Mind Body Therapies

Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is focused attention, guided by a person, called a hypnotherapist, who is trained to help the mind screen out unnecessary distractions and become exceptionally receptive to new ideas. Modern hypnotherapy combines psychotherapy and hypnosis to help clients focus their attention and engage their conscious and unconscious mind to accomplish their desired outcome and to improve a sense of well-being and self-control.

The therapist can use stories, metaphors, questions and what appears like normal conversation to help engage unconscious abilities, as the client quiets and focuses. Such interaction assists in discovering new perceptions and making new meanings of habitual experiences.

Success in meeting one's goals may take one visit or many, often depending on the issues or problems to be worked on. For gaining relief from migraine headaches, smoking cessation or preparation for expectant parents, it might be four to six sessions. Changes in habits or attitudes may take many more visits. For a person prepared and ready to make change, a single visit may suffice.

Sessions last one hour and are usually scheduled one week apart.

Guided Imagery
Guided imagery is rooted in the fact that our mind and our body are completely intertwined. The thoughts we have in our minds affect the physiology of the body. We can learn to change the character and quality of our thinking to create changes in our body. Should you not be sure this can happen, image that it is a hot summer day and you go to the kitchen to cut open a lemon to make fresh lemonade... feel the saliva flow as you think about tasting that lemon you cut open - in your imagination!

In guided imagery, patients relax their minds and focus on issues or concerns. They either listen to a guiding person or an audio tape or have created for themselves a different picture of the situation they want to work on. They may ask their mind to delve into the message that the body's symptoms are relating. They can be guided to find an inner place where they can be pain free or where they can find answers or support for questions or concerns. Guided imagery helps people prepare for surgery, reduce stress, diminish pain, move through child birth, deal with anxiety, improve sleep, stop smoking, reduce food cravings, and most other concerns.

Guided imagery may include visualizing - creating a picture in the mind - or imagery-based suggestions, metaphors, stories or suggestions.

The Springs Labyrinth
The labyrinth is an ancient symbol with remnants found from over 6000 years ago in Sardinia, then in the Hopi culture, with the Celtic people, the Greeks, and in the churches of the middle ages. Throughout these times, the labyrinth has served as a metaphor for our lives. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place. Many cultures use it as a tool for meditation or prayer.

We enter the labyrinth and find our path folding back upon itself, sometimes creating a sense we have made no progress toward our center Self. And yet, because the path has no dead ends, only twists and turns, we do not get lost. There is no wrong way. The only choice is to enter or not. It is a meandering but purposeful path, a place for moving meditation, for focusing, for looking for that deep knowing that comes from finding our own center. It takes us out of our ego to that which is within. It is an archetype for change, for transformation and wholeness. It fosters serenity and self-knowledge.

The labyrinth can be enjoyed in a myriad of ways... for walking, for moving meditation, for dancing, for ceremony. You enter and walk the labyrinth at what ever pace fits your need. For many, the center represents one's own center, a place of peace and balance. After time spent in the center, you retrace your steps back out into the world. And so, the circle of the labyrinth can be used to reach into our deepest places, to those places that need healing from sadness and hurt. And it can be used to remember the circular nature of our joys and our sorrows. And it can be a place of fun and joy!

The Springs Labyrinth sits beside the sulphur brook, connected to the walk to the Village. All are welcomed to walk or dance or play on the path.