I've been a therapist of sorts from very early in
my life. As a young person studying the practice of Zen meditation,
I was always attracted to the therapeutic aspects of inner
attention over the self-absorbing aspects.
Later studies in Morita and Naikan therapies (Japanese psychotherapeutic
treatments) rounded my understanding of the value of attention
to the inner self in all its aspects as an imperative for
change.
Later studies in Zen Shiatsu (Japanese pressure massage) led
me to a further focus on what's called Ampuku therapy, a shiatsu
approach to "containment" of human emotions in the tanden
(abdominal region). I practiced for many years as a Shiatsu
therapist and meditation teacher.
During the mid-1980s, I studied clinical hypnotherapy and
went on, for a little while, to teach clinical aspects of
hypnotherapy in Canberra.
It was during this stage that I was exposed to the work of
Dr Edgar Barnett, a Canadian psychiatrist who had developed
a form of approach that he called Analytical Hypnotherapy.
I was, by this stage, extremely annoyed with many of the arrogant
and egocentric approaches of traditional hypnotherapy, and
was impressed with Barnett's notions of privacy and attention
to a person's ego-states, or sub-personalities.
In 1992 I entered into partnership with Frank Wright – a like-minded
therapist – at the Kurrajong Health Farm in the Blue Mountains,
near Sydney, where much work was done on the further development
of Barnett's work, and an eventual re-naming of the improved
procedures as Private Subconscious-mind Healing. During this
time, we trained others in PSH techniques under the auspices
of the original International Centre for Subconscious-mind
Training and Research (ICSTR), of which I am still Director.
Much of the early work centred on the application of hypnosis
techniques to emotional "release" presumptions surrounding
the old PSH style. In the years since, I have sought to leave
the old and arrogant approaches of clinical hypnotherapy far
behind in favour of the introduction of self-attention methods
more akin to simple meditative or mind-relaxing styles.
One of the most significant differences is that contemporary
af-x® work does the opposite to the badgering style
of most other therapies, honouring the subconscious mind's
ability to make whatever changes are right for that person,
then "steps back" and lets the process take place in its own
way.
I was the creator and developer of the
ESR system used by this organization (and others), and
since that inception, I have taken part in this "proving"
system that I insist all other af-x practitioners subject
themselves to.
In an ever-changing and fluid world, there's no such thing
as "final perfection" of any therapeutic approach, and we
continue to monitor and improve, but it is true to say that
the af-x approach has reached a stage where its effectiveness
is greater than almost all other approaches, and I continue
to be excited about the advances that this work has made.
Over the last few years, I have seen thousands of clients
in the af-x mode, from all walks of life and all backgrounds
and professions. Although, as af-x Practitioners, we
most often don't know the actual symptom stories of our clients,
it's true to say that I am most interested in the huge problem
of depression in our society, particularly
that of adolescents. I also extend that interest to the treatment
of pre-, peri- and post-natal depression 1 (of
both parents), and hyperemesis 2, areas in which
af-x has shown, with research, to be highly effective.
I am also greatly intrigued with the way in which af-x
Therapy makes significant difference to the careers
and underlying emotional confidence of (otherwise highly stressed)
executives and those in the corporate hierarchy.
Rather than pretend to know all (and that's the claim of "experts"),
I share with my clients that I continue to learn and grow
with each client and each session. My specialty is the emotional
subconscious – the emotional matrix
– rather than the "thinking" conscious.
Notes:
1. "before", "around" and "after" giving birth
2. morning sickness
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