Tied Up In Knots

Most of my clients just don't get the benefit of the handwriting work I do. They balk at the idea of making changes to their handwriting and dismiss the transformational value of a daily handwriting practice.

I'd been working with "Hermine" for several months. We had a few intense sessions in my office, and then, because of the distance between us, we followed-up with weekly TAT sessions over the phone. Once in a while, in response to the TAT sessions, I recorded a new hypnotherapy CD for her and mailed it.

For the past four years, Hermine has dealt with a phobia that's manifesting as a physical condition. As with most phobias, this one is anxiety-based and the result of a hyper-vigilant response to a perceived danger.

For a number of reasons (that now leave me scratching my head) I did not initially ask for a handwriting sample from Hermine. As our phone work was not yielding the dramatic results I would have expected given the consistency of the sessions and Hermine's motivation to heal, I asked her to mail me a page of her writing.

The capital H in her autograph looked like a maze. There were little loops everywhere, especially in the upper left hand corner where she began the letter. I compared this autograph with the one on her initial consultation agreement and there was a huge difference. The H in the current autograph was significantly loopier.

When I questioned Hermine about this, she said that the sample she had sent me was representative of her usual autograph. She mentioned how much she loves the way the H in her name looks with all the loops.

I asked her if she'd be willing to take on a daily handwriting practice, focusing on the capital H in of The Vimala Alphabet which is simple and dynamic. The only loop is in a "tie stroke" that projects positive energy in one's day-to-day activities. She was less than thrilled but said she'd be willing to try anything if it would help.

We then proceeded with a TAT session.

Because of holidays, our next phone session was two weeks later. I had received a new handwriting sample from Hermine from her now-daily practice and her H's were beautiful. As we caught up, she mentioned that our last TAT session must have been particularly powerful because she had been doing much better since then. The grip of the phobia had loosened and she was less anxious overall.

I pointed out that she had been working on her handwriting since the last TAT session and suggested that it was her new H that had made the difference. The old H had been reflective of Hermine's long-standing subconscious tendency to "tie herself up in knots." The more work we did to loosen those tendencies, the tighter and more plentiful the knots became as the subconscious held on to its old, familiar, "secure" ways.

Hermine's experience was as significant for me as it was for her. It is a perfect example of why the handwriting work is foundational and essential. For more information, check out Vimala Rodgers' websites: http://www.alphabeticalblessings.com/ and http://www.iihs.com/. Sign up for Dr. Rodgers' weekly e-letter. It's free!

Essential Healing

Essential Healing is the name I've given to a wonderful interactive hypnotherapy technique I've perfected over the years. I developed Essential Healing from the awareness that when the subconscious adopts a specific behavior, it thinks it's being of service. The ability to speak directly with the part in charge of a specific behavior (i.e., night eating, procrastination, self-sabotage, etc.) opens up invaluable avenues of information and healing.

I love Essential Healing sessions and had the opportunity to do one yesterday. The client not only accessed her Inner Wisdom, but also the part in charge of a behavioral pattern that has been increasingly in her way and quite baffling to her. The client got a clear picture of the exact time in her life when this part (and the behavior) first joined her. Then we worked with the client's Problem-Solving Mind to come up with three healthy, new ways for that part to be of service, immediately replacing the unpleasant pattern in place for many years. The client was stunned by the clarity of information she received, and the beautiful flow of the session. As a strong woman, I also think she appreciated the fact that all of the answers came directly from her -- from different parts of her powerful mind and being -- and that she received a spiritual boost, as well.

Essential Healing is my signature hypnotherapy technique, one that I taught for nine years at Marilyn Gordon's Center for Hypnotherapy Certification. Not every hypnotherapist is comfortable doing this kind of deep, transformational work. It takes experience, patience and great care. What a privilege it is for me to facilitate such marvelous healing experiences for people!

The Time to Heal

Yesterday I started working with a new client, a 26-year-old man who's suffered from some level of anxiety most of his life. Even though he's seen counselors and even a psychiatrist, he had no idea what what the disconnect was between mind and body that has been causing the panic attacks, jitteriness, digestive problems, etc.

He responded so quickly and beautifully to the diaphragmatic breathing I taught him, and then to the custom relaxation CD I made for him. There was a huge difference in him over the 90 minutes we spent together.

I know he'll do his homework (practice the breathing technique and listen to his CD daily) because he's wonderfully motivated to be completely well.

What a great experience for us both! Looking forward to our next session.

EFT to the Rescue!

A few weeks ago I gave a free EFT introduction at the Women's Health Center in Walnut Creek. One of the participants sent me this note afterward:


"I want to share with you that the night I got back from the EFT class I introduced MIA to do EFT on an issue she has been having for the past 2 years with one of my nieces that goes to the same high school...(long story) MIA has gone thru stress about her so we did EFT together, did it around 4 times. Amazinglyyy!!! she did shift!!... she woke up the next day and surprised me of her reasoning. It has been the greates shift EVER!. MIA is now doing EFT at school when she needs to...she shared with me...Mama...I went to the restroom to do EFT on a situation I had at school and I feel great!. We have been also doing EFT when she is overwhelmed with so much school work and amazingly!! she says she feels motivated and capable to handle the work.

Just wanted to share that with you."

This is reprinted with permission; MIA is not her real name.

A Day of Wonder

My TAT mentor, Lisa Saubolle, ends each of her emails with "May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder." John O'Donohue

Today was such a day.

It started with a wonderful email from a client who was crowing that he'd gotten his three lowest golf scores of the year + a silver medal in an important East Coast golf tournament + aced an important sales presentation abroad.

