so true ben. Before I even brought up to LL my present therapist that I do work with hypnotic techniques I first made sure she knew the main relaxation techniques. That wasn't too hard when I joined a depression management class she was doing some relaxation visualizations. I got to experience firt hand that she was confident in what she was doing and was knowledgeable about those techniques. After going through the 13-15 week class with her doing these relaxation visualizations I knew she would have no problem with my telling her that I take that to a deeper level of total hypnotic trance for my memory work. So then I wrote her a letter discribing part of my process with hypnosis, only I called it relaxation visualizations because those were the words she was familiar with. Then we made plans to start by doing relaxation visualizations in sessions together. The last two sessions we did them and recorded them. Today we talked about the actual taking this to that deeper level of relaxation for memory work. All we need to do now is run it by the supervisor for the ok for a 2 hour session instead of the normal 1 hour.

using hypnosis (which is where the name self hypnosis comes from) can be done on your own or with a therapist you just need to know what you are doing and what you want to aim for as you relax to that level.

I have personally on my own been using hypnosis now for at least 4 years for accessing repressed memories.

I don't know the exact years my therapist has been using the basics of it (relaxation and visualization) in her personal life but I do know that she has been running the depression group (where she does these relaxation visualizations) for 3 years.

If you have a therapist that does not know how to use hypnotic techniques (relaxation visualizations) it is not that hard for the therapist to learn. Therapists don't need a license in hypnotic techniques to know how to use it. My past therapist was in the process of helping me do this and she was not required to have any extra qualifications by this states mental health rules and laws. Any therapist here in the united states can if they wish use relaxation techniques with their clients and that is all that hypnosis is - relaxing the body.

The way I started was by imagining myself laying on a beach and imagining the sun shine warming my body from head to toe.

Another well know progressive relaxation otherwise known as hypnoses is imagining yourself walking down a set of 10 stairs with each step you go down you relax another part of your body

Another one is squeezing all your body muscles tight then relaxing them one at a time

Another one is paying attention to your breathing.

My anger management class did the walk along a stream visualization which is hypnosis

People use hypnotic techniques everyday but they dont realize its called that. now days hypnosis is called relaxation visualizations because when people here hypnosis they panic thinking about the tv variety.

If you can relax your body to the point where for example you know your hand is there logically but it feels like its numb and asleep - thats hypnosis - total relaxation. and if you can do this then you can do hypnosis with or without a therapist. Having a therapist is sometimes helpful for example I have this one memory I have been trying to access on my own but every time I do I get so far and then either go float in la la land or come fully out of the trance. So I decided to ask my therapist to help. That therapist knew nothing about hypnosis but she did know about progressive relaxation when she researched it for herself she found out that progressive relaxation IS using basic hypnosis and techniques.

If you are going to do memory work I don't recommend anyone going after the harder memories without a therapist at least knowing you are using relaxation visualizations (hypnosis) just in case you come accross a memory that is upsetting.

And if you are like me going to use it with a therapist that therapist needs time before doing to make sure their supervisor knows what you are working on in case of any problems for example you recover an upsetting memory and three days later the effects from it are sending you into suicidal thoughts requiring hospitalization. The therapist is also going to need scheduling time. On my own when I do memory work it takes me about 5 -10 minutes to reach that total relaxed level and then exploring the memory I have chosen to go after for more information and then time to come back up. the total time to go by on the clock is anywhere between a half hour - 2 hours and I never know how long its going to take each time. it all depends on the memory content and what I am looking for. Then your therapist is going to want time with you after you fully come out of the trance to make sure you are physically and mentally ok to go home and make it there safely. The therapist will most likely also want to make sure she has time to let those taking calls that you may need him/her and if it is ok that they put your call through to that therapist.

It takes time to set up but for me its well worth it.