Hyperempiria, a new "altered state of consciousness" induced by suggestion

Valencia Model of Waking Hypnosis: Background, Research, and Clinical Applications

The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the historical background, methods, and clinical applications of the Valencia Model of Waking Hypnosis (VMWH). The active-alert-waking methods have been developed and used since the 19th century as an alternative when the suggestions for relaxation and drowsiness were not helpful for specific cases, or when the person needed to use hypnotic suggestions in situations that required them to be alert and with their eyes open (i.e. in vivo exposure, sports performance, academic work, etc.). In most of these methods, the hypnotized person keeps their eyes open, and the suggestions given are for alertness, focused attention, mind expansion, and excitement. Physical relaxation is mostly not suggested, but tension or certain physical movements are used to elicit the activation of the hypnotized person. The VMWH consists of a number of methods combined to change attitudes and maximize the effects of the hypnotic suggestions. The procedures have empirical validation, and are straightforward and pleasant for patients as well as easy to learn and apply. It is structured, although its sequence is flexible and can be adapted to the needs of the intervention. Finally, research has revealed that this model has numerous advantages, and is potentially useful in clinical practice. Therefore, its incorporation into therapy may have great benefits for the patients.

REVISITING THE SAFE PLACE:Method and Regulatory Aspects in Psychotherapy when Easing Allostatic Overload in Traumatized Patients

Safe-place inductions are considered important altered states of consciousness (ASC) to be (re)installed during trauma-informed psychotherapy. Coregulation aimed at changing implicit relational knowing and increasing integration and coherence through relational work and hypnotic techniques is crucial, as clients' abilities to self-soothe and regulate have become seriously impaired. Thus, resource-oriented metaphors as inner strength imagery is advocated. Also, methods such as creative-arts therapy and neurofeedback will induce ASCs, as most methods used with complex traumatized clients, due to their high hypnotizability. When positive or soothing imagery or relationally held suggestions for changed attentional focus are added to both psychodynamic psychotherapy and CBT, a hetero-hypnosis will be induced-a prerequisite for phase-specific trauma therapy aimed at changing inner schemas and scripts.

Alert hypnosis: a review and case report

This review summarizes the use of hypnotic inductions while the subject is physically active, open-eyed and focused on the external environment. Research cited from several sources documents that traditional and alert inductions produce similar hypnotic susceptibility scores, but after an alert induction, subjects may report feeling more alert and in control. A case is reported of a client who was able to use such an induction to stay in alert hypnosis for an extended time, and reduce the long-standing anxiety effects of past failure. Finally, a systematic way is discussed to generate inductions that may expand the use of hypnosis to new applications.

Awake-alert hypnosis in the treatment of panic disorder: a case report

An individual developed a lifestyle-limiting case of Panic Disorder that threatened to interfere with her raison d'etre: To participate in the exclusive lifestyle of her community. The panic episodes started to cripple her social calendar and as the "season" came into full swing her coveted role of chairwoman of various philanthropic functions came into peril. A variant of awake-alert hypnosis had to be created for this case. Hypnosis consisting of eye closure with relaxation was out of the question. The authors created an induction technique and specific suggestions based on the Waterford glassware, as focal point, with the purpose of not only inducing awake-alert hypnosis but also of executing a series of specific strategies, tailored to abort the incipient panic episodes.

Effects on suggestibility of a new method of active-alert hypnosis: alert hand

Research has shown that the active-alert method described by Bányai and Hilgard (1976) produces a similar increase on suggestibility as relaxation-based techniques, but it has some limitations, including the need for a stationary bicycle and a certain level of physical fitness. The authors compared that method with the new "alert hand" method, which emphasizes activity and alertness, but is simpler and less strenuous. In a repeated measures, counterbalanced design (N = 80), the authors found that (a) the alert hand method produced significantly higher objective and subjective suggestibility scores than the active-alert technique, and (b) a high percentage (23%) of volunteers discontinued participation during the active-alert method but not during the alert hand method. The alert hand method extends the benefits of active hypnosis to individuals who may have difficulties with the physical demands required by the active-alert method, and it seems to enhance suggestibility even more.