| Religion, self-help theories, and mainstream healing | | | | strongly vindicated my conclusions. |
| modalities share one common objective. They all | | | | The difference between ANNH and classical |
| seek to alleviate human suffering and move | | | | hypnosis - to include both Dave Elman's direct and |
| individuals and society toward a more desirable | | | | Dr. Erickson's indirect approaches - is both |
| state in which a perception of happiness is | | | | fundamental and profound. The most significant |
| achieved. Nevertheless, they differ in their basic | | | | one is my rejection of the worn out and |
| approaches. Religion focuses on belief and faith; | | | | unscientific concept concerning the existence of a |
| mainstream healing, on evidence-based scientific | | | | subconscious mind. Conversely, ANNH uses |
| research, and self-help, on a combination of both - | | | | pattern theory and multiple intelligence concepts |
| albeit with a focus on wishful thinking and the | | | | to explain the phenomena attributed to widely |
| charisma of the author or presenter. All claim to | | | | held myths, which are adhered to both with a |
| be effective. Yet, considering their exclusive | | | | presumption and a seemingly uncontrollable force |
| characteristics all tend to be rather short-sited and | | | | of habit. It is through my mental evolution toward |
| limited in their approaches. In actuality, each of | | | | a more scientifically sound approach that I was |
| them simultaneously contain partial truths while | | | | able to begin to fully understanding the power of |
| being devoid of others. | | | | hypnosis (i.e. increasingly efficient selective |
| It is odd how an effective theoretical concept | | | | thought) and start authoring significantly more |
| originates. Almost a decade ago I was confronted | | | | effective techniques. |
| by a series of medical doctors who were | | | | Another significant disparity can be found in the |
| fascinated by my abilities as a clinical | | | | fact that ANNH emanates from a scientific |
| hypnotherapist. However, as hard-nosed scientists | | | | foundation - not blind faith, popular myths, the |
| they were accustomed to questioning the validity | | | | charisma of various popular gurus, or mindless |
| of any accomplishments or claims that lacked | | | | obsessions with programmed assumptions. The |
| sufficient peer-reviewed literature describing | | | | conceptual merging of hypnotherapy and |
| supporting systematic investigations. This led me | | | | neurology is its cornerstone. There is a |
| to quickly discover over 10,000 of such studies, | | | | tremendous body of knowledge that has |
| which openly supported the efficacy of hypnosis | | | | emerged during the last few decades concerning |
| in medical and mental health interventions. This | | | | how the brain works. In fact, while too much of |
| detection and the ubiquitous lack of | | | | our brain will remain as uncharted territory for at |
| hypnosis-related knowledge among clinicians | | | | least the remainder of my lifetime, current |
| inspired me to create The International Hypnosis | | | | neuroimaging techniques already provide a wealth |
| Research Institute. | | | | of information concerning the functioning of the |
| During my review of countless hypnosis studies, I | | | | brain. ANNH appreciates these findings and seeks |
| came to several initial conclusions. Here is the | | | | to mold the application of hypnotherapy to better |
| most obvious one. The general lack of hypnosis | | | | fit rapidly evolving information about the mind and |
| training of the researcher and the poorly designed | | | | brain. |
| studies were clearly offset by the existence of | | | | As the brain is initially the predominant organ |
| favorable results. Therefore, I have been | | | | impacted by a hypnotherapist's skills, it would |
| frequently quoted as saying that, "poorly | | | | stand to reason that such a practitioner would |
| performed hypnosis consistently produces | | | | desire to understand more about what goes on |
| wonderful results." Of course, this should lead the | | | | "under the hood." Regardless, the typical certified |
| reader to question what would have happened if | | | | clinical hypnotherapist - and similarly the average |
| those problems did not exist. This is a dilemma | | | | licensed psychologist, counselor, and |
| that I have sought to rectify. | | | | psychotherapist - would be challenged should they |
| The second conclusion was even more startling. | | | | be asked to discuss any of the brain's major |
| Study after study confirmed that hypnosis could | | | | substrates and their functions. When I have |
| be used to reduce acute and chronic pain, | | | | endeavored to give even the most basic |
| accelerate healing, address psychosomatic | | | | explanation - especially in a watered-down way - |
| illnesses, successfully intervene with many mental | | | | at a workshop or conference, there are always a |
| pathologies, and affect somatic processes such as | | | | few who resent my efforts. On the other hand, a |
| immune systems and wound healing. Nevertheless, | | | | professional race car driver appreciates the |
| what was missing in all of these studies was an | | | | intricacies of auto mechanics and a pilot |
