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Types of Therapies/Services/Definitions:

Existential Psychotherapy "Existential psychotherapy is an approach to therapy which takes seriously the human condition. It is an optimistic approach in that it embraces human potential, while remaining a realistic approach through its recognition of human limitation. Falling in the tradition of the depth psychotherapies, existential therapy has much in common with psychodynamic, humanistic, experiential, and relational approaches to psychotherapy." ~ Excerpt from Existential Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: "Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) facilitates a collaborative relationship between the patient and therapist. Together, patient and counselor develop a trusting relationship and mutually discuss the presenting problems to be prioritized and explored in therapy. In Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, the most pressing issue troubling the patient typically becomes the initial focus of treatment. As a result, the patient tends to feel relieved and encouraged that the primary problem that brought him to therapy is immediately being acknowledged and addressed. In Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, problems are tackled head-on in a very practical manner. The patient is coached on the ABC's of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. The therapist explains the connection between thoughts and beliefs and their impact on behavior. How the patient thinks about problems determines the way in which the individual responds to various issues. It's the manner of thinking about life's issues that steers the patient's way of behaving." ~ Excerpt from Family Resource

Gestalt Therapy: "Gestalt Therapy focuses on here-and-now experience and personal responsibility. The objective, in addition to overcoming symptoms, is to become more alive, creative, and free from the blocks of unfinished issues which may diminish optimum satisfaction, fulfillment, and growth. "The theory of Gestalt therapy takes as its centerpiece two ideas. The first is that the proper focus of psychology is the experiential present moment. In contrast to approaches which look at the unknown and even unknowable, our perspective is the here and now of living. The second idea is that we are inextricably caught in a web of relationship with all things. It is only possible to truly know ourselves as we exist in relation to other things. These twin lenses, here-and-now awareness and the interactive field, define the subject matter of Gestalt therapy. Its theory provides a system of concepts describing the structure and organization of living in terms of aware relations. Its methodology, techniques, and applications … link this outlook to the practice of Gestalt therapy. The result is a psychology and method with a rich and unique view of everyday life, the depths and difficulties which life encompasses, and "the high side of normal," the ennobling and most creative heights of which we are capable. Gestalt therapists believe their approach is uniquely capable of responding to the difficulties and challenges of living, both in its ability to relieve us of some measure of our misery and by showing the way to some of the best we can achieve.” ~ Excerpt from Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy Holistic Therapy: "Holistic Therapy can help you make your life what you want it to be. The techniques are co-created and evolve from your needs, strengths and interests and are based on the principles of Psychosynthesis. Psychosynthesis has been described as "The psychology with a Soul". It deals with the whole person -- the physical, the emotional, the mental, and the spiritual. Psychosynthesis is a comprehensive approach to self-realization and the development of human potential. The essential aim of Psychosynthesis is to help people discover their true spiritual nature, then to effectively utilize this discovery in everyday life. Psychosynthesis helps us to realize our creative potential, increase our ability to function harmoniously in the modern world, and improve the quality of all our relationships, and to do what we want to do when we tune into our innermost sense of self and purpose. So Psychosynthesis is a kind of therapy, and it is a method of self improvement, but more than this, it is also a process that co-operates with the unfolding evolution of all nature. It aims to bring awareness, wholeness and connection to the process of evolution as it happens in each of us." ~ Excerpt from Self Growth

Humanistic Psychology: "Humanistic psychology is a value orientation that holds a hopeful, constructive view of human beings and of their substantial capacity to be self-determining. It is guided by a conviction that intentionality and ethical values are strong psychological forces, among the basic determinants of human behavior. This conviction leads to an effort to enhance such distinctly human qualities as choice, creativity, the interaction of the body, mind and spirit, and the capacity to become more aware, free, responsible, life-affirming and trustworthy. Humanistic psychology acknowledges that the mind is strongly influenced by determining forces in society and in the unconscious, and that some of these are negative and destructive. Humanistic psychology nevertheless emphasizes the independent dignity and worth of human beings and their conscious capacity to develop personal competence and self respect. This value orientation has led to the development of therapies to facilitate personal and interpersonal skills and to enhance the quality of life." ~ Excerpt from The Association for Humanistic Psychology Neuro-Linguistic Programming: "Neuro Linguistic Psychotherapy (NLPt) is a specialized form of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). The idea is that we work from and react to the world as we construct it from our experiences rather than directly from the "real world". We build our own unique models or maps of the world. Although all such maps are genuine to each of us, no one map is fully able to represent the "real world". Further, NLP is a way of exploring how people think, identifying success and then applying these successful actions or even beliefs in ways that work. This has proved practical and effective in a wide range of applications and situations. Using this form of what is called "modeling" change can be quite quick. NLPt is broad based and draws on concepts from many areas of psychology and psychotherapy. Influences stem from the Gestalt 'school', the family therapy of Virginia Satir, Ericksonian brief therapy, and humanistic psychology. There are also clear links with the fields of systems theory, behavioral psychology and linguistics. What happens in the therapy? The Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapist and Counselor will seek to help you, the client, to identify your desired state i.e. your goals and dreams. You'll then seek to achieve them by using your own and new resources and skills. This can involve you in experimenting with changing beliefs that limit your success, identifying new beliefs, and/or gaining insights into patterns of your behavior, which help you to have more choices." ~ Excerpt from Neuro Linguistic Psychotherapy and Counseling Association

