A significant transformation is silently sweeping across health care facilities from Illinois to New York, led by an unexpected catalyst: the medical hypnotist. By harnessing the power of the human mind, practitioners are mounting a robust defense against stress, anxiety and pain.
Renowned psychotherapist Dr. Eleanor Laser is redefining patient care with her unique application of medical hypnosis. An influential player in the domain of nonpharmacological anesthesia, she has been recognized with the prestigious Erika Fromm Award. Alongside Dr. Elvira Lang, she co-authored the transformative book “Patient Sedation Without Medication.” This pioneering piece not only won the highly regarded Arthur Shapiro Award but also serves as an indispensable resource for a broad array of healthcare professionals.
As an experienced medical hypnotist and psychotherapist, Dr. Laser offers a broad range of therapeutic services. With expertise in neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and emotional freedom technique (EFT) hypnotherapy, she is carving a niche for herself in the industry.
NLP, a psychological approach that involves analyzing strategies used by successful individuals and applying them to reach personal goals, provides Dr. Laser with the tools to reshape a patient’s self-perception. EMDR, a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, serves as a powerful adjunctive therapy, particularly useful in patients struggling with anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. EFT, or psychological acupressure technique, helps people overcome a variety of issues, including pain, addiction and anxiety. Hypnosis can contribute to a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment plan.
At the core of Dr. Laser’s approach lies a deep insight, “Your interpretation of life, be it calm waters or turbulent waves, hinges on your perception. It’s the significance you give to your
memories that shape this perception. It’s not the events in your life that matter, but how you view them. Your viewpoint sets the tone for how you view the world.” The crux is not the events but your interpretation of them. Early memories from before age 8 play a crucial role in this. Dr. Alfred Adler highlighted the importance of these early recollections in shaping perception.
To put it another way, from all the experiences we have in our lives, we choose to remember
certain things. Memories reflect our perceptions and are unique. “You and I can have a similar experience but totally different views of what happened,” Dr. Laser explains. “Then we set up situations that reinforce our perception and repeat them until it becomes true. It can positively or negatively impact our lives. If it’s the latter, changing our view of a memory can give us the chance to heal.”
Growing up, Pat felt utterly invisible, even in crowded rooms. His childhood memory stands as a poignant symbol of this isolation, walking into his house on a snowy day at age 5 only to find that no one noticed he was there. As a result of this formative experience, he developed a physical condition causing seizures, which served as internal friends giving him attention, a disorder that symbolized his deep sense of insignificance.
As in Pat’s case, conventional treatments did not alleviate his suffering. That’s when Dr. Laser, a respected specialist in medical hypnotherapy, stepped in. Understanding Pat’s financial constraints due to being out of work, she offered her services pro bono. This inadvertently helped Pat feel cared for, and he has now been free of seizures for 35 years.
Pat’s seizures were meticulously uncovered by Dr. Laser using hypnotherapy, exploring his subconscious for traumatic memories. Pat’s therapy went beyond symptom relief; it addressed the core feelings of loneliness and invisibility. Pat’s seizures and medication dependence were eliminated by Dr. Laser by confronting these emotions directly. The outcome was nothing short of transformative.
Central Illinois Endoscopy Center RN Director Smith, a former seminar attendee, has only the highest praise for Dr. Laser’s prowess, attesting, “Eleanor is a great speaker, and I picked up a ton of new ideas to use at our Center.” Today, her center and its staff have integrated Dr. Laser’s hypnosis techniques, using them to help patients navigate fear and anxiety during procedures like colonoscopies and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.
A testament to Dr. Laser’s empathetic guidance, and a celebration of the power of the mind to transform health narratives. With Dr. Laser’s skill and vision, we observe a subtle revolution in patient care in this blossoming era of medical hypnotism. We believe the intricate mind holds the keys to our well-being. Perception’s power shapes a patient-centered healthcare paradigm. This new dawn is illuminated by the work of Dr. Laser.
Experience Dr. Laser’s teachings in the Central Illinois Endoscopy Center, under the stewardship of RN Director Karen Smith.
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