The Benefits of Working with a “Dead” Patient: Hypnotically Facilitated Pseudo Near-Death Experiences

Abstract

The literature on near-death experiences is consistent in describing how such events are typically transformative. Utilizing standard hypnotic techniques, therapists can approximate many of the therapeutic aspects of such experiences, without the life-or-death crisis, to facilitate both first and second order change in psychotherapy. This article explores the use of hypnotically facilitated waking dreams as an interactive projective technique. The focus is on the varied ways that the dream components that correlate with near-death experiences can evoke durable change.