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Abreaction

With the re-living of past memories also known as age regression, the emotions tied to the experience

are also remembered. The client might then re-live the experience resulting in an emotional

discharge, known as an abreaction. These abreactions taking place are the result of either real, or

imagined (partially imagined) events, and may even result from distorted perceptions of real events.

It has been said that, the release of emotions long suppressed in the subconscious, can have a very

therapeutic effect and lead to release and relearning, the valuable third and fourth therapeutic steps tochange. This makes it very important to allow clients, to discharge emotions in their own way during an

abreaction. And each client should be granted the right to visit those events which he/she believes

significant during hypnosis.

Although at times therapeutic, the hypnotherapistshould most definitely be aware that, some therapists

seem so caught with the inner child concept that they try to force clients into remembering childhood

traumas. A client forced to abreact pains from childhood could feel emotionally violated or, worse, yet,

could require additional hypnotherapyor psychotherapy as a result of such mishandling.

It is further suggested that when a client remembers the correct event, we should not force anger, but

rather, allow him/her to express in whatever manner seems most appropriate, to help facilitate release,

and create personal empowerment.

Charles Tebbetts taught that forcing excessive emotion(s) is unwise, and that it is equally unwise to stop

an abreactionduring a regression. He believed the release, to be essential for at least a partial

resolution, or agreement, to resolve the situation later at the appropriate time and place. The

hypnotherapistmust simply be a good listener, and not offer his own advice or personal experiences.

For the purposes of release and relearning, it is considered appropriate to ask questions guiding the

client (leading), to the desired outcome. It is suggested that the hypnotherapistprovide the client with

sufficient time, to experience the emotion(s) before interfering, and then, reduce the intensity of the

abreactionas described below:

Let the scene fade away now. Clear your mind, and go deeper into relaxation, and enjoy this pleasant,

relaxed feeling deeper and deeper

Now come forward (or backward) in time to a scene in which you are HAPPY and ENJOYING yourself

thoroughly! ( or clients peaceful place) I am going to count to three and snap my fingers. At the snap of

my fingers you are there a happy scene. One, two, three (snap) youre THERE!

Now feel how wonderful life is at this moment.

You can also use the peaceful place. After a minute or two, go back to the traumatic scene once again

with words such as:

It is important to your future happiness that you go back to the scene you just experienced, but this

time the feelings will be much less intense. For the sake of your happiness, are you willing to go back to

that scene for just a short moment?

Desensitizing, re-learning and forgiving can be employed at this time with any number of hypnotic

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techniques ranging from the "Informed child to Gestalt role playing. I myself like the Gestalt method

due to my NLPtraining.

Richard Bandlerdeveloped a technique referred to as perceptual positions using self, other, and observer

which appears to me to be fairly similar to Gestalt role playing. This isnt surprising seeing as how Mr.

Bandleropenly admits to having a Black belt in Gestalt Therapy.

Described below is the Gestalt method of helping someone through an abreaction:

First: make it safe for the client to tell the other person(s) exactly how he/she feels about what hashappened (as the informed child). Second: have the client role-play being the other party (or parties) in

the experience. This may provide even greater insight to help facilitate release and clearing. This

dialogue can be initiated with suggestions such as:

Your mother (or father, or the person or animal who caused the hurt) must now listen to you talk.

Remember, you have all your present adult knowledge, wisdom, understanding, intelligence and experience.

Tell her (him or them) EXACTLY how you FEEL about what has happened

Wait for response, and allow the client to express. He/she may talk for several minutes!

Now, BE YOUR MOTHER (or father, or the person or animal who caused the hurt) and RESPOND!

If there is no intermediate response, you may repeat the phrase and then summarize what the client

expressed as though you are talking to that person rather than the client. For example, assuming aclients mother spanked too hard, say:

Now, BE YOUR MOTHER. Your daughter says you spanked her too hard (or whatever was done). She

doesnt know how you can love her and spank her so hard (or do whatever was done). RESPOND TO YOUR

DAUGHTER!

Taking the role of the other person leads to understanding, which leads to forgiveness, which is usually

necessary for release. Depending on the individual client, you may facilitate this part of the age

regression in either a paternal or maternal manner. Do what you believe you would want if the roles were

reversed.

The final release (Forgiveness and/or Understanding), provides for the importance that the client forgivehim/herself as well as the person or situation involved for final clearing. If forgiveness of the other

person seems impossible, the next best objective is to reach understanding, then still find a way of

helping the client attain self-forgiveness. The process of understanding and/or forgiving empowers and

protects the client from further hurt.

An emotion cannot be completely cleared as long as a client is holding onto a grudge. The anger or

whatever emotion will remain an obstacle to change if not re-understood.

The confirmation of resolution, and relearning, is the final important step to facilitate change, and is

demonstrated as follows using ideomotor

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