Inflammatory bowel disease is a debilitating intestinal condition manifesting as Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Our body's autoimmune disorder attacks the healthy gastrointestinal tissues, causing inflammation within the gut.
Clinical Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy for both IBD and IBS.
What to expect
1st session includes an interview to gather information about IBD/IBS – medical & personal history, goal setting, and answering questions.
We will cover the deep-breathing technique, leading the way to a guided, profoundly relaxed state incorporating the Vipassana foundation. The patient is a co-therapist in developing affirmations that support the patient's own goals.
Success Story
Steve, whose name was changed to protect privacy, has had ulcerative colitis since childhood. His worst fear happened in high school – an uncontrollable urge occurred while sitting in his friend's car. Steve's friends were understanding and showered him with all the support a teenager needed to get through an event. Said incident happened again as an adult joining an out-of-state family trip. Steve was left feeling so embarrassed – the whole trip was shot.
One can only imagine suffering from ulcerative colitis. Since the last family trip, Steve has never ventured further than an hour's drive, nor does he venture off the path to unknown routes or locations. He carries a change of clothes in the car, just in case.
After 3 sessions, Steve informed me that he was going to Asia with his sister.
Steve admits feeling anxious and nervous during the 14-hour flight from Las Vegas to destination. The 2 critical emotions that would immediately trigger the uncontrollable bowel movement.
Having arrived in Asia, Steve aimed to climb to the top of a 12,400-foot mountain. The trip began with a 1-hour subway ride to the base of the mountain, then a 2-hour bus ride halfway up, ending with having to trek the remaining 2 hours to the top of the mountain.
Unfortunately – the subway was delayed, and Steve and his group made the run straight for the 2-hour bus ride or else forsake the whole trip. Two hours later, the remaining 2 hours HIKE UP the mountain immediately commenced.
Steve made it to the top of the mountain after 5-hr, without a single incident or need for the bathroom, despite occasional anxiety. Steve did not encounter a bowel accident throughout his trip (10 days) and the mountain climb.
His remedy was practicing deep breathing and reciting his affirmations, which his subconscious mind would instantly recognize, putting the body in parasympathetic mode and quelling all anxiety build-up.
Steve proved many things to himself on that trip - "he can", "he can do it", and "he is in control" of the situation. Steve defeated his worst fear, defeated the mountain, achieved his goal, and made it to the top in flying colors. As a reminder of his goal achieved, Steve brings back a small gift from the top of the mountain, which he keeps in his car as a visual reminder no matter where he drives. The pair of walking sticks, lined with achievement stickers for each elevation he reached, are framed in his bedroom to remind him of how he overcame the largest mountain ever - his ulcerative colitis.
Traveling the world is now just the edge of his fingertips. The long-awaited family trip is now to the furthest of our beautiful planet – Antarctica.