Hypnosis: Sexual Abuse / Intimacy Issues

Dr David Frederick, a hypnotherapist and relationship counsellor with Mind/Body Healthy Consultants in America, talks about his approach with victims of sexual abuse

Victims have self esteem issues and often feel incapable of intimacy, even though consciously they may want and feel ready to.

Counselling can help them to feel better about themselves but sometimes the problem is rooted so deeply inside their unconscious minds that it is difficult for them to overcome.

Using hypnosis, Frederick starts by helping to rebuild their self esteem but also to help them to let go of any residual fear and anger from the assault itself.

These sort of issues are rarely resolved in less than four or five sessions at least and it can take two or three just to help with this.

The hypnosis can also help to then reinforce the idea that they have a wonderful body and using visualisation, they can let go of the past and accept that idea that they have a new, wonderful body.

Sometimes, Frederick will help the person to imagine themselves back in time where they can confront their attacker and get some closure.  This gives them the opportunity to vent what they need to and give them a new, stronger sense of control, having gone back to rescue their earlier self and to tell them that it will be ok, they’ll survive and they’ll be able to build a new life, new relationships and to move on.

Frederick also asks his clients to do a ‘cleaning ritual’ when they get home.  This symbolically helps them to clear any last remaining painful memories.

Hypnosis and counselling are often combined, particularly with relationships involving both partners as not everyone is comfortable with the idea of hypnosis.  However, one partner may really want the hypnosis and it can help them improve dramatically in a shorter space of time.  If hypnosis only helps one of the couple then it will help the overall relationship between the two.

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