More about Meditation and Hypnosis Sessions
To most people, meditation and hypnosis are two entirely different things, but I think of them as two phases of a single continuum of consciousness. There’s a lot of overlap between the two. We can focus on what’s different about meditation and hypnosis or we can focus on what’s similar. Either way, I have a variety of tried-and-true techniques to draw on. How I use them in a session will depend on your needs and goals.
At the spiritual level, meditation can be defined as an altered state of awareness in which we contact the Higher Self, Superconscious Mind, Universal Consciousness, or whatever you prefer to call that indefinable level of Being that exists beyond our ordinary self. However, not everyone thinks of it in that ultimate spiritual way. For many people, meditation simply means relaxation, concentration, mindfulness, or guided imagery. These are steps along the path to spiritual experience, but each of them can also be a beneficial goal in itself.
Hypnosis refers to a trance-like state of consciousness in which the sub-conscious mind is open to receive suggestions. People expect someone else to hypnotize them and control the suggestions given to help them reach their goal. However, we can learn self-hypnosis as effectively as we can learn meditation; both serve as useful tools for self-care. And there are methods of hypnosis that are very similar to guided imagery, inner exploration, or the type of inner dialogue we may experience in meditation. Both hypnosis and meditation can be very relaxing and can help with pain, healing, personal growth, habits, and attitudes.
In general, when a client has a specific change they want to create in their patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior, I will use more of a hypnotic approach. When someone needs to learn how to relax or concentrate, wants a more open-ended inner exploration, or seeks a spiritual experience, I will guide them with meditative techniques. Call today to see which method might be best for you.
Jungian Meditation, Courtesy of Dr. Irving Oyle
I specialize in a type of meditation I learned from Dr. Irving Oyle. He called it the “Ally Method.” Based on Carl Jung’s process of “active imagination,” it’s a great tool for inner exploration with many practical applications. With Dr. Oyle’s technique, you can meet aspects of yourself in symbolic form. As you resolve conflicts among the parts of yourself and integrate their strengths into your conscious personality, you may experience a larger sense of yourself and your own power. Through this work, people may access a significant healing metaphor, an image that provides a powerful catalyst for inner growth and healing. This inner work shifts perception. As your perceptions change, your experience changes, and the nature of your personal reality is transformed.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
NOT SUITABLE WITH CERTAIN FORMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS.