Regression Therapy: A Handbook for Professionals

"At last, the fruits of research in this fascinating field have been harvested by a wise therapist for other professionals. This clear & comprehensive book will appeal to lay readers, as well."--Marilyn Ferguson, Brain-Mind Bulletin.

In Volume I, thirteen of the foremost past-life therapists present individual sections on theory & examines in mini-treatises the approach of experts to pre- & peri-natal experiences, early childhood traumas & abuse, exploration of the interlife & the future, & dialogues with the unborn soul. "Winafred Lucas has pulled together information & concepts from many ...

By Dr. Winafred Blake Lucas.

ISBN-10: 1882530004

SECTION III             REVIEWS

Regression Therapy: A Handbook for Professionals.

by Winafred Blake Lucas, Ph.D.

Two volumes: Vol. I: Past-Life Recall, Vol. II: Special Instances of Altered State Work.
(Crest Park, CA: Deep Forest Press, 1993)      Reviewed by Thelma Freedman

To say that this two-volume compendium is a major contribution to our field is to ridiculously undervalue it. It is, in this reviewer's opinion, probably the most important single contribution to our field to date. More than ten years in the making, it reflects the precision, thoughtfulness and thoroughness that one would expect from Lucas.

Both volumes are eloquently organized. The first ten chapters of the first volume, written very sensitively by Lucas, constitute an overview of the field as it has grown and stands today. The first chapter is exactly what it should be: an excellent history of past life therapy. In the next nine chapters, Lucas discusses the theories, assumptions, and techniques of our field, including our many controversies and dilemmas. These chapters pull together the various (and sometimes conflicting) views of the 13 contributors whose papers comprise the remaining 12 chapters of Volume I.

These papers have been written by 13 of the earliest and leading practitioners of past life therapy. The chapters all follow the same basic format; in the first section we learn the writer's  background and by what stages he or she came independently to past life therapy. These biographical sections are, to me, fascinating. Cumulatively, they convey the effect of what some Eastern philosophies call a "karass:" a group of people whose karma is to find each other to accomplish some great goal together. Perhaps to other working therapists, who may already have acquaintance with some of the theories and techniques discussed in the rest of these chapters, this human, biographical material will also be of special interest. Here we see 13 highly respected therapists and independent thinkers on their lonely, years-long journeys and quests.

This first, biographical section is followed in each chapter by more pragmatic material. The second section cc each paper gives us the writer's theories, including his or her philosophical hypotheses, therapeutic assumptions, and beliefs about the indications and contraindications for the use of past life therapy. The third and fourth sections of each paper cover each writer's techniques for induction and processing material, all described in great and useful detail; also included here is a discussion of failures, thoughtfully analyzed by each writer. These sections are followed by case descriptions illustrating the theories and techniques discussed. Taken as a whole, we see in these chapters a tremendous diversity of ideas and techniques, a richness of imagination in developing techniques that work, theories drawn from them, and new questions to ask.

This first volume focuses on past life therapy. The second volume, as its subtitle indicates, moves into related areas. These include regression to prenatal, perinatal, birth, and childhood experiences, death and interlife experiences, progression to future lives, and releasement therapy. Chapters and sections are written by over 20 major practitioners and therapists in the various areas; each consists of a detailed introduction and one or more case analyses. Again, we see the diversity of opinion and techniques that marks our field's development.

Klimo, in his Foreword to this second volume, points out that it is not Lucas' intent in these volumes to convince the skeptical, but rather to provide a comprehensive handbook and guide for therapists of past life therapy and its related areas. Although Lucas has succeeded handsomely in this goal, she has also produced two volumes that may well (and should) ski cc some skeptics' preconceptions, as well.

One major skeptics' preconception that is challenged by these volumes is that these therapies are of ihile value and can be easily dismissed. This massive collection of papers by thoughtful experienced therapists demolishes that preconception. The sheer intellectual weight of this collection demands attention. One may disagree with some points made, some assumptions and interpretations, or one may think that one techniques is more useful than another. Indeed, it is impossible to agree with everything in these volumes. But it is also impossible to ignore the overall effectiveness of the therapies discussed, or the care with which they have been developed and are still being nurtured.

If I have a complaint about these volumes, it is that there is scant attention given to some of the research that has been done. The focus is on therapy, and this is in itself appropriate, given Lucas' intent to create a "handbook for professionals." Nevertheless, professionals need to know the research in their fields. Although Appendix C of Volume I describes Lucas' fascinating "Mind Mirror" study, and some references to other research are included within Lucas' first ten chapters, no separate chapter is devoted to research nor is all of the research that has been done mentioned. Although our field cannot boast very much research, what has been done is exciting. I would have liked to see such a chapter included, one in which the research done was described and critically analyzed.

