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The Conscious And Subconscious Mind:
Influence, Persuasion & Change For
Healing With Hypnosis &
Hypnotherapy.
Though we have one mind, there are usually considered
to be two sections of it: the conscious and the subconscious. The subconscious was termed by Freud the unconscious. He only
saw it as a negative, a swamp of primitive drives and aggressive impulses. (Perhaps his was). Hypnotists, au contraire,
regard it as the source of creativity, inventiveness and strength, a valuable resource that can be utilized, not only as this
negative primitive area. Nowadays some hypnotists use the term, “other than conscious,” mind, to define it as
everything not in conscious awareness in the present moment. A metaphor that is used to illustrate the conscious and subconscious
parts of the mind uses a comparison to an iceberg. The visible portion above the surface of the water is the conscious mind,
guestimated (I can’t imagine how), to be approximately 10% of our thinking ability. The subconscious mind, consisting
of that portion of the iceberg beneath the water, being the other nine tenths. I have also seen information that the conscious
mind processes a few hundred impressions a minute, to the thousands of impressions the subconscious mind processes in the
same time, (I can’t imagine how this was arrived at either), but the general consensus is how much larger and more powerful
this mostly hidden “other than conscious mind” can be.
Another
useful analogy is to the computer. It seems to fit so well. After all, where would we intuit the design of a complex information
processing system, other than our own minds? Many new processes such as “fuzzy logic” are in fact actual conscious
attempts to reproduce our own mental processes, as far as they can be ascertained. In this comparison, the conscious mind
is the equivalent of the computer screen, consisting of that which is available to our conscious thinking process. It is the
analytical, linear, logical, rational, “two plus two equals four” mind. Plus our conscious emotions, those surface
emotions that we are aware of. Here we move information around, computing how to minimize pain/negatives and maximize pleasure/positives,
the two fundamental desires of any organism, however they may be conceived of in any particular being or life path. Here we
use the mind to analyze our environment to obtain the necessary control for achieving these ends. So this mind operates primarily
in the here and now, though it usually calls on the past as a computational factor. This means many of its functions operate
within the framework of and/or via the perspectives and “lenses” (beliefs and perceptual grids), supplied by the
subconscious mind.
I have found a major function of the conscious mind
is to “bend” information to fit these hidden perspectives. Here is one of my usual simple crude examples.
“I don’t like women with red hair, they are easily angered and bad tempered.” He forgets the little
red headed six-year-old girl that used to hit him when he was four. Or if the memory of her is accessible, there will be no
awareness of how those events are connected to his current views! Similarly, how many times does a person see advertisements
of happy laughing healthy young persons playing on the beach, accompanied by the slogan, (or hypnotic auditory suggestion),
“Things go better with Coke.” The visual imagery is also a visual suggestion associated, i.e. “paired
with” the verbal one. Then in a store, the person purchases Coca-Cola, consciously thinking, “I need some
Coke,” or “I need some for when my friends come visiting.” Never connecting their actions
to the numerous adverts that have been absorbed. But the Coca-Cola Company does not spend untold millions putting out this
information in this way for nothing. Cinema and television are powerful trance mediums, as a picture is “worth a thousand
words.” This is an example I use with my clients, to illustrate the persuasive penetration of repetition, especially
useful when internally absorbed deeply from repeated playing of a hypnosis audio product. This being the case, Hypnotherapists
realize that people are actually mainly persuaded based on emotional processes that are going on within them, not logical
thinking. Logic helps, but people are making most decisions emotionally, and then backing them up by manufacturing conscious
logical thought.
Some psychologists identify anything that can be voluntarily
called to mind as being in the “pre-conscious”. A hypnotist however would include all of that in the “other
than conscious mind,” too. How many memories are there that could be recalled with the application of some thought,
but how many of them are left undisturbed for decades, loitering in the lower reaches of consciousness? And how many are separated
from linkages that would give more profound insight, meaning and relief? In our computer analogy, the subconscious mind equates
to the software, operating systems, and memory banks, containing our automatic responses, deeper emotions, feelings, habits,
impressions, and permanent memory, and our compulsions, impulses and responses to them. It operates apart from the linear
logic of the conscious mind, though working with the subconscious as a hypnotherapist, I see what I term as “emotional
logic.” Behavior, as is illustrated also in much psychotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming, always has some positive
intent, which when disinterred, becomes comprehensible within it’s own context and it’s own terms. The inner mind
works with analogy and association, uses ambiguity, poetry, and especially imagery and metaphor for storing and processing
information, rather than the more limited inductive/deductive quasi-logic, (and prejudices, rationalizations etc.) of the
conscious mind. That is why the former inward factors stir us so deeply and readily.
