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Del Morrill, M.S. C.C.H

Transitions

A Center for Counseling & Hypnosis
Tacoma, Washington, USA
(253) 752-1506

Working with Schizophrenia and/or Paranoia

Question

    I have a client who has a doctor’s note to see me for Schizophrenia. Have you ever worked with someone like this? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.


 

Answer


     People diagnosed with schizophrenia or paranoia present issues that don't arise with most of our clients.    People diagnosed with schizophrenia or paranoia present issues that don't arise with most of our clients. If I suspect there is such a mental problem, then I encourage them to find a psychiatrist.  I would caution any hypnotherapist that, unless you are a psychiatrist and well trained to work with such people, be very careful. An exception would be if you were working “in tandem” with a psychiatrist trained to deal with such issues.



         In the past, I have had two clients who, I discovered during the intake/interview session, had both schizophrenia and paranoia symptoms.  They didn't mention having this condition during our primary phone call, but soon it became obvious that each person's thinking patterns, and "way of being in the world" was not quite right.  Both either were on, or had taken themselves off of medication.  I told each that I would work with them for 3 sessions, and then would decide whether I could be of any real help to them.  One client responded well enough to be able to function better in society. The other client became so frightening and threatening toward me, that, even though I am trained to handle difficult cases,  I decided that the areas of strong pychoses should be handled by  skilled psychiatrists or psychologists.


            Schizophrenia and paranoia both involve obsessional thinking (amongst other things) and one cannot be sure how they are processing what you are saying.  In a way, they are already functioning most of the time in an hypnotic trance.  It is important to realize that they can attach whatever they think/hear/see during hypnosis to their particular obsessional thinking pattern.  For example, they may “receive” information during trance that they believe is from their own particular "voice" or "vision", or that it is from some entity inside of them,  "haunting" them.  They may not do this of course, but you have to know what might be expected, and how the client is processing what’s going on.




            There are just some of the issues involved in extreme psychological conditions, which you may or may not be aware of.  Unless you are well-trained in discernment of such, and well-qualified to deal with them, then send them to someone who is.   If nothing else, this is to protect you and your profession. 


      I find the fact that a doctor has referred this client quite strange.  If you are adequately trained in this area, you need to talk to the referring doctor to find out the reasons for the referral. What does the doctor hopes will be gained by such a visit with you?  Also, you need to know how heavily medicated the person is, what those medications are and possible side effects. Is the patient experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations? What is the degree of paranoia? And find out any previous work with other therapists and the results of that work.  Even with that information, I would encourage you to work very closely with a psychiatrist or a psychologist.  




 







 




 



 
 

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