Table Of ContentPowerful
Mind Through
Self-Hypnosis
A Practical Guide to
Complete Self-Mastery
First published by O-Books, 2010
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Powerful
Mind Through
Self-Hypnosis
A Practical Guide to
Complete Self-Mastery
Cathal O’Briain
Winchester, UK
Washington, USA
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Jeff Gill. It was only when you were gone, I
realized I had a best friend.
“The real you is emerging. The happy one. The peaceful one. The
powerful one. A kindred spirit who is forever the learner, the observer.
Neven shaken by fear, empowered by truth.”
About the Author
Cathal O’Briain is a native of Dublin, Ireland and currently resides at his home
and practice in County Kildare. He is a certified hypnotherapist, psychotherapist,
and hypno-analyst. Cathal is also a member in good standing with the Institute of
Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (IRL). His main areas of interest are
hypnotherapy, psychoanalysis, mythology, and religion. In his capacity as Public
Relations Officer and Speaker for the ICHP (named above), he frequently gives
lectures in SelfHypnosis and Analytical Psychotherapy at Marino College,
Dublin. He also writes for their quarterly journal, The Hypno Analyst.
On completing second level education, Cathal began studying at Milltown
Institute of Theology and Philosophy, where he hoped to get a taste of religious
life. Taking classes in philosophy, and cognitive psychology, he savored his time
there, but felt his Christian vocation lay elsewhere. Encouraged by a need to
understand more about thinking, he then turned his attention to the study of
hypnotherapy, art, and psychoanalysis. Cathal paid his way through college by
working part time with physically challenged adults in the Richmond Cheshire
Homes, Monkstown, Dublin. Much of his research there was centered on the
effectiveness of self-hypnosis in easing muscular tension. Many of the young
adults he worked with, some crippled with cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis,
found Cathal’s hypnotic methods effective in relieving pain, and aiding
sequential movement. Recalling his stay at the home, Cathal stressed that,
“In order for the physically disabled person to escape the additional
burden of mental suffering, he or she must not become
institutionalized. It is a reasonable speculation to see that a lack of
activity outside of the home inevitably gives rise to dependency and
monotonous living. Purposeful activity beyond the confines of an
institution is what serves the survival of the self.”
At rare moments, he witnessed some of his patients carry out movements under
hypnosis that were virtually impossible to perform without. This was the turning
point in his career. Thus began a lifelong dedication, where science and religion
combined, enabled and encouraged Cathal to help those less fortunate than
himself.
On completing his studies, he took up a post at the Royal Hospital in
Donnybrook, Dublin. There he was encouraged by the positive effects of self-
hypnosis in the treatment of pain, using relaxation and imagery techniques daily
with his elderly patients.
“Bringing relief to someone in pain is a blessing you cannot take for granted.”
Some of his patients were over the one hundred years of age mark. This gave
him a unique opportunity to listen to their deepest thoughts, experiences,
memories, and dreams, allowing him greater access and insight into the
workings of the mind.
“If you want to learn about life, talk to someone who has lived theirs.
We can learn so much from our elderly citizens. Our duty of care is to
them. By taking care of the older ones, we take care of ourselves.”
Since his time at the Royal, Cathal has dedicated his life to helping others to
help themselves. He runs two clinical hypnotherapy practices in Dublin, whose
success is largely based on his popular website www.hypnosis.ie. He regularly
gives lectures and radio discussions on matters concerning mental health,
covering a wide range of issues within the alternative and complementary
medicine fields.
Cathal believes that most symptoms can be relieved by working directly with
the subconscious under the right professional guidance. He aims to help his
analysands get better without holding out the promise of a cure.
“I tend to avoid giving advice, or recommending ways to live, for that
is imposing and counter-productive. In therapy, my goal is to decipher
the unconscious. They must know the truth, face the truth, and deal
with it by making it conscious. Because repression requires a
continuous expenditure of energy, my focus is on redirecting this
mental energy towards newly desired goals.”
Cathal makes no secret of the fact that his work to date would not have been
achieved without first undertaking a thorough selfanalysis. At thirty-five years of
age, his direction is guided by an understanding of his vocation; it is one that is
based on life experience and contact with people.
Acknowledgements
Many people have played a part in making this book happen. I would especially
like to thank Roy Hunter, for his insight, experience, humanity, and enduring
patience. Without his encouragement and careful editing, this book would never
have been offered for publication. To Joseph Keaney, President of the Institute
of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy (Ireland), I extend my warmest
thanks for introducing me to hypnoanalysis in its purest form. My appreciation
goes to Sarah O’Neill and Finbarr Moloney for their wonderful grasp of
language. Thanks also to Shauna Busto Gilligan for her skillful proofreading,
editing, and friendship. To my brother Dara, for his guidance and protection, to
my son Fionn for his motivating smile, and to my family and friends without
whose untiring faith I would not have found my vocation. Above all, I wish to
acknowledge the passionate love, encouragment, and invaluable assistance my
wife Amanda has given me in seeing this book through to fruition.
Cathal O’Briain, 2009
A Word from Dr. Joseph E. Keaney
Aristotle wrote:
“Before you heal the body you must first heal the mind.”
It is always exciting to read hypno-psychotherapy works by graduate members
of the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, for their profession
is unique in the world of hypnosis today. My deepest hope is that the knowledge
set out in this book will inspire all those who need to help or better themselves,
while also providing valuable assistance to others in the healing, medical, and
psychological professions. The focus of self-therapy in this book derives partly
from Cathal’s intuitive understanding of the B Chaps model (Brief Clinical
Hypnoanalytical Solution Focused Psychotherapy) and he has certainly brought
a new dimension and insight to this transforming approach while simultaneously
being true to the underlying concepts. I have worked closely with him in
perfecting this therapeutic model, so that its rapid and effective use may
continue to be used for producing lasting results within the clinical setting.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all those who wish to use hypnosis
to bring about lasting change. It is an excellent contribution to the historical
development of hypnotherapy and its concepts are soundly based on insightful
methodology. If applied, they have the potency to transform your mind, body,
and spirit. Set yourself free from the bondage of emotional difficulty and relish
this mind expanding journey you’re about to undertake. This book will literally
change the way you think, feel, and behave, forever!
“It’s not the conscious mind that I’m interested in. It’s the unconscious mind
that will make all the changes.”
Dr. Joseph E. Keaney - President of the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy &
Psychotherapy (Ireland)
Follow your heart, your mind, your desire. By that I mean follow
your own heart, your own mind, your own desire.
Cathal O’Briain
