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In his book, Flow: The Psychology of
Optimal Experience, one of the foremost authors on the
phenomena of peak experiences, Csikszentmihalyi, outlines
the state of unity between subject and object, the observer
and the observed, a total blend of process and outcome. This
state of complete focus can also be described as the result
of a learned skill or habit. Mind state management (MSM),
the skill of matching activation state and mental focus to
the task at hand, is now available to virtually anyone who
is willing to learn it. Once the cherished domain of a few
yogis and supreme meditators, this ability can now be
learned through the recent advances in the new field of
neurotechnology.
Describing the consciousness continuum
Mind State Management involves many specific skills and
strategies for effecting positive changes to human
consciousness. Consciousness, the subjective state of
awareness of one’s mind state, can be viewed as a continuum
of brain activation levels from hyperactivation to virtual
coma. While this description does not take into account the
structure and function of the brain, its does provide a
useful framework upon which to map the general states of
arousal which are associated to processing certain types of
information and performing certain kinds of tasks.
It is an oversimplification to describe all parts of the
brain as if they resonate uniformly to one vibration; the
brain is far more complex than that. Nor is it accurate to
describe left brain functions only as primarily linear and
logical, and right brain functions only as intuitive,
unconscious, and spatial. The metaphor of a continuum,
though, allows us a convenient way to understand the fairly
consistent patterns of brain functioning common to most
people.
The brain operates like a computer, which is not
surprising since computers were designed to emulate brain
functions in the first place. There are input devices (data
from our senses), coding systems (categorizations and
cognitive appraisals of our perceptions based on previous
experiences) and a central processing unit. There is also a
power source (motivation) that pre-selects certain
information for processing and ignores data considered
irrelevant. There are also output devices in which data is
categorized (cross-referenced in both the conscious and
unconscious long-term memory systems). If the encoding is
sloppy or the data has relatively low importance to
functioning, it tends to be lost (forgotten). It is
eventually overwritten or erased by subsequent information
(new experiences).
While most of the information is stored, it is almost
virtually irretrievable unless properly tagged to a
retrieval path. For example, with no external cueing, try to
remember who you had lunch with three Tuesdays ago. For most
people this is not an easy assignment, yet the memory is
there.
Imagine the distress of taking an examination and
temporarily blocking the correct answers due to the stress
of having to produce on demand. Imagine the difficulty in
trying to fall asleep when your sleep cycle has been
disrupted by jet lag. Or trying to read a chapter of a
textbook when you are tired. Each of these activities
requires certain levels of brain state activation in order
to be carried out effectively. The importance of this
principle is far from insignificant. Disruptions to brain
functioning can affect cognition, emotion, attitude and
ultimately behavior. What is needed then is the ability to
access the brain wave state that is optimal to the task at
hand.
What are brainwaves? Essentially, our brain is a
neurochemical information processor that gives off
electrical signals as electrochemical circuits close and
open a million each second. If this is so, why can’t we
detect these signals? Primarily because our skulls are too
thick and the signals too weak for them to resonate outside
our heads. With the exception of perhaps the most
clairvoyant and telepathic among us, brain wave patterns are
impossible to detect without the aid of a special amplifier
called an electroencephalograph or EEG, which detects and
records the changes in the voltage emanating from the brain.
These electrical patterns tend to be similar in their
general rhythm or rate of pulsation, and can be placed along
the consciousness continuum. (See chart on page 3).
The first pattern is described as beta waves, of
short amplitude and very rapid pulsations of 30-14 cycles
per second (Hertz or Hz). This pattern is optimal for
intense mental activities such as calculations, linear
logical analyses, and other highly structured functions.
The second pattern is described as alpha waves,
characterized by a slightly larger amplitude of 13-9 Hz.
This pattern typically occurs in daydreaming, relaxed
awareness, guided or focused imagery and smoothly rhythmic
athletic activity. There is often a euphoric, effortless
feeling of "flow" as the doer is absorbed in activity, and
subject and object are felt to be united.
The third pattern is described as theta waves,
pulsations that are more ragged and irregular, in the 8-4 Hz
range. While this range is rather small, a difference of 1
or 2 Hz in this zone is very noticeable, as it is
proportionately much larger than it would be in the beta or
alpha range. This pattern is associated with deep
unconscious imagery, and thus creativity, as the person
drops into a state of drowsiness and near-sleep.
The last main pattern is that of delta waves,
pulsations that range between 3-1 Hz. In this range of
profound relaxation, images and dreams have largely
subsided, as the person slides into a state of slow wave
restorative sleep. Meditators who remain aware during this
state of near unconsciousness report nirvana, a state
tranquility and peace.
Obviously, being able to control a mind state (the
subjective mental state that typically accompanies a
brainwave pattern) would be helpful in optimizing human
functioning in contexts that required specific kinds of
concentration and relaxation. While there have always been
brainwaves, only recently have we become aware of them and
been able to effect their change. This accessibility with
demonstrable, rapid results has great potential for the
relief of suffering and the evolution of the social mind of
our society.
Thus, in this next section the intent is not merely to
present a history of neurotechnology (the field of
mind-machine interface), for others have done a more
thorough job of documenting that history (Hutchison, 1986,
1990, 1992; Budzynski, 1991). My intent is to put mind state
management in a context that allows you to see the rich
human tradition from which it springs, and the way these
independent sources form interdependent streams of
consciousness. You can get a sense of the expansive
direction in which this energy can flow, not only in your
own development, but also in the development of all human
consciousness.
