By Pat Larsen
For Capital Region Independent Media
I recently continued my hypnotherapy studies with world renowned educator Paul Aurand, MHt, in the areas of Age and Past life regression techniques.
This can be a big concept to comprehend, especially if you’ve not heard of this type of hypnotherapy before.
Simply put, regression is a gentle technique to encourage someone to replay a time in their life from a safe vantage point with a hypnotherapist’s guidance.
From there and with this personal support, issues are comfortably resolvable.
Expectations can include forgiveness, gratitude, love, letting go or learning important lessons from the issues at hand that can block us from living joyful lives.
Since all work in hypnosis is considered “self-hypnosis,” this particular therapy is very successful when the person is ready and willing to move forward with trust from a trained professional.
Oftentimes, during a pre-talk consultation, I’d hear from prospective hypnotherapy clients that they had “tried everything” to work through their particular stresses before seeking this specialty. Their enthusiasm to begin this treatment was heightened when they realized the possibility of not having to drag the heavy emotional weights around any longer.
Believing in their own emotional freedom definitely was the motivation to begin sharpening their focus on where and when an issue began for them.
This doesn’t mean that all parties are immediately released from the stresses. When you work one on one with a specialist, the focus is on you, not the aggressor.
I’d like to give you an example of some work that I did with someone recently who called to have a consultation about a past life that he thought was at the forefront of his continuous issues with moving forward in this lifetime.
The most important aspect of this discussion was helping the client to feel comfortable with me as the hypnotherapist. It was essential to listen carefully for clues in the discussion that indicated a readiness to take the deep dive into the story.
In this particular case, this person had heard about trying to find answers perhaps in a past life. It turned out to be something very different and unexpected.
My intention is always to create a safe environment for the work to take place. Also, if I feel that I may not be the right person to help make these connections, I’ll refer to a colleague.
This part is important, especially to me and those I have studied with and refer to. I find that this level of professionalism is a key component to elevating this profession to reach beyond the earlier depictions of a stage act in the ‘50s.
That being said, let me continue.
The client and I began the conversation with some comfortable banter about his life. I would encourage staying on course as I connected the story of the roads leading his childhood experiences on a farm as a young boy. He was the youngest of three boys in the family.
The story continued for a half hour or so.
What a wonderful gift this kind of work is, to be honest.
How often do we carry a story that has been less than ideal and have anyone to actually listen to it who is outside of the event?
This becomes such a beautiful starting point for me to see this release almost immediately on the face of the person I’m working with.
Of course this type of work, as I defined by the title, might reflect a trauma or a stress, sometimes even a misunderstanding that the person has carried forward.
We both can see that it is within THIS LIFETIME that the situation and story was unfolding.
So, the therapy continues as the client assumes a relaxed posture on the couch or a chair that they can stretch out on.
My voice guides the relaxation techniques that are an important part of hypnosis. Before long it becomes evident that the client is deeply entrenched in the pictures he’s created in his mind by sharing his story.
In terms of age regression, I’ve experienced watching the client confront the offending party to share in a conversation that sets the record straight as to their behavior.
Often, this involves a very stern parent, most times a father, who was particularly harsh when this person was very young. The possibilities are very personal, of course, but very powerful nevertheless.
When the therapy is completed and the conversation has taken place between the two, it’s time to express apologies or renewed unexpressed love and the session is then completed for that day.
It’s very unique and very profound to be a witness to this particular age regression therapy.
Past life regression is similar but that subject will have to wait for another story. I happened to be present when Paul Aurand led a past life regression that involved a soldier from the Civil War. It was incredibly clear, with sharp details. Until next time…
Pat Larsen lives in Greene County. Her credentials include syndicated columnist, author, certified hypnotherapist and fitness instructor. Feel free to Contact Pat at 518-275-8686 to chat.
