Hypnotic approaches to loosen those stuck places.
CONDITIONS TREATED
ANXIETY, DEPRESSION & STRESS
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety Disorders are conditions that cover a range of psychological and biological problems involving thoughts, feelings, and physical responses. These responses may be disturbing due to an underlying concern about what they mean and where they might lead. Individuals suffering from anxiety disorders can have a range of symptoms that vary greatly in intensity and style. For example, a person may have a constant sense of discomfort, or more episodic experiences of panic. Negative, frightening thoughts can overwhelm and dominate a person and affect their behaviors. For example, someone with an anxiety disorder may experience shortness of breath, be physically unable to leave their house or be involved in social activities with others because of their unwarranted fears. The fact that anxiety disorders can be experienced so differently by people experiencing anxiety is one of the reasons I do my best to individualize treatment for each person.
What are some different types of anxiety disorders?
There are several different forms of anxiety that disrupt the lives of more than 20% American adults. I have seen more recent figures close to 30%. Anxiety also affects children and teen, and that has worsened in the past few years due to a combination of factors including the COVID lockdown, and the extent and power of social media. A person with generalized anxiety disorder is likely to experience constant tension and exaggerated fears associated with a harshly negative mindset. Worrisome thoughts affect a person’s daily routines, and they are often accompanied by nervous trembling, headache, or nausea. Other forms of anxiety include social phobia, specific phobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Common characteristics of each of these forms of anxiety include unwanted, uncontrollable thoughts or feelings that disrupt daily life. These thoughts and emotions are often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as chest pain, nightmares, depression, distraction, or a sense of lack of control in one’s life.
How does George treat anxiety?
Since most forms of anxiety are the result of psychological, biological, or interpersonal imbalances, the focus of George’s work is on helping you rebalance those elements. In his 48 years as a psychotherapist, George has developed a combination of approaches anchored by clinical hypnosis to assist the development of internal resources and emotional and physical balance. His approaches contain strong elements of interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and family systems therapies. He also provides clinical to help an individual identify the source of distress or imbalance in their life. This is the first step to allowing the client to honor and experience the distress so they can learn to constructively relate to it. This can help a client by treating the distress that is either causing or associated with their anxiety disorder.
Some key beliefs that direct George's therapy include:
- Anxiety can be a wake-up call that something needs to change.
- In therapy, a client must be provided ways to stay comfortable enough when exploring past and current fears to stay focused on the internal message.
- Providing a therapeutic setting for the distress to be constructively recognized and held.
- A therapist must provide ways for a patient to stay comfortable as he/she experiences discomfort connected with the internal and relational exploration.
Some faces of anxiety and depression.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
TRAUMA & PTSD
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. We can help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of grief and healing.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD is a form of anxiety disorder. It occurs after an individual has suffered or witnessed a traumatic event, such as physical or emotional violence, sexual abuse, an accident, a natural disaster or combat. A person can suffer from persistent symptoms that include depression, anger, nervousness, distraction, flashbacks, and night terrors. They may also suffer from an inability to feel or express emotions that are related to dissociativeexperiences used as a coping mechanism. PTSD can be categorized as acute or chronic. Acute post traumatic stress disorder occurs within the first month after experiencing the traumatic event. Complex PTSD is caused by chronic exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual or emotional abuse, in which the victim cannot escape or has no control over the situation.
Clinical Hypnosis: A Powerful Tool in Treating PTSD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be a debilitating condition, causing distress and affecting various aspects of a person's life. While traditional therapeutic approaches play a crucial role in its treatment, clinical hypnosis has emerged as a powerful tool in helping individuals overcome the impact of traumatic experiences. By harnessing the therapeutic potential of the unconscious mind, clinical hypnosis offers unique benefits in healing and managing PTSD symptoms.
- Accessing Unconscious and Non-conscious Resources: One of the primary advantages of clinical hypnosis is its ability to access the subconscious mind, where traumatic memories and associated emotions are stored. During a hypnotic trance, a skilled therapist can guide individuals to a heightened state of focused awareness, facilitating access to inner resources that are not easily tapped into during conventional therapies. By reaching deep into the subconscious, clinicians help individuals process and reframe traumatic experiences, leading to symptom reduction and emotional healing.
- Reducing Hyperarousal and Re-experiencing Symptoms: Hypnosis is particularly effective in reducing hyperarousal and re-experiencing symptoms commonly associated with PTSD. Through carefully crafted suggestions and imagery, a therapist can guide individuals into a state of deep relaxation and mental calmness. This relaxed state allows individuals to experience a sense of safety and control, gradually desensitizing them to triggers that may have previously caused distressing reactions. By rewiring the brain's conditioned responses, hypnosis helps individuals confront and overcome their fears and anxieties.
- Enhancing Coping Mechanisms and Resilience: Clinical hypnosis empowers individuals by enhancing their coping mechanisms and building resilience in the face of trauma. During hypnotic sessions, therapists can introduce new perspectives, positive affirmations, and mental imagery that foster a sense of inner strength and self-efficacy. These techniques develop new neural pathways, helping individuals reframe their beliefs about themselves and their traumatic experiences. By reinforcing adaptive coping strategies, hypnosis cultivates resilience, allowing individuals to navigate their daily lives more effectively.
- Uncovering and Resolving Unconscious Blocks: Trauma often leaves individuals with unconscious defense mechanisms and negative beliefs that hinder the healing process. Clinical hypnosis can help uncover and resolve these unconscious blocks by exploring the deep layers of the mind. Through techniques such as regression or parts therapy, therapists assist individuals in understanding the origin of their symptoms and identifying any internal conflicts that may be perpetuating them. Addressing these hidden factors offers the opportunity for the person to address them in more direct and helpful ways.
What should I look for when choosing a therapist to treat PTSD?
Finding the correct therapist to treat post-traumatic stress disorder begins by finding a licensed behavioral health or medical professional. Often a licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist or physician will have advanced training in hypnosis. By going to a certified and trained professional for hypnotherapy, clients can be more assured of receiving ethical and safe treatment.
Fortunately, PTSD is treatable with the right support and intervention. In addition to clinical hypnosis, Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals process the traumatic event, challenge negative thoughts, and develop healthy coping strategies. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another evidence-based therapy specifically designed to address PTSD symptoms. This is far from a complete list of possible helpful therapy approaches.
Medication may also be prescribed by a physician or nurse practitioner to manage symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Support from loved ones, peer groups, and community resources can offer a valuable network of understanding and encouragement.
IRRITABLE BOWEL CONDITIONS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. Clinical hypnosis has emerged as an effective adjunctive treatment for managing IBS symptoms. Through deep relaxation and focused attention, hypnosis helps individuals with IBS gain control over their symptoms and alleviate anxiety and stress, which can trigger or exacerbate symptoms.
I typically use a 7-session structured hypnotic protocol for IBS developed and researched by Olafur Palsson, Ph.D. He is a health psychologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. My approach to all clinical issues is highly individualized, but I have found consistently positive results using Dr. Palsson’s protocol as a solid grounding for the therapy.
page updated on 05-18-2024
