Using Emotions, Hypnosis, and the Past to Increase the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Abstract

Research finds that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is effective in promoting mental health, and that greater emotional depth in therapy increases this effectiveness. CBT on the other hand is a here-and-now therapy and does not consider the childhood experiences from which the core schema and consequently the negative ways of thinking were learned. This article presents a six-step hypnotic procedure using the uncovered childhood experiences in CBT: 1) uncovering the emotionally painful experience that cause the negative ways of thinking; 2) experiencing the emotions associated with these painful experiences; 3) defining the dysfunctional ways of thinking; 4) stating needs; 5) finding new positive ways of thinking; and 6) becoming the positive way of thinking. The uncovered emotionally experience is generally found to be one of four potential parental control patterns: threats-fear, shaming-guilt, ridicule-inadequacy, and rejection-insecurity. Each of the parental control patterns has implications in determining the nature of the emotional disorder.