Form and Function of Techniques

© Helen Lesser, 2013

QUESTION: I seem to be having some difficulty fully understanding certain techniques. With the use of deepening, distraction and visualisation techniques, we occupy the conscious mind and so allow ease of access to the subconscious. Is that right?

By the conscious mind concentrating on visualising something, it is distracted and the level of relaxation (hypnosis) is deepened. So, if concentrating on something, (such as the corridor or photos album technique) as well as visualising, because the conscious mind has to think of greater detail the conscious mind is further distracted and it becomes a deepening technique.

So although the main purpose of the corridor in particular (but also of the Photo album) is for visualisation, it also has its use as or assists in distraction and deepening. Is that correct?

I think the reason you are asking this question is due to a confusion between the technique and the purpose or function of it.

Perhaps if you think of them as ‘tools’ rather than ‘techniques’ it will help.

Visualisation is a tool. A brush is a tool. You can use a brush to paste wallpaper, to paint a work of art, to clean your teeth, get knots out of your hair or raise the pile on your carpet. You can use visualisation for deepening, distraction, induction, recall, etc.

With brushes, there are different types of this tool for different purposes. With visualisation, there are different types