PRINCIPLES OF

VERBAL FIRST AID™

and therapeutic hypnosis

for clinicians

WHO NEEDS VERBAL FIRST AID or therapeutic trance?

Short answer:

Everyone.

WHY:

Verbal First Aid works because of the “Healing Zone” or the “natural trance.”

Not only is trance normal, but it occurs spontaneously, naturally, and regularly

in all people.

When in these natural trance states, we are more susceptible to whatever is

said to us or around us.

What are the basics of trance?What are the basics of trance?

What do clinicians need to know when working What do clinicians need to know when working

with any patient?with any patient?

Clinicians need to know that:Clinicians need to know that:

1.1.Everyone is in and out of trance;Everyone is in and out of trance;2.2.How to trance can keep us sick;How to trance can keep us sick;

3.3.Trance, when utilized properly, can Trance, when utilized properly, can facilitate healing.facilitate healing.

Clinicians need to find out :Clinicians need to find out :

What (which trance) is keeping the patient What (which trance) is keeping the patient sick;sick;

What are the patient’s trance-thoughts;What are the patient’s trance-thoughts;

What keeps those thoughts alive and active What keeps those thoughts alive and active even when they are not true.even when they are not true.

DEEP-TRANCE PHENOMENADEEP-TRANCE PHENOMENA

According to Stephen Wolinsky,According to Stephen Wolinsky,A symptom can only remain a symptom pathologically A symptom can only remain a symptom pathologically

when there are deep trance phenomena that hold the when there are deep trance phenomena that hold the symptom picture together. Without those phenomena, symptom picture together. Without those phenomena,

the pattern cannot repeat itself.the pattern cannot repeat itself.

Lake water before and after prayer.

MASURO EMOTO’S MESSAGES IN WATER AND THE POWER OF THOUGHT

OR TRANCE

What Is Trance?What Is Trance?

Trance is a normal narrowing, Trance is a normal narrowing, shrinking, or fixing of attention shrinking, or fixing of attention

(often inward).(often inward).Trance is experienced as Trance is experienced as

“happening to” the person.“happening to” the person.It is characterized by the It is characterized by the

spontaneous emergence of spontaneous emergence of DTP’s (deep trance phenomena).DTP’s (deep trance phenomena).

The Deep Trance Phenomena that The Deep Trance Phenomena that keep pathology dynamic:keep pathology dynamic:

Pseudo-orientation in timePseudo-orientation in timepost-hypnotic suggestionpost-hypnotic suggestion

negative and positive hallucinationsnegative and positive hallucinationstime distortionstime distortions

amnesiaamnesiaanalgesia/anesthesiaanalgesia/anesthesiafixation of attentionfixation of attention

Utilization the trance for healing & Wolinsky’s

Witnessing technique:

Wolinsky creates a shift in the patient’s trance by creating a witness and including

the witness in the trance.

The Benefits From verbal first The Benefits From verbal first aid and Clinical Hypnosis:aid and Clinical Hypnosis:

CASE PRESENTATION.CASE PRESENTATION.the importance of the importance of

process over content.process over content.“pivotal moments.”“pivotal moments.”

ImaginationImagination

Nothing happens unless first a Nothing happens unless first a dream.dream.(Carl Sandburg)(Carl Sandburg)

Dynamics of therapeutic Dynamics of therapeutic trance.trance.

Preparation:Preparation: establish rapport, discover mental sets, isolate establish rapport, discover mental sets, isolate

openings for change, openings for change, set the stage (office, style)set the stage (office, style)

Trance Induction:Trance Induction: fixation of attention on inner reality (dissociation, fixation of attention on inner reality (dissociation,

wavelength modifiers, vocal cues), de-wavelength modifiers, vocal cues), de-potentiation of habitual mental frameworks potentiation of habitual mental frameworks

(confusion, shock), initiate unconscious search (confusion, shock), initiate unconscious search through implications, through implications,

puns, questions, indirect suggestionspuns, questions, indirect suggestions

RatificationRatification

Hypnotic techniquesHypnotic techniquesthat form the basis for verbal first aid andthat form the basis for verbal first aid and

Chronic clinical interventionChronic clinical intervention

rapportrapport getting an alliance, contracting, getting an alliance, contracting,

the 4-c’sthe 4-c’s

suggestionsuggestiondirect, indirect, compounddirect, indirect, compound

Basic Therapeutic suggestionBasic Therapeutic suggestion

directdirect“don’t smoke.” “sit down.”“don’t smoke.” “sit down.”

“breath deep.” “breath deep.”

IndirectIndirect“everyone knows the feeling of “everyone knows the feeling of

an itchy nose.”an itchy nose.”

Compound suggestions:Compound suggestions:

Pacing & leading or Pacing & leading or therapeutic aikido.therapeutic aikido.

The therapeutic art of The therapeutic art of story-tellingstory-telling

Techniques of the hypnotic story-Techniques of the hypnotic story-tellerteller

appropriate contentappropriate contentvoice modulationvoice modulation

voice pacingvoice pacingtalk “with”talk “with”

third-party transitional objectthird-party transitional objectdelay punch linedelay punch line

Keep language rich with Keep language rich with healinghealingMetaphors & symbolsMetaphors & symbols

Everyday examples of Everyday examples of metaphoric language:metaphoric language:

““my heart’s not in it.”my heart’s not in it.”“that blindsided me.”“that blindsided me.”

“She’s got no backbone.”“She’s got no backbone.”“the sun shines when you smile.”“the sun shines when you smile.”

How Clinical Hypnosis works &How Clinical Hypnosis works &With whomWith whom

addictionsaddictionsmedical pathologiesmedical pathologiesego restoration & ego restoration & ego developmentego developmenttranscendent selftranscendent self

Dissociative states--Dissociative states--utilize and reintegrate utilize and reintegrate fragmented parts of psyche (e.g., abuse)fragmented parts of psyche (e.g., abuse)

Healing via direct address of the Healing via direct address of the autonomic systemautonomic system

For more information, please go to:

www.verbalfirstaidforchildren.com

or -

www.wordsaremedicine.com

Judith Acosta, LISW, LCSW, Cht

Speaker, Author, Psychotherapist