| etiology - that is, why does hypnosis work. | | | | understands the basics of aerodynamics. Yet, a |
| Indeed, thousands of studies pointed in the same | | | | certified clinical hypnotherapist, who considers him |
| direction without any causal explanation. Again, this | | | | or herself a professional, is more comfortable with |
| was a situation that I knew needed to be | | | | desperately holding on to the subconscious mind |
| addressed. | | | | myth. In contrast, ANNH holds out the promise of |
| In an eight year period, which began in early 2001, | | | | being more effective as it is a system that |
| starting with attending conferences that regularly | | | | promises to address the human mind and body |
| included medical doctors, nurses, and | | | | by having an appreciation of how they function. |
| psychologists; I developed an interest in the | | | | Imagine for a moment a hypnotic script that is |
| neurology, mind/body health issues, and even | | | | designed to illicit a specific response in a part of |
| quantum theory - especially the quantum enigma | | | | the brain or address the functioning of a particular |
| concept. While I lack any medical credentials and | | | | organ or system of the body. Furthermore, what |
| have a very limited formal background in | | | | if hypnotic talk was designed to function in a |
| psychology, I developed an intense interest in | | | | manner designed to obtain a faster response |
| physiology, neurofeedback, psychotherapy, | | | | from the neural or physiological substrate that is |
| physics, and even astrophysics. Of course, | | | | being targeted. For instance, what if a hypnotist, |
| meanwhile I persistently sought to develop strong | | | | who professes competency in weight reduction, |
| competencies in a variety of direct and indirect | | | | actually knew the role of the brain's insula and |
| hypnosis styles. All the while, I continued seeing | | | | even knew how to use suggestion to modify its |
| clients and patients with whom I could employ my | | | | functioning. Certainly, his or her efforts would be |
| abilities and investigate my theories. | | | | immensely more effective. This is in stark |
| Having finally completed a nearly ten year effort | | | | contrast to guided imagery that uses vague |
| and earning a Doctor of Clinical Hypnotherapy | | | | parallel communication techniques and trusts in the |
| degree in the summer of 2003, it was during the | | | | wisdom of the subconscious mind to eventually |
| later conversion of that degree into a doctor of | | | | figure things out. Contrasting classical hypnosis |
| philosophy (PhD) in clinical hypnotherapy that I | | | | with ANNH is rather like comparing a meandering |
| experienced some radical revelations. Over the | | | | hiker with a purposeful traveler who possesses |
| years I had collected a lot of dots. By connecting | | | | both a map and a compass. If you can fathom |
| them I developed what I interchangeably call the | | | | that analogy, you will begin grasping the |
| Neurology of Suggestion and Advanced | | | | difference. Even though the typical certified clinical |
| Neuro-Noetic HypnosisTM (ANNH). | | | | hypnotherapist most definitely benefits a client or |
| There was a two-fold purpose for developing | | | | patient, it is my contention that a well-trained |
| ANNH. The first was my desire to develop a | | | | ANNH-certified practitioner of hypnotherapy is |
| causal model, which would give a plausible | | | | much more capable and provides a better service. |
| explanation as to why suggestion and imagination | | | | Over the next several weeks I will publish a series |
| are so powerful as tools for human | | | | of articles in which I will begin to explain more |
| transformation. The second reason was to | | | | about the theories and concepts of Advanced |
| facilitate the creation of more effective | | | | Neuro-Noetic HypnosisTM. I will discuss the guiding |
| techniques for both change work and healing | | | | principles, five core concepts, principles of |
| interventions. My goal was to present a series of | | | | transformation, and a system for transformation. |
| extremely effective tools that made both the | | | | These in turn support the three goals of |
| clinical and self-improvement uses of hypnosis | | | | enhancing performance and healing the body and |
| even more potent. | | | | mind. Although these articles will not be a |
| Many can incorrectly assume that all I have done | | | | substitute for formal ANNH training, they will give |
| is legitimize classical hypnosis by proving a viable | | | | the reader a solid understanding that will allow |
| explanation. Unfortunately, that premature | | | | them to appreciate the difference between ANNH |
| conclusion totally misses the value of what I am | | | | and classical hypnosis. More importantly they will |
| proposing and regularly teaching to my students. | | | | come to understand why such an approach at |
| The feedback that I receive both from my clients | | | | this time is vital should clinical hypnotherapy |
| and patients as well as from the experiences of | | | | become considered as a valid field in the arena of |
| my students - who are predominantly licensed | | | | the scientifically-based health care professions. |
| care-givers - has helped me shape ANNH and | | | | |