by Coach Cary Bayer

A marketing coach for alternative therapists, my work is a lot like these healers who I work with in that we both relieve headaches, stress, and strain. Perhaps because my name is Bayer--the name of a pain reliever that works wonders--some coaching clients sometimes wish that my coaching would solve all their business problems. Coaching plus a therapist's efforts, can. But coaching alone isn't a wonder drug that you pop into your mouth and you suddenly have more clients than you can handle. Don't get me wrong...usually, when a healer makes attitudinal shifts that coaching brings about, business suddenly picks up. But ongoing success usually requires combining attitudinal shifts with marketing changes. As the saying goes, "Only a new seed yields a new crop."

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Full title: Oxytocin impedes the effect of the word blindness post-hypnotic suggestion on Stroop task performance.

The ability to enhance sensitivity to relevant (post)hypnotic suggestions has implications for creating clinically informed analogues of psychological and neuropsychological conditions and for the use of hypnotic interventions in psychological and medical conditions. The aim of this study was to test the effect of oxytocin inhalation on a post-hypnotic suggestion that previously has been shown to improve the selectivity of attention in the Stroop task. In a double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects study, medium hypnotizable individuals performed the Stroop task under normal conditions and when they had been given a post-hypnotic suggestion that they would perceive words as meaningless symbols. In line with previous research, Stroop interference was substantially reduced by the suggestion in the placebo condition. However, contrary to expectations, oxytocin impeded the effect of the word blindness suggestion on performance. The results are explained in terms of the requirement for the re-implementation of the word blindness suggestion on a trial-by-trial basis and the need to sustain activation of the suggestion between trials. The findings contrast with a recent study showing a beneficial effect of oxytocin on sensitivity to (post)hypnotic suggestions but are consistent with findings showing a detrimental effect of oxytocin on memory processes.

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2013 May 29. [Epub ahead of print] Parris BA, Dienes Z, Bate S, Gothard S. Department of Psychology, School of Design, Engineering, and Computing, University of Bournemouth, Poole House, Talbot Campus, Poole BH12 5BB, UK. bparris@bournemouth.ac.uk.

This article details a self-hypnosis technique designed to teach patients how to manage acute or chronic pain through directed focus. The focused suggestion with somatic anchoring technique has been used with various types of pain, including somatic pain (arthritis, post-injury pain from bone breaks, or muscle tears), visceral pain (related to irritable bowel disease), and neuropathic pain (related to multiple sclerosis). This technique combines cognitive restructuring and mindfulness meditation with indirect and direct suggestions during hypnosis. The case examples demonstrate how the focused suggestion with somatic anchoring technique is used with both acute and chronic pain conditions when use of long-term medication has been relatively ineffective.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2013 Apr;55(4):325-42. Donatone B. New York University, Counseling & Wellness Services, 726 Broadway, Suite 471, New York, NY 10003, USA. brooke.donatone@nyu.edu

Full title: A systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue.

Fatigue, experienced by patients during and following cancer treatment, is a significant clinical problem. It is a prevalent and distressing symptom yet pharmacological interventions are used little and confer limited benefit for patients. However, many cancer patients use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and some evidence suggests it may relieve fatigue. A systematic review was conducted to appraise the effectiveness of CAM interventions in ameliorating cancer-related fatigue. Systematic searches of biomedical, nursing, and specialist CAM databases were conducted, including Medline, Embase, and AMED. Included papers described interventions classified as CAM by the National Centre of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and evaluated through randomized controlled trial (RCT) or quasi-experimental design. Twenty studies were eligible for the review, of which 15 were RCTs. Forms of CAM interventions examined included acupuncture, massage, yoga, and relaxation training. The review identified some limited evidence suggesting hypnosis and ginseng may prevent rises in cancer-related fatigue in people undergoing treatment for cancer and acupuncture and that biofield healing may reduce cancer-related fatigue following cancer treatments. Evidence to date suggests that multivitamins are ineffective at reducing cancer-related fatigue. However, trials incorporated within the review varied greatly in quality; most were methodologically weak and at high risk of bias. Consequently, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude with certainty the effectiveness or otherwise of CAM in reducing cancer-related fatigue. The design and methods employed in future trials of CAM should be more rigorous; increasing the strength of evidence should be a priority. KEYWORDS:

Integr Cancer Ther. 2013 Jul;12(4):276-90. doi: 10.1177/1534735413485816. Finnegan-John J, Molassiotis A, Richardson A, Ream E. Kings College London, London, UK.

Because no studies have examined learning in hypnosis in an academic setting, the current study tested whether learning in hypnosis impacts test performance. Participants (N = 43) were randomly assigned into a hypnosis or a control group. Participants listened to an academic lecture, answered questions about their hypnotic depth, and completed a quiz based on the lecture. The data was analyzed using multilevel modeling predicting test performance from group placement. Learning in the hypnosis predicted significantly worse performance compared to the control group. This relationship was significantly mediated by attention, which had a positive relationship to test performance. However, the altered state of awareness produced by the hypnosis condition was associated with a more significant decrease in test performance.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2013 Apr;55(4):360-9. Jacobson NC, Kramer SL, Tharp AG, Harmon KA, Cejas GP, Costa SC. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. ncj2@psu.edu

Kevin Hogan has become the leading resource for analyzing key White House figures. Hogan was consulted on the body language of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates during the 2004 elections. Hogan has taught Persuasion and Influence at the University of St. Thomas Management Center and is a frequent media guest. In 2004 he spoke in Sydney, Australia about what motivates employees from all around the globe. In 2005 he trained some of the world's finest investment bankers in Bologna, Italy and was an invited guest at Maserati International Headquarters. He was recently featured in a half dozen magazines (including wProst)in Poland after teaching persuasion and influence skills to that country's 350 leading sales managers.

