As mentioned in my earlier column, people hold many misperceptions about hypnosis—that it is sleep; that the hypnotist takes control of your mind causing you to do silly things; that you might never come out of trance. In truth, however, hypnosis is a natural capacity that everyone has for concentrating attention, increasing suggestibility and facilitating positive changes in mind and body.
Here is a wonderful article written by one of my students, Sue Bolles, CSW, about how natural hypnosis helped her son overcome pain and anxiety during a trip to the dentist. In future columns I will discuss other uses of hypnosis. If you have any questions about hypnosis for yourself, or if you are a health care professional with a Masters Level or above and want to be trained in hypnosis, call the Park Slope Center for Mental health, 718-788-2461, Susan Lee Bady; Director of Hypnosis Services.
It has been exciting to see the positive effects hypnosis can have to reduce anxiety and influence the perception of pain, especially with children. My experience with hypnosis began first as a student in the Hypnosis Training Institute. As a clinician I came to this training with curiosity and many questions. Though I practiced and learned the theory of how hypnosis worked in my training, it was not until I had first hand experience with my six-year-old son that I became truly convinced of the effectiveness of this tool.
After several months of frustration following several bad experiences with pediatric dentists unable to obtain an x-ray from my terrified six-year-old, I threw up my hands. I couldn't see putting him under anesthesia, as was suggested by the first dentist, and the second dentist we tried just compounded my son's fears. I knew I had to do something when I got a call from my son's school telling me to pick him up as he had a bad toothache.
In desperation I spoke to Susan Bady, my hypnosis instructor and asked if she knew of any dentists using hypnosis with children. She led me to an article written by Dr. Perlman, a dentist in New Rochelle who had successfully worked with adult patients who were extremely fearful of dentists and of getting the needle.
As I phoned Dr. Perlman to see if he could help, my son "Davey" (pseudonym) hid under the table, his hands over his ears. After I explained my dilemma, Dr. Perlman asked to speak to Davey. My son initially refused to come to the phone so I held the phone to his ear as Dr. Perlman began talking to him. It wasn't long before Davey grabbed hold of the receiver and made his way from under the table as he conversed with him about his favorite TV show "Wishbone." Dr. Perlman promised Davey he would not do any x-ray if he came in and Davey surprisingly agreed.
Our first visit Davey came equipped with "Brother Dog" his brown fluffy comfort toy, which he held tightly up to his lips for a good part of the first session. The doctor did an induction by way of storytelling, an Ericksonian form of hypnosis involving Davey's favorite character Wishbone. This formed a nice bridge from the conversation several days before and Davey was easily able to follow the doctor's lead.
By the end of the first appointment Davey trusted Dr. Perlman enough to open his mouth and have him poke around in his mouth with the "presser" and "tooth tickler." He was also able to put a temporary filling in to hold Davey over to the next appointment when he would put a permanent filling in his tooth.
I was astounded by Dr. Perlman's patience, attention and sensitivity to my son's resistance. When Davey expressed fear and reluctance to go with his suggestion, the doctor creatively shifted his technique to fit. As I observed this process, I thought could this be a dentist who used therapeutic techniques to get his job done? How wonderful! Needless to say Davey left his appointment feeling good and proud of himself, almost eager to return.
The second appointment was scheduled for the next week. In the interim the doctor called to ask my feelings about the methods that could be employed to do the filling, Novocain or "gas," neither of which sounded problem-free. I gave Dr. Perlman permission to use what he thought would be effective, though I didn't feel good about the use of gas.
It is important to mention that after the initial visit I learned to keep my anxious comments to myself as Dr. Perlman so gently reminded me. Instead I sat on a chair next to Davey and tried to remain calm and observe.
During this session the doctor employed the "magic glove" technique. To do this he put on a pair of brightly colored purple gloves. He suggested that my son's arm would become more and more tingly and gradually numb. Davey squirmed and squiggled in the dental chair, occasionally glancing over to me. While he resisted any suggestion that his arm felt tingly, Dr. Perlman reassured Davey that although his arm might not feel tingly at the moment he would soon be able to feel this sensation. In several minutes Davey was nodding his head in agreement that his arm felt tingly and then gradually numb. The doctor then suggested that this numb feeling be transferred to the tooth that hurt so that it could feel numb just like his arm and hand had. By pressing his finger against his tooth Davey was excited to notice his sore tooth now had no feeling.
As I later told my husband, I could not believe what had occurred. Dr. Perlman had filled Davey's tooth using the "tooth tickler" (otherwise known as the drill) without administering Novocaine or gas; and although he squirmed at times it was evident he had no pain. Davey left the dentist's office that day so proud of himself he said: "Oh mom that was no problem, but I never felt tingly or numb I was just saying that I did."