Learned habits, such as walking, are permanently installed and normally accessed without conscious thought by sub-systems.
Redundant acquired habits become “grooved in” and self-perpetuating in the “software”. In fact, attempting
to consciously “take them over” causes a loss of effective functionality. (Try consciously thinking of where you
are placing your feet the next time you hurry up a flight of stairs, and you will soon discover what I mean). So athletes
often have to be assisted by a hypnotist to “get out of their own way”, allowing themselves to trust in their
own trained abilities without thought, flowing more naturally in the “zone” as it is termed. Or using the “no-mind”
as the Zen Buddhists would have it.
The lower
or deeper levels of the subconscious part of the mind control blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, digestion, heart
rate, and similar biological functions of our body. Also the instincts and instinctual responses, and their physiological
counterparts, our reflexes, All of which we inherit, presumably mostly through our genes. This resembles the “hard wiring”
of a computer. In my pre-talk, to illustrate this point to clients, while simultaneously reassuring them of their ultimate
control I inform them, “No matter how many times it might be suggested, “you will stop breathing”, you would
not do so, because it is wired in on the survival level.” Though Yoga adepts and so forth may bring many of these functions
under conscious control, it is not such a usual accomp-lishment in Western culture. The subconscious never sleeps, never takes
a break from keeping our biological functioning going. I also explain this to clients by, “It’s the part of
the cave man mind that always stays on the alert for the Saber Toothed Tiger.” This is usually accepted with a
smile. Also relating the “other than conscious mind” to the Guardian Angel, provides a positive frame of reference
that helps counter any fears the client may have in releasing conscious control.
The subconscious mind is concerned with bringing about our deepest wishes expectations and desires, even if sometimes
they are contrary to logic, and our own current well-being. The subconscious mind, seeking to meet our deepest needs, expectations,
wishes, does not always do it the way we want it done. The subconscious mind does not care if the body hurts, but rather that
the deepest needs are met. If our greatest need is for affection and the only time we experienced affection was when we were
sick, we may get sick in order to receive that affection. This occurs even though consciously we don't like being sick
and the reason is unknown. So it is evident that once a solution to a need is found, it may be repeated in essentially the
same way incongruently, redundantly, at times in a disguised adult form. A female client, in trance, with no prompting from
me said with tears streaming down her face. “When I was young, I was bitten by a dog two or three times. This was
the only time I got any caring at home. That is why I kept going to Hospital Emergency Rooms for overdoses or cutting my wrists.”
She was bearing the label of a mental condition. As I observed her release herself I thought, “She is never going
to be that sick again.”
The soil of the
subconscious mind accepts any kind of seeds - good or bad. Once the subconscious mind accepts an idea, it begins to make the
idea a reality. When applied in a negative way, the subconscious can be the cause of failure, frustration, unhappiness, and
even illness." Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." And in the Bible, (proverbs),
"Whatever a person thinketh in his heart so is he.” Hypnosis is a process that allows access to a whole spectrum
of altered states of awareness, (generally described as trance), that allow simultaneously states of inward concentration
to occur, with a fluid flow between many levels and depths of the mind. In this state, the mind and body are more open and
receptive, the most helpful tool for pursuing treatment goals. The beauty of clinical hypnosis is in acquiring the ability
to enter a trance deliberately. This gives us a key in hypnotherapy, because in trance, deep level dysfunctional beliefs can
be attenuated or erased, and more functional ones be instilled and installed. Negative images and metaphors can be altered
and supplanted with more useful ones. We can guide a person move “away from” damaging information and/or “move
towards” healing/ positive ideas. This can, when targeted at emotional processes for therapy, give a person a “virtual”
better childhood, as the “old tapes” as they were referred to in latter day psychotherapies, can be annulled and
more positive ideas inculcated. More limited problems are amenable to less general suggestion processes. All of this appears
to take place, in trance, on the “other than conscious” level where the negative processes were formed, for highly
effective change, without will power. Even physiological processes may be affected by suggestion, and has given me the ability
at times to assist people who have run out of medical options. Behavioral and functional difficulties can be overcome. As
I have stated elsewhere, at times the results, psychological or physical, can appear miraculous.
c. Brian Green,
2007, mindmagic123.com
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The following
were originally first published
as a column in L.A. Health
Magazine,
under
the title - A Hypnotherapist’s Casebook.
A Hypnotherapist’s
Casebook.
No 1. Hypnotherapy for Healing.
