The regression transcript that follows took place with a hypnotherapist from California, who graciously gave permission for a transcript of her recorded session to be included in this book. Her name has been changed. Also, I would like to thank Scott Sandland (founder of hypnothoughts.com) for arranging the recording and allowing the use of the transcript in this book.
I (Roy Hunter) facilitated the session at a regression workshop in Southern California in June of 2011. Most of the pre-talk took place off camera. Prior to turning the camera on, we mutually decided to use age regression to discover the ISE. Although most of the intake happened off camera, the transcript starts during the preparation phase of regression, as described below …
RH: I know we talked off camera for a bit, but why don’t you summarize for the viewers and the people in this room what you would like for me to help you with today?
DONNA: I’d like for you to help me with perfection, and I have unrealistic expectations of myself and of others.
RH: Is there anything else you feel I should know before we begin the process?
DONNA: No.
RH: OK … very good. I’m going to set this down for a minute [RH sets writing tablet down] … until I guide you deep enough for the regression. And of course [moving into pre-talk …], being in this class, you’re aware that we don’t always remember things exactly as they happen. Just like two children can witness a fight in the schoolyard, and then five minutes later give different versions to a teacher. When emotions occur at the time of an event, the emotions can sometimes distort our perceptions; so when I guide you back in time in your mind, what you remember will be the way you perceive it. And your subconscious is responding to those perceptions as though they are real. My job is NOT to sort out fact from fantasy. Rather, it’s to help you remember the perceptions, so that you can reframe those, and be released from whatever emotional attachments …
Client nods yes.
RH (continues pre-talk): So if I ask you to either forgive or release somebody of an apology that you think they used to owe you, do you think you’re going to be willing to do that?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: Good. Do you have any other questions before we start?
DONNA: No.
RH: What induction do you like? Whenever I do a session for a hypnosis professional, I give the hypnotherapist/client the choice of inductions.
DONNA: Progressive relaxation.
RH: OK, you got it … and are you comfortable with your hand being touched?
DONNA: Yes.
COMMENT: Remember to ask permission to touch BEFORE the induction; otherwise avoid any touch techniques throughout the entire session.
RH: OK … Now, are you going to be comfortable with your legs crossed?
DONNA: If I had some place to put them up with, that would be great, but …
Everyone in the room laughs … COMMENT: A number of hypnotherapists erroneously believe that a client cannot experience a successful session if he/she has either the arms or legs crossed. RH’s experience has demonstrated otherwise. While crossing the arms or legs MIGHT become a source of discomfort, we can get around that potential obstacle by simply giving suggestions for the client to readjust to get more comfortable.
RH (induction begins): You can feel free to readjust to get more comfortable anytime you wish; and whenever you are ready to begin, just close your eyes. Take a deep breath, and RELAX … Imagine you’re inhaling a sense of peace, and as you release the air from your lungs, you’re releasing all the cares of the day, relaxing, and letting go … and imagine you are seated comfortably in a beautiful peaceful place, with sights, sounds and sensations that are so calm, and so peaceful, that it gives you an increasing desire to just relax by imagining a relaxing sensation moving into your toes and feet.
(Continues induction): You can imagine feeling it, or seeing it, or experiencing it, in whatever way is comfortable to you. As you move this imaginary relaxation up through your ankles into your calves, every nerve and muscle responding to your desire to relax. The relaxation FLOWS up through your knees into your thighs … gentle and soothing, comforting … peaceful … spreading, up through your hips, into your stomach muscles, circling your waist … And you may notice how the mind can think many times faster than the spoken voice. So it’s perfectly OK for your conscious mind to listen in, or drift and wander … or do both … while your subconscious is free to hear and respond to my voice.
(Continuing induction): As you go deeper with each breath you take, imagining more vividly a relaxation that feels more and more real … spreading up through the small of your back, into the back of your shoulders and the top of your shoulders, just as though gentle fingers have given you a soothing back rub. And it just feels so relaxing it’s easier and easier to go deeper and deeper relaxed … Allowing the relaxation to flow down through your arms and elbows, right out your wrists, hands and fingers … spreading through your neck and your scalp. Your forehead and temples relax. Deeper and deeper, and your cheeks and jaw muscles relax … every nerve and muscle relaxing completely, and it just feels so relaxing, it’s easier to go deeper as I count from 10 to 1.
