EMDR and Hypnotherapy

[Ex-User (5841)]

I summon the resources of intpforum! AVENGERS UNITE!


I think it's likely @Auburn has at least read up on EMDR, and: @snafupants @Da Blob @Yet @MsAnthropy_Indefatigably


Aw hell, why not? @Minuend @EyeSeeCold @Moocow

I'm considering signing on with a therapist who specializes in these as well as gestalt therapy (heavily subsidized grad student health insurance ftw).

Those in the know, what's your opinion on these forms of psychotherapy? How do they work (I'm guessing there's more to it than what's on wikipedia)? How might one ensure that they receive maximum benefit from them? How do they compare with eachother? (Do they? Can they be compared?) Given that this therapist specializes in all three, are they more likely to use them in a specific order or combination?

I don't want to delve into too much, but given that therapy is often tailored to specific issues, I can comfortably (and objectively, from reputable sources other than myself including professionals) identify autistic and schizoid traits as well as anxiety, and attention issues. Call it INTP or whatever label you prefer.

This would be my first time seeking any sort of "real" "help". Not quite sure what to expect, other than no meds because I don't expect to be presented with that route and I'll refuse if I am.

 

[Da Blob]

Gestalt can be great if one is into 'Holistic Healing" There is a text that could be very useful for anyone considering therapy, a used copy can be purchased reasonably priced.

http://www.amazon.com/Current-Psychotherapies-Raymond-J-Corsini/dp/0495097144

There are well written chapters for each of the psychotherapies currently in use, as well as some of historical interest

Reading up on the physiology and psychology of stress can be very helpful, but I don't know of a similar handbook on the topic, there is this, but there is a tremendous amount of BS in it... I know because I had to read a lot of it...

http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/709516/description

 

[Moocow]

It's probably not necessary to pay anyone for hypnotherapy just from a practical point of view. You can learn to conduct it yourself, as it isn't a very complicated process.

I would focus on anxiety and attention first because those two are linked. The autistic / schizoid tendencies can ease up later as a result. If you improve your attention span, and your ability to control your attention, you should be able to reduce your own anxiety using self hypnosis or meditation. I'm really more knowledgeable about those than the other two types you mentioned, if you're interested.

So I say work on improving your attention span first, your anxiety second, then schizoid behavior later.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I've been reading up on (self-)hypnosis, but I have no firsthand nor secondhand expertise for your topic.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Gestalt can be great if one is into 'Holistic Healing" There is a text that could be very useful for anyone considering therapy, a used copy can be purchased reasonably priced.

http://www.amazon.com/Current-Psychotherapies-Raymond-J-Corsini/dp/0495097144

Consider it purchased

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I've been reading up on (self-)hypnosis

Close enough. What have you discovered thus far, and what purpose is your knowledge of it serving? (The last half of that is curiosity, not disparaging). Basically, what other concepts has the self-hypnosis information been connected to?

This line of questioning is partly related to this:

It's probably not necessary to pay anyone for hypnotherapy just from a practical point of view. You can learn to conduct it yourself, as it isn't a very complicated process.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Close enough. What have you discovered thus far, and what purpose is your knowledge of it serving? (The last half of that is curiosity, not disparaging). Basically, what other concepts has the self-hypnosis information been connected to?

Well I already thought hypnotism was a real thing beyond what you see in movies or whatever, the pop-psychology beliefs, having somewhat experienced the process myself. I don't fully comprehend the studies but it's interesting that there is actually scientific acknowledgement, though the common themes are suggestibility and relaxation.

I took interest in it to distinguish what it really was all about, after reading about its use in combat, and altered states induced by psychoactive drugs, I was thinking about how people attempt to raise their confidence / morale on a more personal level and that lead to self-hypnosis.

 

[Trebuchet]

I know someone who is both an INTP and a hypnotherapist, and he found EMDR to be very useful in a very short time. It sounds like a fairly low-risk thing to try, but make sure you get recommendations from people you trust when picking a therapist.