Mind state management in an historical context
Meditation and Prayer. Throughout history, in
virtually every culture and religion, there has been a
tradition of some kind of meditation or chanting prayer.
Prayer is typically used to focus and calm the mind, promote
healing, or invoke the blessing of a deity. Usually the
prayer takes about 15-20 minutes. It may involve the
repetition of a simple phrase or series of actions and
rhythmic sounds: jumping, swaying, dancing or chanting. The
participant continues repeating the action or mantra long
past the point of boredom, until a higher state or spiritual
awareness occurs. If distracting thoughts occur, the
participant is told not to resist them; merely let them pass
through the mind and exit by themselves, allowing the mind
to return to the mantra. These rituals have been successful
in invoking a relaxation response, but only to dedicated
devotees who practiced religiously. The required discipline
often had to be maintained externally through social
constraints against leaving the place of meditation or the
practice of prayer. The reason for such control was obvious.
The tasks were inherently boring and ineffective unless
practiced diligently, so the sessions needed to be practiced
often enough for the benefit to be realized.
Nevertheless, over the centuries and across cultures, a
general principle of the mind-body unity seems to operate:
Stimulate the mind-body with rapid movement and loud
sounds.
Soothe and settle the mind-body with slower and quieter
movement and sound.
Transport the mind-body to altered states of
consciousness through very slow pulsing of movement and
sound.
The principles of mind state management are similar:
Repeated rhythmic stimulation reduces the distraction
imposed by the external world.
Attention gradually and consistently turns to internal
experiences.
If slower rhythms are better for inducing deeper states
of consciousness, then it would seem that the ultimate
meditation would be to cultivate total stillness and
quietness: a slowing of all movement in a total focus of
concentration. In fact, many forms of yogic meditation
attempt to do just this. However, they flourish in cultures
where patience, acceptance and the concept of
"no-thing-ness" are taught from an early age. The effort
required to focus the wandering and impatient mind is
unbearably demanding and tedious to the undisciplined
Western mind. Some would argue that this lack of patience
and discipline is the very attitude that the practice of
meditation is designed to overcome, the antidote to Western
thinking. However, such an argument is actually a taunting
tautology, describing a condition that prevents its own
remedy. After we watch the dog chasing its own tail, we know
he is merely playing with his dilemma. Not so with
meditation. For whatever reason, most people in our Western
culture will not meditate in a consistent way long enough
for thorough learning of the skills of MSM.
Hypnosis: The advent of formal hypnosis in the past
two centuries provided a new and perhaps more readily
acquired method of learning MSM. In hypnosis, a state of
focus is generated by the use of language, with words,
phrases, and ideas using the contradictions provided in the
language itself. Words can twist and reflect upon
themselves, leaving the listener confused and detached.
Hypnosis as a path to MSM was limited by two popular
perceptions:
Hypnotic suggestibility was thought to be an inherent,
almost fixed, capacity rather than a learned skill,
which some people acquire more easily than others.
Hypnosis was thought of as a weird state in which the
hypnotist somehow took control of a subject with a weak
or suggestible mind.
As a result of these misconceptions, hypnosis held a
relatively narrow path for learning MSM skills.
Nevertheless, a dedicated person can usually learn hypnosis
and ultimately self-hypnosis with the help of an instructor,
or from books and tapes. However, for this individual the
results are often hit-or-miss. Practice is often abandoned
before the MSM skills are properly learned and integrated.
Mind alteration: North American consciousness
explorers in the ‘70s and ‘80s began experimenting with the
mind-altering properties of hallucinogenic drugs. These did
indeed alter the user’s state of consciousness, but in
largely uncontrolled, and some-times dangerous ways. What is
more, many of these drugs were not only illegal, but also
toxic, which required the body to metabolize the substance
before returning to a normal state of consciousness. What
people really wanted was a quick, effective, natural process
for mind-state alteration.
Meanwhile, some researchers were experimenting with
sensory deprivation. In float tanks, one floated in large,
dark, quiet tanks of water at body temperature. The buoyancy
provided by a high level of Epsom salt allowed the user to
float effortlessly. All sensory input (sight, sound, smell,
taste, kinesthetic feeling) was denied. This was effective
in inducing relaxation, euphoria, accelerated learning, and
various mind state phenomena (Hutchison, 1984, The Book of
Floating); however, the tanks were cumbersome and not very
practical.
Ritual practices: The 1970s brought an increasing
awareness of the value rituals practiced by other cultures
might offer to our secular consumer-oriented society.
Besides Eastern religions and philosophies, there was a
growing appreciation for North American aboriginal people
and the reverence they held for nature. This resonated with
the dawn of the ecology movement. The idea of using natural
rituals somehow seemed to make more sense. The idea of
social and mind altering ceremonies (bathing in the warmth
and flicker of firelight, chanting, drumming and dancing)
invoked a curiosity and earned a place in the North American
cultural mosaic.
Mind entrainment devices: Another significant trend
arose from the neuroscience experimentation of W. Gray
Walter and his colleagues in a series of studies on the
effects of photic stimulation. They found that when exposed
to strobe-like photic stimulation, the brain’s electrical
wave activity began to synchronize with and track the
frequency of the stimulation pattern (Walter, 1957). Other
pioneer researchers followed a similar tradition, noting the
effects of the frequency-following response to photic
stimulation, the so-called "driving" or entrainment effect.
