Presented By: John Melton
Hypnotherapist: John Melton, CHt
Client: Mallory - Session 1 of 6
Presenting Issues: Anxiety and Lying
Description: In this fascinating Six Session Case History Series, we meet Mallory, a motivated and bright young lady with an inspirational story. Mallory had a tough childhood in North Carolina and is building a new life in Los Angeles. With her quirky and peppy personality, she is a delight to listen to while working with John towards self-discovery and healing. Over 6 weekly sessions, John guides Mallory through improving her anxiety and habit of lying. He skillfully builds up to healing her inner child and adolescent, creating a profound shift in Mallory’s self-worth that is truly touching to witness.
In this first session, we learn that Mallory would like to reduce anxiety, heal from old wounds, remove emotional triggers, and to stop lying. By analyzing her handwriting, John concludes the following: 1) Suggestibility is somnambulistic but close to physical 2) Sexuality is emotional but this is possibly a defense.
Mallory feels “reactionary” when anxious, often overthinking, replaying events, and lying without being aware. The lying causes difficulties in her relationships and a poor self-image. Mallory states she takes things personally and is a defensive person. Due to a difficult childhood, with both parents addicted to alcohol, she identifies with chaos and sabotaging. Mallory also needed to grow up quickly, raising her younger sister. She was in an abusive relationship in high school as well. Mallory is working through her past traumas with a psychotherapist, who is supportive of her participating in hypnotherapy. She also works with a naturopathic practitioner, who attributes her facial breakouts and jaw clenching to adrenal fatigue from being in a constant fight/flight state.
She has felt anxious most of her life, currently coping through meditation, psychotherapy, exercise, self-help books, and spiritual practices. She has a healthy diet without caffeine intake. However, she continues to be upset by her mother, who is still an alcoholic. Mallory feels guilty for doing well in Los Angeles while her younger sister continues to live in North Carolina along with her mother.
Mallory describes her relationship with herself as “love-hate.” She loves that she is a nice and helpful person but hates that she lies and has self-worth issues. Mallory is currently in a good relationship and lives with her partner but feels she does not deserve him.
John explains the “recursive loop” occurring, where Mallory’s overthinking leads to sensitivity, which leads to emotional reaction, further leading to maladaptive behaviors, resulting in poor self-image, and the loop repeats. He discusses how hypnosis can break that loop by creating a relaxed state.
Techniques Used: After moving Mallory to the recliner, John elicits ideomotor responses from Mallory. Mallory lifts her finger, indicating that she would like to be more relaxed and less reactive. John suggests for Mallory to give herself permission to recognize her own value. He emphasizes that he is a guide while she creates her own shift. John then guides her to visualize a calming place in nature. He uses ideomotor responses again, discovering that Mallory feels more connected to the word “relaxed” than “calm.” He then takes her through a progressive relaxation. John teaches her to use breathing as a tool for relaxation in everyday life, instructing her to breathe in for 3 seconds and out for 6 seconds. He gives suggestions for her to relax her jaw, to recognize that she can change behaviors learned as a child, and to have venting dreams to release anxieties. He counts her up, 0 to 5, and out of hypnosis.
WTVCASHIS / Release Date: Fri, Apr 24, 2020 / Production Date: Thu, Oct 24, 2019 / Format: HD
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