On one of my asundry email lists regarding the mind, hypnosis, neurolinguistic programming, and the like, there was a query regarding hypnoanalysis. Here are my replies sandwiched together for those with similar questions.
Can anybody recommend hypnoanalysis books/whatever from where a newbie in the area can start?
This will partly depend upon what you mean by hypnoanalysis. Usually, the term is applied to a group of processes, most often centered around the regression to cause. Some folks will also use the term when referring to parts therapy. I tend to group regression and parts processes as well as a few of the gestalt processes now associated with them together into hypnoanalysis as well.
One of the seminal works on hypnoanalysis is Hypnotherapy by Dave Elman. It’s the one that many others get their juju from. You could also look into Transformational Therapy by Gil Boyne. The advanced hypnotherapy book by Cal Banyan and Gerald Kein has a breakdown as well. Personally, I would read the Elman first.
However, I would also strongly suggest that you take a course from a good solid experienced instructor as well.
Side question: can hypnoanalysis be self-applied … or it must be done by somebody else?
Most hypnoanalysis books cover heterohypnosis requiring an operator. For the most part, the process really does need a guide. There are a couple processes that approximate the process that have been adapted to a self-operated process. However, they are then either diluted or they retain power but are certainly no longer what one would characterize as “hypnoanalysis”. I have seen a few accounts of folks who say they have run full blown hypnoanalysis upon themselves, but I’ve never experienced that sort of revivification with the ability to also direct the session myself (one of the essential characteristics of true regression is to revivify or relive a memory as if it is happening again and not just to remember it). Some of the processes that have taken hypnoanalysis charactristics for solo runs include The Journey Process by Brandon Bays (a snarfing of core transformation, partial imagined hypermnesia, and time line) and Core Transformation by Connirae Andreas (a very nice take on parts therapy that goes to the heart of the matter).
Mostly, yes this is what I want: actively searching for the root cause of a particular problem (when the cause is not obvious or is difficult to uncover it).
Then, if this is an ongoing issue that you want resolution for . . . why focus on the do-it-yourself model? Why not do a google and find yourself a competent hypnotist or NLP practitioner in your area? A google of the Queensland area does show a few hypnotists and I am certain you could find more, at least a few of which should be in your area, with some appropriate searching. I understand that you don’t wish to take an hypnoanalysis training at this point, but it seems a lot more cost effective to go to a competent practitioner and deal with it at the get-go than to screw around looking for processes to get to causes . . . especially since you may not even need to get to the cause so to speak in order to approach this particular issue, whatever it is. Looking around for resources in general may delay your progress more than it improves things.
My understanding is that “parts therapy” is just a model. A useful model but — as “they” 🙂 say — the map is not the territory.
Parts Therapy is a process. It is not a model per se (although it can be described in those terms). It is a process that one runs to find out the WHY of a behavior or emotion. The Six Step Reframe is a simplification of the process and many folks find it to be all they need. If you want a bit more on that process, an episode of my free hypnocast includes a description of the process with a run through for folks to use (the downloads are free and there are no spamtrap registration dealies on the feed). The file is at http://briandavidphillips.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=21982 (a couple other episodes that describe and run through certain NLPish processes might also be helpful to you, but this is the one particular to the context at hand).
However, I would also strongly suggest that you take a course from a good solid experienced instructor as well.
Yeah I know that this is sound advice but for personal reasons this is completely out of question. At least for now. 😐
If you don’t mind, I am going to assume this is a financial concern rather than one of free movement such as being bedridden, in prison, or otherwise institutionalized. While I would no longer suggest you look for training as the training would simply delay getting to running the processes, you might consider approaching a local NLP or hypnosis or other trancework practice group in your area when learning new skills. A number of these are free to members and often have experienced folks who serve as anchors for the groups. If not, then at least you will be learning within a social group.
From your description, I don’t think regression to cause is an appropriate tact for you if you want to do solo. My first instinct would be to say find someone to work with you but if you’re bound and determined to go it alone and wish to accept the results you get, then go with processes designed for autochangework rather than trying to shoe a monkey with a horse’s boot.
I guess so. But what I am interested is the ability to uncover the root cause of a given problem
Instead of looking to “find” the cause so to speak, concentrate on processes that deal with the issue with or without that sort of knowledge. Give the six step reframe a go, or the swish, or any of a number of NLPish patterns. Go to the archives and look for the discussion on 3D Mind. While I have found 3D Mind to be more valuable to me as an intake or hypnosis tool, it is intended to be used either by a guide or by oneself and I have found it works nicely enough for many folks (a couple of my students have run it covertly with great success).
Whatever process you use, you want to clearly associate into state, don’t just analyze and think about stuff but really feel what is going on in your body and your mind. Feel the process, whatever process you use.
(OK, actually I am interested to “fix” the problem, it’s just that I think that knowing the “cause” will help me to find an effective “cure”). Regardless of the method, I’m interested in the final result.
Then go to someone who is an experienced and competent tranceworker to guide you through and appropriate experience. Don’t prescribe the process but run with the process as it is presented and FEEL the suggested changes and effects.
Hypnoanalysis looked like a mouthful buzzword able to do the trick 🙂
It can do the trick. However, so can a number of other processes.
How would you “know”/define the difference between reliving and remembering?
Notice how you feel right now, look around and see and notice what you feel as you experience whatever is going on. Now, remember back to last week in the afternoon. Notice a difference? One is actually experiencing the here and the now while the other is a dissociated memory. Revivification within hypnotic regression is when you actually feel as if you are actually re-living the moment as if it is happening to you right now. It is a full-on association into the experience not an imagined memory. Hypermnesia is to remember details very clearly but it does not carry the associated present of it happening again right now. There is a big difference and many folks – I would suspect most – have difficulty reliving while running the processes as revivification requires full association. I have not experimented with this and do not have a large sample but that’s my gut talking and my gut usually talks with much more going for it than my ass.
All the best,
Brian
Practical Approaches to Metaphysical Hypnosis – Feb. 6-10, 2006
Romance and Sensuality Hypnosis – Feb. 13-17, 2006
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Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [phillips@nccu.edu.tw]Certified Hypnotherapist
Executive Director, Society of Experiential Trance
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan
http://www.briandavidphillips.com
