Audio Program 100 ©
Sessions
The IBS Audio Program was developed through ten years of ongoing
IBS research by Michael Mahoney, one of the United Kingdom’s leading clinical
hypnotherapists. Mahoney has over 13 years experience as a hypnotherapist, now
specializes in treating IBS patients, and is regularly referred patients by
gastroenterologists and family care physicians. He is an associate member of the
Primary Care Society for Gastroenterology, a worldwide organization.
The IBS hypnotherapy program follows a scheduled 100 day treatment period and is
conducted on your own time in your own home. The program is successful for over
80% of the patients who use it, and the reduction in symptoms and their severity
averages 80-90% for these users. It’s interesting to note the significant
difference in success rates for the IBS-specific hypnotherapy tapes versus
general hypnotherapy tapes. In contrast to Mahoney’s 80-90% success rate,
general hypnotherapy tapes featuring standard relaxation techniques and
visualization exercises have only produced an average 57% improvement rate for
IBS patients. While any improvement is certainly better than none at all, it’s
clear that the benefits are far greater from a hypnotherapy program specifically
developed for and aimed at IBS.
Most impressively, Mahoney’s statistics arise from studies with patients who
were given no relief whatsoever from conventional medical therapy – people who
were, in fact, referred by gastroenterologists who had exhausted all other
potential avenues of help. The incomparable success rates for the tapes are
likely due to Mahoney’s in-depth study and understanding of both IBS and
hypnotherapy, which results in reducing anxiety, stress and fears directly
related to IBS attacks, and increasing patient confidence, self esteem, and
management of IBS-specific symptoms.
The IBS method of hypnotherapy developed by Mahoney is gut-specific, and termed
“on-going progressive session induction.” This method was created upon the basis
that as a patient responds and improves, something new must continue to happen
in therapy to help the patient achieve further results. Experience has shown
that if the process remains the same, the patient is more likely to become
stalled at some stage of the treatment. Particularly, the sounds and words used
in therapy initially, when IBS symptoms are present, can become associated with
this negative state of health and mind.
These same sounds and words should not continue to be used throughout the
therapy because the negative associations can then become anchored onto the
healing methods, which will eventually limit the progress of the patient.
The IBS method of hypnotherapy allows the patient to continue to progress
throughout the entire course of treatment, and beyond. As patients learn new
ways of thinking, they have more internal resources available to use in
overwriting their previous negative beliefs. This then leads to further
progress, more free mental resources, more progress, and the resultant reduction
of IBS symptoms. Hypnotherapy works on the basis that everyone is continuously
developing in one way or another, as every day involves learning, making
decisions, experiencing emotions, etc. The IBS method of treatment takes
advantage of this development and encourages it by changing the sessions and
mental suggestions in ways that help carry the patient continuously forward.
This approach is based on the belief that everyone throughout their lives has to
keep looking for ways of moving forward, and that continuous personal
development should be second nature to us all. As change is a natural part of
life, we should view it as an opportunity and not a threat. The IBS method
reduces the subconscious negative perceptions of change, allowing the embrace of
new thoughts and beliefs, with the resultant improvement in IBS symptoms.
Typically patients begin to feel much better as a result of changes in the way
they think, their outlook on life, and its events, though rarely can someone
pinpoint the precise moment improvements begin. These results stem from the
subconscious mind, which controls the digestive system, very gently beginning to
realize that the thought patterns of IBS are no longer needed. The subconscious
reminds the individual as a whole that they existed very well, thank you,
without IBS, and can do so again.
The Audio Program 100 © is complex in its make up, but quite seamless and simple
for the patient as the learning process is made easy through the use of
enjoyable imagery and suggestions. The therapy itself allows changes, both
physical and emotional, to occur without difficulty. Mahoney believes that just
dealing with the symptoms of IBS is not enough, that the individual must learn
to rebuild internal energy. Many people with IBS feel drained emotionally
by the stress of living with the disorder, and the resultant crises and
responsibilities in their lives continually deplete their inner emotional
strength and reserves, often leading to anxiety or even depression. Before a
patient can begin the process of working through their IBS, they frequently need
an emotional ‘top-up’ of these inner reserves.
