Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesUsesBenefitsRisksWhat to Expect
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Uses
Benefits
Risks
What to Expect
Regression therapy is a type of psychotherapy (also called talk therapy) that guides people to remember past events and traumas buried in their subconscious. Age regression therapy and past-life regression therapy are two versions of this method.
This article covers the methods, benefits, and risks of hypnotic, age, and past-life regression therapy.
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Types of Regression Therapy
Three common types of regression therapy are hypnotic regression, age regression, and past life regression.
Hypnotic Regression Therapy
With hypnotic regression, a psychotherapist helps a person tap into buried memories with hypnosis.
Hypnosisis a trancelike state in which a person seems detached from the outer world while being extremely attuned to their inner world. The state of relaxation that people experience in hypnosis makes them more open to suggestions from a therapist.
During hypnotic regression, a therapist might use imagery, exploration of physical sensations, and storytelling to guide their patient through the past. Once a difficult memory is found, emotions that had remained buried could come to the surface to be released.
The memory and its effects could also be reframed to feel less painful to the person. As a result of releasing these emotions or reframing the difficult events, a person might experience improvement in their daily life.
Age Regression Therapy
The relaxed state a person is in, along with the safe environment of a therapist’s office, can make difficult childhood memories less frightening to address and process.
Note that this type of therapy is used in both treatment and forensic settings but that the use of age regression in either context is controversial.
Past-Life Regression Therapy
Past-life regression is a controversial hypnotherapy technique that claims to help people remember lifetimes that supposedly existed before they were born.
Those who practice past-life regression believe in reincarnation, the idea that the soul of a dead person is reborn as a new person. Past-life regression practitioners believe there are traumas from other lifetimes that affect people in their current lives.
Most psychologists do not support the practice and think it is a product of suggestion from the therapist. Some say past-life memories could just be information people had gleaned from books, television shows, and familiar places when they were younger.
Other practitioners believe that even if reincarnation is not real, past-life regression could be an effective role-playing technique that can help with labeling subconscious issues. However, some also say there is a risk that past-life regression could plant false memories, and if those memories are traumatic, the person could experience harm.
Regression Therapy Uses
Regression therapy can be used to find the root of unexplained physical or emotional pain. The method can help with understanding the effects of the past in a specific, personal way.
During regression therapy, a person releases pent-up emotions or reframes a situation so it no longer negatively affects their daily life.
Regression therapy could be effective in treating:
Regression Therapy Benefits
While it might not address all the causes of a problem, regression therapy can help with starting the process of addressing past wounds.
The benefits of regression therapy include the following:
For those who are not comfortable with hypnosis or not open to moving past painful emotions, regression therapy might not be effective.
Regression Therapy Risks and Concerns
Regression therapy is mostly considered safe, however, there are some concerns.
It’s important to pick a licensed, experienced practitioner with whom you feel comfortable when considering regression therapy.
Hypnosis Myths
Many believe that hypnosis is a completely altered state. In reality, those under hypnosis are usually aware of their surroundings. Hypnosis is not just about physical relaxation; it also includes being extremely focused on any sensations in the body and images in the mind.
A regression therapist first guides you to a relaxed or hypnotic state where you feel safe and open to memories that might surface. Then, you’re asked to describe events from your past from a personal standpoint. Any emotions that come up are validated and encouraged to be released.
A regression therapy session might include going under hypnosis. Other techniques used during the session might include:
With age regression, a therapist might gradually take a person back over time until reaching a specific age or buried trauma.
Regression can take several sessions, and ideally, it would result in healing from issues that interfere with well-being.
How to Find the Right Regression TherapistIt’s important to find a regression therapist you feel comfortable with. In addition to personal compatibility, you might consider:Licensing and credentialsRegression therapy experienceHypnosis experienceThat the therapist uses scientific methods that have been researchedExperience with your specific concernsLong-term availability
How to Find the Right Regression Therapist
It’s important to find a regression therapist you feel comfortable with. In addition to personal compatibility, you might consider:Licensing and credentialsRegression therapy experienceHypnosis experienceThat the therapist uses scientific methods that have been researchedExperience with your specific concernsLong-term availability
It’s important to find a regression therapist you feel comfortable with. In addition to personal compatibility, you might consider:
Summary
Regression therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which a therapist leads a person to remember events buried in the subconscious. The goal of regression therapy is to bring repressed emotions to a conscious state and then release them. Regression therapy can include hypnosis, a trancelike state in which a person is open to suggestions.
Regression therapy has been used to heal depression, anxiety, phobias, PTSD, insomnia, and other physical and emotional ailments.
Regression therapy can be risky for some since it might plant false memories or unearth traumas that are difficult to process. Some people might find it difficult to relax enough to succeed with regression therapy, while others might prefer to stay attached to their emotions.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Trivedi GY, Trivedi R.Measuring the effectiveness of regression therapy-proposed methodology and case studies to measure psychological parameters.Int J Regress Ther. 2020;27(31):70-86.American Psychological Association.Hypnotic regression.Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?Palliative Care.2019;12. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581American Psychological Association.Age regression.American Psychological Association.Past-life regression.Andrade G.Is past life regression therapy ethical?J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2017;10:11.American Psychological Association.How do I find a good therapist?
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Trivedi GY, Trivedi R.Measuring the effectiveness of regression therapy-proposed methodology and case studies to measure psychological parameters.Int J Regress Ther. 2020;27(31):70-86.American Psychological Association.Hypnotic regression.Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?Palliative Care.2019;12. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581American Psychological Association.Age regression.American Psychological Association.Past-life regression.Andrade G.Is past life regression therapy ethical?J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2017;10:11.American Psychological Association.How do I find a good therapist?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Trivedi GY, Trivedi R.Measuring the effectiveness of regression therapy-proposed methodology and case studies to measure psychological parameters.Int J Regress Ther. 2020;27(31):70-86.American Psychological Association.Hypnotic regression.Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?Palliative Care.2019;12. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581American Psychological Association.Age regression.American Psychological Association.Past-life regression.Andrade G.Is past life regression therapy ethical?J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2017;10:11.American Psychological Association.How do I find a good therapist?
Trivedi GY, Trivedi R.Measuring the effectiveness of regression therapy-proposed methodology and case studies to measure psychological parameters.Int J Regress Ther. 2020;27(31):70-86.
American Psychological Association.Hypnotic regression.
Williamson A.What is hypnosis and how might it work?Palliative Care.2019;12. doi:10.1177/1178224219826581
American Psychological Association.Age regression.
American Psychological Association.Past-life regression.
Andrade G.Is past life regression therapy ethical?J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2017;10:11.
American Psychological Association.How do I find a good therapist?
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