COMMENT: Deepening starts at 4:40 in the video, beginning with counting down …
RH: Beginning with number 10 … deeper with each number. Releasing all the cares of the day, relaxing into hypnotic peace, letting go. Number 9, deeper and deeper. Releasing, relaxing, letting go. Every sound you hear, especially the sound of my voice, making it easier and easier to go deeper and deeper until you reach your ideal depth. Number 8, deeper and deeper. Releasing, relaxing, letting go … imagining a peaceful place, and you are becoming a part of the peace that you imagine. Number 7, deeper and deeper, relaxing physically. Deeper with each number, deeper with each breath. Number 6, deeper and deeper, relaxing mentally. Deeper because you choose, responding to my voice. Number 5, deeper and deeper, relaxing emotionally. The deeper you go, the better you feel, and the easier it is to go even deeper. Number 4, MUCH deeper … just relaxing completely into the soothing tranquility of hypnotic peace. Even deeper on number 3, double the hypnosis or triple the trance … releasing, relaxing, letting go. And on number 2, imagining more vividly … sights, sounds, or sensations that are so calm, and so peaceful, and so tranquil, so serene, and so relaxing, it’s easier and easier to go deeper and deeper on number 1 … deeper yet. Even deeper … waaaaaay down into the soothing tranquility of inner peace … a very deep, inner peace.
COMMENT: I give more suggestions for comfort since Donna still has her legs crossed …
RH: And any time you wish to readjust to get more comfortable, feel perfectly free to do so. Anytime throughout the entire session, if you wish to readjust to get more comfortable, feel free to do so. And as you allow yourself to go deeper listening to the sound of my voice, remember that in your imagination you can do anything that you wish. And it makes no difference whether your conscious mind is listening in or drifting and wandering, or doing both; because your subconscious is free to hear and respond to my voice, and allow you to either enter the realm of hypnotic sleep, or you can let go into PROFOUND hypnosis.
COMMENT: Eye catalepsy convincer given for additional deepening …
RH: In your imagination you can do anything you wish, so just imagine a sensation of drowsiness. You know what it feels like when you’re sleepy. Imagine that sensation now, as though your eyelids are so heavy and droopy and drowsy, as though they’re glued shut. So even if you try to open them you find they would rather stay shut. Stop trying, and either double the hypnosis or triple the trance. Going even deeper, releasing, relaxing, letting go.
COMMENT: Elman floppy arm drop deepening technique employed …
RH: I’m going to pick up your left arm. Let me have the full weight of your arm. And when I release your arm, just release yourself into a deeper state [releasing client’s left arm], letting go. As I pick up your other arm and do the same thing, let me have the full weight of this arm, and when I release your arm you can release yourself into deep hypnosis, or you can let go into total trance … releasing, relaxing, letting go [releasing client’s right arm], enjoying the journey as you go even deeper into the soothing tranquility of a very deep hypnotic peace. Every sound you hear, especially the sound of my voice, helping you go deeper and deeper. [I retrieve the writing tablet.]
COMMENT: Ideomotor response signals established (just over nine minutes into session) …
RH: Donna, I’m going to ask your subconscious a series of questions; and if the answer is YES, please choose a finger or thumb that represents the YES response and indicate at this time. [After response, I record it.] Thank you. If I ask a question and the answer is N.O., please choose a different finger or thumb that represents the NO response. [I record the NO response.] Thank you. If I ask a question and the answer is either I’m not yet ready to disclose, or I don’t know, please choose a different finger or thumb for that response. [I record the IDK response.] Thank you.
COMMENT: One Hundred to One scale started … Note that even though the client told me off camera that she already had a peaceful place, it would have been wise for me to confirm it before moving on.
RH: Now on a scale of the number 100 down to the number 1, 100 representing awake with your eyes closed, and number 1 is ABSOLUTELY as deep as you can go in hypnosis without falling asleep. 50 is half way, medium. If you are 50 or deeper, please move the YES finger. [YES finger moves.] Very good. Are you 40 or deeper? [YES finger moves.] Excellent. Are you 30 or deeper? [YES finger moves.]
COMMENT: Regardless of the response to “30 or deeper,” we can continue with the next question.