The addition of sound patterns to augment photic driving led
to the proliferation of mind-entrainment devices, most of
which were still expensive and cumbersome. By the early
1980s, however, advances in computerization,
miniaturization, and microchip technology allowed for the
mass manufacture of light and sound devices (research
reviewed in Hutchison, 1986, 1990-92; Budzynski, 1991, and
other sources). Not long after, researchers and
neurotechnology engineers closed the gap in mind state
management by developing portable, inexpensive machines,
which are often called Light and Sound Devices (L/S). At
last, those who wished to learn how to gain mastery over
their mind states now had an appropriate technology:
It would generate noticeable results almost from the
outset of training (instant gratification and
demonstration of effect).
It was essentially passive in nature, requiring no
active direction from the user.
It was relatively inexpensive and portable.
It was a safe, natural, and drug-free alternative.
It could be used in private and be programmed to meet
the user's needs.
It could be adapted for use in social or group contexts.
L/Ss were being promoted as alpha-generating
mind-machines, the ultimate replacement for therapists,
counselors, and stress management consultants. They were
destined to become a panacea for virtually all modern
difficulties and ailments. People on both the West and East
coasts began to flock to "Mental Fitness Centers" to tune in
and drop out for a mental health break.
But the fad died as quickly as it flourished. What
happened? Overexcitement likely created unrealistic
expectations. Consumers thought that all they had to do was
turn on the devices and everything in their stressful lives
would be resolved. This notion is as realistic as thinking
you will become a great writer as soon as you purchase a
word processor. Another barrier was lack of portability.
Mental fitness centers required the consumer to leave their
home or work environment to gain access to the technology,
instead of the technology coming to the consumer. Those who
ran the centers, while technically adept and effective
marketers, often did not have the psychological expertise to
adapt the L/S technology to specific and complex needs of
the user. Consumers had hardware, but without adequate
guidance as to how to use it.
What was needed was the "software of the mind" to
translate L/S’s potential into reality. A leading
publication in the field of neurotechnology called for the
need to develop a support system of training, instructional
tools and programs, a guided hands-on approach to help the
user go beyond a few novelty sessions (Hutchison, Megabrain
Report, 1992). The real secret lay in enticing the
participant to stay with the training long enough for a
beneficial effect to be realized. What is often required is
gentle encouragement, enthusiasm, and a set of focusing
instructions that are easy to follow. Rather than having a
few programs meant to meet everyone’s needs, it made sense
to develop customized programs for specialized purposes. And
finally, since guided imagery used to meet those needs can
be enhanced with L/Ss, then why not offer audiotapes? The
listener could absorb the process of change in an effortless
manner, allowing the ideas to be absorbed in receptive alpha
and theta consciousness. The resources of a pool of
professionals experienced with using and customizing the
skills of mind state management was needed, experts who
could design and program sessions and produce the audiotape
to accompany the sessions.
In 1992, Theta Technologies began the process of
developing a device that would offer all these advantages.
The result was the Voyager XL, with the collected knowledge
of 17 specialists in the field of neurotechnology. Many of
the session authors are experienced psychotherapists,
neurolinguistic programmers, hypnotherapists, and
researchers with direct experience using L/Ss in their
clinical and research practices over the past five to ten
years. They feature complex light and sound combinations,
bi-naural beats, overlapping sounds, and other special
audio-effects. Associated audio tapes incorporate trance and
guided imagery to achieve health and expanded consciousness.
Soon afterwards, another L/S manufacturer, Comptronics
Devices in Edmonton, Canada, enlisted the services of
trained clinicians, including Dr. Frank Young, to develop
application programs integrated with L/S patterns to enable
users of L/S to expand and extend the use of mind state
management for a range of desired outcomes.
Applications: how to use the principles of mind state
management
In this section I will first discuss the health-oriented
applications first, and then branch out to the realms of
exploration and consciousness expansion.
Many people are first attracted to this technology for
the instant relief it provides from stress. Once they
address some of these essential needs of balance and
wellness, they can have greater focus toward the higher
objectives of consciousness exploration, the realm of inner
space.
I would like describe some of the experiences I have
encountered in over ten years of working with L/Ss in my
practice of hypnotherapy, counseling, consulting, and sport
psychology. I will review the theory of how each type of
session works and possible applications.
RELAX SESSIONS
Generally these programs quickly progress beyond beta,
then remain in alpha and sometimes theta to lower activation
and provide relief from stress.
Stress management and high performance: L/Ss have
perhaps received most credit for their ability to reduce
stress and match the activation state to the task at hand.
When executives are too high-strung to attempt any kind of
meditation, too busy to learn self-hypnosis or yoga, and too
exhausted to exercise, they place themselves at medical
risk, susceptible to burnout. Overstressed executives may
cause mismanagement and, as centers of corporate influence,
contaminate the work environment with their dysfunctional
thinking and demanding behavior. Related disturbances in
marital and family relations can further compound this
systemic breakdown. In such cases, it is often easier to
alleviate the immediate symptom by passively responding to
the predictable rhythms of a L/S. Once engaged in this
relief, they are more likely to examine the cognitive styles
and communication patterns that underlie their condition.
