Hypnotherapy For Therapists

By Bradley Kuhns

A book for  hypnotherapists, social worker, marriage and family counselors and anyone that wants to have a brief, excellent reference on their libary shelf. Doctor Kuhns, a recognized worldwide clinical hypnotherapist offers his uniques approaches, strategies and techniques he has developed over the years in clinical and investigative setting that can now help you. The book is written in an easy to understand style and he shares hypnosis inductions; deepening and waking techniques; suggestions; post-hypnotic suggestions, and much more relating to different ailments and problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bradley Kuhns
• Release date: Jul 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201501860

Bradley Kuhns

Brad graduated through three colorful careers during his life. From the entertainment world, to the law enforcement profession, and eventually working as a professional in the alternative medicine field. Brad has authored numerous books and manuals sharing his knowledge, skills, and expertise with others worldwide.Brad had an incredible career in the entertainment world and quickly shot to fame. Between performances, he was rubbing shoulders and becoming friends with the likes of America's biggest stars: Elvis, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack,Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie, Frankie Laine, Lucille Ball, Dinah Shore, and many other celebrities. Brad's music group, the "Encores," their electrifying stage presence, and his talents as a studio musician made him a Las Vegas staple.His second career in law enforcement allowed him to work alongside the elite ranks of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Scientific Investigation Division. He utilized his acquired skills of investigation, interrogation, polygraph (lie detection), and forensic hypnosis, clinical hypnosis to assist not only the LAPD, but other federal agencies as well, to solve some of the most heinous crimes perpetrated in America. He eventually turned whistleblower to clean up areas within the LAPD.By Brad's third career change, he had earned two professional doctorate degrees, one in clinical psychology and the second as a licensed doctor of Oriental Medicine. He maintained a private marriage family therapy practice while continuing to use his unique skills as a consultant in assisting federal agencies in resolving crimes nationwide.Dr. Kuhns is an internationally recognized forensic hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and motivational builder who has used and shared his unique approaches and techniques both in private practice and as an adviser and consultant to many professionals, stars, entertainers and well-known personalities throughout the world.

Book preview

HYPNOTHERAPY

For the

THERAPIST

By

Bradley Kuhns, Ph.D.

Author’s Note

The use of hypnotism as a tool in the medical and therapeutic community is an ever-evolving practice. The subject of hypnotism still cause a rift within the scientific fields between those who see it for its invaluable properties in helping to heal both the physically and mentally ill, and those minds which continue to associate it with the occult and quackery. It is surprising, but nonetheless fact, that hypnotism is still discounted by many within the scientific and medical circles.

Physicians have been reluctant to investigate the properties of hypnosis and are, therefore, much to blame for the fact that hypnosis is yet unseen as a legitimate scientific topic and valuable therapeutic agent. With their training deeply etched in science and its methods, those in the medical profession seek certainty-yet hypnosis does not lend itself to this type of technical scrutiny. It remains difficult to explain why hypnosis is effective, but that should not take away from the truth that it ¡s, indeed, effective.

At this point, hypnosis is stilt widely regarded as an art since it is not yet possible to call it a science. As an art form, it is one of the oldest known to man. Utilizing the trance form as a tool for healing was practiced by primitive man with no consideration of hypnotism’s scientific value since the miraculous cures and peace of mind were seen as gifts from the divine. Unfortunately, many of those primitive parallels are still drawn by physicians and scientists.

Therefore, this work is presented in an effort to share what I have learned in direct hypnotherapist/patient interaction with positive results. It is presented in a clinical manner as a handbook relating to specifics rather than general techniques. A word-for-word exchange is offered as suggested treatment and a useful guide to those in the therapeutic, medical and dental professions.

My work relates to specific disorders and considers hypnosis as a successful and practical solution to the subject’s difficulty through hypnotic suggestion and therapy.

Bradley Kuhns, Ph.D.

Glendale, California

HISTORY

WHEN AND WHERE IT ALL BEGAN …

In order to thoroughly address any subject, it is imperative to first understand the roots of its beginning. Hypnotherapy, in the writers opinion is no different than any other subject in that respect. In actuality, from the writers point of view, hypnotherapy, demands this requirement far more than most other subjects for numerous reasons. It is very important for the therapist, whether they be clinical psychologist, marriage, family and child counselor, social worker or other therapy provider to understand why it has taken so long to establish hypnosis/hypnotherapy as a useful therapeutic tool. Most of the theorists in the beginning were in conflict with each other so it appeared that scientific recognition under these type of circumstances were virtually impossible.

