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Using Depth Hypnosis to Treat Mood Disorders and Raise Well-Being: A Pilot Study (Is.30)

by Joanna Foote Adler, PsyD and Isa Gucciardi, PhD[1]

Depth Hypnosis is a manualized integrative spiritual counseling model that combines elements of transpersonal psychology, hypnotherapy, earth-based wisdom, Buddhist psychology and mindfulness, energy medicine, and exposure therapy. The study examined in this paper provides preliminary efficacy research for the use of Depth Hypnosis in the treatment of the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, as well as the effects of treatment on well-being. Data were gathered pre-, mid-, and post-treatment from subjects engaging in eight sessions of Depth Hypnosis, as well as from a non-randomized wait list control group. Seventy-three participants consented to the study, including 40 in the experimental group and 33 in the control group. The sample was predominately female (92.3%), with an average age of 37.92 years old (SD = 6.77). Treatment and control groups did not differ in terms of age or baseline symptoms, ps > .05. Across all measures, there was a significant main effect for treatment, all ps < .05, indicating that those who received Depth Hypnosis had a significant reduction across all negative symptom sets, and an increase in experience of well-being. The largest effect sizes were seen in the treatment of depression (-1.049) and well-being (.700), with anxiety (-.544) and PTSD (-.464) effect sizes still in the medium range. Preliminary evidence indicates that Depth Hypnosis is effective in treating the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD and raising well-being. These results suggest that Depth Hypnosis is a promising treatment for a range of disorders, and future research recommendations are discussed.

 

[1] Joanna Foote Adler, PsyD and Isa Gucciardi, PhD, Foundation of the Sacred Stream, Berkeley, California. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Joanna Adler, 33 Mount Foraker Dr., San Rafael, CA 94903. Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Two Different Uses of Past-Life Report Therapy: Synopsis of a Master’s Thesis – Thelma Freedman (Is.3)

by Thelma B. Freedman

Two cases of past-life report therapy were closely examined in an attempt to test the hypothesis that this form of therapy can be effective with two very different types of presenting problems. The first was of a woman with a lifelong phobia for caterpillars; the second was of a dependent woman who suffered from severe attacks of anxiety and panic when confronted with a need to act independently. A number of sub-hypotheses were also tested. Based upon ten years of experience in past-life report therapy, I suspected that 1) no strong effect was necessary for successful outcome; 2) no therapist’s interpretation of reported events or themes was necessary as the reported events and themes would be non-symbolic and easily understood; 3) no lengthy preparation for therapy was necessary; and 4) no “protection” mechanism, such as visualized white light or spirit guardian, was necessary.