With therapeutic input they can use L/S-induced mind-states
to reprogram attitudes to be more in harmony with team
functioning.
My sport psychology clients can learn to set realistic
goals, manage their energy and effort, coordinate team
energy with maximum efficiency and focus, and perform with
flexibility and resistance to distraction or discouragement.
In the past four years more than 80 executives and a similar
number of athletes and coaches have been very satisfied with
their enhanced ability to perform in stressful competitive
environments using L/S-enhanced mind state management and
imagery training.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders: In chronic stress
situations or post traumatic stress disorders, a person’s
sleep patterns are often quite disturbed. This further
compounds the stress so the person becomes even more
vulnerable to confusion, attention lapses, anxiety, mood
swings, and depression. In such cases, training with L/Ss
has promoted awareness of the consciousness continuum and
been used to induce lucid dreams and control nightmares.
They have been very useful in promoting near sleep states in
which goals of restful sleep and pleasant dreams can be
incubated. Such theta and delta states are ideal for
treating sleep onset insomnia. Audio tapes used in
conjunction with L/Ss can extend the length and depth of the
sleep. It is important that the therapist is sensitive to
the causes of stress in the client’s life, to help manage
the gradient of expectation so that the client is not
overwhelmed with performance anxiety in this attempt to
sleep. Using this combination of L/Ss, tapes, and
counseling, I have successfully treated over 150 such cases
in the last 10 years.
The theory of how Relax sessions operate
While thousands of people have used L/Ss to control
stress, it is possible to use these devices and not become
relaxed. For one thing, we all differ in our baseline
activation rates, i.e., how physiologically agitated or
relaxed we are to begin with. One person might normally be
more relaxed than another who started extremely "wired" and
used a L/S to slow down and unwind. Some people, although
they know a L/S session would be helpful, are too far-gone
by the end of a stressful day to use a mind machine. In this
case, and with virtually all relaxation situations, it is
helpful to have the benefit of an audiotaped induction. This
can accelerate the rate of tension release and the learning
of a deep relaxation response.
Typically, a relaxation session begins in the beta zone
(30-14 Hz) to match the frazzled state of the user’s mind at
the point man and machine begin their interplay. Within
varying periods of time, but usually within the first ten
minutes, the pulsation rate has drops into the alpha zone
(13-9 Hz). An associated audiotape might play soft wave-like
music, focus on relaxing muscles, or invoke imagery that
recalls pleasant scenes. There are often perhaps
affirmations for mastery of the relaxation response. If time
or inclination permit, the session may stay longer in alpha
to allow for further relaxation or go into the theta zone
(8-4 Hz). Typically, the sessions are about 20 minutes long
because users rarely have more time available in their lives
to train in stress release. Some stress management programs
return the user to a high alpha or low beta state (12-14 Hz)
before finishing, to provide a period of readjustment to the
active pace of the outside world. Sessions devoted to sleep
induction tend to ramp progressively down to theta and even
go as far as ending in the delta zone (3-1 Hz).
In addition to stress management, there are several other
wellness applications that require activation control to
move into the second main area of mind state management. In
these applications, mostly in the theta sessions group, when
the mind state is prepared with slower states of deep
relaxation, the curtains of the unconscious can be drawn
back. This state can enable the productive review and
processing of old fears, old resentments, and old grief
events, allowing for new patterns for healing that can be
implanted as guides for further recovery and personal
development.
EXPLORE SESSIONS
These are open-ended mind expansion and exploration
sessions designed to access altered states of consciousness.
C consciousness training using neurotechnology is a
thrilling and wondrous world of images, metaphors, symbols,
stories, spirituality, and oneness with the universe. There
are narratives of a vast future and a resourceful past in
spirits that transcend time, space, mortality, and the
limits of boundaries. Conversations and shared experiences
with fellow travelers on this journey make most of life pale
by comparison. Obviously, such experiences of higher
creativity, lucid dreaming, and mind travel, border on the
mystical and spiritual. No wonder they are so interesting!
The theory of how Explore sessions work
An excellent vehicle for our exploration is the Voyager
XL. Like the pioneering space probe of the same name, this
vehicle can take you beyond the gravitational pull of
ordinary consciousness, past the planetary markers of
conventional thought, and into the vast universe of inner
space. Imagine sweeping aside the curtains of beta-analytic
mind states, moving beyond the veils of alpha-directed
daydreams, and gaining access to the unconscious through the
portals of theta and delta consciousness. Unconsciously
de-rived memories, images, messages, and feelings of
transpersonal connectedness can act as icons for our mental
and spiritual development, and perhaps even our evolution as
a species. We are likely on the threshold of
superconsciousness, developing new and more
ecologically-balanced paradigms of meaning and purpose.
If the words in the preceding paragraph seem too abstract
or overly optimistic, please remember that it is one of the
few areas in which, as a scientist, I allow myself to
extrapolate beyond the data of the empirical world in which
I am grounded. Nevertheless, this is an opportunity to share
a mission statement of evolved consciousness as my ultimate
dream for the future of neurotechnology, and one of the
reasons I am so passionately involved in this field. From
the comments of other explorers and designers in this field,
it seems that we are indeed aligned in this mission.
