Hypnosis, relaxation, imagery, prayer, and faith in healing.

I consider myself to be very fortunate for I am a United Methodist Minister and certified hypnotherapist, who was a hospital chaplain and now Director of Clinical Hypnotherapy with over 25 years at Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital. I have been practicing hypnotherapy at the hospital for over 20 years and have had full support for the use of hypnotherapy in my pastoral ministry by both the Administration and Medical Staff of our hospital. I receive many consults from our doctors for stop smoking, weight control, stress management, pain management, preparation for childbirth and other problems. I combine the spiritual with the hypnotherapy when appropriate. I, of course, respect the client and would not use techniques that would not be appropriate for the client. I have been a member of IMDHA and its Board of Directors for many years and I look forward to serving as President of the IMDHA Board of Directors following the Awards Banquet at the IMDHA 2002 Convention.

Much has been written about the mind/body/spirit connection over the last 40 years, but most has focused on the mind/body with nothing or just a tip of the hat to the spiritual. Since I began hypnotherapy, I have called my hypnotherapy Human Trinity Hypnotherapy which happened to be the title of my website: www.durbinhypnosis.com. I believe that each individual is a trinity within himself/herself. I am a trinity, you are a trinity: body (physical), mind (psychological/emotional, and spirit (spiritual). These three aspects of our being are so different and yet so integrated that one part of the human trinity cannot be affected without having some effect on the other two.

I believe that to be the whole person that our creator meant for us to be, we must develop the spiritual side of our being as well as the emotional and physical. An airplane doesn't cease to be an airplane when it sits in the hanger or takes off along the runway, but its true nature becomes apparent only when it is airborne. Similarly, a person is a human being even when he or she is functioning only on the physical and psychological planes, but one shows his or her essential humanness when he rises to the spiritual dimension.

A man asked his three daughters how much they loved him. The oldest of them replied that she loved him more than all the gold and silver in the world. The father was noticeably pleased with her answer, threw his arms around her and thanked her. The second daughter responded, I love you more that the most valuable jewels in the world. The father was pleased with her response so threw his arms around her and thanked her. The third and youngest daughter said, I love you better than salt. The man was not especially elated with her remark and dismissed it lightly as an indication of her immaturity. Nevertheless, he put his arms around her and thanked her. His wife, their mother, overhearing the conversation, left salt out of her husband's next meal. As he ate, he was thus confronted with the deep meaning of his youngest daughter's remark. She was saying that he was the flavoring and spice of her life. Developing the spiritual aspect is to life what salt is to food. The spiritual dimension gives flavor and seasoning to life. When one is functioning on all levels (physical, emotional and spiritual), life is more productive and more healthy.

Looking at the body/mind/spirit connection in health, I share with you the following case history. (In the words of Judy Hamilton) In early April 1997, I was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in the left kidney. This took me totally by surprise as I had gone to the doctor for a totally different reason. During testing for the other problem, this tumor showed up. The doctor said that the only treatment for this was removal of the kidney. Surgery was scheduled for two weeks away. I was very distraught and despondent at this point as it came on so suddenly. I knew I needed a boost.

Being a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with a Bachelors in Hypnotherapy, I know that the mind is a powerful tool. I tried self-hypnosis, but wasn't very successful. At this time, I also called upon Chaplain Paul Durbin. He had previously worked with me to successfully stop smoking. I trust him implicitly. I got a referral from my doctor, who was a little apprehensive and said he had never given a referral for hypnosis before. Paul and I scheduled a session and he taped the session for me. He included suggestions for pre-op and suggestions for healing. He told me to listen to the tape for the week that I had before the surgery was to take place and then for a time afterward for healing.

I had surgery Thursday morning. By that evening I was awake and alert. The next morning I was sitting in a chair and by Friday afternoon I was walking the hall of the hospital. The surgeon was amazed at the progress, mobility and recuperation that was taking place. He even stopped Paul in the parking lot of the hospital and told him how amazed he was. The nurses said how great I was doing and one other doctor that stopped in said she thought I was a pre-op patient instead of a post-op patient until she saw the bandages.

The wound stayed dry and clean with no infection and no blood was administered to me during or after surgery. The pain medication that was allowed me was used minimally for a couple of days and it was discontinued. I was released from the hospital on the following Tuesday, five days later, which was sooner than expected and I continued to heal beautifully each day with little discomfort. The Pathologist's report revealed that all the cancer was contained within the kidney and no follow-up treatment was needed. I had a lot of people praying for me and I know God responded with the help of the doctor, Chaplain Paul G. Durbin, other friends and myself.

P.S. Judy wrote a letter to Mr. Fred Young, Jr., President and CEO of Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital, and my immediate supervisor, containing much of the information written above. She concluded the letter, I know that GOD and the Surgeon played a most important role in all of this. But, I also know that the mind is a powerful tool. I feel that you have an invaluable person in Chaplain Paul Durbin on your staff. I feel that the hypnosis sessions had a lot to do with the ease with which I pulled through all this. I just wanted to let you know that I think Paul Durbin is an asset to your hospital as Chaplain and Hypnotherapist.

