PROVOCATIVE SUGGESTIONS A N B C O ULLSHIT OMBINATION OF H , NLP P YPNOSIS AND SYCHOLOGY D C WITH IFFICULT LIENTS J R ØRGEN ASMUSSEN PROVOCATIVE SUGGESTIONS Copyright © 2015, Jørgen Rasmussen All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the author, except for inclusion of brief quotations in a review. For information about this book or how to obtain special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact: Jørgen Rasmussen Email: [email protected] Web: www.provocativehypnosis.com Cover Design by Cybill Conklin Interior Design by QA Productions I would like to dedicate this book to my daughter Rikke   And a big thanks to my wife Marit, my mother Anne- Lise, my father John Åge, and Christian, Brian Mahoney, Lewis Walker, Bridget Mckenna, John Grinder and Jaye Manus for helping contribute to my book and make this possible. F OREWORD As a general medical practitioner I have spent the last 25 years using hypnosis, NLP and other therapeutic based technologies to effect change in my patients. I still remember the excitement of my early NLP days; the books, seminars and discussion groups and the first steps in using the various techniques. Much of it seemed like magic! But . . . I soon started encountering patients who didn’t seem to fit with the seemingly effortless easy success of the seminar demonstration subjects. Over time and with varied conversations with others I began to see that the dreaded “left brainers” with poor visualisation and hypnotic capacity required more of a top-down cognitive and linguistic type approach (Beck’s CBT and Ellis’ REBT). And, incorporating those skills, for a time all was well in my world . . . Then . . . I started to encounter a different type of phenomenon. This was a person who despite using the best of my skills still remained stuck at the very edge of their map, whilst an almost identical presentation in another client went smoothly. Very puzzling indeed. What on Earth was happening here? I began to get the first hints of how there were various levels of conscious and psychological development and the difference between translational and transformational change. The former being change that didn’t require a developmental leap, the latter requiring a much bigger shift in perspective taking and meaning making with significant impact across all contexts; New Skills versus a New Way of Being. So . . . I explored the writings of Ken Wilber and his Integral Model which incorporated much on developmental theory across many levels and lines from the likes of Suzanne Cooke-Greuter, Robert Kegan, Clare Graves and many others. These theorists all had one thing in common; great theories but little in the way of easy identification of presenting issues and practical utilisation at the coal face of everyday problems. Of these models, Kegan’s ideas on mental complexity (especially the levels of socialised, self authoring and self transforming mind) was perhaps the most useful and I spent many hours trying to formulate his writings into a cogent therapeutic application. Enter Jørgen Rasmussen . . . Over the years I have known him, Jørgen has grappled with the very same issues—with One Big Exception. He is the only person I know working in the field who, through reading, training and much exploration, has managed to distil developmental theory into a coherent practical approach that deals with the real world—a complex and messy place where patients and clients don’t come with attached labels, and where similar presentations and problems may belie very different levels of development. Jørgen has found tell-tale signals and signs that alert you to which type of issue you are dealing with—skills based or transformational. He knows how to sort through the mess, differentiate what is important from what’s not, and knows just where to tap. And the key thing is—He Gets Results. And not only that, he can show you how to do the very same. Caveat Emptor . . . (Buyer Beware!) If you have read his previous book, Provocative Hypnosis, you will know that at times Jørgen takes no prisoners and can be ‘politically incorrect’. This book continues at times in similar vein. If you are of a very sensitive nature and disposition then perhaps best not to read on! However if you are keen to find out just what you can do when the rubber really hits the road and you are dealing with the confusing complexities of human hurt in all its manifestations, trying to find a way through that engenders lasting change whilst being up to your eyeballs trying to sort out what’s useful from what’s not, then this is The Book for You. You will find many working examples both of translation of problems at the same level and find out just when this signifies a need for transformation to the next. At times it’s messy stuff. And that will reflect your everyday experience with clients. You will go away much the richer for your read. And as a bonus . . . You may find out much more about your own current developmental level as you are led to the edge of