Positive Psychotherapy: "The method of Positive Psychotherapy belongs to the humanistic, trans-cultural and psychodynamic psychotherapeutic methods. The method is based on the new positive image of man that man is good by nature and endowed with four kinds of capabilities: physical, mental, social, and spiritual. Illnesses and disorders are therefore interpreted in a new and positive way, and through the use of stories, anecdotes and examples from other cultures the patient is encouraged to play a more active role in his own healing process. Positive Psychotherapy believes that every human being is an entity of body, mind, emotions and spirit. The aim of the therapeutic process is to help the client to develop his inborn capabilities and to find the balance in his daily-life. The patient is encouraged to become a therapist for his own family and environment. Elements of other psychotherapeutic methods are used in order to be flexible in the treatment of the patient: Positive Psychotherapy is an interdisciplinary approach." ~ Excerpt from Positum.org

Reality Therapy: "Reality therapy is based on choice theory and continues to evolve. It has become a technique widely studied and embraced by people throughout the world. The principles of reality therapy extend to several different areas. It is embraced by professionals, including counselors, educators, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, parents and others. Since unsatisfactory or non-existent connections with people we need are the source of almost all human problems, the goal of Reality Therapy is to help people reconnect. This reconnection almost always starts with the counselor/teacher first connecting with the individual, and then using this connection as a model for how the disconnected person can begin to connect with the people he or she needs." ~ Excerpt from International Journal of Reality Therapy "Almost all approaches to psychology assume that people have certain basic needs and, indeed, there is broad agreement on what these needs are. In Reality Therapy they are classified under five headings: 1) Power (which includes achievement and feeling worthwhile as well as winning). 2) Love & Belonging (this includes groups as well as families or loved ones). 3) Freedom (includes independence, autonomy, and your own 'space'). 4) Fun (includes pleasure and enjoyment). 5) Survival (includes nourishment, shelter, and sex).

One of the core principles of Reality Therapy is that, whether we are aware of it or not, we are all the time acting to meet these needs." ~ Excerpt from Angel Fire

Parts Therapy: How often do people experience inner conflicts that inhibit successful attainment of important goals? Hypnotherapists often use proven techniques to help clients change undesired habits and/or to achieve desired personal and professional goals. Yet, in spite of the best efforts of both client and therapist, unresolved inner conflicts often inhibit clients from attaining their ideal empowerment. Parts therapy may provide the answer!

The Simple Definition

Parts therapy is based on the concept that our personality is composed of a number of various parts. Our personality parts are aspects of the subconscious, each with their respective jobs or functions of the inner mind. In other words, we tend to wear many different hats as we walk through the path of life.

To reduce the risk of client discomfort, a perfect example would be an inner child that desires to go to a movie at evening rates, while his inner "CPA" motivates him to consider an afternoon matinee or bargain show in order to pay less. While his conscious mind normally makes the decision, he is still aware of both conflicting desires originating from these two parts of himself.

Many dieters are aware of the desire to reduce, yet often feel temporarily overpowered by a conflicting desire to indulge in junk food. Smokers often make another promise to quit, only finding that one more promise literally goes up in smoke. We tell clients that we can be aware of our own conflicting desires, emanating from our personality parts, and can call them out in hypnosis. For example, you might tell a smoker before starting the hypnosis: "There is a part of you that wants to quit, or you would not be investing the time and money for these sessions. But there is another part of you that wants to keep on smoking; otherwise you would not need professional help, would you?"

When Is Parts Therapy Appropriate?

The most obvious time to employ parts therapy or one of its variations is when an obvious inner conflict prevents a client from achieving an important goal, such as quitting smoking. For example, suppose a client says: "A part of me wants to quit smoking, but another part keeps sabotaging every effort I make to quit!" Such a comment during the pre-induction discussion would be a good clue to consider parts therapy. This inner conflict may also be evident if a client fails to respond to the positive suggestions and imagery.

Why Is Parts Therapy Effective?

Rather than the client giving away his or her power to someone else who implants the solutions in the form of suggestions, the client discovers the best resolution to an inner conflict by answering questions asked by the facilitator at appropriate times. Even as the parts therapy process begins, you set the client-centered tone by allowing each part that emerges to disclose its name (or title) and primary purpose. The entire approach involves asking questions that motivate each part to disclose its purpose, and to find the resolution to the presenting problem. When facilitated in a client-centered manner, parts therapy empowers the client!