RH: Are you deep enough to continue the next phase of the session? [YES finger moves.] Excellent.
COMMENT: To reduce the risk of an analytical client from resisting the regression and/or emerging from hypnosis, I usually add the following suggestion …
RH: Any time I touch the back of your hand and say “deep hypnosis” allow yourself to return to this level of hypnosis [touching back of client’s hand while giving suggestion]. And if this suggestion is acceptable at all levels of consciousness, please move the YES finger.
YES finger moves.
RH: Thank you. Allow yourself to remain in deep hypnosis, or at your ideal level of trance throughout the remainder of this journey.
RH (defining problem previously stated by client): And as we move into the next phase of the session, I’m going to ask your subconscious a question regarding the problem you stated before this journey began … that problem of wanting to be perfect, of making demands on yourself and others.
RH: (using age regression): Did the origin of this problem happen at age 30 or earlier? [YES finger moves.] At age 25 or earlier? [YES finger moves.] At or before age 20? [YES finger moves.]
COMMENT: While I normally start counting backwards at either 25 or 20, this time I chose to start at age 15 in order to save time on camera… but it is optional to start individual numbers as high as age 30. Also remember that it is acceptable to start age regression at Zero and count forwards.
RH: At or before age 15? [YES finger moves.] As I count backwards, please stop me or move the YES finger when I get to a very significant age … when I get to the age of very high importance, either stop me or move the YES finger. 14 … 13 … 12, getting smaller, younger … 11 … Age 10 … 9 … 8 … 7 … stop me when I get to a very important age … 6 … 5 … 4 …
Client’s IDK finger moves at the Number four …
RH: At age 4, something important happened … be there. What do you see, hear, or feel? [No response …] Where are you? … and what’s happening? [Still no response …] Allow your subconscious to take you where you need to go … it’s safe to speak …
Client finally responds after a long pause …
RH: What do you see, hear, or feel?
Client speaks too softly to understand …
RH: Pardon?
DONNA: Garage.
RH: Garage? What’s happening in the garage?
Client mumbles something about cousins there …
RH: Your cousins are there?
DONNA: One.
RH: One cousin?
RH: And what is your cousin doing?
DONNA: He’s taking his penis out.
RH: What happens now?
DONNA: He wants me to take my panties off.
RH: And what do you do?
DONNA: I do what he tells me.
COMMENT: When we reach the point where abreactions are either apparent or suppressed, we cross the bridge from Phase 2 into Phase 3.
RH: And what happens now?
DONNA: He’s talking to me.
COMMENT: Client suppresses her abreactions, so I ask the following question in order to invite abreactions …
RH: How does this make you feel?
DONNA: I want to be his friend … [Facial expression indicates presence of emotions during pause …]
RH: What happens next?
DONNA: I don’t know; we’re just there … [long pause …]
RH: Move forward in time to when something important happens … what’s happening now?
Client mumbles …
RH: Pardon?
DONNA: We build our house.
RH: You build a house?
DONNA: Yea, my parents are building a house.
COMMENT: Since there are no further abreactions, client is taken to peaceful place to prepare for informed child technique and Gestalt role play in order to release the event …
RH: All right, go to your peaceful place … be in your peaceful place for a moment. [Informed child technique …] And with all of your present adult wisdom, knowledge, understanding, experience, be the four-year-old, but with your present adult mind. And now go back to that garage with your cousin, with your adult mind helping your four-year-old child. What is your new perception and new understanding of this event?
DONNA: I could’ve said NO. I could’ve left.
RH (employing Gestalt role play …): Imagine your cousin is in front of you right now, and you can tell him anything you like. He has to listen to you. He must listen until you are finished speaking. Tell him how you feel about what he did … how it affected you then, and in the years that followed. “It made me feel like …”
DONNA: You made me feel like I had to do whatever you said to make me like you.
RH: What else do you want to say to him?
DONNA: I’m just a girl … [abreactions become more apparent …] I was only a little girl. ‘Cause of that, you screwed up my life [abreactions become moderate] …
RH: Feel free to use the tissue as desired … [client uses tissue handed to her by a classmate …] Is there anything else you want to say to him before he responds?
Client shakes head “No.”
RH: Now, be your cousin. Donna said that you screwed up her life. What do you say to Donna?
