Hypnotic means of enhancing “ being ” towards the improvement of “ doing ” : strategies in dealing with people suffering from performance anxieties. Hypnotic means of enhancing “ being ” towards the improvement of “ doing ” : strategies in dealing with people suffering from performance anxieties. Shaul Livnay PhD Tel Aviv University

Years of working with persons suffering from test anxiety and other forms of anxieties around performing (stage fright, music, acting, interviews) have led me to develop a nine stage approach, which can be flexibly adjusted and “ tailored ” to each person ’ s specific needs & style.

The approach has been successful with a wide range of people. The presentation will describe common dynamics, methods & outcome.

Types of patients High school students before matriculation exams High school students before matriculation exams Medical residents (new immigrants) Medical residents (new immigrants) Musicians, artists Musicians, artists Public speaking Public speaking Young, bashful men Young, bashful men

Diagnostic considerations: Social anxiety/phobia? Social anxiety/phobia? Specific/general Specific/general Test anxiety/performance Test anxiety/performance

Common characteristics: Low self esteem Low self esteem Perfectionism Perfectionism Narcissistic grandiose/depleted Narcissistic grandiose/depleted Fear of success Fear of success

Oliver (1997) studied a variety of treatments for performance anxiety of musicians Relaxation therapies Relaxation therapies Cognitive behavioral techniques Cognitive behavioral techniques Beta-adrenergic blocking agents Beta-adrenergic blocking agents

Prior (1990): Ericksonian hypnosis in treat of examination panic Exaggerated information gathering Exaggerated information gathering How to fail questions How to fail questions Time distortion Time distortion Relaxation Relaxation Automatic writing Automatic writing Time progression Time progression

Stanton (1996): 15 minutes solution in reducing test anxiety The switch The switch Anchor this Anchor this Install belief Install belief Rapid induction Rapid induction

Sapp (1991) effects of cognitive behavioral hypnosis in reducing test anxiety & improving academic performance 4 sessions of hypnosis 4 sessions of hypnosis Decrease in test anxiety Decrease in test anxiety Improvements in achievement Improvements in achievement Hypnosis group vs controls Hypnosis group vs controls

Hart & Hart (1996) used hypnosis to induce relaxation & change attitudes about examinations Hypnosis rated most valuable in test anxiety management workshop Hypnosis rated most valuable in test anxiety management workshop Vs study skills and cognitive techniques Vs study skills and cognitive techniques

Gruzelier et al (2001) compared immune & relaxation related imagery on exam stress Found direct immune imagery to be more effective than relaxation imagery on immunity, health & mood Found direct immune imagery to be more effective than relaxation imagery on immunity, health & mood

Laidlaw et al (2003) examined mood changes after self hypnosis & Johrei before exams Both techniques buffered rise in anxiety & depression towards exams Both techniques buffered rise in anxiety & depression towards exams

Lodato (1990): improvement of athletic performance of hockey players Self hypnosis Self hypnosis Task analysis Task analysis Behavioral rehearsal Behavioral rehearsal Video of model performance Video of model performance Visualization Visualization Practice Practice

Stanton (1994): reduction of performance anxiety in music students Breathing induction Breathing induction Visual imagery (clouds, lake) Visual imagery (clouds, lake) Verbal suggestions linking images to increased mental control Verbal suggestions linking images to increased mental control

Loosening the “ certainty ” of failure

Reframing of past concepts of self hypnosis to include phobic behavior

Future Progression to point following success

Creation of : # “ positive ” anchor (resources, setting which enables success ) Creation of : # “ positive ” anchor (resources, setting which enables success )

# “ negative ” anchor (arousal of anxiety response, and channeling it out)

Rehearsals of positive performance

“ Treatment ” of examiners and judges

Visual & auditory effects in the “ treatment ” of the audience

Final rehearsal with suggestions of positive discrimination (this time, you can … )

Are these “ transference cures ” result of positive anticipation and suggestion? Is there a danger of setting depression/disappointment in case of failure?

Contact info: Shaul Livnay PhD Shaul Livnay PhD