That would have been gift enough.

But then I met a new client who had come in for smoking cessation. There was no question that she had been guided to me. As I got to know her a bit, it was clear that she was someone very connected spiritually and that my usual smoking cessation protocol (a unique combination of EFT, guided imagery and hypnotherapy) could be dispensed with for her. Instead, with her permission, I used my touch hypnosis technique to help her relax completely and prepare her for a journey to the Sacred Space of her House of Healing. I figured she was connected enough with her Guides and Angels that they would take care of things. And boy, did they!

She had a remarkable healing from her Guides. They literally cleansed her body of the cigarette smoke as well as her desire to smoke. They showed her many wonderful images and symbols she understood clearly, including the message that this healing was permanent. Me? I took copious notes and held the space.

When it was over, she looked absolutely radiant. She was so happy and calm and, yes, a bit awestruck. She tossed her final pack of cigarettes into my special red basket before leaving. Sweet!

Even though such experiences happen rather frequently in my office, they are a constant source of inspiration and gratitude for me. It is proof positive that when we set the intention to heal, it is a sacred intention and therefore all of our Guides and Angels gather to support that intention in whatever way is meaningful to us.

What a day!

Imagine, In This Day and Age!

When I first began this work over 18 years ago, I spent a lot of time educating people about hypnotherapy – what it is and what it isn’t. One of the most prevalent misconception had something to do with quacking and waddling like a duck (don’t ask).

As far as I’m concerned, one of the greatest areas of progress that came with the turn of this century has been the widespread recognition of the value of hypnotherapy in mind-body healing of all types. From Dr. Herbert Benson to Dr. Bernie Siegel to Dr. Candace Pert to Dr. Andrew Weil to Dr. Deepak Chopra to Dr. Bruce Lipton to Dr. Alice Domar … medical experts in just about every field have acknowledged the effectiveness of hypnotherapy as a therapeutic tool.

So imagine my astonishment when my work was questioned the other day by a self-professed "healer" and specialized trainer. This is someone I've known and worked with for two years, someone I trusted and liked.

The root of her doubts lies in a woman I'll call "Natalia." Natalia was a chain smoker who I met through the trainer. When I told her my profession, Natalia admitted that she was fascinated by hypnosis and had always wanted to see if she could be hypnotized. She said she wanted to stop smoking and asked if my work could help.

I conducted my two-hour smoking cessation session with Natalia, including a hypnotherapy segment that I customized according to her specifications and then recorded for her on site. The suggestions included taking a shower first thing in the morning instead of having that first cigarette.

Well, apparently Natalia a) really didn't believe it would work and b) didn't really want to stop smoking because when she found herself taking a shower first thing the next morning, she was spooked and upset. When I checked in with her several days later she described her experience and told me that she found the whole thing "scary." She actually told me that she was forcing herself to smoke because the hypnotherapy worked so well.

If you want hypnosis to work, then why should it be "scary"when it does? I just don't get it. The key is that you cannot be made to do or say anything as a result of hypnosis that is contrary to your morals, beliefs or ethics. As long your intentions are honorable and you're working with a reputable practitioner, there's no danger involved and only positive possibilities.

Now, here's the really puzzling part that surfaced earlier this week. Natalia had told the trainer that she found my work "scary" and instead of reassuring Natalia that she was perfectly safe, the trainer's own ignorance-based fears were triggered. Instead of admitting that she was totally ignorant about the process, she questioned the appropriateness of hypnotherapy as a healing modality. "Natalia is still smoking!" she said to me as her proof. If I hadn't been so stunned, angry and hurt I would have laughed.

Needless to say, I'm looking for another trainer.

If you're interested, I have a whole section of my website (www.ahigherperspective.com) devoted to misconceptions regarding hypnotherapy. And if you ever have questions or concerns about the safety or effectiveness of my work, please just ask.

"Miranda's" First Session

"Miranda" came in yesterday.

Her handwriting told me that in spite of her wonderfully upbeat, positive attitude, something in her past was holding her subconscious attention. Her upper case F was facing backward and she was missing the lower loops of all the letters that should have lower loops. When I asked her to write the letter Yy with attention to the lower loop, the loop she did make was very slanted to the left (the past). Clearly she had some unresolved issues from the past that were impacting her present. She was refreshing in her eagerness to do whatever it takes to reach her goals. Many of my clients say they want things to change but chafe at making changes! Miranda was fine with beginning a daily handwriting practice, incorporating the changes I pointed out.

The downside to "positive thinking" is that people will tell themselves that a difficult situation is behind them and that they're "over it." But all they've done is push their real feelings away so that they "stay positive." Those real feelings of disappointment, grief, anger, etc., carve their initials into the subconscious and tend to become increasingly impactful on our minds and bodies. Dating Coach Jeannine Kaiser calls it, "Slapping a happy-face sticker over it." Miranda could feel the releasing and relaxing effects of the EFT as we tapped on a two-year-old experience.

The other thing we addressed was Miranda's difficulty in allowing her body to relax. A high-energy woman, she's constantly in Go! mode. Generally, when people lie down, they automatically move into a slow, easy diaphragmatic breathing. Even lying down, Miranda's breath was very rapid. We worked for a long time to anchor the therapeutic benefits of slow, rhythmic, diaphragmatic breathing into her body so she could practice it on her own.

Miranda was amazed at how much we packed into our time together and was surprised at how the quickly the minutes flew by. And people wonder why I schedule 90-minute sessions!