical pain is real however once medical issues are ruled out, the psychic pain is generally the root cause.

A common complaint that illustrates this issue is a feeling of exhaustion. Again, these clients have seen physicians (often several) and have been unable to get a diagnosis or relief. Once a sense of trust is established, I am able through active interviewing, to get a sense of the possible reasons for the pain. If my client is confident and trusting of my abilities (which is essential to any successful therapy), we begin to peel away at the source of the pain. It is not unusual for emotional pain to increase while physical pain decreases. Our bodies are magnificent at alerting us when something is wrong. The biggest hurdle is being open to listening and responding to our own cues. Too often, we ignore the symptoms or look for the quick fix in a pill.

By increasing my client’s awareness of bodily signals (including the pain), we can literally chart the scenarios that seemingly increase or decrease the physical pain. This is the start of opening the emotional pain, hence the increase of emotional awareness and discomfort. Unfortunately this is also the time when most people will leave therapy. It literally becomes painful however that is a sign that we have begun to identify significant emotional experiences that are invading the person’s ability to lead a fulfilling life. Those clients who continue are positively compensated by a sense of empowerment with new-found knowledge and often decreased physical pain. We examine how the pain impacts their life and clients are often surprised at the positive reinforcement they are getting from the pain. An example is when there are marital problems that have not been addressed but are increasingly distressing. One of the spouses may find their exhaustion is much worse when they are at home. The result is they retreat to rest but are in actuality retreating from the marital discord. It is much easier to take a nap than to begin a difficult discussion with one’s spouse!

This is just one example of how body and mind work together and how psychotherapy can alleviate both areas of pain. A tremendous amount of research is taking place in researching this connection and how both medical and mental health professionals can utilize this profound connection to help those with whom we work. This idea that mind and body are interconnected can be a difficult concept to accept. It means we have greater control over our health than we realize. What we do with this information is up to us.

©Copyright 2009 by Dana Steiner, MA, LCPC, BCPC. All Rights Reserved. Permission to publish granted to GoodTherapy.org. The following article was solely written and edited by the author named above. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by GoodTherapy.org. Questions or concerns about the following article can be directed to the author or posted as a comment to this blog entry. Click here to contact Dana and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

By Jeanette Raymond, Ph.D., Body-Mind Psychotherapy Topic Expert Contributor

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Shame about the remedies, but the care sure feels good!

Monique was a hostage to migraine attacks. They lasted for hours and she was unable to do anything but lie down in bed until it passed. Sometimes her migraine was accompanied by nausea and other times by cramps or acid reflux. Treatments from herbalists, acupuncturists, nutrionists, homeopathic doctors, spiritual healers, medical doctors and meditation did nothing to stop the onset or reduce the severity of the pain and exhaustion that accompanied the episodes. But she enjoyed the care and concern the service providers showed, and came away feeling lighter and better.

A friend’s response made the pain and nausea melt away.

At a party one evening Monique found herself in a group with her best friend and others she didn’t know. She felt awkward. She tried to join in the conversation but it didn’t feel right. Later that evening she told her friend that she felt a migraine coming on and left the party early. Sure enough Monique had a humdinger of a migraine. Her head throbbed, she vomited and had trouble sleeping. The next day she felt tired and weak, unable to do all the things she had planned. She called her friend to tell her about her difficult night. Her friend came over to make sure she was okay, take the dog out for a walk and handle some mail that needed attention. Monique rested and was immensely grateful that her friend was available and responsive at her time of need. Read the rest of this entry

By Becki A. Hein, MS, LPC, Anxiety Topic Expert Contributor

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One of the most common requests I get from clients in my psychotherapy practice is “Please help me get rid of this anxiety!” I then get to explain the Bad news and the Good news. The Bad news is that you are not going to get rid of your anxiety. In fact, it would be harmful to not be able to feel anxious. Anxiety and fear come with being alive. Anxiety can be useful when it causes you to be extra alert or careful, such as when you are walking to your car in a dark parking lot or when you are taking a test. Human beings were designed to feel anxious when faced with danger or a challenge. The fight or flight response is triggered causing adrenaline and other chemicals to increase heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, narrow our focus of attention, and enable us to do what we need to do to stay alive. However, human beings were not designed to be chronically anxious. Recent studies have shown that chronic anxiety plays a major part in either causing or exacerbating several physical illnesses, including heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic respiratory disorders. Therefore, it is a good thing to learn to manage your anxiety. That brings us to the Good news. Read the rest of this entry