Sunday, 21 September 2008

Chapter 11 - Conditions for Trancework - For Discussion

Q1. What kind of physical environment for doing trancework would you create if cost were no barrier?

A1. The answer to this is simple, the environment needs to be comfortable with the possibility of few distractions. The reality is that the environment is not important, just that it is accepted and utilized is vital.



Q2. What is you opinion of the "computerized hypnosis" approach? Why do you feel that way?

A2. It is a gimmick, it is standardised and does not work to the assumption that each client is different. I don't fee it would be a sustainable experience as it would become boring due to being impersonal.



Q3. How might ignoring an intrusion cause a client to pay even more attention to it?

A3. Ignoring the intrusion pressures the client indirectly to pay even more attention to it. The intrusion presents itself and has the potential to become the focal point of attention and break trance, the accept and utilisation principle allows the clinician to bring the new intrusion 'in' as part of the experience, the new incorporation places a new frame around the intrusion, accepted as part of the experience ion a way the clinician specifies.



Q4. Can suggestions from a computer or cassette tape be as effective as those from a live person. Why or why not?

A4. The cassette tape or computer program can always be interrupted by an intrusion, which the machine cannot accept and utilise. The program is unchangeable and depends on the absolute suggestibility and obeying selfless accepting of the client, with no resistance.

Chapter 10 - The Experience of Trance - Things To Do

Q1. Share an experience with the class of a vacation or something similar. Which details do you focus on? Why? What sort of details do class members identify as being missing or minimally present in your story? Does this indicate anything about you? What?

To be completed.



Q2. Do something such as walk around the room and pick up objects of interest to you. While doing this, verbally describe your every movement. How does it feel to both participate and observe yourself doing something? Is it easy or hard to do?

The words sometimes do not flow quick enough to represent the whole experience, you can sometime struggle to access the words to describe the experience, also was not sure whether the words represented what had happened or what was to happen as i decided it. As i moved attention from what was in my hand to what was before me on the floor, i felt a shift in my bodily sensations. The words I had to describe certain items caused me to break trance. The word black.

It was reasonable difficult to do proficiently.



Q3. What commonly used phrases can you and your classmates think of that might generate unwanted responses in someone who responded to the phrase with literal interpretation?

A3. Black and white - may produce the racial difference

Chapter 10 - The Experince of Trance - For Discussion

Q1. Why are some people so intense while others are so easily distracted? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each style?

A1. The more intense person will be intent on listening to every word you utter, making internal representation and staying with 'the program'. The disadvantages are that it might take a while to district them from the trance they were in before you arrived or the internal dialogue they are already in before you start your work.


Those easily distracted will be slightly easier to engage from their previous state though they may be different to stay there and the consciousness may stray to outside phenomena away from the trance state, to counteract that you may be able to utilise any distractions.



Q2. Based on your experience of trance, do you think hypnosis can be used to generate antisocial behaviour in someone? Why or why not?

A2. If a person can use the resources of the hidden observer to dissociate what they are experiencing from them having the experience they can always know they can choose not to do something. Just because they feel the response they should give would be anti social, does not mean they should act it out. ASB can be suggested, it should not, but it could be suggested, the client can always refuse.



Q3. Have each person in the class describe their experience of trance. What experiences seem to be common? Which are recognised to be unique to that person?

To be completed.



Q4. When in the course of daily living is having a parallel awareness an asset? A liability?

A4. When in trance or administering a trance process, this might be useful. it might not be as useful if you were trying to read a book or engaging in another procedure which did no require awareness of your person in a 3D sense.



Q5. How is suggestibility different than gullibility?

A5. Suggestibility is acting on and accepting the suggestions of others. Gullibility is the tendency to believe too readily and therefore to be easily deceived. The difference is the factor of trust. To accept suggestions is to trust the sender.

Saturday, 20 September 2008

Chapter 8 - Mind Matters - Things To Do

Q1. Research the functions of the left and right side of the brain hemispheres. Which functions overlap? Which to not?


A1. Left brain: functions are logic, sequential, verbal, linear, analytical, rational explicit

Right brain: intuition, non-verbal/visual, spatial, creative, holistic, artistic, humorous/playful

Both left and right: language processing and phoneme timing


Q2 Have one person talk to you for a minute, then two people simultaneous then three simultaneously, and so on. At what point do you feel overwhelmed in trying to attend to each? what can you conclude from this exercise about the mind?

A2. One person at a time works. The mind can only follow one train of thought.


Q3. Make a list of 10 common disorders and then make a list of underlying feelings or motivations the problem may be metaphorical for. For example, a weight problem may be viewed as a person surrounding herself with fat for protection against some threat. How do you know your interpretation of a symptom is really ehat that symptom is about?

A3. Migraines - inconguent inner state
Arthritis - metaphorical inertia
eating disorder bulemia -
ulcer - burning problem
indegestion - something not accepted
sleeping light - unresolved problem
amnesia - something rather was forgotten
sweating - overactive subconscious

You don't know it's an interpretation, you could test it through questioning in rapport?
A given specialization may occur in more than one
cortical area, although at different levels of efficiency.
More than one area may be able to process the same
information and produce the same or a similar result,
although the precise qualitative nature of the process-
ing, and hence its efficiency (resource use), would
generally differ. This overlap is presumed to arise as a
consequence of the way that the specializations arose
developmentally. Elman and colleagues [1996] suggest
that initial differences at infancy in cell types across
cortical areas can result in some areas gradually becom-
ing more proficient (and hence specialized) in particu-
lar types of processing, namely, those types of process-
ing for which the given cell types are most suited. For
example, cells in more than one brain area may
initially attempt to process speech sounds, but the area
containing cells that are particularly sensitive to the
fine timing distinctions that differentiate phonemes
may eventually become specialized for speech process-
ing. Another area also may have initially attempted to
process speech and eventually lost the competition for
the specialization, but may nevertheless have retained
a residual capability to process speech, albeit less
efficiently. Thus there might be some overlap in func-
tion between areas, such as between the left and right
homologues of the language network.