LEARN SESSIONS
This group of sessions allows for superlearning of
detailed knowledge, general pattern learning, developing
personal creativity, subliminal learning, enhancing imagery
in learning and lucid dreaming. The focus is not recovery of
health or remediation of problem patterns. Instead, it is
the attainment of mind state management skills that enhance
functioning, especially in the field of learning and
creativity.
Creativity and lucid dreaming: This is my favorite
area of practice: working with individuals and groups to
increase access to the rich storehouse of the unconscious
through near sleep states and lucid dreaming. L/Ss assist in
the recognition of subtle shifts in the consciousness
continuum allowing the user to glide through the gradient
into theta reverie and its images. These images can become
personal icons or symbols of the unconscious, communicating
a message or creative solution to a problem that was
incubated before the L/S session. I have developed a
commercial tape and booklet to accompany a L/S session for
creativity training, as well as another for lucidity
training. Although I have done several workshops and
presentations at international conferences, this part of my
practice is not fully developed. Nevertheless, the field
looks promising.
The theory of how Learn sessions work
Both Hutchison (1986, 1993) and Budzynski (1992), among
others, have recounted empirical studies showing the
beneficial effects of various mind entrainment devices and
protocols in enhancing learning.
The mind needs to prepare for learning by being clear of
distraction. L/Ss operate in a manner similar to sensory
deprivation tanks by blocking out external stimulation.
While tanks block by subtracting or lessening stimulation,
L/Ss accomplish the same end by masking external sounds and
vision with the repetitive stimulation that provides no
meaningful information. Learning occurs best when the mind
is open, receptive and curiously involved with the material,
enriching it through associations and connections involving
the whole brain. The mind also needs to be focused on the
task at hand, understanding and learning the material being
studied. It is noteworthy for those with Attention Deficit
Disorder, there seems to be a paradoxical effect. More
intense stimulation in the high alpha and beta zones appears
to satisfy a natural stimulation deficit in these
brainwaves, and thus allows for a greater ability to sustain
focus and concentration on a task or topic.
There appear to be optimal mind states for different
types of tasks. The optimal mind state for metaphorical,
literary, analogical or spatial learning is likely the alpha
state; for intensely logical or computational problems, the
beta state. For learning material that is quite foreign to
the person’s previous experience, or material reflecting
points of view that differ widely from the person’s basic
beliefs, the theta state is recommended.
Right after the learning session, the mind needs a period
of several minutes to one hour to allow the previous
learning to set or gel in long-term memory. This process
requires protein synthesis in the brain. L/S-induced
relaxation allows the central processing unit of our
computing mind to be relieved of new input. Following this
computer analogy, it stores data from its existing "random
access memory", which is highly volatile, onto hard disk
memory (protein cells) for long term memory and
cross-referencing synthesis. Existing research indicates
that if this phase is enhanced properly, the memory improves
in volume, detail, richness, complexity, and breadth of
application. It is even better a day later than on the day
the material was studied. This is the well-known
superlearning effect for which light and sound devices
became famous.
Beyond superlearning, L/Ss promote learning by assisting
in the breaking of rigid thinking and cognitive sets. Fluid
mind state management enhances set-breaking and cognitive
flexibility so important in the paradigm shifts that are the
essential ingredient of creative thinking. Furthermore, L/Ss
are highly effective instruments to assist in the incubation
of theta reverie states and dreams, the source of creative
images. Even more exciting is their untapped potential for
incubating the lucid dream.
CHANGE SESSIONS
These repatterning sessions help people make positive
changes in their lives by overcoming obstacles posed by
fear, anger, and limiting beliefs. Growth and transformation
are possible, often with the use of guided imagery to access
abilities and raise self-esteem.
Phobias, Anxiety and Panic Disorders: The
prototypical use of mind state management for change is the
situation in which a person, thwarted by their fear, needs
to remain composed and effective. In over 20 cases in my
practice in the last few years, an accelerated form of
desensitization using light and sound devices has been
effective in rapidly (one to six sessions) correcting
monophobias and anxiety disorders (five to 15 sessions).
Anger control and conflict resolution: In this area
mind state management offers many more skills than the
control of activation levels. Nevertheless, there is a need
to be able to turn down arousal and focus on key cognitive
messages when anger is invoked. Often when anger is fully
sparked, rational conduct and clear thinking "fly out the
window", as the person is consumed with affect. If, however,
you are able to access a message for an alternate behavior
that you have previously linked to these states (anchoring),
then you can regain control, exercising alternative
behaviors that are assertive, but not destructive. It is
also very effective to have a close friend or family member
participate in the sessions to help resolve some of the
systemic loops of reciprocal tension that contribute to
anger disorders. In guided imagery, activation control is
linked with desensitization of scenes in which the person is
perceiving the frustration of a blocked need or a threatened
loss of relationship, status, or identity. Whereas in the
past I have treated such cases with systematic
desensitization and cognitive behavior therapy, I can now
accelerate the process by using L/Ss. I have observed that
my clients have a reassuring sense of mastery over their
emotions, and thus feel less vulnerable and defensive. This
allows for greater self-acceptance, and therefore better
listening and assertive problem-solving skills to emerge in
conflict situations.
Psychophysiological disorders: I have successfully
treated disorders such as ulcers, skin conditions, migraine
headaches, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and several
immune-deficient conditions with fairly holistic methods
including extensive use of L/S-assisted imagery sessions.
