The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners.

by Roger Cooper Dent

In August of 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that cases of Lyme disease are 10 times more prevalent than previously believed, with as many as 300,000 new cases reported each year in the United States.  While it remains difficult to diagnose, acknowledgment of the scope of the illness brings hope to many current sufferers that help is forthcoming.

First recognized as a specific disease in 1975 in Lyme, Connecticut, this tick-borne malady remains as elusive in diagnosis as it does in treatment.  Not all infected individuals have, or notice the bite of a tiny tick or the characteristic “bull’s eye” rash that is common to Lyme.  Symptoms vary by individual, and may be mistaken for influenza or other illnesses.  Onset of definitive symptoms may be delayed for years, and masked by various other bacterial infections that can accompany the spirochete borellia burgdorferi, the species that is the specific agent of Lyme.

Hypnotherapists are in an ideal position to help clients with symptoms of Lyme disease, especially those who are not fortunate to have been diagnosed early, when antibiotic treatment is most effective.   We are trained to listen, observe, and work with our clients to develop an appropriate course of therapy to alleviate symptoms and improve levels of comfort.  When clients come to me with symptoms of Lyme, they typically are frustrated after years of undiagnosed ill-health and lists of healthcare providers who offer no answers.  Most of these clients have been treated (ineffectively) for anxiety, depression, arthritis, migraines, various neurological disorders and joint pain for years before they were diagnosed accurately and appropriate treatment initiated.  By the time I meet my client, even the best medical treatment often is difficult and protracted, leaving the door for successful hypnotherapy wide open.

As in all client sessions, the first step in therapy is listening, followed by learning.  Find out which symptoms are most critical to your client, and ensure that you take some steps to address them in the first few sessions.  I find that success in minimizing one or two bothersome symptoms goes a long way in building trust and opens the client to greater healing potential.   I’m often surprised at the differences between the client’s concerns and those of their physician…and all need to be addressed.

Most of my client sessions for Lyme begin with guided imagery for relaxation.   The need for relaxation and comfort is universal, and a walk on the beach often sets the stage for future success.  As always, use the initial interview to guide your selection of scenes.  Because most Lyme sufferers associate tall grass and walks in the woods with ticks, the therapist never should conjure such imagery.  While we all are accustomed to hearing, “I feel so relaxed” at the end of a session, Lyme clients often share that they’ve not felt such true comfort in many years.   I recently began working with a young woman who is bed-ridden after years with Lyme symptoms.  She awoke after her first session in tears!  I was confused, until she looked up at me and with a huge smile, said, “I feel really good!  I didn’t know what that felt like.”

Feeling good is the part of life that eludes those with chronic Lyme symptoms.  In some cases, clients have been so ill for so long, they are unable to even imagine what it’s like to be well.   This creates an opportunity to regress them to a time in their life when they felt comfort and good health.  Through an affect bridge, guide them to and through the most positive aspects of a place in time that allows for experience of positive sensations that will stay with them, providing a current frame of reference for health and well-being.

The healing component of Lyme treatment begins with the immune system.  I find that clients do very well with metaphors, and I often create sessions that use every day experiences, such as seeing certain colors to trigger post hypnotic suggestions for healing.  I often use imagery similar to Melissa Roth’s “Pools of Light,” which tend to have a long-term positive impact.

As if Lyme weren’t complicated enough, ticks that carry the disease also commonly infect their hosts with other bacteria, including bartonella, babesia and ehrlichia, each with their own specific symptoms and treatment challenges.  As with Lyme, hypnotherapy focuses on addressing symptoms.  In addition to treating symptoms of these infections, many of which (localized pain, anxiety, insomnia) are similar to Lyme, it’s important that hypnotherapists be knowledgeable of these infections and their potential for influence in the healing process as well.

I learned in my training about the importance of “balance” in hypnotherapy, a concept critical to Lyme clients.  A powerful session to build an immune system may seem like a good idea, though doesn’t always provide the desired result.  Encouraging the immune system to kill off illness-causing bacteria at a rate higher than the body can remove can result in a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, similar to bacterial sepsis.   “Herxing,” as it is known, is exacerbated by high doses of antibiotics given to many clients and may result in fever, chills, headache, pain and anxiety.  Herxing can result from die-off of borellia as well as other tick-borne bacteria.  To encourage and maintain balance, I always include suggestions for it in each session.  An excellent metaphor example is Marlene Hunter’s “Symphony” script, which encourages overall harmony in health.

Because of difficulty in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, it has been ignored by much of the medical community.  With the CDC’s recent pronouncement, it is emerging, however, providing hypnotherapists an opportunity to expand their practices in a positive and creative ways.  Some recommendations for getting started include:

• Know your community.  Find out how many Lyme cases were diagnosed in your area last year.  Find out if the infections are suspected to be local or occurred elsewhere.  Learn what is available in your community to address Lyme.
• Research.  Go online and learn about Lyme and associated infections.  Check out related sites and articles to help you understand the impact of Lyme, such as Facebook (i.e.:  Live Laugh Lyme).  Your clients already will have spent much time researching and will appreciate that you understand what they’re talking about.  If a client brings up a term you don’t know, ask them about it, and then do your homework to confirm.
• Meet the doctors.  Find out who is treating Lyme in your area.  Make appointments to meet with the best.  Learn what their concerns are and assess their interest in referring clients to you to support their treatment regimen.  Communicate regularly with them.
• Be flexible.   When someone is ill with Lyme, their biorhythms often are disrupted.  They may suffer from long-term insomnia and are subject to mood swings, anxiety attacks and bouts with severe pain.  Clients that I see for Lyme tend to re-schedule appointments often and may require extra attention to prepare for a successful session.
• Give.  Be prepared to see some clients on a sliding scale, or “pro bono.”  Many Lyme sufferers have exhausted financial resources through years of searching for a diagnosis while becoming progressively more ill.  About half of my Lyme clients are dependent on their families for care.

I regularly see several clients with Lyme disease, who range in health from asymptomatic to bed-ridden.  The youngest began seeing me when he was just 10 years old, the eldest is in her 70’s.  They come to me in various stages of discomfort, frustration, anxiety and fear.  While their specific symptoms vary greatly, what they now have in common is their appreciation of the benefits of hypnotherapy in improving their quality of life.

Roger Cooper Dent, MBA, CCht has a hypnotherapy practice in Santa Rosa California.  He completed his training in 2010, after four years teaching in public schools and almost thirty years in corporate management.  http://rogercdent.com