your envelope in transforming to the next. Whilst undoubtedly gaining many new skills, you may well find a new Way of Being. And, more subtly, it will perhaps become clearer that you can only deal with clients who are at your current level of complexity or below. Maybe not politically correct, but with a great deal of Truth all the same. Enjoy! Dr. Lewis Walker, FRCP General Medical Practitioner Ardach Health Centre Scotland UK P RAISE When I first read Jørgen’s first book Provocative Hypnosis I was totally inspired to learn more about his work but I needed an answer to a burning question. Were these client stories really true? From 2009 I started hosting ‘Provocative Hypnosis’ seminars and my questions were more than answered. Firstly because as I took Jørgen to the port one day I met his mother and her friend who, on dropping him off, told me all about the ‘Anorexic’ woman (her niece) who was now totally cured and had completely turned her life around . . . It was signed and sealed confirmation for me and more importantly gives me the opportunity to second it all by saying to you, the reader, that I became witness firsthand to some of his client work since then and written about in his new book (Provocative Suggestions). This is without doubt one of the best books I have ever read that totally surpasses his previous book by its sheer authenticity in writing and this man’s humility when it comes to sharing his work. I am privy to transformations in people that quite literally helped me to aim high when it comes to personal transformation and not become just another NLPer, Hypnotist, etc. Jørgen moulds his work from a variety of sources (that he not only acknowledges and gives credit where credit is due) but also layers the tools, tips, techniques, and more importantly the pitfalls of falling into certain ways of thinking/being when doing change work . . . From start to finish he takes you inside the mind of the client and the mind of Jørgen Rasmussen and guides you, the reader, to become masterful in your client work. This is in my opinion a writing masterpiece that will have you seriously improving and humorously laughing your socks off in both shock and awe . . . Wayne Marsh NLP Trainer and Serial Entrepreneur   •   •   •   When I was learning Taijiquan many years ago, I was always being told that I should choose a master and study deeply with him and him alone (or her) . . . That this was the only proper path to mastery. I ignored this and studied deeply with many (at one time studying concurrently with five different instructors). My mindset was that whatever skills I developed, they were going to be mine—embodied in MY body and, as such, personalised and unique. I was building MY art and MY skill, not just trying to take on board someone else’s conception of what was ‘right’. This approach paid dividends for me and I found myself rapidly accelerating past my classmates in terms of skill and ability. Many years later, when I got into hypnosis/NLP/general brain-wrangling I took the same approach—study broadly and study deeply . . . explore and experiment. Generate an approach that made sense and worked for me (and I’m still doing it). One person I have learned a phenomenal amount from— and count myself very fortunate to know—is Jørgen Rasmussen. Like me (only most likely bolder and braver), Jørgen is an explorer, tester and integrator  .  .  . which seems to make him one of a rare breed. Rather than going ‘all in’ with any particular philosophy or school of Changework, Jørgen pragmatically explores and draws from a range of sources. But ABSOLUTELY NOT in a random or mismatched way. What he achieves is a cohesive hybrid, rigorously tested and thought through, where each element contributes to a powerful and unique gestalt. But what is also true of Jørgen is that he is not building a static masterpiece or a signature approach that he can trademark and sell. He is always refining, adding, subtracting, and holds absolutely no allegiance to one fixed path, even of his own creating. As I mentioned, Jørgen has been a huge influence on me in the four years I have known him, and he has introduced me to several sources that have become integral to my own work—especially Robert Kegan’s developmental psychology, the REBT philosophy of Albert Ellis, The Work of Byron Katie, and William Glasser’s ‘Choice Theory’. In this book Jørgen will introduce you to his own integration of this work. Some aspects he speaks of explicitly and in great length, others shine through in the thinking. The heady brew that is created is presented via case studies and personal explorations. I believe that this book will greatly serve anyone who works with clients in the capacity of helping them change behaviours, responses and results. It is a call to practitioners to escape from inward-looking silos and raise their eyes and minds to see what else is out there that may contribute to their evolution and efficacy. James Tripp Hypnotist and Transformative Coach   •   •   •