Client-centered parts therapy helps clients attain greater empowerment, because the power to change truly lies within the client rather than in the therapist. Our job is to help the client discover those answers by asking the right questions. Then, when the answers come from the client's own inner mind (instead of from someone else), the client often has greater confidence and greater self-esteem as side benefits to a successful resolution of the primary concern.

Ericksonian Technique: Where classical hypnosis is authoritative and direct, and often encounters resistance in the subject, Erickson's approach is permissive, accommodating and indirect. For example, where a classical hypnotist might say "You are going into a trance", an Ericksonian hypnotist would be more likely to say "you can comfortably learn how to go into a trance". In this way, he provides an opportunity for the subject to accept the suggestions they are most comfortable with, at their own pace, and with an awareness of the benefits. The subject knows they are not being hustled, and takes full ownership of, and participation in their transformation. Because the induction takes place during the course of a normal conversation, Ericksonian hypnosis is often known as Covert or Conversational Hypnosis. Erickson maintained that it was not possible to consciously instruct the unconscious mind, and that authoritarian suggestions were likely to be met with resistance. The unconscious mind responds to openings, opportunities, metaphors, symbols and contradictions. Effective hypnotic suggestion, then, should be "artfully vague", leaving space for the subject to fill in the gaps with their own unconscious understandings - even if they do not consciously grasp what is happening. The skilled Hypnotherapist constructs these gaps of meaning in a way most suited to the individual subject - in a way which is most likely to produce the desired change. For example the authoritative "you will stop smoking" is likely to find less leverage on the unconscious level than "you can become a non-smoker". The first is a direct command, to be obeyed or ignored (and notice that it draws attention to the act of smoking), the second is an opening, an invitation to possible lasting change, without pressure, and which is less likely to raise resistance.

Alchemical Hypnotherapy: Developed in the 1970s by David Quigley, Alchemical Hypnotherapy combines the use of insight, emotional release and emotional clearing to help find and transform any imagery which may be causing discomfort or difficulty. The term "alchemical" refers to "alchemy" and metaphorically represents transformation. The ancient Alchemists made clear in their writings that the substance of their transmutation was the human soul. Their goal was the transmutation of the base metals of human emotions and instincts within the unconscious mind into the gold of self-realization. Just as the medieval alchemists worked at changing base metals to gold, alchemical hypnotherapy helps change the lead like patterns of an individual to the gold of self actualization and philosophy in the art of living. According to Carl Jung, the first modern alchemist, the vehicles of this transformative process were the archetypes, the Inner Guides. Therefore Alchemy can be defined as the spiritual discipline of working with Inner Guides. These powerful and autonomous beings live within the unconsciousness mind and can guide us effectively to health, happiness, relationships, prosperity, and most important, the fulfillment of our spiritual purpose! These Guides can be accessed through the hypnotic state. It is a non-invasive system wherein the therapist acts as a guide for the client's exploration. The focus is on giving the person resources within themselves that they can call on to resolve their own issues. These resources are often referred to as our Inner Guides. The main focus of Alchemical Hypnotherapy is to resolve issues relating to un-healed childhood memories (working with the Inner Child), and to allow a person to sort out the multiple different agendas that most of us carry within us, a sort of internal Conference Room. Once we have healed our outstanding issues, and brought the conflicting parts of ourselves into harmony, we are much better at coping with the complexities of life. Alchemical Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic process designed to assist the client in working with their Inner Guides to change their lives. Alchemical Hypnotherapy synthesizes techniques from many modern schools of Transpersonal Hypnotherapy and Psychology. It includes Gestalt, Regression Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Psychosynthesis and Shamanism with the ancient science of Alchemy as translated and channeled to the modern world by Dr. Carl Jung.

Imagery Work:

Our perceptions of the past are carried in memory as imagery. We cannot go back and change our historical past but we can change the content of the images that carry it. The imagery of emotionally charged events of the past can be the source of emotional charge in the present, and it is a basic premise of Alchemical Hypnotherapy that unless the imagery is transformed, the simple release of emotional build-up may only be a temporary solution. The goals of a typical Alchemical Hypnotherapy session are to: (1) locate the memory and imagery behind an issue and release the emotion associated with that imagery, (2) restructure the imagery, and, (3) access or create an internal resource which is then anchored to the outer world through post hypnotic suggestion.

The Techniques:

Alchemical Hypnotherapy sessions are accomplished by using one or more of the following techniques:

Etheric Plane Communication: Allows emotional expression and encourages resolution of incomplete or disturbing relationships.

Running and Changing Incidents: Actually transforms negative experiences of the past into positive resources for the present.

Rescuing the Inner Child: Provides emotional security for the "little child" that exists in each of us.

Inner Guide Work: Establishes communication with the transpersonal levels of the psyche.

Past Life Regression: Used for clearing trauma, contacting resource states, and locating and changing hidden agreements.

Conference Room: An advanced form of "sub personality work" used to create order from internal chaos by resolving conflicts between our various sub personalities.

Effective Results

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