Audio recording

Presenter: Antonio Bustillo, PhD

This is a clinical presentation of a model that uses hypnosis in psychotherapy with couples capitalizing on the spouses natural and spontaneous hypnotic trance phenomena in order to help them shift to more adapting states of consciousness. By shifting to more functional and creative states of consciousness the spouses can develop self-regulating skills while eliciting internal coping resources for conflict management and resolution. These states of consciousness can be used to tap into client's biological, cognitive, interpersonal or spiritual active resources from previous experiences and memories or be projected into expectations for futures success within the relational context. The careful monitoring of the therapist while connecting with the couple during the hypnosis exercises is crucial for developing a caring and supportive therapeutic relationship and atmosphere, thus reinforcing and amplifying not only the internal positive alternate state but also the interpersonal quality of the process. The therapist is then able to utilize this interpersonal aspect of the couples internal trance experience as a resource in itself for building in therapy new and more adaptive enactments. The spouses can learn to shift their mind states through hypnosis while the therapist can help then coupled in a new and more resourceful way, reducing negativity and enhancing internal and interpersonal spaces for joy, relaxation, safety and commitment.