Name of Lecture: …Integrative Therapy in Clinical Psychology Practice with Practical Session on Nadi Shodhanam

Name of Speaker: … Dr Stoma Parker

Program Time: …230 – 330pm

Actual Time: …230-330pm
Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG

Name of Chairman:…Swami Ritavan

Name of Reporter: …Adel Enderson

Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: … None. 

Main Points of the Lecture: .... Dr Parker gave a personal account of his own experiences with the management of intense pain, in this case sciatic pain.  He considers that his pain was psychosomatic and he recalled how he observed an improvement in his symptoms following the successful treatment of one of his own clients through psychotherapy.   The speaker then discussed the work of John E. Sarno for the treatment of psychosomatic musculo-skeletal pain (see book references below).  The principle of the approach is that many pains are created by the unconcious mind as a mechanism for distracting the mind from other more disturbing or unacceptable emotions.  The speaker discussed the use of clinical hypnosis prior to surgery in which the suggestion of optimal healing and limited pain sensation is given to a patient before surgery.  This has been effective with the speakers own clients from his work in a psychotherapy setting.  Examples of this were provided such as the use of hypnotherapy to ‘switch off’ or ‘dim’ the pain centres and thereby effectively reduce the intensity of pain felt by the person. 

In the second part of the session Nadi Shodhanam was introduced as a practice similar to other clinical techniques for the treatment of post-traumatic stress.  The use of Nadi Shodhanam to alternately stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain has been found to be effective in balancing emotions and to moving into a meditative state.  It was noted to be a low impact practice suitable for long term use, and it was suggested that 3 rounds moving up to 9 rounds can be effective when completed twice per day.  Some guidance was provided on the technique and then a practical session was completed.  This comprised a short systematic relaxation in Shavasana, followed by a guided practice of 1 round of Nadi Shodhanam.    

Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … None.

Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc):  Reference was made to two books by John E. Sarno ‘The Mind Body Prescription’ and also ‘The Divided Mind’.