DONNA (speaking as cousin): I’m sorry. I’m a stupid kid. I didn’t think about my behavior. I didn’t care. No one cared about me, so I didn’t care about anyone else.
RH: Be Donna again. Your cousin said he’s sorry. He said he didn’t care because nobody cared about him. Do you understand him now?
DONNA: Yea.
COMMENT: Some people equate “forgive” with “condone,” so note the wording as I seek release …
RH (seeking release): Without condoning what he did, do you forgive him or release him from the apology he used to owe you?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: And do you forgive yourself for carrying that hurt around all these years?
Client nods her head, whispering “Yes.”
RH: Very good. Go to your peaceful place.
COMMENT: Once a client releases a person, it is time to guide him/her back to the peaceful place in order to confirm release.
RH (confirming release of that event): I would like to ask your subconscious to respond with the appropriate finger response. Has that event and your cousin been successfully released?
YES finger moves.
COMMENT: If the NO or IDK finger had moved, I would have asked Donna if she needed to speak to anyone else regarding the event. Sometimes a client wishes to role play with a parent or someone else even if said person was not present during the event. When two or more people are involved in the event, the client often needs to experience Gestalt with more than one person.
RH: Is there anything else that must be discovered and released?
YES finger moves.
RH: And are you ready to do so at this time?
YES finger moves again.
COMMENT: In a private session, watch the time. More often than not, a second regression must be scheduled at a subsequent session simply for time’s sake. (Less than 20 minutes have passed in Donna’s regression session.) However, when time does permit a second regression, I ask the client’s permission before continuing, as the client often needs to process the first regression before moving on.
RH (attempting another regression): Then from that garage, move either forward or backward in time to a very significant event; moving either forward or backward in time to a very significant event involving the desire to be perfect … a very important event. 3, 2, 1, BE there. What’s happening? Where are you?
Long pause … no response; changing regression techniques to affect bridge since emotions occurred during first regression …
RH: Can you go into the feeling of what it’s like when you want to be perfect, when you want to do good? Go into those feelings. You know how you feel when you want perfection out of yourself or out of somebody else. And as I count from 1 to 10, go into those feelings. 1, going into those feelings more on 2. 3, allow yourself to feel those feelings as much as you safely can. 4, 5. You know what it feels like when you demand perfection from yourself or somebody else. 6, taking the feeling, go into those feelings as much as you safely can when I get to 10.
COMMENT: Client starts abreacting, so I accelerate the count …
RH: 7 8, 9, 10. As I count backwards go back to the first time you felt those feelings, 10, 9, 8, WAY back. 7, 6, 5, 4, to where your subconscious needs you to go. 3, 2, 1, BE there. What’s happening, where are you?
DONNA (moves YES finger and speaks …): It’s so critical.
RH: What’s critical?
DONNA (mumbles, then continues …): They think they were right.
RH: Where are you right now?
DONNA: Grandparents’ house.
DONNA (abreacts and continues …): I can’t do anything right. They say they work so hard.
RH: How old are you right now?
DONNA: Nine.
RH: And where are you?
DONNA: In the house.
RH: Which house?
DONNA: The new house.
RH (verifying …): The new house?
COMMENT: If you are not totally certain what the client said, it is acceptable to repeat what you believe the client said in order to verify what you thought you heard …
DONNA: They’re being mean.
RH: Pardon?
COMMENT: Often a client speaks very softly. If you cannot understand what he/she says, it is OK to either ask the client to repeat the answer or say “Pardon?”
DONNA: They’re being mean.
RH (verifying): They’re being mean?
DONNA: Uh huh …
RH: How are they being mean?
DONNA: They’re saying mean things.
RH: Do you know why they’re saying mean things to you?
DONNA:’Cause they can’t control me.
RH (verifying …): They can’t control you?
DONNA: And they don’t like that.
RH: How are they trying to control you?
DONNA: They want me to do what they want me to do, and I won’t do it. They say I’m outspoken, and I misbehave, and no one’s going to love me, and my parents didn’t love me, so …
RH: And how does this make you feel?
DONNA: It hurts!
RH: Go to your peaceful place. And just like before, allow your highest and best wisdom, knowledge, understanding, training and experience to assist the 9-year-old. In a moment I’m going to ask you to go back to the house as a 9-year-old, but with all of your present adult wisdom, knowledge, understanding, training and experience. With the adult mind, be the 9-year-old. What’s your new perception of the way you’re being treated?
