What Is It?
Relaxation Therapy is essentially a natural state of light sleep. This is the “alpha brainwave” state that we all experience just prior to falling asleep and just prior to awakening. It is also the state in which the patient is most receptive to suggestions. Issues that are unknown to, or are too painful for, the patient to discuss consciously can be addressed more objectively, and in a non-threatening way, during a Relaxation Therapy session where defense mechanisms can be more easily overcome. Relaxation Therapy is a medical intervention most often prescribed when there is an underlying mental or emotional element of a patient’s illness that your medical professional deems best approached by directly accessing your subconscious mind. It is distinguished from hypnosis where medically untrained individuals induce sleep for selfish purposes (e.g., entertainment, etc.).
How Is It Done?
Relaxation Therapy involves the use of some type of relaxation technique. There are many variations of such techniques that can be used. Most commonly, the patient is gently guided into the alpha brainwave pattern through verbal imagery.
How Long Does It Last?
A typical session lasts about an hour. If a follow-up session is repeated within a short period of time (e.g., one week), sessions often require less time (e.g., 30-45 minutes). However, this all depends on how responsive the patient is to post-session suggestions for sleep induction. As a general rule, patients tend to relax quicker and more deeply with subsequent sessions.
What Is The Purpose?
The most important accomplishment of the first session is to actually induce the alpha brainwave state. Once this has been achieved, the patient’s subconscious mind can then be given suggestions. By positively influencing the subconscious mind of the patient, willpower can be created or reinforced; self-image can be enhanced; positive affirmations given; behavioral changes initiated; etc. The purpose of Relaxation Therapy is to provide you with new insights and to assist you in being better able to help yourself. Some people have described the experience like looking into a lake with a mask on and being able to see all the way to the bottom.
How Many Sessions Should I Have?
The number of Relaxation Therapy sessions needed depends upon how the patient responds to the first session. However, it is generally believed if the patient awakens after a session with a “heavy” feeling then follow-up therapy is necessary. Relaxation CDs may be prescribed for home use.
Are There Any Side-Effects?
Like dreams, some patients remember everything that occurs during a Relaxation Therapy session while other patients remember nothing. Upon awakening, the patient usually feels peaceful and relaxed. As a result of Relaxation Therapy, patients will often experience a subsequent “release” of subconscious information through “flashes of insight” and dreams.