His keynotes, seminars and workshops help companies sell, market and communicate more effectively. His cutting edge research into the mind and keen understanding of consumer behavior create a unique distillation of information never before released to the public. Each customized program he leads is fit specifically to the needs of the group or organization. Kevin will give your people new and easy to implement ideas to achieve excellence.

For more information visit www.kevinhogan.com

by Tim Brunson PhD

Occasionally I'll encounter 40-ish or older male patients who are encountering learning, memory, and motivation problems. During their intake and subsequent discussions I often detect similar patterns. They are individuals who are successful in their professional lives. Yet, they tend to be over controlling workaholics who equate effort with results. I've even heard more than one of them using the phrase "no pain, no gain." Indeed, too often they equate personal sacrifice with results. This leads to an unbalanced life which will eventually affect their effectiveness. In short, trying too hard will lead to ineffectiveness, a loss of control of their temper, and health problems. To merely treat the presenting memory and motivation problem blindly with hypnosis or allopathic remedies would be unfruitful and potentially harmfully.

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Dr. Michael R. Hathaway was an educator for 30 years and has been practicing hypnosis since the early 1980s. He has a Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy granted by the State of California, is Board Certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists and is an instructor of their certification course. He is a Board Certified Past Life Regression Therapist through the International Board of Regression Therapists, and has a Music Education degree from the Boston Conservatory of Music.

He has a private practice in Madison, New Hampshire at the White Mountain Hypnosis Center, located on 160 acres, which is also the home of the White Mountain Center for Creative development, a non-profit corporation found in 1997. In addition, he is a lecturer, storyteller, author, does hypnosis stage shows and teaches creative writing.

For more information, visit www.whitemountainhypnosiscenter.com

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating rheumatic disorder characterized mainly by the presence of continual and widespread musculoskeletal pain, in addition to other disturbing symptoms. There is inconsistent evidence about the effectiveness of the treatments developed so far, making FM a chronic disease that is difficult to treat. The aim of this literature review was to analyze the empirical studies about psychological treatment of FM that have been published over the last twenty years. We conducted a literature search of studies published between 1990 and 2012 using Medline and PsycINFO in the Ovid and ProQuest platforms and hand searching. In total, 58 original studies were identified. The present review presents a comprehensive analysis of the main characteristics of these studies and a description of the interventions developed in order to improve FM symptoms. The most used intervention modality was group treatment with a cognitive-behavioral approach. We also found intensive and remote treatments as well as multimodal therapy, hypnosis, cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia, behavioral therapies, mind-body-based techniques, and biofeedback components. Finally, we discuss the clinical relevance of addressing the symptoms of patients with FM and its scientific validation.

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013 Jul;17(7):345. doi: 10.1007/s11916-013-0345-8. Lami MJ, Martínez MP, Sánchez AI. Department of Personality, Assessment, and Psychological Treatment. School of Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, mjlamih@correo.ugr.es.

by Joyce-Anne Locking

Although it's not the usual sort of thing you would pick up from a gardening book, this is what I have discovered. Daisies have been sorely under-rated and misunderstood for a great number of years. There are songs about roses, many songs about roses, but not nearly so many songs about daisies. One very popular song comes to mind, however. Still somewhat popular today, it has stood the test of time. That's the song that goes like this: " Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer true, I'm half crazy over the likes of you. It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage..." In this case, Daisy is the name of a girl, and the song is about a marriage proposal. Daisy, interestingly enough, is also the name of the girl in the book, The Great Gatsby. The Daisy, this time, is characterized as being somewhat frivolous and irresponsible. She looks sweet enough in the beginning, but then she shrugs off all of her true nature by the end of the story and simply walks away. See what I mean. Even girls by the name of Daisy seem to be given the role of portraying a weak or unsustaining nature.

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by Coach Cary Bayer

The extraordinary amount of time that you spent studying your healing art--probably somewhere in the range of about 500 to 750 hours if you studied massage, years if you're a counselor--prepared you expertly in the art of giving another person a professional session. I refer to this part of your knowledge as your healing arts practice. I use the word practice because you literally practiced it many times before you mastered it. When you were a small boy or girl, in elementary school, you practiced the multiplication table and, in time, you mastered it. Years later, as a teenager, you practiced the conjugation of verbs in Spanish or French and, in time, you mastered that, too. Still, years later, as an adult in your professional training, you practiced your modality and, in time, mastered that, as well. In fact, one of your assignments as your education unfolded was to practice on real human bodies and minds the techniques that you were taught in textbooks and in the classroom. And some lucky guinea pigs were glad that you did.

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