The great civilization of Egyptians as early as 3,000 B.C. utilized hypnotic techniques and some of their tombs that were unearthed display images of persons with such things as lightning coming from their fingers and eyes. Many of the archaeologists over the years tend to agree that this type of drawing represented hypnosis and they concluded that the Egyptian high priests used sleep temples where these hypnotic techniques were carried out as a matter of treatment of various ailments and disease.

The word hypnosis has always been surrounded by mystery. However, the word is not as complicated as it may seem to appear because it comes from the Greek word hypnos which in simple terms means to sleep. In fact, in 1842, Dr. James Braid coined the phrase to attach it to this art.

Another reason to familiarize yourself with the history of hypnotism is because there have been many theories concerning the use of hypnotism which range from incorrect to the most ridiculous ideas of magic, black art, the devil and witchcraft and it is not uncommon for the therapist to hear someone tell them that they do not want someone to control their mind.

The actual definite recognition of hypnosis was acknowledged by the British Medical Profession in 1955 and three years later in 1958 the American Medical Profession recognized hypnosis which then began to bring hypnosis into a much more favorable atmosphere.

THE BEGINNING GROUP

Frederich Anton Mesmer - 1974-1815

The person recognized as the father of hypnotism is Franz Mesmer, Anton Mesmer, and Dr. Mesmer who was born in lznang, Germany on May 23,1734. Mesmer’s father was employed by the church and Mesmer was actually educated to become a priest. He also studied music and law and eventually went into the study of medicine in Vienna and there he established his practice. He married and set up a clinic and began practicing and experimenting with magnets in 1774.

His first subject was F. Cesterlin a young girl who was a friend of his wife. She had many symptoms such as vomiting, temporary blindness, attacks of paralysis, inability to pass urine, toothaches and was hysterical. In his early notes Mesmer wrote about other terrible symptoms. Mesmer tied magnets to the patients feet and placed one around her neck.

Since magnets were only a few years old at the time of this treatment, the power of magnets were not really known to Mesmer. He heard that they were capable of drawing diseases from the body. After he has success with the patient he declared that the cure was permanent and became somewhat of a success. Mesmer later decided that the use of magnets were not really necessary and came to a conclusion that the body had an animal magnetism projected by his/her own body. He soon became recognized as a famous physician utilizing animal magnetism as a cure and other physicians of the time called him a quack. Mesmer believed he had a magnetic fluid flowing from his fingertips and as he touched certain places of the patients body in direct line with certain nerves he reported numerous cures. However, when one of his patients had a relapse, Mesmer’s critics learned of the incident and a special commission was appointed to investigate. After three years of investigation and deliberation the commission decided to order Mesmer to leave Vienna within 48 hours. He relocated in Paris and had problems of establishing an ongoing prosperous practice so he moved to Spa, Belgium in 1781. However, at an urging of a friend he returned to Paris and gave up his practice of medicine, purchased a hotel and began treating patients with his ability of magnetism (or mesmerism) as it became known at the time. In fact, the use of mesmerism became much more acceptable than conventional medical treatment of the time. Mesmer operated a clinic in Paris until 1784, when a commission appointed by Louis XVI decided to investigate his claims and cures. It was a prestigious commission of the era which included such notables as Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Joseph I. Guiliotin whose invention later became the execution tool of France.

Any misunderstandings regarding any cures by Mesmer was actually caused by Mesmers attitude about himself and his methods. He basically surrounded himself in secrecy. His ideas about fluidism and magnetism are still utilized by some practitioners today. Even though he was one of the early founders of hypnosis, he did not have a grasp of his findings.

Father Johann Josef Gassner - 1727-1779

Father Gassner was an orthodox Roman Catholic Priest and exorcist operating under the Catholic Church and he earned the reputation of becoming the fastest hypnotist ever recorded. He took an average of seven seconds to place someone in a somnabulistic trance. He also performed faith cures in Germany. Father Gassner’s cure seemed to prove effective because he would usually enter a room carrying a lit crucifix and at the same time utter the latin words which were the equivalent of close your eyes, go to sleep and, at the same time, directed his cures.