In essence, they need their emotional batteries charged, as they have likely
endured years of unstoppable pain and discomfort, of being told by various
medical professionals that there is nothing that can be done, and intrusive or
painful examinations and tests. In addition, family and work relationships may
have been strained or eroded by living with an incurable illness, social and
love lives may have dwindled to non-existence, and confidence and
self-esteem may be at low ebb. With all of these additional stress factors the
ability to put IBS in perspective is drastically reduced. If a patient begins
therapy at this point, they will be completely unprepared for the process and
unable to act upon the instructions, and failure is likely if not certain.
Mahoney’s program takes these IBS-specific circumstances into account, and
tailors the hypnotherapy tapes to increase confidence and self-esteem first, in
order to allow the patient to begin a journey of physical and emotional
improvement and management. Then begins the change in their thoughts, the
exchange of negative beliefs and feelings for positive ones, and the ability to
move away from the symptoms and thoughts of IBS and forward towards a life
without the disorder. Mahoney believes that this IBS-specific method of
hypnotherapy is the best, and his patient trial results support this.
The IBS Audio Program 100 ™ itself is structured over a 100 day period,
with a listening schedule for each day (including 20 days off). The program
consists of 3 double-sided audio cassettes or CDs, which contain an introduction
and five different hypnotherapy sessions, each building on the preceding one.
Sessions vary in duration but average 25-35 minutes. The program also includes a
progress log/symptom check list. All that is required for participation is
to find a set time each day when you can listen quietly and be undisturbed.
Simply fit your listening time into your daily schedule at your own
convenience.
The introductory and five discrete sessions are as follows:
Introduction
* Provides detailed information about hypnotherapy, the specific
process being used for the audio treatments, and information about
IBS.
* Acknowledges the physical and psychological combination that
characterizes IBS pathology, triggers, and symptoms.
* Aims to treat both IBS and the problems in a person’s life that
have resulted from IBS, including anxiety, social fears, depression,
fatigue, worry.
* Sets a stopping point for the emotional drain of IBS; from this
point on IBS symptoms will not worsen but will improve.
Subconscious begins to be affected and physical changes will
follow.
* Emphasis on the safe, gentle, non-invasive aspects of therapy and its record
as a safe form of treatment for many conditions for many years.
First Session
* The foundation session. Allows listeners to take the time to reduce their
stresses and apprehensions, to become familiar with the hypnotherapy process,
and to learn that they are in control at all times.
* Offers a gentle introductions to reduce anxieties and emphasize calming
thoughts, thus reducing the negative thought patterns which trigger IBS physical
responses.
* Helps manage IBS symptoms and let users begin to understand the benefits of
allowing both mind and body to work together towards the goal.
Second Session
* Begins to address the subconscious and conscious thoughts which can trigger
IBS symptoms.
* Teaches users, through creative imagery, to exercise control over these
thoughts.
* Uses the power of suggestion to enable listeners to learn to control the speed
of peristaltic waves of the GI tract, leading to normal bowel movements.
* Uses the mind to regulate the body.
Third Session
* Uses visualization to control the entire digestive process, from
start to finish.
* Begins to allow user to take control and mentally search for areas within the
GI tract where there is IBS pain or discomfort, and then reduce these symptoms
while continuing to use positive thoughts.
* Negative thoughts should be decreasing and replaced by positive thoughts,
which will help develop new coping strategies.
Fourth Session
* Uses metaphor to help view the journey through IBS as a trip that
is nearing an end.
* Acknowledges struggles of the past, the many steps the journey
has required, and that while there may be a step back occasionally
the progression forward will remain.
* Acknowledges old thought patterns and allows them to be
released; enhances positive thought patterns to achieve continued
improvement.
* Emphasizes that while memories of old thought patterns may
remain, we don’t live in the past. We live in the moment. From this
moment on IBS will steadily improve, a sense of order has been
reached, and progress will now continue on its own.
Fifth Session
* Encapsulates positive moments from the five previous sections.
* Reaffirms the effects of the program.
* Listeners are encouraged to review this session occasionally
after the program ends to optimize their positive changes.
Of the five sessions, some are listened to once while others are repeated a
dozen times. Content and order are both important. The program gives people the
structure necessary to allow a progression to the end of IBS in their lives,
with the final result of the reintroduction of both previously forbidden foods
and stressful activities. These factors are meant to be reintroduced into
patients’ lives in a controlled and structured way, with a subconscious and
conscious mindset that prevents the suffering of physical problems from these
formerly attack-inducing elements. After the program is concluded, patients are
encouraged to listen to the final tape for an additional period of time to
ensure the learned processes are embedded into their subconscious.
Return to The IBS Audio Program 100 ™ page.
