The movie image of the hypnotist is of a person with almost magic ...

[wrbasek0]

The movie image of the hypnotist is of a person with almost magic powers over the patient. According to Schultz, is this depiction accurate? Why or why not?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Describe the first systematic desensitization session of working with a therapist.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[Bigfoot1984]

Answer to Question 1

According to Schultz it was not. The inspiration for Schultz's belief came from Oskar Vogt's research conducted during the last decade of the 19th century. Vogt was a renowned brain physiologist working at the Berlin Institute in the areas of sleep and hypnosis. To Vogt's surprise, some of his hypnotic patients learned how to put themselves into an autohypnotic state. His patients had success doing this through applying various short-term mental exercises. The autohypnotic state they induced was beneficial in preventing somatic stress reactions such as muscular tension and headaches.

Thus, Schultz concluded that (1) patients could engage in self-management of their stressful conditions through achieving an autohypnotic state and (2) they were always in control of this state. Ultimately then he believed it is the patient and not the hypnotherapist that opens the door to the patient's trance state. Schultz's goal was to create a method in which the patient would be given the key to the door and use it when desired to enter into a restorative state similar to that observed in Vogt's patients. He called it autogenic which combined the Greek words autos (i.e, self) and genos (i.e., generation) to indicate that his method was a self-generated.

Answer to Question 2

In working with a therapist, the client is instructed to begin the first systematic desensitization session by using abbreviated progressive muscle relaxation training to go into a deep relaxation state. The therapist then starts with the image that is lowest on the fear ladder and guides the client to imagine the scene as realistically as possible. Upon experiencing any anxiety, the client is told to signal the therapist by lifting a finger. If the client gives the signal, the therapist instructs the client to change to one of the relaxing scenes. If no anxiety is elicited by the phobic scene, the client continues with the image for 10 seconds. After a pause to experience more deep relaxation, the therapist will repeat the scene before guiding the client to climb the next rung of the fear ladder. Usually, no more than 3 or 4 rungs are climbed per session. A typical desensitization session lasts no more than 15 to 30 minutes because it is difficult to sustain a state that combines concentration with relaxation for longer periods (Prochaska & Norcross, 2010). The therapist will usually end the session with a successful scene completion.