By Douglas R Franklin MS CRC OVRS Clackamas

December 11, 2005

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The traffic slowed to a crawl two blocks from Disneyland and four blocks from our destination at the Anaheim Convention Center Campus.  Tops were down on the slow moving convertibles and the palm trees were swaying in the balmy evening.  Several airport shuttles were lined up for the right turn onto the broad boulevard that ended at the Anaheim convention center building, flanked on both sides by the Marriot and the Hilton.  

As we approached the convention center campus we were keenly aware that we were entering a temporary community of some 9,000 psychologists, and other mental health professionals.  The excitement was palpable because included in this group were world renowned psychologists and psychotherapists, Dr. Martin Seligman, the founder of the Positive Psychology, Dr. Albert Ellis founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dr. Aaron Beck, a recognized leader in CBT and its applications in treating depression, Dr. Otto Kernberg, psychiatrist and foremost expert on Personality Disorders, and Dr. Albert Bandura pioneer of self-directed behavior change.  Adding to these well known figures was a list of 42 celebrated experts in psychology.   Included were,  Marsha Linehan, James Hillman, Irvin Yalom, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams, Donald Meichenbaum, Salvador Minuchin, Erving Polster, and Ernest Rossi.

The Evolution of Psychotherapy conference takes place every five years and is a six day landmark event that offers an opportunity to listen and observe, as well as meet, and talk with, the living masters of psychotherapy and others who are in the process of making major contributions to the field.  It is an opportunity to network with professionals and to compare notes on the efficacy of different approaches in psychotherapy.

Thanks to help in the form of a scholarship form Oregon Employment and Training Association I was able to attend this landmark convention.  My personal goals in attending were to discuss Vocational Rehabilitation applications of Positive Psychology assessments with Dr. Seligman, to learn as much as possible about current theories and descriptions of personality disorders, particularly borderline, histrionic, narcissistic and antisocial, and to look into the application of hypnosis as a means of problem solving.

Faculty was chosen to represent Psychologies vast field of science, therapies, and humanistic activism.  The thrust of the convention was to encompass the past, informing the present, with an eye on setting the tone for the next century.  Participants could pick and chose their areas of interest and expand themselves by exploring new territory from the experts.

Convocation

Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams opened the conference as the convocation speaker.  He is a medical doctor, social activist and clown who was the subject of a Hollywood film and portrayed by Robin Williams.  Jeffry Zeig founder and director of the Milton Erickson foundation introduced Patch with the explanation that sometimes the direction a person’s life takes, is in itself a form of therapy that allows a person to contribute to the welfare of others while healing themselves.  Patch’s presentation was a challenge to all those who believe in social justice to stop sitting on the sidelines and begin acting.  His slides and videos were exclusively of children from war torn countries to which he had traveled with his clown troupe to help alleviate suffering.  Many in this audience were put off by his emotional displays which included slapstick humor, crying, and falling to his knees in a performance of anguish. 

Needless to say his rapid cycling emotional message found its way into the presentations of the faculty over the next few days with many opinions and facts about psychological forces and psychology’s role in working with different cultures.  There was much conversation about how to help people living with trauma, and what role psychologists might play in our culture to help describe, explain and predict, better ways to healthier patterns of behavior.

Positive Psychology

This theme was visited by Dr. Martin Seligman, former president of the American Psychological Association, who believes that counselors and therapists can not only relieve mental health pathologies but also improve the quality of life for pathology free ‘normal’ people.  Positive Psychology starts with the research from many different  theories of psychology that have been proven to increase resources and a sense of well being. This translates  into a higher quality of life.  Having followed the progress of Positive Psychology for the last five years and being a proponent of applied research, I was interested in speaking with Dr. Seligman about my use of his theory within the context of Vocational Rehabilitation.  I spoke with him about the Positive Strengths and Characteristics Assessment currently available at the Authentic Happiness web site and its usefulness in redefining relationships with clients. He was genuinely interested in Vocational Rehabilitation and described a Positive Psychology Manual for Vocational Rehabilitation that is soon to be published. He gave me his email address and thanked me for my interest and support.

Positive Psychology has a Master’s degree program at the University of Pennsylvania. Featured on the cover of last winter’s TIME magazine Dr. Seligman is now advising the military on applications for positive psychology as well as getting funding for K-12 research.  Many of Positive Psychology’s assessments can be accessed at www.authentichappiness.org.  Positive Psychology has a reference book currently available in bookstores and referred to as ‘the book of sanities’.  It is a compilation of the positive attributes of humanity and intended as the positive version of the DSM IV.  Currently in use at the Clackamas Branch OVRS and available at the Oregon City ACCESS program, positive strength assessments are proving to be a useful tool in identifying strengths that can be matched to career search while deepening the client/counselor relationship.

Personality Disorders

Dr. Otto Kernberg is the director of the Personality Disorders Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital, a Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell University and is a former president of the International Psychoanalytic Association.  He also works as a Supervising Analyst at Columbia University.  He is the author of 10 books.  He has been researching Personality Disorders for decades and is noted for his laser like intelligence.  He can describe and explain the nuances of a personality disorder with clarity and precision like no one else. 

It was interesting watching this small fit European man with a soft Austrian/Hungarian accent standing in front of a giant screen with a display of the ‘family tree’ of personality disorders.  His comments caused standing ovations and loud cheering and clapping from the crowd of several thousand.  At times the arena response was similar in attitude to an audience at a musical festival of popular musicians.  Dr. Kernberg’s presentation, peppered with humor, thrilled the crowd with insights into the difficulties and rewards for counselors and therapists working with personality disordered clients.  I highly recommend his publications to anyone interested in personality disorders.

