Clair is a frail, fiercely independent 93 year old who, despite being crippled, continues to live on her own. Over the past couple of years Clair has had to accept more help from others.
Her meals are delivered to her. Her son brings her fresh food from the grocery store once a week. Her daughter does the laundry and housekeeping. A friend takes out the garbage. And community health care does home visits periodically.
Clair has a large blister on her right foot so a nurse comes by to clean the wound and change the bandage. But Clair worries. She worries that the wound isn’t healing. So, she asked me if I would do some energy work on her.
Clair loves energy work.
When I do energy work on her she can feel sensations of warmth and tingling. This thrills and amazes Clair. What’s more, it takes her pain away.
I am trained in various types of energy work, but I prefer Pranic Healing and Reconnective Healing because they give rapid results. These approaches, however, do not involve touching the body.
Clair needs touch. So, I begin each session by applying moisturizing cream to her legs which are very scrawny. No bigger than my wrist. And the skin is very dry. And even though I use a very light touch as I ever-so-gently massage the cream in, Clair winces in pain.
The muscles in her legs are very tight but soon begin to relax. Next, I examine the nurse’s work. Clair insists. She needs reassurance. So, while I work on the body I enlist my skill as a hypnosis practitioner.
I use my words to minimize Clair’s worry. I tell her what I’m going to do. Why I’m doing it. And how well her body is responding. How the body is healing.
While I massage her legs I let her know that this is helping by increasing circulation. Increased blood flow will allow better healing. This gives her hope. And as Clair relaxes, her body opens to allow healing. As a result, she feels better.
Everyone has access to this energy.
As I send energy into her feet I teach her how to work with the energy in her own hands. This is empowering for Clair who complains that she can’t do it right, can’t do anything right.
Let’s face it – at her age, it’s mostly true. Still, there’s one thing I know – everyone has access to this energy. We’re born with it. So, I assure Clair that if she can feel it (which she can) she’s doing it exactly right.
As I send energy into her feet, I notice visible changes in the color of her toes. I report every sign of improvement. Why? Because I believe all the power lies within Clair. And Clair’s faith in The Energy is all she needs.
Fear is always a block to healing.
The nurse focuses on the body. The real “owie” is Clair’s fear. Fear, anxiety and worry cause physical tension. Tension inhibits circulation and the flow of energy through the body. This blocks healing and generates pain. So, I focus on the underlying perceptions.
I work with the healing power of Clair's own Mind by encouraging her faith in the energy. I bolster her belief. I encourage, accept, approve.
Being a naturally therapeutic hypnosis practitioner means giving attention to how the client feels. Because behind every emotion is a thought. And behind every thought is a perception generating sensations in the body. So, you can follow the sensation back to the underlying cause. Cool, huh?
20 minutes from "ow" to WOW!
By the end of a 20 minute session, Clair is relaxed, smiling, and free of pain. And what have I done in this brief healing session?
- Minimized worry, fear, anxiety
- Reduced resistance to healing (tension)
- Helped the body to relax and open to healing
- Empowered the client with do-it-yourself technique
- Touched the perceived “owie”, i.e. the physical part of the body that is holding pain
- Touched the real “owie”, i.e. the part of the mind that is holding pain
Healing begins in the mind.
You're not always going to be able to do regression hypnosis with a person. It's not suitable for every individual or situation.
Sometimes you don’t even need hypnosis to make a real difference in a person’s life because you can always be naturally therapeutic.
The healing isn't in the tool or technique. It's not in the hypnosis or the energy treatment. It's in the therapeutic relationship.
It’s in recognizing where the client is at. And identifying what the client’s real needs so you can apply your skills as a hypnosis practitioner to meet it.
How can you be naturally therapeutic as a hypnosis practitioner? Work with wherever the client is at. Identify the client’s real need and find a way to meet it.