DONNA: They just don’t understand me. They’re not bright; they’re not very smart.
RH: Imagine they’re sitting in front of you now; but this time they have to listen to everything you want to say. Which one do you want to talk to first?
DONNA: I want to talk to both of them at the same time.
RH (verifying …): At the same time? OK.
DONNA (speaking to grandparents …): I thought you were supposed to protect me. I thought I was able to come to you and tell you when things were wrong. I thought you wanted me … but you didn’t. You wanted perfection. You wanted me to be something I couldn’t be. You weren’t willing to accept me for who I was. And you didn’t have to tell me that my parents didn’t love me. You don’t know that. You just wanted me to stay there with you while you were so mean to me. And you didn’t protect me when I needed your protection. You put me in bad situations. And I tried so hard to be what you wanted. I could never live up to …’cause you didn‘t know what you wanted. And I tried so hard.
RH: Is there anything else you want to say to them before they respond?
DONNA: No.
RH: Which one do you want to respond? Who do you want to speak in response to you?
DONNA: My grandmother.
RH: All right. Be your grandmother. Your granddaughter says that she was unwanted, and that you tried to make her a perfectionist. She said some other things about how hurtful you were. How do you respond to her?
DONNA (as grandmother speaking to Donna …): I’m sorry. I didn’t know that I was hurting you. I just was old, and I had your responsibility. And I didn’t want you to leave me and look for your mother and your dad. I wanted you to stay with me. I loved you, and I still do; and I’m sorry. I didn’t have good parenting skills. I treated you the same way I was treated. And I’m sorry I didn’t protect you. I didn’t know what else to do. And I’m sorry all those bad things happened to you.
RH: Now be Donna. Your grandmother is sorry. Are you willing to forgive her or release her from the apology she used to owe you?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: And do you forgive yourself for carrying the hurt all these years?
DONNA: Yea.
RH: Very good. Do you also wish to speak to your grandfather?
DONNA: Yes … bad man, a very bad man. He shouldn’t have been allowed to walk the face of the earth. He did some very bad things … mean, bad. Me, and all the other women in our family. [Now speaking to grandfather …] You hit my grandmother. She couldn’t leave you. She hears so bad. You’re a very mean man.
RH: What else do you want to say to him?
DONNA: Because of you, I lived in this life, just trying to get love … trying to find love in all the wrong places. Because of you, my sister left me all alone … and I thought it was my fault. She was only trying to escape you.
RH: Anything else you wish to say before he responds?
DONNA: Nope.
RH: All right, be the grandfather. Your granddaughter just said that you did some mean things, and you hurt her. How do you respond to your granddaughter?
DONNA (speaking as grandfather to Donna …): I’m sorry. I don’t know how to love; I never did. I never learned. I was a bad parent, and I shouldn’t have done the things I did to you and your sister.
RH: Be Donna. Your grandfather said he’s sorry, and he didn’t know how to love. Is there anything you wish to say to him before you forgive him or release him?
DONNA: No.
RH: Are you willing to forgive or release him without condoning, or release him from the apology he used to owe you?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: And do you forgive yourself for carrying the anger and the hurt all these years?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: (returning client to peaceful place to confirm release …): Very good. Go back to your peaceful place. [Pause …] Have you now successfully released that event, as well as your grandparents? Please answer with the appropriate finger response.
YES finger moves …
RH: Very good. Is there anything else that must be discovered and released?
Both YES and NO fingers move …
RH: Both fingers moved. Would you please answer again: has that problem and its causes been successfully released?
YES finger moves …
RH: Very good.
COMMENT: Once we confirm release of both the problem and its causes, we can now move into Phase 4, Subconscious Relearning (or reprogramming), using suggestion and imagery, and/or metaphors, NLP, EFT, or other techniques to help reprogram the subconscious.
RH: As a result of what was discovered and released, how will you best benefit in the here and now, and the coming days, weeks and months?
DONNA: I know I was loved, and they just didn’t know how to show it.
RH: Very good. [Asking appropriate leading question regarding relearning …] Will that also empower you to love yourself more?
DONNA: Yes.
