Susan Ezra hosts a panel of Imagery International certified hypnotherapists who incorporate imagery in their work. There are surprises as each has a different approach to their work.  As is often the case with complementary/alternative practices the theory may be different.  This is a fascinating presentation for anyone who is curious about the similarities and differences between Hypnosis and Guided Imagery.

Embracing Our Imperfections
by Alena Guest
“When my daughter was young her favorite doll was a Raggedy Ann and she fell asleep each night rubbing her nose against the doll’s cloth face. Over time the face became threadbare and the cotton stuffing bulged from the splits in the fabric. The painted features faded. One day I suggested that it might be time to replace the Raggedy Ann with a newer version. My daughter was horrified. ‘If I had an accident and my face got ruined would you get a new girl? I love her how she is.’ My child’s wisdom humbled me. We did ‘fix’ the precious doll with masking tape and an indelible magic marker. So Raggedy Ann stayed beautifully imperfect.” This story, by Annie Dillard, poignantly illustrates how we assess beauty primarily from the surface.
As we approach middle-age we often view ourselves through a glass darkly, concentrating on our imperfections. Each of us is her own worst critic. In my years as a clinical hypnotherapist I have worked with hundreds of women, each shackled by her inner critic, who keeps her imprisoned inside a limited version of herself. Part of the reason is that we are bombarded with advertising images that reinforce unrealistic, unhealthy perceptions of beauty and perfection.

The women who are portrayed in these ads are photo-shopped so much that even iconic 1990′s supermodel Cindy Crawford, says, “I wish I was Cindy Crawford.”

To read the rest of Embracing Our Imperfections go here

Dr. Jeanne Achterberg, a leader in imagery exploration and application, refers to imagery as “the thought process that invokes and uses the senses: vision, audition, smell, taste, the senses of movement, position and touch. It is the communication between perception, emotion, and bodily change.” Guided Imagery can evoke change through the senses both physical and imagined by skillful guidance.

Guided Imagery Experienced

A definition does not capture the experience of working with a trained Guided Imagery practitioner.  And most people who have not had experience with this approach want to know about research on efficacy of Guided Imagery for changing symptoms, behavior before deciding to try it out.  Imagery International’s professionals have written about their work over the years and through articles in Imagery International’s newsletter – ImagiNews -  discuss how they have incorporated their Guided Imagery training into their practices.

Our membership is comprised of diverse licensed and certified professionals who show how this work is useful to virtually all types of work.

To see these articles that range from relevant research citations to treatment of symptoms and behavioral problems visit our About Guided Imagery page.

All types of professionals are not represented here.  We will be adding information as articles are submitted.

From the Imperial Thomsom Innovative Wellness blog, we learn how wishes can come true.

Janine Thomson says:

Your Wish or Intention can be on one of those pieces of confetti!!!!!

I am a big believer in sending out your wishes and intentions.  Being open to possibilities no matter how big or small.

Imagine my surprise when I found out you can send out your wishes and intentions along with others from around the world.  You can have  your wishes and intentions release with the New Years Confetti at Times Square!

Read my blog and find out how.

They were keynote speakers at Imagery International’s 2010 conference. What a dynamic duo!

November workshops offered by Imperial Thomson Innovative Wellness in the Long Island, New York area:

Maureen Imperial

Meditation with Maureen

This meditation circle we will explore different sounds and vibrations you can use with your meditation. This will also help you choose specific meditation mantras to use on your own.

When: Tuesday November 16 @ 7:00pm
Where: Step Into Wellness – Bellport Village, NY

Instructor: Maureen Imperial
Email Jt.Hypnosis@yahoo.com if you want to attend.

Janine Thomson

Incorporating EFT and Reiki

Combining  Reiki and EFT offers amazing work that can be done either assisting others or doing self-work.

When: Sunday November 21, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Where Step Into Wellness, 10 Station Court, Bellport Village, NY

Introduction To EFT

Where: Truth Seeker Meeting – Patchogue
When: Friday November 19th,  7:00 – 9:00pm

Instructor: Janine Thomson EFT adv.
Email me for more information Jt.Hypnosis@yahoo.com

Maureen and Janine practice in Long Island, New York.  If you live near them check their website for upcoming events and subscribe to their newsletter

Co-Sponsored by

Beyond Ordinary Nursing

Imagery for the Future: Illuminating Lives

October 22-24, 2010
Vallombrosa Center, Menlo Park, California

Visit Imagery International’s Annual Conference webpage to see our featured speakers and topics.  Their pictures and biographies are also posted here.  On the conference page you can conveniently register online or download, print the registration form and mail it in with your check.

Attendees who attend all workshops receive 11 contact hours, provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #13833,. This course meets the qualifications for continuing education credit for MFTs/LCSWs as required by the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences, provider #PCE 3201.

We have designed the conference to meet practitioners needs for an economical conference.  This is an exciting, educational and inspiring event for imagery practitioners no matter what your training. Your participation will help us mainstream guided imagery, so do plan to come.

Gina Vance

This training teaches you skills to manage stress that shows up as anger and helps you achieve superior performance in your ventures. It is based on the unique approach of the Center for Mind Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. and is a powerful and effective combination of research-based self- awareness and self-care techniques to help deal with life changes, stress, pain and anger in a relaxed group setting.

You’ll learn scientifically proven mind-body techniques that are used in hospitals, medical schools, and private practice in the US, and for trauma relief around the world.