A little over ten years ago
I was between jobs. I had been working in Psychiatric Hospitals and other Institutions, as an Admissions Counselor, Chemical
Dependency Counselor, Case manager and Discharge Planner. I was attending some college courses, hoping eventually to obtain
a Psychology degree, when a friend of mine suggested, "Why don't you study hypnotism, you could help people stop
smoking and make some money." It seemed like a good idea, so I ended up attending classes at the world renowned
Gil Boyne Hypnotism Training Institute, in Glendale.
As soon as I saw on the first video what Mr. Boyne was able to achieve with
hypnosis I exclaimed to him, "You are getting people to give you information in a few minutes that would take six
months to a year in therapy, because consciously they don't know these things!" I knew I had encountered something
I had always wanted, a means to make my work as a counselor more effective and economical in terms of both time and money.
As yet I was not aware of the possible depth, speed and range of change available through hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
I have since discovered that hypnotherapy can be divided into two major aspects. 1). "Putting in the good stuff,"
or suggestion therapy. To most people this is the most familiar, planting suggestions in a clients mind of a beneficial nature,
such as, "You will act on the powerful desire you discover today to stop smoking for good." etc., while a person
is in a hypnotic trance. The other aspect could be described as, 2). “Taking out the bad stuff," by altering and/or
releasing historical causations of difficulties. This trance-pires by entering the subconscious mind, the other seven eighths
of our mind we have little awareness of, and relieving difficulties in hypnotic trance. Of course, both aspects may well be
implemented concurrently, (at least by me), with any client.
The effectiveness can be astonishing. One
client returned after the first session and stated. "I stopped drinking coffee, watching soap operas, and have emerged
from a low grade depression of many years duration." As a bonus, this man had a thyroid condition
called "Bright's Disease," which caused his eyes to be permanently popped out, so he looked angry or scared
all the time. It was now only barely visible around one eye. In addition, three quarters of the anxiety, regarding supervisory
duties at work, which initiated his visit, had vanished. Though hypnotherapy is not always so dramatically effective as this,
I inform prospective clients that eighty percent of those I work with usually see major positive changes within four sessions.
I have seen the client's blood pressure go down from regular use of one of my self-hypnosis tapes. Persons have obtained
rapid healing with little pain from invasive medical procedures and surgeries. Young persons, (around fourteen to twenty one
years,) if willing, can often gain astonishing progress, due to being so open, and mentally fluid.
My process produces all kinds of general positive change, then I also work on the specifics. I help a person gain access
to inner resources and increased self-esteem, while removing blocks that are keeping them stuck, so they can resume personal
growth without me. Naturally, the amount of time and work necessary to obtain relief from any difficulty is related to it’s
prior nature, duration, intensity and severity, and the available inner and outer resources.
What kind of problems is hypnotherapy useful for? Traditionally it has been successful, with habit control, smoking,
weight, bedwetting, nail biting, stuttering, and so forth. Also to increase self-confidence, motivation, memory, conc-entration,
creativity, productivity and self esteem. For reducing anxiety, releasing fears, phobias, headaches and nightmares. Sexual
problems of both sexes may be amenable to hypnotic methods. The rapid release of grief is often very easy to facilitate, and
unresolved grief from past losses is a significant contributor to more difficulties than is generally known. I have found
that even the death of a beloved animal can leave a person in a state of frozen mourning. I use Hypnosis as an adjunct to
treating drug and alcohol problems. I receive referrals from Psychiatrists, Doctors, Psycho-therapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths
and Alternative/Complementary Medical Practitioners, to assist clients who may be stuck in some way, or have a problem, such
as mental and physical tension, that the referring Chiropractor for example does not treat.
Correction of many obstinate physical/mental/emotional situations can be initiated. In fact, the holistic hypno-therapeutic
process is as unlimited as the boundless Shaman's Imagination of the practitioner, and to the extent that he can utilize
his Wizard Words to conjure up Magical Image Processes that heal, as becomes a Charm-ing Mage. Hypnosis then works in the
I of the mind, as an Alchemical Philosopher's Stone, trance-muting the unknown into the golden healing known. Now I will
close with the words of Tiny Tim, from Charles Dicken's, A Christmas Carol, "God
bless us all, each and every one."
Till the next time, Brian.
A Hypnotherapist's Casebook.
No 2. Releasing Past Grief.
One of the most useful aspects of hypnosis
is that in trance, a person's emotional defenses are softened or lowered. This allows for the release of previously submerged
and trapped emotions. A heightened awareness of thoughts and feelings also trance-pires. This combination allows the possibility
of resolution of difficulties following the rapid location of their deeper source.