Chapter 9 - Suscepibility to Hypnosis - For Discussion

Q1. What basis do you think Milton Erickson had for making the statement that "anyone who can be socialized can be hypnotised"?

A1. In order to be socialised, you must accept the program of another human being or group, you must then use that program to assume and maintain your place in the world, to become part of system and follow commands. To accept the

The process of accepting the program, involves making a change in belief, a change made whilst in trance in school lessons, at a church sermon, watching television or whilst being read a story.

Anybody who can be socialised can be hypnotised, anyone who has accepted various states of trance as 'normal' everyday occurrences can be hypnotised.




Q2. Why do researchers conclude that if they can't hypnotise someone, no one can?

A2. Researchers in order to find a trend of results need to use standardised methodology and fixed variables. The frame they place upon the client is restricted, the use of a standardised induction methods is a test to see if they "make the quoir" or are willing to be powerless in the relationship accepting the program of the researcher. They conclude that if the can't no one can, because that satisfies their view of the and prevents 'cognitive dissonance' on the part of the boards who fund the research.




Q3. What age related factors should one take into consideration when formulating a trance process? In what ways will an approach to 60-year-old differ from an approach to a 20-year-old?

A3. Age is a relatively minor consideration is assessing capacity for trance however in formulation it is important for determining the best method for trance induction and utilisation because of the need to do trance processes that re appropriate to the age and the background of the client. With that in mind, the life position of the 20-year-old could be quite different from that of the 60-year-old, the older generation may be less open and free for direct change an more indirect route may need to be utilised, going into the past for the 60-year-old might be a lot more comfortable for them and may give them access to resources they have since forgotten. the 20 year old may be more about future pacing and more aspirational of the things they can achieve.

The world views of the two age groups will also be different, and therefore the metaphor will represent that in the trance process chosen.




Q4. Is intelligence related to the ability to concentrate? Why or why not?

A4. In 'retarded' persons different technique must be used to hold the attention, but everyone can achieve a state of concentrated attention.





Q5.When should one meet one's clients' expectations? When shouldn't one? Why do you say so? What interpersonal dynamics should be taken into account in deciding whether or not to meet the expectations?

A5. One should meet one's client's expectations if it will increase the likelihood of obtaining positive results and achieving rapport. Knowing the expectations does not obligate one to meet them. One should not meet them, if those expectations can be used for some other therapeutic purpose. Finding out what those expectations doe put one in the position to choose whether or not to meet them.

If the clients' expectation of one's future behaviour do not lend themselves to positive future intervention don't overstep that mark. How a certain expected person exact a change in a client who projects negativity on the clinician?

Knowing where a person is susceptible, what they want and then knowing which Vaginia Satir communication style and position to take would be useful is important for the effectiveness of the influence to generate change int he client.




"There's nothing I'm told, save the space in between, finding out what you're called and repeating your name." - Ruby (perhaps about the power of suggestion whilst in trance)

Thursday, 18 September 2008

Chapter 8 - Mind Matters - For Discussion

Q1. Why do people transmit messages incongruously? Is it safe to assume they are being deceptive in doing so?

A1. Not really. The incongruous sending of messages is a strategic attempt made in the spirit of an initial assessment which finds that there may be some resistance. The incongruous message or mixed message send multiple streams of stimulus to approach both e the conscious and unconscious mind. Deceptive no, access the power of the receivers unconscious mind yes, so that they feel ready to make a change and commit to action.



Q2. How do you characterize the differences between conscious and unconscious minds?

A2. The conscious uses selective perception to narrow its focus to a manageable level by focusing on specific element of an otherwise sensory overload. The unconscious mind is the safety valve which regulates and protects the mind from unacceptable suggestions, and will if necessary protect the whole person from threat.



Q3. Our society has been called a "Left Brain on. Why do you think it has been characterised this way? Do you agree?

A3. A society which has only been out of the industrial revolution for less than 100 years and has invested so heavily in the logical technological world can be depicted as Left Brain. Even in left brain tasks such as organisation there is an element of right brain creativity in how they are managed, right brain activity gave birth to the mental vision which creativity algorithms created for the search process of Internet search engines. We enjoy stories as a Left Brain society, we live in a news agenda which is governed by metaphor. Metaphor is the escape to the right bran while the left brain is not looking.



Q4. Do you trust you unconscious mind? Why or why not? Do you trust your conscious mind? Why or why not?

A4. My unconscious mind or my 'gut' tells me if something is afoot or wrong in some way. My conscious mind however can be presented a single train of thought to follow, i believe i can be duped or tricked, its not that i don't trust it, it is like a friend that you must be aware of, that is a little easily led and sometime forgets who he is and what his purpose or priorities are.



Q5. Why do you think the use of sensory isolation coupled with subliminal messages as a therapeutic intervention? Why do you hold that opinion? What potential dangers, if any, can you anticipate arising from this approach?

A5. Sensory isolation would cause the brain to hallucinate. It is dangerous to prevent stimulation for extended periods if time and the result of subliminal messaging in tandem with isolation and sensory deprivation is unknown.