Hypnotherapy is Here!

HYPNOTHERAPY

I am happy to announce that I am now offering hypnotherapy as one of my treatment modalities. At this time I will be using it to address a number of concerns including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and trauma.

Hypnotherapy is a very safe and effective treatment modality. At no time during the process will the client be told anything that we haven't previously discussed; I do understand that it is a concept that some people may be somewhat uncomfortable with. Many people never lose complete awareness while they are in trance, while some do. Speaking of trance, we all go into trance on our own on a likely frequent basis. When we are day-dreaming we are in a trance. If we're really focused on a book we're in a trance. Trance is really nothing more than extremely focused attention. Often in entertainment it was demonstrated by having the individual watch a clock swinging back and forth. While most folks don't do it that way anymore, it certainly is one way to get there. It works by having the person focus so intently on the swinging clock that they go into a trance. I don't do it this way, but it is real.

When we are in a trance we can access our subconscious, which is the point of hypnotherapy. We can get to the parts of our minds that control us without us even realizing it, and make changes in beliefs that have been keeping us stuck. As I mentioned previously, it is very safe, and I believe it will greatly enhance my work. I am a member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnotherapy, which is where I've gotten my training. If you have questions about this opportunity feel free to reach out. Perhaps it could be helpful to you in some way.

Concerns around social media

It is a fairly safe bet that most folks nowadays use social media. I have a Facebook account (clearly, since many of you are probably reading this on it). There are a number of others; Facebook is the one I am most familiar with. Social media comes up frequently enough in sessions that I have seen, over and over again, some of the negative impacts it can have on our lives. Here are a few of the most common.

It perpetuates drama.

I doubt anyone is shocked by this one. Drama in all its glory can and does happen there, and in some ways, it is worse than things that happen in person. Because we feel protected by our computer screen, we may type things online that we wouldn’t actually say to a person. We may see things that wasn’t intended for us. Actual dialogue rarely happens, and it isn’t difficult to find ourselves the bottom of a dog-pile if we share an opinion that on this particular post is in the minority.

Quick, easy access to news that isn’t always accurate or current

I try really hard not to ever post or share news without double or triple-checking to make sure it is accurate and current. I know I’ve slipped up, and it can be really easy to click share before confirming something. At the very least, even if the news we see is accurate, it probably reflects the beliefs of its source; at the worst, it can be absolutely false. For a while I used Facebook as a news source, but I’ve given that up. I’m going to have to go elsewhere to check it anyway, so might as well start with a more trust-worthy source.

It creates and exacerbates depression and anxiety

Depending on the day and time, we may be flooded with negative images, bad news, and scary prospects. The folks I work with say on a regular basis that they feel worse after looking social media. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. in psychology to realize social media may be significantly impacting us in some pretty negative ways.

These days I don’t pay much attention to the news on Facebook, at least that of the political variety. If you post pictures of your furry critters, I guarantee at least a like. I post plenty of my own. I pay much more attention to the “lighter” posts, or the posts made by individuals I actually know that has actual content in it. I also limit myself to how much time I spend on it. I urge you to consider how and how much you use social media, and the potential negative effects it may be having on you. Connection with others online is fine, but connection with another individual (or furry critter!!!) in the same space in time with you is better. Way better. So quit chatting (or arguing) on social media and talk to the real person who is sitting across the table from you. Seriously, if you are in a restaurant with someone stay off your phone. Close up the cyberworld and live in the real world. It matters.

Meet my Therapy Animals

I work from home, and I have four cats and a dog. This means that various animals are typically present during sessions. Before the introductions, let me clarify one thing. Recently we have been hearing about service animals, therapy animals, and emotional support pets. I use the term "therapy animal" to describe my critters, because they do participate in therapy sessions. It is also true that they are providing emotional support, but none have been trained or specially designated as emotional support pets or service pets. They simply hang out during sessions and often interact with the clients. Because I am doing this in my home, there isn't any specific training or certification required. That having been said, let's meet the critters!

Nimbus was the original therapy cat. Starting the very first session I did at the house, he was there and providing support. He seems to have instincts around it that make him the perfect therapy cat. He generally positions himself close to the client so they can interact with him if they want, but if they don't he just naps. Often if a client becomes emotional he will move closer to them and reach out his paw to touch them, letting them know he is there if they want him. He is 10 years old now, and has been doing this work for the last three years.

Dobby was the second therapy cat. We got him as a kitten in April 2017, and he took to it immediately. He doesn't seem to have quite the instinct that Nimbus has, but is still quite good at interacting with clients in positive ways. He is now two years old and has been a therapy cat his whole life.

Darth Cola was the third therapy cat to join the group, but he didn't do so immediately. I worked from home for at least a year before he started hanging out in sessions and interacting with clients. Even now he often sits on his chair a little separate from the client, but he sometimes will move so he can give a little love. Cola is six years old now and has been working about a year and a half.

StormTrooper is the surprise addition to the therapy cat group. He has always been a pretty skittish guy, and up until this past April wouldn't spend any time in the room if a session was in progress. Then quite suddenly and without any explanation he started spending time in the therapy room, and will sometimes interact with clients (more often with me I guess). I don't know what happened that he suddenly decided to be a part of it, but I am glad that he did. He is currently eight years old.

Hiestand's Sir Gandalf the Wise and Fluffy is the newest member of the therapy animal corp. He got him this past April and he has been in every single session since. His goal in life is to be a companion animal so he is perfect for the part. Currently he still does spend more time with me than with the clients (maybe I need some therapy pet love too), but he seems to be spending more and more life with the clients as he becomes more adjusted to the whole process. He is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is seven months old.

In Memoriam: Norah was the original therapy dog, and worked hard from summer 2016 to August 2018. She was a wonderfully friendly companion and very good therapy dog, and will forever be missed.

The Super Bowl of Mental Health

So I'm sitting here on the couch watching a sporting event. I think it's an important one. Two football teams competing to see who is the best in the world (although isn't professional football only in the United States???). As a psychologist who couldn't care less about sports, I find myself thinking about an interesting "competition" of sorts that I sometimes see in sessions, but it may not be exactgly what you might think.

On a pretty regular basis clients will be hesitant to share things that are bothering them because "it's really no big deal" or "other people have it so much worse." I don't say this too often, but just stop it. Mental health isn't a competition where only those with the worst issues get to participate. If you are struggling with something, don't dilute your problems because someone else has it worse. You know what? Someone always has it worse. Your struggles are real, and you owe it to yourself to address them.

There is no Super Bowl in therapy. In the course of a day I see folks struggling with really severe stuff, as well as folks whose stuff isn't quite as severe. You know what? Everyone gets the same attention from me, regardless of the severity of your stuff. If you feel like your stuff isn't as bad as some other folks, be thankful, and then do what you need to do to get a handle on it. We can all win when it comes to mental health.