COMMENT: Inappropriate leading questions are those which create false perceptions as to the cause(s) of a client’s problem. However, once the subconscious cause(s) are discovered and released, it is OK to ask leading questions regarding the RESOLUTION of the client’s problem.
RH: Very good. Are you willing to let it be OK to be the best that you can be instead of trying to be perfect?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: It’s so much easier to be the best that you can be instead of trying to be perfect … because by simply being the best you can be, one day your best is better than another day, and it’s OK. And it’s OK to love yourself. That’s the other half of the golden rule, so allow it to be OK to love yourself enough to be your own best friend. And if this is acceptable at all levels of consciousness, move the YES finger.
RH: Very good. As a result of this, how will you best be empowered in the coming days, weeks and months?
DONNA: I’ll be tolerant of myself. I’ll love myself. I won’t put unrealistic expectations on myself.
RH: Very good. And will this make it easy for you not to put unrealistic expectations on others, so that you can be tolerant of others as well?
DONNA: Yes.
RH: (giving suggestions to enhance subconscious relearning …): Very good. Allow yourself to be the best you can be so that it’s easier and easier every day to enjoy your own ideal empowerment. And every time you find yourself making a good decision, it’s easier to make another good decision; because like a muscle that’s used is stronger with use, your power of choice is stronger with use. So as you make wise choices about yourself and others, it’s easier to make more wise choices. And if you wish to establish a trigger to connect to your best wisdom, knowledge, understanding, training and experience in any given situation, you can touch your thumb to a finger that you choose as your TOLERANT trigger.
Client touches thumb to index finger …
RH: Very good. It allows you to connect to your best wisdom, knowledge, understanding, training and experience … to be tolerant, but also to make a wise choice that’s the best choice for everybody concerned … but you include yourself in what’s best for everybody concerned. And you have the power to make it so, and so it is. And if there are any other additional suggestions for self-empowerment that a part of your subconscious or inner mind wishes to give you, just speak them out loud as affirmations.
DONNA: Peace, and joy.
RH (verifying …): Peace and joy … excellent. You can allow either or both of those words to be automatic reminders for you to be the best that you can be … to find the peace and the joy in your life, and to have the power to make it so. And so it is.
RH: In a moment I’m going to count back from 1 to 5; but before I do, just enjoy being in your peaceful place … allowing all of the suggestions that benefit and empower you, and only those suggestions that benefit and empower you to merge into your mind, becoming a part of you because you choose. And when you again hear the sound of my voice, it will be almost time to come back.
Client has 30 seconds of silence …
In a moment you can start returning gradually and gently to conscious awareness; and it doesn’t matter whether the moments of silence seemed like a few seconds or five minutes or more. What’s important is that you now have the freedom to be the best you that you can be. Number 1 … slowly, gently, gradually returning to conscious awareness; becoming aware of the room and the here and now, and the chair that you’re sitting on, and the friends in this room with you. Number 2 … imagine feeling the way you wish to feel for the rest of the day and evening. Feeling good about yourself … finding it’s easier every day in every way to find the peace and the joy in your life. Knowing that you have the power to make it so, because it’s so much easier to be your best. And on 3 give yourself the idea that any time and every time you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, you are alert and responsive to any and all traffic and road situations. Stretching a little bit on number 4. And eyes open on 5 when you are ready.
Client stretches and opens her eyes.
RH: (starting debrief …): Amazing stuff, isn’t it?
Long pause, with no response from client as she wipes her eyes and face with fresh tissues …
RH: How do you feel?
DONNA: Oh, like I’ve been crying.
RH: Yes, indeed. Do you feel more empowered now?
DONNA: Uh huh.
RH: (to class): Notice the appropriate leading question?
DONNA: Yes. I feel like I have some answers … that I didn’t have before.
RH: Indeed, you do have answers you didn’t have before. More important, in addition to the answers, you also have the appropriate release which your subconscious confirmed … and along with that, the empowerment to be your best. Congratulations on a great breakthrough!
Thank you.
AFTER BREAK …
Donna told the class that what emerged was a total surprise. She never thought about the ISE having an impact on her problem. She knew it happened, but said she never discussed it with anyone, neither in previous sessions nor in counseling. Later that evening, she told several of us at dinner that the session was quite helpful.