**6.4 Step four: the dirty rubber band (Arnoldo Téllez, n.d.)**

Next, you can start another exercise. You may stay in the same place.

*Now close your eyes again, we are going to do another imagination exercise… give me your hands (the therapist takes the patient's hands and pulls them forward with their palms facing one another, and he holds his/her hands on both wrists) … okay… imagine that you have an elastic band that ties your wrists… and keeps them chained to each other… It is a dirty … and ugly band… that holds your hands together… and do not let you be free… This band is built from former self-limitations… maybe inferiority complexes… or low self-esteem feelings… grudges… and negative comments… and they all were tying you up … that were preventing you from being free and expanding your potential… Now I want you to start separating your hands… with all your strength… you are stretching the band… very well… while you force your hands to separate (the patient begins to open and separate his/her arms) … continue to stretch with force… you are stretching the band more and more… You are about to break it… You are close… with more strength… You are almost to break free… almost… that's right… now… And puff! (Therapist takes the arms and separates them with the force) … It burst!… correct… excellent… very good… expand your arms… expand your spirit… can you imagine that you are a bird? … the bird you would like to be…. perhaps an eagle… or a hawk … seagull… the bird you like to be…. now open your wings… with freedom… flying… You are finally free of what was holding you back… now you are free… on the top… flying… seeing from above a perspective never seen before… A horizon full of possibilities…* 

*Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis*

*energized and in self-control… empowered… in harmony with yourself and your surroundings… looking at the same point… can you recognize the sensation* 

**you can remember this sensation… every time you need it… this** 

*emerging? … now?… your arm movements make your mind become more lucid and clearer … actively more awakened and relaxed … that is it … feel the movements of your body… how it gets stronger every time… with each movement of your arms … your body and your mind get stronger and stronger… that's right… now… with every single movement… that energy of motivation is injected into your interior, a positive energy … what do you know that will happen when… with each movement you repeat to yourself… "I can do it … I can get it"… Right… now… visualize a goal… yes… that goal… that you wrote before… to accomplish… it could be a personal goal…. a professional goal… a goal related to your family, I do not know… but you do (k)now… this goal is your target now… and with each movement imagine… feel this sensation… that you move forward… towards your goal… you are approaching… centimeter by centimeter… meter by meter… towards your goal… just feel that sensation… as if you had some pulleys that move you towards… getting you closer to your target … that's right… now … with each movement you can tell yourself… you (k)now? … "I can do it… I can get there," and you are slowly approaching your goal with each movement… closer and closer to your goal…* **Now… maybe you (k) now… or maybe you do not (k)now now… that sensation emerging through your entire body… do you remember now this sensation… you can keep it… within you… every time you need it… this sensation… you know… within you… every time you move… every time you smile… every time you see that goal… every time you breathe…** *moving forward with enthusiasm towards your goal… now… I wonder how do you want to be able to go a little faster… now… accelerating your arms movements… keep going towards that goal… more and more… towards that goal… and the more you are moving forward … the more active and clearer your mind becomes… the clearer it becomes… the more you (k) now that sensation emerging… through all your body… with a lot of enthusiasm … you can feel an optimistic… motivation… you become more self-confident… with your arms now moving by themselves … by themselves… automatically… leaving behind any doubts that you thought you had… leaving behind everything… anything what you no longer need to carry on your shoulders… anything that was bothering you… that's right… now… knocking down the obstacles… clearing the way… looking more clearly forward.. with more light as you approach to your goal … that's it… right…. safely…. with certainty … yes… you can… you can go forward, approaching your target… your own goal…* **with that sensation in your body… within your… body… you keep it… you can remember this sensation… every time you need it… this sensation… every time you move… every time you smile… every time you see your goal… every time you breathe…** *every time you are using the best of your own inner resources… that's it… forward… right… now… there are people waiting for you there cheering… where your goal is… people who love you… to celebrate your success… more and more… recognizing your own personal strengths… maybe you did not know yourself… that people love whoever love yourself… but (k)now you (k)now yourself… leaving behind any burden that you do not need to carry out with you… breaking boundaries … going beyond… reaching your goal… achieving the target… that's it … right… excellent… wonderful… you almost done it… sure… yes… you can… do it… and… NOW!! you finally have reached your goal… you are already in it… right… great… amazing… enjoying … And you can observe… and feel all those sensations… emotions… and thoughts… linked to the achievement of your goal… look right now… at this moment… inside you … how do you feel?…* **do you** *(k)now (k)now* **how you feel?… that feeling emerging… through your entire body… within your… body… you keep it…** 

**126**

*right… very well… freely… quietly … (pause a minute) … Now you can lower your arms … And when your arms reach your side and descend on your legs … You will be totally… and freely… awake… Rested and awaken… How well are you feeling?*

Next, here is some feedback from people who experienced this approach:

*A 24-year-old man who suffered a chronic sense of demotivation and a lack of specific and clear goals in his life:*

#### *First part*

*"I visualized myself achieving every single goal that guided me towards my main goal. I pictured myself getting good grades, I felt joyful and happy, I visualized myself with my family sharing my success and my main goal achieved."*

#### *Second part*

*"I felt as if I was finally released from something so strong that was keeping me tied up. I felt an unbelievable sense of freedom, I felt a bunch of adrenaline, a burst of energy inside me."*

*"I could feel the air in my face, like I was really flying in the air, and I finally saw a big bright shining light from the sun."*

*Report from a patient with depression and anxiety after an active-alert hypnosis session:*

#### *First part*

*"I felt a huge amount of blood pumping fast up to my head and then running down to my stomach."*

*"I feel more relaxed and peaceful."*

#### *Second part*

*"I felt how the adrenaline rushes through my body from my stomach to my brain. This sensation makes me feel euphoric and generates emotion and happiness, something that I haven't felt for a long time."*

*"This is a feeling that I haven't experienced before, but now I only feel the energy from the front side of my brain to my mouth, and even more than the energy, I feel relaxation and inner peace."*

*"I don't feel exhausted, but relaxed."*