The results for headaches, bruxism, and temporal mandibular
joint pain have been very encouraging and have been
replicated by other clinicians and researchers in dental and
chronic pain settings (Boersma, 1987. Many clients have
noticed a definite feeling of well-being and endorphin-like
suppression of pain and remission of symptoms. These
glimpses of well-being became more and more prominent in
their lives until they were able to function with total
absence of their disorder, or in the case of fibromyalgia, a
substantial lessening of symptoms. This seems like a
promising area for further investigation, such as has since
been done by researchers with Comptronic Devices (Siever et
al. 1999)
Substance abuse and eating disorders: In the past I
would use hypnosis to assist clients in dealing with
self-esteem issues: distorted body image, overcoming fear of
fatness, reducing panic and anxiety states that lead to
episodes of drinking, drug abuse, or bulimia. Now I
typically continue with these practices and skills, but with
the power assist of L/Ss. Results are more predictable and
instantly gratifying. The issue of "hypnotizability" is
effectively bypassed, as "guided imagery training" is fully
effective in modifying distorted images and perceptions that
were formerly quite resistant to standard cognitive therapy.
The loss of control and extreme irritability and unease
that characterize the states that precede episodes of drug
abuse are typically amenable to mind state management.
Incidentally, it is also likely that alcoholics have a
natural deficit or underproduction of alpha waves when
sober, with higher production of alpha after the ingestion
of alcohol (Wise, 1992). The mellow feelings that accompany
frequent usage of L/Ss extend throughout the days to get
over "bad periods" in the client’s life. I have successfully
treated over 60 cases in this manner, and have presented
such cases in professional conferences. Recently, I have
also found such treatment to be startlingly successful with
five cases of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), although the
numbers are too small to make generalizations. However,
using the Peniston Protocol (which involves 36-60 sessions
of daily training to show results) there has been good
research (Budzynski, 1992) to show that such mind state
training was quite effective with an alcoholic population in
terms of significant relapse prevention in 2-year follow-up.
Self-Esteem, autonomy, confidence, and identity:
Probably one of the best areas of application for
LS-assisted therapy is instilling confidence and overcoming
social anxiety and self-consciousness in personal
presentation. Desensitization of performance anxiety and
phobias can proceed fairly rapidly with a specific technique
I have developed that uses L/S training to promote deep
relaxation prior to scene exposure. There are certainly more
than 50 cases where this has been helpful. Of course, the
development of identity and autonomy in young adults often
involves redefining relationships with family and loved
ones, which naturally leads into the next area of
application.
Marital and Family Disturbances: Putting family
members on the same brief L/S program before a family
therapy session allows them to "get on the same wavelength".
This seems to help in conflict resolution and the creation
of harmony, but it is difficult to assess whether similar
results would be obtained without the use of the device. In
my recent work, at least five couples and ten parent-child
dyads enhanced their ability to resolve their conflicts
though the use of SLED training. In one couple and in one
parent-child dyad the process was unhelpful, as one of the
participants did not want to continue working with the
machines. This problem required a shift back to more
standard forms of family therapy.
The theory of how Change sessions operate
The first principle of how Change sessions work is
desensitization, a simple behavior therapy. People typically
overcome a negative affect by allowing it to exhaust itself,
or by substituting it with more effective coping methods
that deal with the negative situation more effectively. It
involves distancing yourself in some way from the feared
situation or object, and then changing one element of it
(e.g., your proximity to it, the number of people involved,
the setting, or the task), then deal with that element in a
relaxed and confident way. For example, in a L/S-induced,
relaxed alpha state you can visualize dealing with that
element by itself, then do the same for other elements,
until you can re-assemble the elements so that the situation
is no longer a problem. This process is first rehearsed in
imagery, then practiced with coaching and support in real
life until the problem situation is mastered.
L/Ss are useful in inducing the alpha states required for
this work, and are probably assisted by the generation of
endorphins, which counteract physical pain and lessen
emotional threat, fostering a sense of well-being and
confidence.
Thus the second crucial element of the operation of mind
states is learning how to access dependably and confidently
this endorphin state within the stimulus situation that
caused the original pain or fear. Being able to invoke a
preferred mind state at will is crucial for overcoming
compulsions and various forms of substance abuse in which a
ritual (the ingestion of a substance) is used to squelch or
suppress negative effect. Mind state management, with its
access to mind states, provides the skills that allow the
power of the ritual to be broken, the compulsion to be
weakened and dissolved.
A third way in which Change sessions work is by changing
deeply held personal beliefs and convictions, many of which
are the sources of the problem. The strong emotions attached
to these beliefs can also be a factor that maintains the
structure of the problem. Often these structures are heavily
protected by deep unconscious embedding, and the over-alert
defenses of the rational, analytic mind.
Several years ago, I used cognitive therapy prior to
using hypnosis. I would attempt to uncover beliefs and basic
assumptions about the self, life in general, and hopes for
the future, inviting my client to counter these assumptions
with evidence from research or their own personal
experiences and experiments. When this was successful,
hypnosis could then be used to strengthen the new positive
learnings as templates for the future. It was easy for my
client to give full consent to a hypnotic process when it
amplified new positive experiences. Hypnosis could be
applied with full consent because I was not introducing or
imposing ideas that were foreign to, or resisted by, my
client.
