Hypnotic means of enhancing Hypnotic means of enhancing “being” towards the “being” towards the

improvement of “doing”: improvement of “doing”: strategies in dealing with strategies in dealing with

people suffering frompeople suffering from performance anxieties.performance anxieties.

  Shaul Livnay PhDShaul Livnay PhD

Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv University

Years of working with persons Years of working with persons suffering from test anxiety and suffering from test anxiety and other forms of anxieties around other forms of anxieties around performing (stage fright, music, performing (stage fright, music, acting, interviews) have led me acting, interviews) have led me to develop a nine stage to develop a nine stage approach, which can be flexibly approach, which can be flexibly adjusted and “tailored” to each adjusted and “tailored” to each person’s specific needs & style.person’s specific needs & style.

The approach has been The approach has been successful with a wide range of successful with a wide range of people. The presentation will people. The presentation will describe common dynamics, describe common dynamics, methods & outcomemethods & outcome..

Types of patientsTypes of patients

• High school students before matriculation High school students before matriculation examsexams

• Medical residents (new immigrants)Medical residents (new immigrants)

• Musicians, artistsMusicians, artists

• Public speakingPublic speaking

• Young, bashful men Young, bashful men

Diagnostic considerationsDiagnostic considerations::

• Social anxiety/phobia?Social anxiety/phobia?

• Specific/generalSpecific/general

• Test anxiety/performanceTest anxiety/performance

Common characteristicsCommon characteristics::

• Low self esteemLow self esteem

• PerfectionismPerfectionism

• Narcissistic grandiose/depletedNarcissistic grandiose/depleted

• Fear of successFear of success

Oliver (1997) studied a variety of Oliver (1997) studied a variety of treatments for performance treatments for performance anxiety of musiciansanxiety of musicians

• Relaxation therapiesRelaxation therapies

• Cognitive behavioral techniquesCognitive behavioral techniques

• Beta-adrenergic blocking agentsBeta-adrenergic blocking agents

Prior (1990):Prior (1990):Ericksonian hypnosis in treat of Ericksonian hypnosis in treat of examination panicexamination panic

• Exaggerated information gatheringExaggerated information gathering

• How to fail questionsHow to fail questions

• Time distortionTime distortion

• RelaxationRelaxation

• Automatic writingAutomatic writing

• Time progressionTime progression

Stanton (1996):Stanton (1996):15 minutes solution in reducing test 15 minutes solution in reducing test anxietyanxiety

• The switchThe switch

• Anchor thisAnchor this

• Install beliefInstall belief

• Rapid inductionRapid induction

Sapp (1991) effects of cognitive Sapp (1991) effects of cognitive behavioral hypnosis in reducing behavioral hypnosis in reducing test anxiety & improving academic test anxiety & improving academic performanceperformance

• 4 sessions of hypnosis4 sessions of hypnosis

• Decrease in test anxietyDecrease in test anxiety

• Improvements in achievementImprovements in achievement

• Hypnosis group vs controlsHypnosis group vs controls

Hart & Hart (1996) used hypnosis Hart & Hart (1996) used hypnosis to induce relaxation & change to induce relaxation & change attitudes about examinationsattitudes about examinations

• Hypnosis rated most valuable in test Hypnosis rated most valuable in test anxiety management workshopanxiety management workshop

• Vs study skills and cognitive techniquesVs study skills and cognitive techniques

Gruzelier et al (2001) compared Gruzelier et al (2001) compared immune & relaxation related immune & relaxation related imagery on exam stressimagery on exam stress

• Found direct immune imagery to be Found direct immune imagery to be more effective than relaxation imagery more effective than relaxation imagery on immunity, health & moodon immunity, health & mood

Laidlaw et al (2003) examined Laidlaw et al (2003) examined mood changes after self hypnosis mood changes after self hypnosis & Johrei before exams& Johrei before exams

• Both techniques buffered rise in anxiety Both techniques buffered rise in anxiety & depression towards exams& depression towards exams

Lodato (1990):Lodato (1990):improvement of athletic performance improvement of athletic performance of hockey playersof hockey players

• Self hypnosisSelf hypnosis

• Task analysisTask analysis

• Behavioral rehearsalBehavioral rehearsal

• Video of model performanceVideo of model performance

• VisualizationVisualization

• PracticePractice

Stanton (1994):Stanton (1994):reduction of performance anxiety in reduction of performance anxiety in music studentsmusic students

• Breathing inductionBreathing induction

• Visual imagery (clouds, lake)Visual imagery (clouds, lake)

• Verbal suggestions linking images to Verbal suggestions linking images to increased mental controlincreased mental control

Loosening the “Loosening the “certaintycertainty” of ” of failurefailure

Reframing of past Reframing of past concepts of self hypnosis concepts of self hypnosis to include phobic behaviorto include phobic behavior

Future Progression to Future Progression to point following successpoint following success

Creation ofCreation of::#“positive” anchor #“positive” anchor ((resources, setting which resources, setting which enables successenables success ) )

“#“#negative” anchor negative” anchor ((arousal of anxiety arousal of anxiety response, and channeling response, and channeling it out)it out)

Rehearsals of positive Rehearsals of positive performanceperformance

““Treatment” of examiners Treatment” of examiners and judgesand judges

Visual & auditory effects in Visual & auditory effects in the “treatment” of the the “treatment” of the audienceaudience

Final rehearsal with Final rehearsal with suggestions of positive suggestions of positive discrimination (this time, discrimination (this time, you can…)you can…)

Are these “transference cures”Are these “transference cures”result of positive anticipation result of positive anticipation and suggestion?and suggestion?Is there a danger of setting Is there a danger of setting depression/disappointment in depression/disappointment in case of failure?case of failure?

Contact info:Contact info:

• Shaul Livnay PhDShaul Livnay PhD

• +972-54-434-1202+972-54-434-1202

• livnays@012.net.il, Shaul@Livnay.wslivnays@012.net.il, Shaul@Livnay.ws

• http://www.livnay.wshttp://www.livnay.ws