Client Story: From Lost to Found

Julie and I sat beside each other at a dinner party one night. She was from Minnesota and was in town visiting college friends. From the brief chat, she was a bubbly and very interesting character. As we were cracking our creme brulee, she asked, “Kirsten, what do you do for a living?”

“I do a special form of hypnosis that clears trauma from the subconscious – which is at the root of our biggest emotional and health challenges and blockages.”

Julie didn’t say much verbally, but I could sense her breathing with a sense of relief, hope, and possibility.

At this time, Julie was struggling in her life. Her husband had several affairs five years earlier, and the marriage broke up. Her life, as she knew it, completely shifted and threw her into a place of uncertainty, sadness, and frustration. She felt lost in the complicated work of reinvention.

She signed up for six sessions after hearing me talk about the work and the magical results.

During the first session, as is with all first sessions, we reviewed the intake questionnaire, which covers various topics such as current mental and physical health, levels of self-confidence, family history, and the client’s favorite childhood heroes. I shared some other client stories and clinical information about trauma - where it comes from and what happens within us. We call this subconscious priming.

As we went through the questionnaire, Julie gained a new understanding of the effects of trauma and the understanding that trauma held in our system comes from our own experience and those who cared for us and our relatives generations back. There is scientific evidence for all of this. I could almost hear things click into place as a new understanding was emerging for Julie.

Toward the end of this first session, I guided Julie through the 4 Essential Steps - these steps are the foundation of the hypnosis work and calm, settle, and stabilize the nervous system, shifting us from a place of stress or high alert to a place of rest and power.

The Better Feeling Image

“Julie, go ahead and close your eyes if that’s comfortable for you, and turn your attention into your body and notice any physical sensations that are there.” Julie closed her eyes and became very quiet as she went inward. Her breathing slowed and became much deeper.

After a bit of time had passed, I said, ”Julie, let me know what you notice.” Julie began to call out various physical sensations that she noticed, everything from 'a heaviness around my heart’ to ‘where my legs meet the chair.’

For the last step, I asked Julie to” breathe into her soft belly and move her attention to the right side of her brain, and allow – not think, figure out, but allow – an image to come to mind that feels good to your mind, body, and spirit.”

After some time, she says, “I see a waterfall.” I say, “Good. Now immerse yourself in the details of what has come to mind for you.” Julie starts to share some details of the scene that has come to mind for her.

I then ask her, “Notice what happens in your body as you immerse your attention in the details of what has come to mind for you, and let me know what you are noticing.” Julie begins sharing a variety of good feelings. I encourage her to keep feeling any good feelings that she is noticing. I can hear her entire being resting so peacefully in this inner world of the Better Feeling Image.

Healing Begins with Deep Safety

All of these good feelings she notices and embraces are a virtual vacation for her mind-body system. Her natural ‘healing response’ can take over, and her body can use this precious downtime to do so much good for her.

I encourage her to give herself permission to enjoy any of these good feelings she notices. She rests here for a while in this inner world.

The Magical Inner World We All Have

I then ask her to allow her eyes to float open and notice what’s different in her body. Katy looks a little dazed but with an ‘oh my’ smile on her face. She’s now experienced the magic of The Four Essential Steps.

Already in the first session, Julie had a new understanding of herself and what could be causing her issues and had experienced the magic of these few but powerful steps.

Over the coming weeks, we met and did the work. By session three, she said, “Kirsten, I almost can’t believe it, but all my anger and resentment towards my ex-husband has simply fallen away.”

By the end of the six sessions, Julie had a new sense of herself and the magical inner world we all have. She had a new sense of power within herself. A project that she had been working on had been going slowly but was now gaining momentum, and she could tackle tasks that seemed almost insurmountable before the work. Several weeks later, she texted me: “I just want to thank you so much. My life feels so much better. Noticeably. I’m just so grateful.”

And I am so pleased that I could be of help in this way. I feel honored to have provided her with this support. Julie's story shows how we carry within us powerful personal symbols and tools of healing.

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Note: Details and names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.