On the other hand, it was difficult to continue to
wrestle with client notions that were patently absurd. The
client would agree that such dysfunctional thoughts or
feelings were irrational (e.g., vomiting food after you eat
will keep you thin, you must be thin to be respected and
attractive, you must be attractive or life won’t be worth
living). However, on a deep emotional level these basic
ideas seemed to be overwhelming and almost impossible to
dislodge. I used a form of cognitive therapy technique that
suggests that such thoughts are merely precognitive, still
based on primitive notions that need to be reappraised.
Eventually, with some difficulty, the beliefs were able to
be reworked.
An easier way to look at dysfunctional thoughts is to
invoke the notion of state dependent learning. Such thoughts
were likely implanted in an almost hypnotic induction,
repeatedly and deeply, when the child or younger adult was
pre-logical in development and likely transfixed by trauma
or other strong emotional events (Ritterman, 1983). As such,
these schema were deeply embedded and layered over with
other events, imprinted like a tattoo. Skin can grow over
it, but it will retain the original pattern of the
underlying dye. To undo the pattern, you must get under your
skin to drain out the contaminating pigments, and then let
new skin heal and restore the natural pattern that preceded
the staining. It makes complete sense then to access these
thoughts and feelings in the mind state in which the
template is embedded. In other words, have the client go
into a deep theta mind state, then use the powers of imagery
and metaphor, the language of the unconscious, to reprogram
these notions. Of course, it is necessary to secure your
client’s permission and assistance to make these changes,
but usually this is easy to obtain. Your client knows these
ideas need changing: that is why they came to see you in the
first place. They just want an effective ritual or process
to take these compelling ideas away, and replace them with
thoughts, ideas, and images that allow many more options for
freedom and selection.
Often, reprogramming early dysfunctional learning
involves going back to the original context of learning by
means of an "affect bridge." The counsellor will ask the
client, "When was the earliest time you can remember feeling
that way?" The client will time-regress to an earlier life
stage and re-experience the original learning, but this time
with the benefit of a fully functioning adult mind, capable
of handling or understanding the original context of
learning. Affirmations based on these new understandings are
repeated and inserted in this same realm of consciousness,
with anchors to invoke this new learning in the problem
situations. The result of such an anchor is that, from now
on, whenever the original thought, feeling or behavior
pattern is re-awakened, the therapeutic reformulation
pattern is also invoked, challenging and ultimately
replacing its predecessor.
Hypnotherapy often works in this manner. The most graphic
examples are cases of undoing post-traumatic stress
disorders after catastrophes (hurricanes, earthquakes), or
emotional or physical trauma (e.g. sexual abuse, ritual
abuse, physical torture or threats). Old learnings are
dusted off, reexamined, and reworked. Newer learnings that
are more affirming, flexible, and self-empowering are
substituted. Eventually, the new learnings become so helpful
and workable that the old maladaptive patterns just wither
away; they no longer fit in that person’s new mind ecology.
With the advent of neurotechnology, the same process can
operate even more efficiently and dependably. Basically, the
therapist or consultant can use mind ma-chines to assist the
client in obtaining a theta mind state. In this state of
"twilight consciousness", near-sleep states, the therapist
or therapeutic program can insert in that mind state new
images and affirmations to replace the old ones (Budzynski,
1992). In many instances it is not even necessary to access
the original learnings in order to replace them. Although
psychoanalytic therapists might prefer to see the reworking
of the original trauma as an essential element for recovery,
more behaviorally oriented therapists often bypass that step
altogether, with equally good, if not better, results. Thus,
mere repetition and focusing of corrective images is often
all that is required for complete recovery from a number of
conditions involving emotional disturbance and physical
symptoms.
Hypnosis and self-hypnosis (virtually the same process)
tapes can now be accompanied by the power of light and sound
mindstate entrainment for far more consistent results. The
reason for such optimism and enthusiasm for this combined
process is that the consistency of a trance-like theta state
can be delivered more consistently with L/Ss than it can by
audiotape alone. (At least, this is a widely replicated
clinical phenomenon, even if highly controlled empirical
research is still scant in this new field). This means that
when accompanied by the appropriate audio and visual
stimulation patterns, the audiotaped music, rhythms, words
and evoked images are more likely to have a deep
reprogramming effect for more of the training sessions than
the tapes alone would provide.
Imagery practice is the fourth element in the operation
of Change sessions. Imagery is necessary for the creation
and transformation of a person’s self-image, and self
statements are a vital part of a person’s self-appraisal of
identity and worth. It follows that both imagery and
self-affirmation are powerful tools for the establishing and
maintaining of enhanced self-esteem.
ENERGIZE SESSIONS
These sessions include revitalizing, re-energizing, and
sport psychology applications. They are designed to enhance
performance and promote wellness. They promote healing and
recovery from injury, the building of natural immunity
systems, and the promotion of brain stimulation and growth.
Performance enhancement: An abundance of literature,
notably in the field of sport psychology, attests to the
fact that rehearsal in imagery dramatically affects future
performance. In many sport psychology applications, L/Ss can
be used to promote the control of activation level, a
crucial skill in sport performance. Another application is
imagery training in skill acquisition and in being able to
perform in a highly competitive environment without being
distracted. The athlete uses L/Sed-induced states of focus,
then learns how to anchor these states with self-generated
cues, rehearsing, then re-instating the ideal performance
state in competition. In working with national teams,
professional athletes, and Olympians, it has been gratifying
to see the acceleration of positive results, especially in
confidence building and focus. Of course, one can
extrapolate easily from sport performance situations to
sales, management, and other areas of effective functioning.
