Hypnosis and guided imagery can be of great assistance in dealing with pain, coping with chronic illnesses, reducing anxiety about medical procedures and making lifestyle changes to support health. This sort of work isn’t new. It is the work of ancient medicine. Science is now studying visualization and trance techniques used in conjunction with our western medical practices and finding that they have great value in aiding patients with a wide variety of health related issues. (Click here for a list of some of the studies performed in the last several years in PDF format.) Carol Woodliff has experience working with clients facing many health & medical challenges including:
- Cancer
- Childbirth
- Chronic Fatigue
- Headaches
- Fear of Medical & Dental Procedures
- Insomnia
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Lupus
- Pain Management/Chronic Pain
- Preparation for Surgery
- Smoking Cessation
- Stress
- Surgical Preparation & Recovery
- Weight Loss
Support When You Are Most Vulnerable
When faced with surgery, illness or even trying to make changes in our lifestyle to support better health, we can feel our most vulnerable and helpless. Carol’s goal is to create a safe place for her clients to express their frustrations and worries and then to help them marshal their internal resources to cope and heal.
Preparing For Medical Procedures
For many people, the idea of a medical procedure or surgery can cause anxiety and stress. Hypnosis and visualization techniques can help maintain a sense of calm before and during these procedures. In addition, patients who prepare for procedures visualizing the best outcome often need less anesthesia and recover more quickly than those who do not use these techniques. Carol has helped clients prepare for: chemotherapy, closed MRIs, gastro-endoscopies, dental work, surgery, shots and more!
Dealing With Pain
Hypnosis techniques for dealing with pain focus on two areas relaxation and creating your own hypno-anesthesia.
Relaxation: Often pain works in a tension-pain-fear cycle. When our muscles are tense they feel more pain which creates fear which creates more tension and pain. Relaxation techniques learned in hypnosis can break this cycle and can help reduce the amount of medication needed.
Hypno-anesthesia: Many people use hypnosis techniques to block pain signals. Hypnosis is successfully used for pain management with burn patients, neuropathy from HIV/AIDS and cancer, and for chronic pain such as back problems and fibromyalgia.
Visualization For Health & Healing
The subconscious mind responds well to metaphors, stories, pictures, and imagination. Studies have found that guided imagery and visualization techniques are effective in managing stress, anxiety, depression, pain and the side effects of chemotherapy. Imagery has also been shown useful for easing anxiety related to surgery, and coping with chronic illness. Carol is a certified therapeutic imagery facilitator and uses imagery and guided visualization processes extensively in her practice.
The Mind-Body Connection Is Very Strong But Mysterious
Studies show that hypnosis, visualization and meditation practices can support you while dealing with health challenges. However, this mind-body connection is also a mystery. No one can promise that these techniques will provide a “miracle cure.” No one knows why one person who uses meditation, visualization and hypnosis has great results in healing and another simply finds that it helps him relax but the illness remains the same. Consider the use of these techniques as an opportunity to take back some control and “vote” for the outcome you desire. The wonderful thing about using these techniques is that they can do no harm. In fact, most people find it empowering to explore whether they you can use their mind more effectively.
Required Disclosure
Carol Woodliff provides services which complement those provided by a licensed health care provider. She is not licensed to practice medicine or psychology. These services are not intended as a substitute for licensed medical or psychological treatment. In some instances a release or consultation with your health care provider may be required.