You’ll get experience using tools that can transform your life, and relationships and integrate into your personal and professional life in a wide variety of ways.

Some of the skills you’ll learn include:

• Ultra Rapport

• Soft Power Breathing

• Freeing Movement

• Active Meditation

• Effective Inquiry

• Quick Release

• Authentic Expression

• Creative Visualization

• Guided Imagery & Self-Hypnosis

• Brain Training

Lisa Galeazzi

To Register Call:  Lisa Galeazzi at 209-342-7955 or Gina Vance at 209-527-9761 or pay online here. http:www.LisaGaleazziMFT.com

Location: The Integrative Wellness Center at G Street Suites,1724 G Street, Modesto, CA (Corner of 18th & G).  To visit the website click here. http://www.IntegrativeWellnessModesto.com

Cost: $485 pays in full to reserve your space. Cash, check and credit cards accepted. Space limited.

Your Mentor-Guides: With a combined twenty four years experience teaching skills for managing stress and superior achievement, Lisa Galeazzi, MFT, and Gina Vance, CMHT, CCHT, RBT show you how to use your inborn abilities to manage your power in beneficial and productive ways that relieve stress and improves vitality.

Lisa Galeazzi, MFT

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Lisa specializes in a holistic approach in private practiceconsulting to professionals, as well as working in collaboration with pediatricians, schools, psychiatrists, Family Court, Probation, and the District Attorney’s office. She’s earned the expertise that comes with experience in service to the community, and in facilitating success for those challenged by ADHD, Mood Disorders, Relationship problems and LGBT issues.

Gina Vance, CMHT, CCHT, RBT

Registered Behavioral Therapist, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Creative Visualization teacher, Gina was mentored into mastery by tortuous physical pain and its accompanying mental anguish and psychic torment. Schooled in the best options for dealing with the challenges confronting, or hounding us, including tried and true methods that can be used on the fly. These are tools that have proved effective in the boardroom, bedroom and playing field, as well as being used effectively in state of the art medical centers; with survivors of war atrocities overseas, and with returning Vets here in the US right now.

Sandra Warnken

Did you know hypnosis can be used without diagnoses?  As a client-centered practitioner I help clients work with habits and symptoms by guiding their attention to physical sensations, imagery, thoughts, and feelings rather than assess depth of trance. As one teacher said, sometimes our work is to bring clients out of the trance they are in.

Jason, not his name, needed help with a bad temper.  He had called around to get help and left messages on voice mail.  No one had returned a call two days later.  I could hear the frustration and distress in Jason’s voice over the phone.  Because I answered the phone and was available to see him in a timely manner he was able to calm down.

Jason was extremely agitated when he came in.  He said he was on two medications, but they weren’t helping.

He needed to talk.  As he talked I monitored his agitation and guided his conversation toward topics that were calming.

When he started talking about his good buddy, he visibly started settling down. Recalling the things they did together, like riding motorcycles, made him smile.  I asked him to tell me more to facilitate the settling.  I learned that Jason felt safe with this old friend.

Jason also had a safe place he liked to visit. As he described it, he settled down even more. By the end of our time together he was much calmer and feeling better.

At the beginning of our second meeting Jason was again very agitated and needed to talk. When he mentioned his interest in classic cars and motorcycles, an image of a tachometer popped into my head. I decided to use the idea of a tachometer to help Jason become aware of the tension in his body and how it was related to his anger.

Yes, he said he was familiar with tachometers. I invited him (eyes open) to imagine a tachometer that  worked with his body. I said it shows that his idling speed is very high.  It also shows that it doesn’t take much gas to go from idle to redline.

Jason sees (imagines) the tachometer and says that idle speed is 10,000 RPM.  Redline is 15,000 RPM. I ask him to scan his body and notice what he is feeling at 10,000 RPM. I told him that for our purpose redline is related to the kind of anger he is troubled with. We might find that he can be angry and in control or that he is out of control (in the redline zone). Our task is to get the idling speed down and to learn how to back off the gas when approaching the redline.

Then I asked Jason if he noticed how his idling speed slowed down when he talked about his good buddy the last time. He hadn’t noticed. I invited him to recall what he had talked about, prompting him with some of the experiences/words he mentioned.

As he started remembering he started smiling. He could feel the change in his body. He reported that idle speed was now 8,000 RPM.  The I asked him to think about his safe place.   He reported his idle speed went to 6,000 RPM. He was surprised and amazed that it took so little to feel so much better.

Jason had a direct experience of the mind/body connection and how what he thought about affected him. He left feeling calmer, empowered and hopeful.

Sandra Warnken, CCHT, SEP

Your Health Matters

There is a great show on Concord, NH’s WKXL Community Radio called “Your Health Matters”.  One of the hosts is Chris Lauer, MOE, RD, LD of Catholic Medical Center. Chris has a passion for health and shares that with her patients and listeners.

Tuesday, July 14, at 10:00AM, Chris will be interviewing Sharon M. O’Connor, RN, CH, and founder of Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions, LLC, in Hampton, NH. They’ll talk a little about hypnosis for medical purposes, hypnotherapy and how it could help you.

In the Concord area, you can listen to WKXL 1450AM Monday, July 13 at 2:07 PM.  The show will also be archived on line.

Sharon M. O’Connor, RN, CEO
Atlantic Complementary Medical Solutions, LLC
2 Dearborn Avenue
Hampton, NH 03842

888-441-3332

sharon@acmswellness.com

http://www.acmswellness.com