Abreaction, safe place
Abreaction
Abreaction is a psychoanalytical term for reliving an experience in order to free it from its emotional excesses – a kind of catharsis. Sometimes it is a method of becoming aware of repressed traumatic events. A strong emotional reaction that leads to re-experiencing (re-experiencing rather than remembering) a forgotten moment of emotion that is re-enacted. (Source:en.wikipedia)
It can occur spontaneously or be provoked by suggestion by increasing the strength of an initial emotion. (more details in lesson: Regression)
It can be an associative link to a situation or thing in the past that is linked to the same or similar feelings and associated physical sensations.
It can be an affect bridge for a regression to the cause of the problem. (more details in lesson: Regression)
Principle of dealing with abreactions:
Above all, stay calm Abreactions make it possible to quickly discharge these long-forgotten emotions and provide enormous relief for the subject.
In regression work, an abreaction is often desirable. and can be triggered in a targeted manner.
Two types of abreaction:
What to do?
a) Withheld emotion that discharges. The subject cries, screams in anger, laughs (which comes close to crying)
- Remain calm and allow the subject to release their emotions. Support him with reassuring words that it is okay to let this happen now.
It may take some time for the subject to calm down again. - If it is too intense for the subject, you can take them to their “safe place” for a while to recharge their batteries. Then possibly go back to the feeling. (Desensitization, see lesson Regression)
- You can reassure the subject by repeating the following sentence:
“Let the scene fade away, concentrate only on your breath!”
Caution: Do not touch the client right at the beginning of their abreaction. This could lead to a negative anchor. (See also anchoring)
b) Hysteria.. The reaction is very strongly associated with screaming, head and legs move back and forth more and more violently. The subject cannot control the emotion and gets carried away.
- Stay calm
- Allow the respondent to release their emotions.
- Support them with reassuring words that it is okay to allow this now.
- In case it gets out of hand:
Repeat this sentence over and over again:
“Let the scene fade away, concentrate only on your breath!” - When the subject calms down, continue the process.
- If hysteria reappears, calm down as before and refer the subject to a psychotherapist or doctor.
Caution: Do not touch the client right at the beginning of their abreaction. This could lead to a negative anchor. (See also anchoring)
Safe place
Providing and creating a place of safety in the event of a crisis in order to dissociate the subject from what is happening.
Everyone knows a situation, a place in which they feel safe and protected; this can be an imaginary but also a known place.
Let your test person choose this place. This place should be as neutral as possible, ideally where the test person is alone, without any other person(s).
Have them describe this place to you. You can do this during the session, but you can also agree on such a place with your subject in the preliminary talk.
This “safe place” can be used for all possible situations within the hypnosis process.
- Regenerate, recover, gather resources
- Dissociate
- Desensitize
Instructions for establishing a safe place.