I do like the discussions of contraindications and failures that are included, both by Lucas in her first ten chapters and by each contributor. Every field is defined by its failures, its limitations, a much as by its successes, and it is essential for professionals to know what doesn't work as well as what does. A word of warning is in order, however. In a field such as this, these contraindications and failures should not be taken as gospel because some new and creative technique may turn a failure into a success. This has been the story of our field as some therapist, faced perhaps with a failure, created a new technique that worked.

Lucas has indeed produced a handbook for professionals, but she has also produced an excellent training guide. Those teaching past life therapy will, from now on, find these volumes essential; since they now exist, they immediately constitute the heart and soul, the absolute foundation stone, of all good courses.

It is this reviewer's opinion that all past life therapists and teachers should own this handbook. It is a sourcebook for ideas, novel approaches, and different ways to use past life therapy. These volumes are not meant to he read once and put on a shelf; they are meant to be an everyday resource for practicing therapists who want to expand their own techniques and approaches, and for teachers who want to cover the field responsibly. Such a collection is rare any field of therapy, and we are fortunate that Lucas and her many honored contributors  have given us this one.

(Thelma B. Freedman, MA. was, until quite recently, Chairperson of the International Board of Regression Therapy and tireless former Editor of the Journal forRegression Therapy. We are greatly indebted to her and hercolleague Winafrd Lucas, for their enormous labors in putting Regression Therapy on the map professionally)

To get a sense of the scope and depth of this extraodinary handbookbook, which should be required reading for anyone practising or training in Regression Therapy, we are re-pinting here the Table of Contents for the two volumes (Ed)

[Michael; put this in any kind of box or sidebar and feel free to reduce the fonts etc]

Regression Therapy: A Handbook for Professionals.

by Winafred Blake Lucas, Ph.D.

Vol. I: Past-Life Recall

Contents

Foreword by Norman Shealy
Preface

Introduction

Chapter I        The History of Regression Therapy
Psychological Foundations
Early Steps in Past-Life Therapy
The Paradigm Shift
The Formation of the Association for Past-Life Research and Therapies
New Areas of Altered-State Therapy
Past-Life Therapy Comes of Age

Theory

Chapter II       Philosophical Hypotheses
The Journey of the Soul
Karmic Patterns
The Wisdom of the Core Self
The Energic Nature of Experience and Transformation

Chapter III     Psychotherapeutic Assumptions

General Principles

The First Stage: Identification with a Previous Lifetime
The Second Stage: Disidentification

The Third Stage: Transformation

Theories of Intervention

Chapter IV     Indications and Contrainadications for Use
Transpersonal Goals
Focusing on Symptoms
Working with Patterns
Contrainadication for Regression Work

Induction

Chapter V      Preparation
Exploring the Patient's History and Patterns
Examining the Patient's Philosophy of Life
Establishing Rapport
Introducing Induction Techniques

Chapter VI     Induction Techniques
The Nature of Altered States
Hypnosis
Brainwave Research
Hypnosis or Its Accessories?
Induction through Relaxation, Breathing and Visualization
Entering a Past Life
Age Regression as an Entry Technique
The Emotional-Somatic Bridge as Induction and Entry

Chapter VII    Supportive and Deepening Techniques
The Role of the Therapist
Techniques for Eliciting Material
Blocking
Moving within Time
Dealing with Stress

Processing

Chapter VIII  Psychotherapeutic and Transformational  Techniques
The Stage of Identification: Abreaction
The Stage of Disidentification: Exploring Patterns
The Stage of Disidentification: Cognitive Techniques
Emotional and Transformational Techniques
The Importance of the Death Experience

Chapter IX     Integration into the Therapeutic Process
The Long Path of Transformation
Techniques of Integration
Transformation of the Personality

Chapter X       Failures
Realistic Limitations
Limitations Brought by the Patient
Sources of Failure Contributed by the Therapist

Contributors

Chapter XI                 Ronald Wong Jue, Ph.D.
Chapter XII                Hazel M. Denning, Ph.D.
Chapter XIII              Roger J. Woolger, Ph.D.
Chapter XIV               Edith Fiore, Ph.D.

Chapter XV                Chet B. Snow, Ph.D.
Chapter XVI               Rob Bontenbal, MA. and Tineke Noordegraaf, M.M. (The                                               Netherlands)
Chapter XVII Irene Hickman, D.O.
Chapter XVIII            Edward N. Reynolds, Ph.D.
Chapter XIX. Barbara Findeisen, M.F.C.C.
Chapter XX                Thorwald Dethlefsen, Ph.D. (Germany)
Chapter XXI. Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Chapter XXII.            Ernest F. Pecci, M.D.