Therapeutic Hypnosis

Once while attending the Psychiatric Grand Rounds at OHSU with Frances Nause, Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation’s Mental Health Specialist, we heard a lecturer speak on Strategic Therapy.  The speaker was from the Veterans Administration Hospital and she referred to Dr. Milton Erickson and suggested that Vocational Rehabilitation clientele were a natural fit with the use of Ericksonian hypnosis and goal centered therapy.   

Since the Evolution of the Psychotherapy conference was sponsored by the Milton Erickson Foundation there were several important hypnotherapists at the conference.

Dr. Ernest Rossi has published over 150 scientific papers on hypnosis, psychotherapy, and psychobiology.  He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award for Outstanding Contributions to the field of Psychotherapy by the Milton Erickson Foundation.  Dr Rossi has applied neuroscience research that finds the human brain tends to learn and process in 90-120 minute intervals.  During this two hour window the brain has optimum plasticity, memory and storage enhancement.  The process that takes place in this two hour window is called by neuroscientists ‘long term potentiation’.

Dr. Rossi uses this discovery in a simple easy to learn, activity-dependent therapy called Milton Erickson’s Hand Levitation Approach to Therapuetic Hypnosis and Psychotherapy.

Dr. Rossi spoke slowly and carefully sometimes with difficulty. After his opening remarks he spoke about his rehabilitation from a massive stroke several years ago that left him partially paralyzed and made speech impossible.  His use of Ericksonian Self Hypnosis began his road to recovery and made it possible for him to attend the conference.

He noted that it has long been observed that hypnosis can influence the body’s ability to perform.  A commonly used stage trick is to get the subject to freeze as stiff as a board.  Dr. Rossi used hypnosis to positively influence and to some degree reverse his injuries from the stroke.  Although it was evident that doing the presentation was a challenge for him, his drive and motivation to educate were inspirational.

Dr. Rossi began by teaching the audience how to use self hypnosis.  This he timed to last for 60 minutes followed by a 30 break.  When we returned he divided us into small groups of 5 or six.  The members of the group selected a therapist and a client and with Dr. Rossi leading us he began the process of hypnosis.  I volunteered to be the client and the chosen therapist was a Psychiatrist from Minnesota .

Having received biofeedback therapy for chronic pain and making a practice of mindfulness meditation on a daily basis, I was comfortable with the process of relaxing myself physically and then focusing my mind on elements noticed in the present moment.  This was recommended by Dr. Rossi for all the ‘clients’ in the audience.  The process was fascinating in that various hand movements were used to determine the progress made through the exercises which were focused on a self identified but unnamed (to anyone else) problem.  After signaling the therapist that a short term goal in the process had been met, the client was then directed to the next phase.  After the process was completed the therapist asked if any progress had been made toward solving the unmentioned dilemma.  In my case it worked amazingly well.  With out even identifying the problem to the therapist I had been directed through a course of activities that had proven to clarify what action should be considered to solve the issue.

Although I entered this workshop with some skepticism there is no doubt that hypnosis does work with some people to help them solve problems through strategic, goal directed activities. The best part of the process was that the problem was solved by the client without the therapist even needing to know what the problem was.  Autonomy in the therapeutic process was not something I expected to find in hypnosis which has a reputation for manipulating the client. Instead I found a completely client centered therapy.

Living Legends

Aaron Beck b.1921, sometimes called the father of Cognitive Therapy, and Albert Ellis b. 1913 of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy fame were both in attendance at the conference.

Albert Ellis is noted for this conclusion on dysfunctional beliefs. “It all boils down to 3 things

1. I must do well.  2. You must treat me well.  3. The world must be easy.”

I saw Albert Ellis on a panel discussing Sexuality.  He has a sarcastic wit, a high pitched voice, is very opinionated and always entertaining.  He also peppers his remarks with swear words that would get him banned from any radio show (except perhaps the Howard Stern show). He had an attendant to help him with the microphone and to help him understand questions from the audience.  At one point after an audience member took five minutes just asking a question he yelled “Get the mike away from him he’s a f****** narcissist.”  He reiterated during the discussion a few of his famous ideas. 1. People don’t get disturbed by events but by their perception of the event.  As long as there are consenting adults sexuality in any form is OK.  2. No matter when you developed your belief you still believe it.  Ideas about sex come from beliefs.  3. There is no way but work and practice the rest of your damn life, in all areas !  4. I used my theories on myself and then sex, love and marriage got a lot better for me because I was informed on how to satisfy women.

Ellis agrees that it is difficult to work with people with personality disorders but that he believes that 30% are just people with fears. . . including several former Presidents.

Sadly, Ellis 91 years old, missing his large intestines and medically fragile has run into difficulties with the board of directors for REBT who have discontinued his health insurance and removed him from the brownstone in New York that he originally donated to the foundation.  At the convention there were petitions protesting this action. 

Aaron Beck was the last speaker and he delivered the featured and final Keynote address.  The entire auditorium was filled to the rafters with probably close to 9,000 attendees.  Dr. Beck who is an MD sat in an overstuffed chair while Jeff Zeig introduced him and fielded questions after his presentation.  His image was projected on the back stage screen which seemed fitting for a man whose reputation is larger than life.  He spoke briefly about meeting the Dalai Lama.  More tellingly he referred to his early period of research when there was no time limits on treatment.  Beck who is most famous for his work on depression and teaching clients how to change their belief systems said that this will likely be his last major public appearance.

Much information was disseminated at the convention and there were quite a few presentations that I attended that offered exposure to mindfulness therapies, dream analysis, and Gestalt therapy.  A quick calculation revealed that it would have taken three weeks to attend all of the presentations at the conference.  In all the conference allowed me to make a good connection with Dr. Seligman, gave me the information I sought on personality disorders, and provided hands on training into the process of hypnotherapy.  I came away energized, connected, and hopeful about the future of psychotherapy