Psychotherapy did not start with Freud. Although largely forgotten, its origins can be directly traced to traditional healing practices (e.g., mesmerism, mind curers, the occult). In the age of science, healing has been reduced to prescriptions for changing people’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, emotions, or brain chemistry. Lost in translation are the many ways clients’ cultural and spiritual beliefs and practices can, according to research, improve engagement and outcomes.
Understanding the clients spiritual predilections can be important in helping some clients to achieve therapeutic results. Panelists will discuss how they use spiritual orientations in medical/psychological practice.
Is peace within really possible? We propose Erickson's naturalistic-utilization therapy and Rossi's 4-Stage Creative Process are consistent with yoga's science of self-inquiry, mental dexterity and Buddha's 4 Noble Truths. We will practice gentle yoga exercise for all fitness levels and share transformational ancient stories of our new neuroscience of mind-body therapy.
Guided imagery (GI) was used initially to help people with life-challenging diseases, yet it is also highly applicable to psychotherapy. A brief history of GI will be presented. The presenter has used it successfully in brief therapy for almost all of his recent clients. Hypnosis is an essential part of GI sessions. The requirements for using GI will be described. It is necessary to tailor the session to the client's individual background and needs, and this will be discussed. The attendees will have the opportunity experience this via a group guided imagery session. And, the session will end with a GI healing meditation.
Eastern spiritual teachings tell us that “suffering” goes away when we dissolve the ego. But what is the ‘ego’ and how does one dissolve it? You’ll be introduced to a new way of doing inner work, offering a precise way of dissolving the everyday sense of the ego.
James Hillman (2009) Hillman reveals how to bring “soul talk” back into modern psychotherapy. The case history of a client is the diagnosis, present complaint, family history, employment history, but nothing of the “soul” of the person. Dr. Hillman assures us that we can almost ignore the case history. Using “soul” talk (Longings, dreams, secrets, how a client accepts joy and sorrow) takes the session out of the box and returns a resonance to psychotherapy that it has lost.
Stephen Gilligan (2008) demonstrates the induction of a trance with a volunteer who wants to “feel at home” with herself, but often feels disconnected and scattered. He invites intention and uses mindfulness and body movement to release the weight of fear and disconnection. Afterward, the volunteer claims the experience was “intense,” and “beautiful.”