There have been effective results with over 75 athletes and
executives in my practice.
The theory of how Energize sessions work
Both accurate skill acquisition in training and
consistency of performance in competitive environments
require access of the state of flow. Beyond the joy of
performance and mastery, in order to sustain optimal mental
capacities, repetitive and frequent stimulation of the brain
is necessary. Therefore, mental exercises and puzzles,
especially those involving creativity and set-breaking, are
valuable in honing these mind skills. These can operate even
more optimally with the kinds of stimulation featured in
L/Ss. Stimulation of the brain results in the regeneration
in growth and complexity in brain tissue and functioning.
The best popular descriptions of how the research
literature supports these notions of brain growth and
functioning are covered in the review writings of Budzynski
(1992), Hutchison (1985, 1992, 1993), and the hypnotist
psychobiologist and visionary Ernest Rossi (1986). It is
terribly exciting that there is evidence to suggest that the
brain, through stimulation, can regenerate itself and its
capabilities. Another interest of our gradually graying
population is the energy and revitalization that is the
result of mental and physical stimulation. Also, the higher
beta pulsations that typify energizing programs may lend
increased access to transpersonal consciousness, although at
this point such notions are not substantiated by research.
Another reason for interest in these applications is the
pure fun of the variations in the light and sound patterns.
As in the areas of lucid dreaming, entertainment can be fun
and good for your health and your happiness.
Pathways of learning
A recommended path to begin your exploration would be to
start with the sessions Mind State Management, (LEARN A-2)
or Explore I (EXPLORE A-2). See and hear the stimulation
patterns of beta, alpha, theta, and delta for yourself. Next
go through the guide and figure out what you want to
accomplish first with your Voyager XL. Sample one or two of
the programs and focus on the specific sessions that seem
best for your particular needs. Use those programs and, if
possible, their related tapes, in accordance with the
author’s instructions. After perhaps a week or two of
diligent practice, maybe take a pleasant break and sample
one of the sessions, and then return to your main training
objective.
Dr. Thomas Budzynski suggests (and I agree) that, for the
sake of continuity, you use the Voyager on a daily basis for
at least two consecutive months in order to reach your
desired outcome. Like anything worthwhile in life, goals in
mind state management need consistency of practice to be
achieved and then enjoyed fully. However, your enthusiasm at
that point should still be tempered with the experience of
other people who may not have your level of openness and
success with this new technology.
I'll close this essay with a few words about my practice
over the last four years and some thoughts on SLED
technology. My background in hypnosis, cognitive behavior
therapy, and systemic and communication theory has extended
to the new neurotechnologies. Particularly promising are the
areas of brainwave biofeedback (fantastic, but expensive)
and the more readily available L/Ss. I have left the
security of traditional psychotherapy to pioneer in using
various forms of neurotechnology, both personally and
professionally. In virtually all cases L/Ss have increased
the efficiency and effectiveness of therapy for a range of
clinical problems.
However, L/Ss are not for everyone. Those who have a
discomfort with technology, who do not like the concept of
machines interacting with their minds, or have a fear of
unorthodoxy, may still be unsuited to this technology until
it becomes more of a mainstream phenomenon of the
information age. People who have strong issues with control
and independence may not wish to have anything "messing with
their minds." Another pattern of reluctance may arise in
people who are easily overwhelmed with stimulation or who
distrust and are intimidated by electronic equipment; they
may need delicate handling to convince them to go beyond
their initial reservations about the technology. Instead, I
usually respect their wishes and rely on other more
traditional forms of therapy or consultation.
Sound and Light Entrainment Devices, such as those high
quality instruments produced by Synetic Systems and Theta
Technologies, are very useful, especially in stress-related
disorders and enhanced contexts for new learnings and
consciousness expansion. I am confident that, with
experience and training, your results will replicate my
findings for the betterment of our clients and our world.
Bibliography
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of
Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row.
Budzynski, T. H. (1991). The Science of Light and Sound.
Fall City, WA: ThetaTech Publications.
Hutchison, M. (1986). Megabrain: New Tools and Techniques
for Brain Growth and Mind Expansion. New York: Ballantine
Books.
Hutchison, M. (1990). A Short History of Light/Sound
Technology. Megabrain Report. 1. Summary available from
Megabrain Report, or ThetaTech Publications, Fall City WA.
Hutchison, M. (1992). Beyond Entertainment: How to Use
Mind Machines for Peak Performance and Self-Transformation.
Megabrain Report. 1. pp. 2-28.
Hutchison, M. (1993). Megabrain Power: How to Use Mind
Machines and Smart Drugs to Change Your Life. New York:
Hyperion Press. (Available Winter 1993.)
Hutchison, M. (1984). The Book of Floating. New York:
Morrow/Quill. Ritterman, M. (1983). Using Hypnosis in Family
Therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Walter, W. G. (1957). The Living Brain. London: Gerald
Duckworth & Co. Ltd.
Wise A. 1992). Brainwave Patterns and the Mind Mirror.
First Annual Neurotechnology Forum. Synetic Systems, Seattle
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