Hypnotic regression is a psychodynamic technique which allows the client to mentally travel back to an earlier stage of their life. There are two basic types of regression:
- In life regression – This is where a person revisits an earlier point in their life.
- Esoteric or past life regression – This is when someone visits an earlier life. As only a small percentage of people believe in past lives this form of regression is more controversial than in-life regression.
It is important to clarify which you mean when discussing these as they are often confused.
Characteristics of a regression
A regression is a specific state and as this state matters therapeutically it can be helpful to understand it. There are couple of things which a regression is not.
- Regression is not remembering – Remembering is the act of being in the present time and calling up memories of the past. The key feature being that you are grounded in the present. Hypnosis is associated with increased recall (hypermnesia) but this is used in different ways to regression.
- Regression is not reliving – Reliving is when you are so deeply in the past that you act and recall as if back then. Say you had returned to the age of seven you would respond as a seven-year-old and possess no memories beyond the age of seven. When someone mentally returns to the past this full it is referred to as revivification. Such states have value
So, what is regression?
Regression is…
… returning to the past with a degree of awareness of everything which has happened since. You go back to the age of seven and are experiencing much of it as if it were happening now but maintain an awareness that you are older.
This has potentially great therapeutic value as you may be seeing and experiencing things with more experienced eyes.
Why conduct a hypnotic regression?
Regressions are done for one of several reasons, such as:
- To help remember the origin of a problem – By gaining insight into the origin of a problem a client will feel more in control. This approach would be used when the origin is unknown but it runs the risk of creating a false memory if not handled skilfully.
- To release trapped emotional energy at the start of a problem – This is sometimes known as catharsis. Catharsis is frequently powerful, often to a level that can resolve a problem. However, most commonly catharsis is a release of energy which opens the door for change, but other approaches are required to make that change permanent. Catharsis is so powerful that there is the potential for re-traumatisation. As such many therapists will avoid it wherever possible and only allow it under highly supported circumstances.
- To alter problem behaviour by changing the perception of the initial experience – By returning to a known event and experiencing it with an older (wiser) perception the mind can recontextualise it within that mature understanding. What was devastating as a child, is something that you have survived as an adult.
- Other reasons – Sometimes a hypnotherapist will be asked to conduct regressions to help recover lost information. They may also be asked to help someone in their philosophical or spiritual journey.
Dangers and limitations of hypnotic regression
Anyone can regress spontaneously, but a hypnotic regression should be carefully managed by a professional to reduce the risk of problems arising. The two most important factors are
- Appropriate psychological preparedness – A hypnotherapist should ensure that their client is in a strong psychological state prior to any regression. This is done by using psychological control exercise and ego strengthening suggestions. Typically, a hypnotherapist will not conduct a regression on the first session.
- Careful questioning – By using open questions and avoiding leading questions the therapist reduces the chance of a false memory being created.