Appendices

Appendix A.               Profile of the Contributors
Appendix B                Group Induction-Helen Wambach
Appendix C               Mind Mirror Research on the Retrieval of Past Lives

Volume II   Special Instances of Altered State Work

Foreword by Jon Klimo, Ph.D

.
Chapter I        Regression to Prenatal and Birth Experiences
Introduction
Michael Gabriel, MA.
Prenatal Regression Therapy
Alice M, Givens, Ph.D.
Prenatal and Birth Reprograming
Roger J. Woolger, Ph.D.
Tracing the Karmic Source of Prenatal Programs

Hugh W. Harmon, Ph.D.
Awareness in Utero
Claire Etheridge, Ph.D.
Treating Psychological Problems through Prenatal Recall

Rob Bontenbal, M.A and Tineke Noordegraaf, M.M.
A Re-evaluation of Relationships in the Prenatal Period

Barbara Findeisen, M.F.C.C.
Rescripting Destructive Birth Patterns
Irene Hickman, D.O,
Reluctant Birthing
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D,
Regression of the Cautious Patient

Chapter II       Regression to Childhood

Introduction
Barbara Findeisen, M.F.C.C.
Reframing a Repressive childhood
Alice M. Givens, Ph.D.
Childhood Depression and Fear
Claire Etheridge, Ph.D.
Repetition of a Pattern of Fear in the Uterine Experience, Birth, and Childhood
Roger J. Woolger, Ph.D.
Childhood Memories Triggering Past-Life Traumas

Irene Hickman, D.O.
Age Regression in Childhood as a Bridge into Past Lives

Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Reframing a Parental Image

Chapter III.    Child Abuse

Introduction
Alice M. Givens, Ph.D.
The Child Is Innocent-Releasing the Effects of Child Abuse

Afton L. Blake, Ph.D.
Phobias and Sexual Abuse
Irene Hickman, D.O.
Childhood Sexual Trauma
Roger J. Woolger, Ph.D.
Sexual Abuse Rooted in Another Lifetime
Ernest F. Pecci, M.D.
Karmic Roots of Sexual Abuse Underlying Schizophrenia

Hazel M. Denning, Ph.D.
A Karmic Source of Childhood Trauma
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Sexual Abuse in a Dysfunctional Family

Chapter IV     Varieties of Interlife Experience
Introduction

Joel L Whitton, MD., PhD.
Gaining Wisdom in the Life between Life
Samual Sandweiss, MD.
The Interlife in a Current Death Experience

Roger J. Woolger, Ph.D
Learning in the Interim State

Irene Hickman, D.O. 
Learning in the Valley 
Hazel M. Denning, Ph.D.
Between Physical Incarnations
Winafred B. Lucas, PhD.
Return to the Interlife as a Source of Healing

Chapter V       Conversations with the Unborn

Introduction
Gladys T. McGarey, M.D.
New Light on Abortion
Anne Hubbell Maiden, Ph.D.
Dialogues with the Unborn in Other Cultures

Claire Etheridge, Ph.D.
Communication with the Fetus
Barbara P. Lamb, MS., M.F.C.C,
The Therapeutic Value of Talking with Aborting Fetuses

Barbara Findeisen, M.F.C,C,
Helping Women Make a Choice Regarding Abortion

Hugh W. Harmon, Ph.D.
Communication with Life in Utero
Louise Ireland-Frey, M.D.
Releasing the Attachment of an Aborted Entity

Winafred B. Lucas, Ph..D.
A Therapist Learns about Abortion

Chapter VI.    Contemporary Approaches to Releasement

Introduction
Adam Crabtree, MA.
Therapy for Possession
Edith Fiore, Ph.D.
Release of Entities
Louise Ireland-Frey, MD.
Clinical Depossession
Chct B. Snow, Ph.D.
Differentiating Past Lives from Entity Attachment
Hiroshi Montoya, M.D.
Karmic Consequences Activated by Possession
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Releasement of Entities Resulting in Physical Healing
Rob Bontenbal, M.A. and Tineke Noordegraaf, M.M.

Attachment by Living Parents
Kenneth J. Naysmith, Ph.D.
Possession by the Living
Hazel M. Denning, Ph,D.
Drawing Entities through Anger
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Releasement in Sri Lanka

Chapter VII    Death, Dying, and the Dead
introduction
Roger J. Woolger, PhD.
The Transformation of Negative Patterns in Past-Life Death Experiences
Hazel M. Denning, Ph.D.
Communication from the Dead
Barbara P. Lamb, M.S., M.F.C.C.
Spirit Visitations
Chet B, Snow, Ph.D.
Death Comes to Marie-France
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Gentle Birthing into Death
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
The Transition of Animals

Chapter VIII  Progression to the Future

Introduction
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
The Future Biography
Ernest F. Pecci, MD.
Exploring One's Death
Franklin Loehr, D.D.
Healing the Dying
Chet B. Snow, Ph.D.
New Age or Brave New World?

Chapter IX     Synthesis
Winafred B. Lucas, Ph.D.
Return to Berlin