Mr Young's answer, Thank you for your letter of May 2, 1997, I am glad to hear that you are progressing well. I too continue to be impressed with the wonderful work that Chaplain Durbin does in the area of hypnosis. Our medical community continues to partner with him on many occasions for these types of services and we continue to experience the things that you described in your letter. Thank you again for taking the time to write, and for making Methodist your hospital. Sincerely, Fred Young, President.

The suggestions I used with Judy before surgery were: At night, you relax and sleep soundly. You feel relaxed and comfortable in every way for your surgery ... Imagine your body limp and relaxed. The more relaxed you are the better you are prepared for surgery. You know you're being closely observed by skilled doctors and you can safely relax. The anesthesia is administered carefully and safely. The more relaxed you are, the less amount of anesthesia you need for the surgery and this is good for you ... The operation is performed skillfully. The body's protective system remains active and can keep the wound dry, clean, free of infection, minimize bleeding, reduce discomfort and promote healing. By letting your body flow along with the surgery, you are working in cooperation with the surgeon.

Now focus on the way your body is to behave after surgery. When you awaken after surgery, you awaken peacefully as though awakening from a long, peaceful, healthy restoring sleep. When you come out of the anesthesia, focus on alerting your defense system to promote healing. Your natural body processes are keeping the wound dry, clean, free of infection, minimizing bleeding and reducing discomfort.

You have prompt and regular bowel movements and prompt and regular urination. You first awaken in the Recovery Room. Concentrate on a rapid return to normal functioning, to a stable and comfortable blood pressure. Imagine getting back to a healthy, happy lifestyle as your body heals ... You feel yourself getting hungry, feeling thirsty, going to the toilet. Think about getting back to a healthy lifestyle as your body heals.

Thus far you've thought about the way your body is to behave during your stay in the hospital. Now I want you to think about the most important behavior. I want you to imagine the things you do, without discomfort or worry, once you've recovered. I want you to imagine yourself doing the things you're eager to do. That's the reason you've come for surgery. You 'ye come to repair a part of your body that is troubling you so you can do the things you want to do, without fear and concern.

Before you come out of trance, let's take the time to review your exercise. The first step focuses on the way your body is to behave during surgery; the second, on the way your body is to behave after surgery. Before surgery, you do both steps. After surgery, you do only the second step.

As you rest peacefully and calmly, you know God constantly watches over you and you are able to place your trust in His infinite goodness. Now, you are ready to sleep; you sleep soundly and sleep well and wake up sound in body, sound in mind, sound in spirit, and sound in health. You progressively improve, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Day by day in every way, you are getting better and better, healthier and healthier, stronger and stronger.

Throughout these sessions the faith factor was discussed as seen in the scripts that I used with Judy. We had prayer at each of our sessions. A pain management script used follows: THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS: I suggested that the Judy visualize Jesus standing beside her bed. Jesus places His hand on the painful area. I begin, You feel the hand of Jesus on the area of discomfort. You feel that His touch is very warm and the warmth is drawing out the discomfort. Slowly but surely, the discomfort is being reduced, slowly the discomfort is being pulled from your body by the healing warmth of Jesus' hand. His touch is reducing the discomfort and bringing healing to the area. I repeat this thought in various ways and then suggest that the physical presence of Jesus is becoming a spirit and is slowly fading from view, but she continues to feel Jesus and His presence with her.

Relaxation, imagery, hypnosis and prayer tend to decrease fear and bring about an attitudinal change. Hypnosis can effect physical changes, enhancing the person's own immune system, decreasing tension and stress, and providing the patient with hopeful expectation. These methods along with traditional medical treatment and faith in the God who cares can help in healing. Even for those illnesses and injuries which cannot be healed, these methods bring about an improved quality of life.

Hi Anne,

The hypnotherapy is amazing. I am using it whenever possible, and I am producing nearly unimaginable results! Thanks for the great exposure and teaching. I am excited to share some of my experiences thus far. Charlene is ready to deliver, from a hypnoanesthesia perspective, and the due date is in mid-June. She will probably start your courses in the Fall, along with Dr. Alba Rodriguez from my lab. I am speaking a lot about your program and I suspect you will see some new students as a result.

Take care,

Bob

Robert A. Levine, PhD., Director Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) Research, and William T. Gossett Neurology Laboratories Henry Ford Health System [e-mail]

Paul Durbin, PhD, Diplomat of IMDHA, is a Methodist Minister recently retired from his position as Director of Pastoral Care and Clinical Hypnotherapy at Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital in New Orleans, staying on part time as Director of Clinical Hypnotherapy. Dr. Durbin has been honored with many awards in his lifetime and was inducted into the International Hypnosis Hall of Fame in 1992. He has authored a number of articles and books, including Kissing Frogs: Practical Uses of Hypnotherapy and has conducted numerous seminars throughout the United States. He is president pro-tern of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association[TM]. To order Dr. Durbin's book Kissing Frogs, go to page 15.