Regression and its application in hypnotherapy

I started this year very productively; I have been planning (starting) my new book Exploring Applications of Hypnosis for at least 12 months and kicked off this year by pulling the work together. I have now published the book and thought I would share this chapter with you. I hope you find it as interesting to read as I did to write.

Regression hypnosis is a fascinating and powerful technique used to access, explore, and reframe memories or experiences from the past. It allows individuals to journey through their subconscious mind to uncover insights that may influence their present emotions, behaviours, or thought patterns. By revisiting past events under a state of deep relaxation and focused awareness, regression hypnosis offers an opportunity for healing, clarity, and personal transformation.

When I first trained as a clinical hypnotherapist, one of the tutors demonstrated regression with a subject and got her to write her name on a flip chart at each age. Her voice and vocabulary changed too. It was fascinating to observe and then experience.

To be clear, I have only ever been interested in current-life regression but I do realise other hypnotherapists specialise in past-life regression. I am not against it, but as a logical engineer, I have found that there is enough to work with in this life.

The principles behind regression hypnosis

At its core, regression hypnosis operates on the principle that the subconscious mind holds a comprehensive record of an individual’s life experiences. These experiences, whether consciously remembered or not, shape perceptions, habits, and emotional responses. Regression hypnosis leverages the hypnotic state - a state of heightened suggestibility and focused concentration - to bypass the critical conscious mind and access these stored memories.

How people learn to respond during their formative years is how they respond for the rest of their lives. Unless we can help them change the myriad of “Ham moments” that they hold in their subconscious, not only do they hold them, but they hold them so securely they actually believe them, “It's just the way I am, it's what I do.".

While memories retrieved during hypnosis may not always represent literal events, as memories are constructive, they often hold symbolic or emotional truths that can be significant in understanding the root causes of current challenges.

Applications of regression hypnosis

Regression hypnosis has a wide range of applications, including but not limited to:

• Trauma healing: Revisiting traumatic experiences to process unresolved emotions and achieve emotional release.
• Phobia reduction: Identifying the origin of a phobia to reframe the subconscious association with fear.
• Behavioural changes: Addressing patterns like overeating, procrastination, or relationship issues rooted in past experiences.
• Enhancing self-awareness: Gaining insights into deep-seated beliefs and how they influence present behaviours.
• Spiritual exploration: For those inclined, regression hypnosis may include past-life regressions to explore spiritual or karmic lessons.

The process of regression hypnosis

Preparation

The hypnotherapist establishes trust with the client and discusses the goals of the session. The client is reassured that they remain in control throughout the process.

Induction

A hypnotic induction is used to guide the client into a deeply relaxed and focused state. Techniques like an Elman induction or guided imagery are commonly employed.

Exploration

Once the hypnotic state is achieved, the hypnotherapist uses carefully crafted suggestions to guide the client to the specific time period or memory relevant to their goals. Open-ended questions may be asked to encourage detailed exploration of the experience.

Reframing and healing

After the memory is accessed, the hypnotherapist works with the client to process emotions, challenge limiting beliefs, and reframe the experience in a way that fosters healing and empowerment.

Return and reflection

The session concludes with suggestions for returning to full awareness, followed by a discussion of the client’s experiences and insights gained during hypnosis.

Ethical considerations

Regression hypnosis must be approached with care and professionalism. The following ethical guidelines are essential:

• Client autonomy: Clients should always retain control during the process and be informed that they can terminate the session at any time.
• Avoiding suggestive bias: The hypnotherapist must avoid leading or suggestive questioning that could implant false memories. Forensic hypnosis has always fascinated me specifically.
• Trauma sensitivity: It is crucial to handle distressing memories with empathy and to provide a safe environment for emotional expression. The use of disassociation really helps here.
• Training and certification: Practitioners should be adequately trained and certified in hypnosis and regression techniques.

The role of the hypnotherapist

A skilled hypnotherapist plays a pivotal role in regression hypnosis. Their responsibilities include:

• Creating a safe and supportive space for exploration.
• Building rapport and trust with the client.
• Employing techniques that facilitate a deep hypnotic state.
• Guiding the client through past experiences without imposing interpretations.
• Empowering the client to integrate newfound insights into their daily life.

It does not always have to be formal hypnosis

This approach can be in a formal trance or conversational hypnosis, as all language is naturally hypnotic. I have worked with clients using statements such as “remember when,” “now looking back,” and “When you see it from this different perspective.”

I have worked with a few clients who presented with “my [parent] never really loved me.”  By working with them to consider different perspectives on the event, regression naturally occurs, and emotional values can change (reframe).

As mentioned above, it is important the therapist is suitably trained to work in this way.

Potential criticisms and misconceptions

Regression hypnosis is not without controversy. Sceptics question the reliability of hypnotically retrieved memories, citing the risk of confabulation or memory distortion. Moreover, the concept of past-life regression - where clients report memories from purportedly previous lifetimes - is contentious within scientific and therapeutic communities.

My view is that past lives are metaphoric constructs (dreams) created by the subconscious, but if they help the client release and move on then why not just accept the construct and work with it? 

Despite these criticisms, many clients report profound emotional and psychological benefits from regression hypnosis, emphasising the importance of evaluating its effectiveness on a case-by-case basis.

Example regression methods

Affect bridge

• use emotional intensity to bridge to the initial sensitising event (ISE)
• elicitation of negative feeling/emotion associated with trauma
• amplify that feeling (peak)
• recall the first time that feeling was experienced
• where? when? what age?

Informed child

If you only knew then what you know now – collect resources.

• take back before the ISE and move through life, brushing away old events (SSE) all the way to the ‘here and now’
• future pace

The power of pronouns

David Grove, a psychotherapist known for developing Clean Language, explored the role of pronouns in therapy as a way to access deeper, unconscious patterns of thought and emotion. He noticed that the way people used pronouns (e.g. "I," "you," "it," "we," or "they") often reflected hidden aspects of their experiences, especially in trauma work.

He showed that subtle changes in pronoun use could reveal profound insights into a person's internal world, making pronouns a powerful tool for therapeutic change. For example:

“I did not realise how much I have been holding my-self back. But what has really shocked me is what difference you can make,”

Locate identity components.

• Ask “… and when you think ‘I,’ where is ‘I’?"
• Ask “… and how old is ‘I’?"
• Ask “… and what is happening around [insert age] ‘I’?"

Then ask the same questions of ‘self’ and ‘me.’ Maybe you will be fascinated by the differences as they should all be the same if the client is fully integrated rather than regressing.

Regression hypnosis serves as a unique tool for self-exploration and healing, unlocking the hidden depths of the subconscious mind.

When practised responsibly and ethically, it has the potential to transform lives, allowing individuals to overcome obstacles, gain clarity, and embrace a more empowered and fulfilling existence. By addressing the root causes of distress rather than merely treating symptoms, this approach empowers clients to heal from within, fostering resilience and self-awareness.

Its techniques, while requiring skill and sensitivity, open pathways to transformation that can profoundly enhance an individual’s quality of life. As interest in this modality grows, it remains a valuable and intriguing frontier in the field of therapeutic hypnosis.