Some of the earlier details a story where Father Gassner summoned numerous witnesses to his techniques which included a Bishop and two members of the Royal Family. He induced a trance in a young girl who he preconditioned and he proceeded to lower her pulse to well below normal After he had the witnesses verify this fact, he had her pulse increase to almost twice the normal rate. Father Gassner then proceeded to lower the young girls pulse once again until there was no sign of life. After she was pronounced dead by a physician, Father Gassner returned her to normal functioning.

Father Gassner performed his cures on well over 10,000 individuals. However, it was later learned that his cures were extremely short lived and of a temporary nature. But, in any event his most important contribution to hypnosis/hypnotherapy was factual proof that vital body functions could be altered and even stopped by suggestive therapeutics.

Marquis Armond Jacques Marc Chastenet de Puysegur - 1751-1825

The Marquis lived in retirement on his estate in Buzancy, France. An art he learned from Anton Mesmer, which was magnetism, he adapted to his use by magnetizing peasants and in 1784, quite by accident, he discovered a sleeping state of magnetized person named Victor Race. He gave his sleeping state the name of artificial somnambulism, and the term is still active to date. What the Marquis discovered was that Victor Race became very intelligent while in a trance state. But, what he had actually discovered was nothing more than an intelligent subconscious mind which, under the stress of consciousness and the sign of the times of the social environment, was completely disturbed. An amazing fact of Victor at the time was that he prescribed, while being in a trance, the exact measures that were required for him to cure himself.

Although the three individuals previously mentioned are considered an unscientific group, this writer feels that each of them contributed a great deal toward the understanding and the establishment of the field of hypnosis. From Mesmer we learned that a person will usually perform as he believes he is expected to perform. From Father Gassner it was learned that even functional vital signs could be suspended and altered by suggestive therapy. And, last but not least, Puysegur gave the hypnotic world the somnambulistic and basic ideas were more than instrumental in formatting the establishment of the field of hypnosis. And, it is without doubt that these early pioneers set the stage for ¡individuals to follow in their footsteps.

AND THEN, THE ONE’S THAT FOLLOWED …

After the French Revolution there was an increased interest in magnetism and there appeared on the scene some notable persons,… they were: Abbe De Faria of Portuguese, India and he held seances in Paris in 1817. One of the leading mesmerists in France around 1825 was Baron Du Potet who originally began a Mesmerist Society and his followers were called Magnetizers. Many individuals followed the Mesmer tradition and conducted magnetizer sessions. One of the better known magnetizers was General Noizet, who was a student under Faria and he put forth a psychological law which held that: An idea firmly planted will generate its own actuality. As history reports, once again, a committee was organized to look into the credibility of the so called science and the theories of these men. Baron Du Potet, who organized the committee to investigate the other magnetizers received a favorable report on the new pseudo-science.

John Elliotson - 1791-1868

John Elliotson was the son of a chemist who studied Edinburgh, Cambridge University and St. Thomas hospital and was a very popular physician. Dr. Elliotson studied techniques of Baron Du Potet in 1837 and began using magnetism in his medical practice. In fact, he became so successful in the use of the magnetism techniques that he adapted it to areas of epilepsy, insanity, and began special work with children. As in the past, the reigning medical profession of the time held Elliotson and his associate in disfavor and viewed them in a very unfavorable light. About the same time the Lancet, which was a recognized medical journal of the day attacked Etliotson and his followers openly, … stating that all mesmerists were sex maniacs. It certainly is amusing that Dr. Elliotsotfs interest in new and unknown methods that were attacked by his colleagues resulted in his introduction of the stethoscope to England in 1838.

Elliotson was continually attacked for crazy, fringe ideas and as a result of his integrity was brought to a point where he lost income and was making less than one-third of his original wages and after thirty years of attempting to gain medical acceptance and have the medical profession recognize the valuable techniques that he proved over and over again, he died in 1868 without having any true recognition of his contribution using hypnotic techniques.

James Braid - 1795-1860

When someone speaks of the Father of Hypnotism the title is not meant for Anton Mesmer alone. Dr. Braid has earned the title also because it was he, who in fact, gave the world the name of hypnosis, which was taken from the Greek word for sleep, hypnos. Braid was born in Scotland in 1795, educated at the University of Edinburgh and he eventually settled in Manchester, England. Braid was so impressed with his first exposure to hypnosis by a mesmerist