The History and Principles of Regression Therapy

Regression therapy is based on the view that the mind, body and spirit are interconnected. Using this therapeutic method to heal patients involves reconnecting the patient with the root cause of a problem and allowing them to more deeply understand the issues associated with a problem before they can be resolved on physical, spiritual and emotional levels.

Sometimes the main cause of a current problem is actually a traumatic experience stored below the level of conscious awareness which has been affecting the patient’s well being. Patient experiences may go back to early childhood or prenatal experiences or even into memories stored in the subconscious which may appear to be from past lives. Any patient experience is treated in an accepting and authentic way. Various psychotherapies may be used in the regression process such as hypnosis, Gestalt psychology, psychodrama and body therapy along with transpersonal and energy techniques.

Regression therapy also studies how past experiences or events effect our present behaviour. This can include events which are suppressed and stored in our unconscious mind and which have not been recalled for a long period of time. Regression therapy tries to determine the main reason for certain patient behaviours at which point the therapist does their best to help patients overcome their problems focussing on those problems which are most difficult for patients to handle.

The History of Regression Therapy

As early as the 1950’s, pioneer J.L. Moreno saw regression as an opportunity for clients to gain new insights and to transform them. His group therapy methods were being successfully used in clinical groups and mental health organisations in the United States. Other pioneers and authors in regression therapy include American doctor Morris Netherton, Dutch doctor Hans Tendam and British doctors Roger Woolger and Andy Tomlinson.

Other scientists have completed research on regression therapy which has helped it become accepted by mainstream medicine. This includes the work of Professor Mario Simoes in Portugal and Doctor Terumi Okuyama M.D. who was the first medical doctor in Japan to integrate regression therapy as a part of medical treatment. Other pioneers include Dr. Pavel Gyngazov in Russia, Dr. Newton Kondavati who treats patients in India, and Dr. Julio Peres in Brazil.

The Application of Regression Therapy

Regression therapy is helpful in dealing with issues of self-esteem and personal empowerment. It is also extremely effective in dealing with residual scars from sexual abuse. It has provided a swift and effective release of deep emotional blockages, states of anxiety, depression, phobias, unexplainable chronic pain and persistent symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder.

Research performed by Helen Waumbach used survey results from 26 therapists working with a total of 17,350 clients using regression. Of these, 63 per cent had an improvement in their emotional and physical symptoms and 40% had an improvement in their interpersonal relationships.

Other research has found that client problems which were previously thought to be non-responsive to psychotherapy can be resolved with regression therapy. In a study which was supervised by the department of clinical psychology at the University of Amsterdam, Ron Van Der Maesen worked with 54 people who were disturbed by auditory hallucinations of voices. 80% of these patients were being treated by a psychiatrist or by a psychiatric outpatient clinic. Six months after therapy, an independent psychiatrist found that the disturbing voices had disappeared in 25% of the patients, and 32% were unable to cope with the therapy.

There are many psychologists and psychiatrists who practice regression therapy. They believe that emotional problems are connected to past life experiences. There is no denying that all past life experiences have their connection to the present. It has been found that mental and physical problems that are present at birth may be connected to a past life experience or may have origins between the time of conception and the time of birth.

According to regression therapy there is an unbroken awareness in life beginning with one’s spiritual creation which carries on to present experiences. These prior lifetimes may involve few or many retained experiences including the time and realm between lives. It is the mind’s ability to record and retain all past experiences that makes it possible to determine the origin and cause of what is going on in the present body. Not only does the mind know the origin and cause of physical and mental deficiencies, it knows the best way to correct these conditions.

The mind can also determine the period in which the problem can be resolved if emotional adjustments are made. Regression therapy believes that the solution of many physical and emotional problems is brought about by spiritual entities. The success of this method has nothing to do with one’s belief in spiritual communication. Spiritual assistance to heal the ills of the mind and body is believed to be the most natural and effective method known to man. By getting in touch with the spiritual communication from a patient’s own body, it is possible to heal them through the use of regression therapy.