This is especially relevant
for the release of blocked or frozen grief. A significant number of my clients suffer from this as a major component of their
difficulties. It contributes to poor concentration, irritability, feeling "down", physical and psychosomatic problems,
and accentuates any other problem a person might have. This may be despite a person's belief that they mourned the loss.
Over many years with many clients, when probed in a relaxed trance state, only two had no residual pain regarding a major
loss. For most, rapidly obtaining complete relief is a relatively simple matter. After the release, remarks such as, "I
never knew that was there.. still bothering me so much." etc. are made. One female, having dinner with a friend
after a session, was told, "The look of pain that was always in your eyes has gone." This was after the
release of grief entangled with guilt, as is often the case, subsequent to an abortion.
Grief is not restricted to the death of a loved one or family member. Miscarriages as well as abortions. The loss of
a beloved pet animal can be agonizing, especially for those who have fewer deep connections to other human animals. The end
of a long-term relationship is often like a death. As an addictions professional, I am aware that saying goodbye and mourning
the loss of the "old friend" that could always be "depended on", whether it be alcohol, cigarettes, or
whatever, is a sometimes a necessary step along the road to abstinence.
To close, I will detail these
simple easy cases where the release was a mini-miracle, immediate and complete. The first was a lady who had lost a baby due
to a miscarriage a year before she came to see me. After assisting her to enter a relaxed trance state I began, "You
mentioned the loss of your baby… " At these words, her head went back, and a wordless
howl of agony emerged, on, and on.. and on, and on.. until finally it finished at.. last.. no words.. that was it.. all of
it.
While on vacation, a man's long term pet, his dog, had died. Somebody remarked, "You have to take them
on a last walk before they die." and he had become deeply guilt stricken, feeling he had failed his old pal, and
had sunk into a deep depression. In trance, I pointed out to him that he had taken the dog for his last walk, before he departed
on vacation. The guilt resolved, with further grieving he came to peace, and laid his canine friend to final rest.
A young woman had had an emotional breakdown, after rejecting her partner for being a womanizer, with no interest in
changing. She was hardly eating or sleeping, barely living, going to work like a zombie. Coming out of the first trance, after
grief release she said, "I'm hungry!" Returning for the second session she said, "When he
calls me on the phone, instead of feeling so desperately awful, I see myself saying goodbye to him as I visualized in trance,
and I'm O.K." Aligning her head and heart while releasing the tears of grief was all it took. Because she had
no other problems to complicate matters, only one session was needed to initiate her recovery process. Though not always this
simple, healing is always a possibility.
Till the next time, Brian.
A Hypnotherapist’s Casebook.
No. 3. Working With Young People.
Hypnotherapy with young persons, from the ages of approximately 13 to 21 years old, can often produce extra-ordinarily
powerful results. One reason is that their minds are so open and flexible, allowing the process of change to be easily assimilated
into their own current growth and development. In addition, their personality and self esteem are still being formed by incorporating
the "messages" conveyed by the words and behavior of family, authority figures and peers. Positive suggestions absorbed
in trance give them the necessary emotional support and nurturing that they need.
The common antecedent to many
problems is parental conflict, especially separation and divorce. Adults usually have little idea how these events devastate
a child's sense of security. A rapid drop in academic levels, or sudden negative behavioral changes, (if not the result
of alcohol/drug problems, another common cause), frequently indicates a problem at home. Remarriage often brings on or further
aggravates difficulties. Much of the time the child is classed as either mad or bad, when in fact they are caught in emotional
traps and conflicts, below conscious levels. Because young people are very in touch with their situations and emotions, especially
in trance, it is often quite a simple process to assist them obtain relief. Many require no more than four or five sessions,
of two hours plus, for virtual elimination of their troubles. Simultaneous initiation of ongoing emotional improvement processes
adds many more benefits. Realizing that a person's life may be radically improved for fifty or more years is personally
very rewarding to me. Also, my own adolescence was so disastrous, agonizing and bereft, that I have a deep compassion and
understanding of troubled teenagers, and love to provide them with the assistance I never knew I needed, and of course did
not get.
Serious problems such as trichonomania, (compulsively pulling out of hair and eyelashes), obsessive hand washing, night
terrors, and so forth, have also yielded to my hypnotic ministrations. I have helped a succession of young males reverse declining
grades and other unacceptable behavior at school, by resolving resentment regarding a stepfather, especially if the stepfather
is "mistreating" a mother the son is very close to. Unfortunately, when a young person gets poor grades, not knowing
this is the result of emotional stress, they may conclude they are stupid and may begin to regard themselves as a failure.
In fact, I have retroactively dealt with these issues in adults, still carrying scars to their self-esteem from precisely
this sequence.
Till the next time. Brian c. 2004.
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