I have been hypnotized, and it can certainly lead to insights. It lets the mind focus and relax, which is pretty useful in coming up with solutions to problems. I never tried EMDR.

 

[AlexR]

[/QUOTE]Those in the know, what's your opinion on these forms of psychotherapy? How do they work .[/QUOTE]

Both are useful. EMDR therapy has a lot of research supporting it. You can find out the benefits of the therapy and how it's useful here:

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2012/us...past-interview-with-creator-francine-shapiro/

Also there is a new book out with self-help techniques that anyone can use

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Past-Your-Self-Help-Techniques/dp/159486425X/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

 

[MsAnthropy_Indefatigably]

EMDR? I couldn't even tell you what that stands for. So I guess your assumptions to that end are incorrect.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

EMDR? I couldn't even tell you what that stands for. So I guess your assumptions to that end are incorrect.

It was worth a shot... crowdsourcing and all

 

[Steve Wilson]

I honestly just heard about EDMR? What is it anyway, by the way about hypnotherapy-- i am here because i am researching about its effectivity, seems i have been hearing a lot of positive feedback regarding hypnotherapy. There's this site which is actually from my place, london hypnotherapy it tells that hypnotherapy is effective in treating addiction and anxiety. If its true then i'm curious to try.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

If its true then i'm curious to try.

I have no real input yet, other than I bought the book recommended by DaBlob (which will sit on my desk until late August) and that I do plan to provide occasional updates here (as they occur, IF I'm even aware of the changes, etc).

 

[Yet]

I'm considering signing on with a therapist who specializes in these as well as gestalt therapy (heavily subsidized grad student health insurance ftw).

Those in the know, what's your opinion on these forms of psychotherapy? How do they work (I'm guessing there's more to it than what's on wikipedia)? How might one ensure that they receive maximum benefit from them? How do they compare with eachother? (Do they? Can they be compared?) Given that this therapist specializes in all three, are they more likely to use them in a specific order or combination?

I don't want to delve into too much, but given that therapy is often tailored to specific issues, I can comfortably (and objectively, from reputable sources other than myself including professionals) identify autistic and schizoid traits as well as anxiety, and attention issues. Call it INTP or whatever label you prefer.

This would be my first time seeking any sort of "real" "help". Not quite sure what to expect, other than no meds because I don't expect to be presented with that route and I'll refuse if I am.

hi,
I just read your post (summer holidays, left the laptop in a corner and dived into Pratchett's discworld ... had to knock myself out of it to go back to work )

So hence my late reaction. EMDR is a therapyform that has very good results with post traumatic stress disorders. There has been quite a few effect-research on it so it is proven worthwhile.

It has nothing to do with hypnoses or REM-sleep as some might think ... it is accidentally discoverd by ... (forgot her name) who linked it to rapid eye-movements at first but later left that barren road.

The reason it works is not known. My favorite theory is that it makes you concentrate on a certain aspect (noise or visual bilateral stimuli) while it asks you to concentrate on you 'trauma'. Concentrating on both makes you get a sort of concentration-memory overload (you know multitasking is a myth ... you flop very quickly from one to another aspect to concentrate on). This makes the trauma less edgy, it takes the sharp ends of.

I had workshop on EMDR a few months ago. I saw it in action. What struck me is that it is also a mild, friendly, therapy. You don't keep talking and talking and going on about what hurt you psychologically. You do not have to analyse it to smithereens.
You just take it as a fact, you think about is while the therapist asks you to follow certain movements or sounds.

If you have been through some experiences that haunt you, you have a significant chance this therapy might help you.

good luck
Yet

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Update: So I've been going 2x/week for a month now. We haven't gotten into hypnotherapy yet, but the EMDR is interesting in that I find myself thinking about certain things more but being freaked out about them less.

It's a mix of sound, buzzers, eye movement, slapping my hands, etc., never really knowing what you're going to get.