Aspire Therapy

Dream and Imagination

French artist Fabien Verschaere captures a world in his exhibits which inhabits a twilight realm of fairytales and nightmares (see image below).

Like a dream, the images he creates through the use of a range of different media are both disturbing and fascinating. His imagination combines a childlike naivety with the garish horror of a fairground ride on the ghost train.

We encountered an exhibition of his work at the Baltic Centre for Creative Art at the Gateshead Quays during a recent stay in Northumberland.

A very different kind of imaginative vision is represented by the famous Angel of the North, a familiar sight to anyone travelling on the A1 past Gateshead and Newcastle.

The sculpture which is 65 feet high and has a 175 foot wingspan can be seen for miles around. Despite its size and steel construction it remains stunningly elegant and majestic even on a closer viewing.

It is a testimony to the scope and power of the human imagination that it can encompass such diverse visions. The strong, pure and aspirational nature of the Angel of the North contrasts sharply with the more turgid, but nevertheless compelling imagery of Verschaere’s dream world.

But perhaps these are two aspects of the imagination and of the unconscious mind with which we all have to grapple at times.

Singing in the Rain?

If you’re feeling depressed about this dismal summer weather then you’re in good company.

There’s no doubt that the relentless rain and persistent grey skies get to us all - especially when we would normally expect to be spending long hot days and soothing summer evenings out on the patio.

Among our clients it is particularly the elderly who can be adversely affected by the persistent rain, which makes it difficult for them to get out of the house and can leave them feeling isolated.

And of course there are those in some parts of the country whose homes have been flooded during this prolonged bout of wet weather.

We have written previously about the impact on individuals of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, a condition that emphasises the connection between our inner mood and the changing weather.

As someone pointed out to me recently, however, the link between feelings of depression and rainy weather is one that is constantly reinforced by weather forecasters on some of our television channels. It struck me that the continual reinforcement of this message works on our minds like a hypnotic suggestion.

How to Anchor Good Feelings

All of us have times when we find ourselves feeling stressed, anxious, panicky, nervous or just drained of energy.

Wouldn’t it be great if we were able to control those feelings - or even better swap them for a more positive feeling?

Well an ‘anchor’ is a means of helping us to do this. It allows us to counteract an unpleasant feeling with a feeling of calm, confidence, vitality or any other feeling we may wish to access.

Children and Hypnotherapy

Many people are surprised to discover that hypnotherapy techniques can be used very effectively with children from as young as three years old. The truth is children can sometimes be even more receptive to treatments than adults.

This is mainly because children already spend much of their time in a kind of natural ‘trance’ anyway, totally engrossed in whatever activity is preoccupying them at any given moment.

When we observe children listening avidly to an exciting story, absorbed in an engrossing play activity, or glued to the television when their favourite programme comes on, they are exhibiting trance-like behaviour.