From: Cornelia Swart, Silverton, South Africa
Sent: December 04, 2008
I have a patient who suffered sexual abuse at the age of 9. I started with the Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy and when I took her back to the most recent time she felt angry (presenting problem at work). She described the incident but was unable to release the emotion. She said she felt extremely nauseous and even though I encouraged her to express the anger, she was unable to, saying she feels extremely nauseous. She was very anxious about the hypnotherapy and I know that the anxiety might have contributed to the activation of her sympathetic nervous system. I was actually wondering whether this could maybe also be somatic memories of the oral sex she was forced to perform. I took her back to her safe place immediately and terminated the hypnotherapy.
My question is on the following paragraph from your article:
Also when clients have complex PTSD, the shock must be treated before you can do the release work with them. They need to feel safe, to trust and to learn how to titrate or slowly reduce the amount of stored-up shock in the client’s system.
How do I deal with the shock and how do you facilitate the above mentioned process? Your comments will be greatly appreciated.
Dear Cornelia,
Thank you for your sincere question. This is a very complex issue and can not be “taught” except in an experiential class. Fortunately, Dr. Yvonne Christman will be teaching a class on “Shock and Trauma” next year when she travels to South Africa. Also Reyhana Seedat and Eleanor Bubb are teaching the Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy Advanced course in Johannesburg in which the treatment of shock and trauma is addressed.
1) Yes, the nausea is a very common symptom of oral sexual abuse. In these cases, we often tell the person that we will have a cold wash cloth, tissues, drinking water and a plastic-lined waste-basket if they need to regurgitate. You must make them feel comfortable to do that if they need to. It is actually a very natural way for them to release the feelings of disgust that they have been carrying around inside of them. In the hypnotherapy if someone is nauseous, we place their hand on the basket so that they can feel free to “get rid” of whatever has been forced into their mouth. There is no need to feel ashamed of this natural bodily reaction to the horror of a child being forced to have oral sex with a grown man! We may have them yelling at the abuser, “you make me sick” which is giving a voice to the nausea and what it signifies.
You must first address the nausea before the client will be able to release the anger. Once she releases the nausea, then you must ask what she is feeling next.
2) To treat the shock, you may ask her a) what she needs to feel safe. Perhaps a drink of water, a warm Bellie Buddy (which we heat for 2 minutes in a microwave oven) or a cool ice pack to place on her forehead or the back of her neck. Take your time and don’t rush the client. Sometimes all you can do is to provide safety so that the client may feel safer during the next session. Treating shock is an ongoing process with most clients.
3) As she begins to feel safer, you can ask if she is ready to release more feelings, perhaps by yelling into the pillow at the abuser. If she is reluctant to use the energy release hose, ask her what her reluctance is. For sexual abuse clients, it may feel like a phallus. It is good to have a few inexpensive tennis rackets available to use instead of the hose at the beginning.
4) If they are afraid of the hose, do an age regression to go back to what that reminds them of (not necessarily in the same session). That will often bring up another sexual abuse memory.
I hope this helps. Love, Diane
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