TRAINING  &  COACHING  for  MANAGERS & LEADERS

Case Histories

Beliefs that Heal - Beliefs that Kill

Martyn Carruthers - 1995

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Thoughtforms

In this article, Thoughtforms, published by NLP World in March 1995, I summarized a study of the subjective experience of limiting identity beliefs and its applications in systemic relationship coaching.

A relationship bond refers to a subjective experience of connection between people, with the sense that people can lose both freedom and identity in relationships. A Thoughtform refers to a kinesthetic image schema representing a relationship bond to a significant person as a limiting "identity" belief.

[ Relationship Bonds (2004) ]

History of Thoughtforms

People once believed that mental and physical diseases were caused by unseen malign influences. Our ancestors blamed nature spirits, demons, esoteric elements and many other entities. Moreover, they created elaborate systems to explain, defend against and control these "malignant forces", and to protect people from their influence.

Although these ideas nearly became extinct during the industrial revolution, they re-emerged within many modern movements. Many esoteric, New Age and magical philosophies still refer to malevolent dark entities and shapes that may cause mental, physical and relationship problems.

Phineas Quimby, an American healer of the last century, was credited with healing thousands of people. Quimby wrote that physical disease was a result of mistaken beliefs, and that mistaken beliefs were represented in a person's mind as horrific images. He described ways to change these "mistaken beliefs" - but his fame as a faith healer ensured that his words were not heeded by professionals.

Quimby's work was distorted as a basis for both Christian Science (founded by Mary Eddy - a student of Quimby) and the New Thought Movement (founded by Julian Dresser - Quimby's friend and editor), from which the popular Positive Thinking movement emerged.) Read, if you are interested and tenacious, "The Quimby Manuscripts". See Quimby - Model of a Healer

Eliciting Thoughtforms

As a person's self-image changes with context, we map self-image onto the context of a desired goal. We coach people to access "future" meta-positions that represent an experience of integration. From these future meta-positions, we ask people to describe their current reality. These descriptions may include formidable representations, such as black demons, gray animals and implements of bondage.

Some images are connected to unwanted behaviors, or the lack of certain abilities. Typical unpleasant images would be "a gray snake that makes me..." or "a black chain around my legs that stops me..."

These shapes seem to be associated with locations of physical disease - a person might report "seeing" a back whirlpool or a dark animal in or connected to a diseased body part. Such experiences can be readily utilized to create effective changework strategies. This article refers to unpublished changework models - Soulwork coach training fully describes these models and applications.

Creation of Thoughtforms

Thoughtforms appear to be emotional bonds between people - holding people together - even people who might otherwise avoid each other. People will comment about "dark chains" and "black ropes" connecting themselves to other people.

We repeatedly find that Thoughtforms are normally associated with beliefs that were accepted by the person at a time when a person was resourceless and an important person communicated (verbally or non-verbally) a limiting belief ABOUT the client.

A simple example of Thoughtform installation might follow a child breaks something important. An angry parent might shout, "You are so STUPID, just like your <other parent>!" to the child. A resourceless child may accept this idea as a belief - and as a way of bonding to the parent. Thereafter, the child may interpret feedback as evidence that supports a belief that he or she is stupid. (See Parental Alienation)

We often find bonds installed by health professionals. If an aboriginal shaman "casts a spell" at a tribe member, there are many descriptions of the victim becoming ill in the prescribed time. When a health professional "casts a diagnosis" at a client, there may be a similar effect. (See Mentor Damage)

Many of our clients are therapists, and we have found that they can accept Thoughtforms from clients. For example, a therapist may feel resourceless as a client blames the therapist for poor performance. Some clients have effective hypnosis skills and install limiting beliefs in resourceless therapists.

Extent of Thoughtforms

Thoughtforms may be visual, auditory and/or kinesthetic and can operate at many levels. I use Gregory Bateson's concept of logical types to evaluate the impact of a Thoughtform on a person's life. It is usually enlightening for a person to discover what actions, beliefs, values, identity and visions were accepted from or connected to other important people.

I found that Thoughtforms are often associated with physical disease. When working with clients in this context, a priority is to dissolve Thoughtforms. I assume that dark areas in the self-image represent parts of the body over which the unconscious mind has limited control, and that this is detrimental to health. I also assume that a complete and bright self-image is a prerequisite for long-term good health.

Installing Thoughtforms

Books about manipulation often include directions for covertly installing beliefs in other people, without their request nor permission. Many hypnotists boast of such skills. This was once called black magic.

Mystical cures (exorcism etc) often create dependence on a shaman, magician or priest! Nothing is learned by a person on how they gained their obsessions, and little is done to prevent recurrence. This may generate repeat business, and people can be encouraged to blame themselves for predictable relapses and recurring problems!

We teach Relationship Bondwork to students who demonstrate excellence at systemic diagnosis, goal definition and brief family therapy. We have trained many professional therapists and psychologists, who report that they can achieve effective long-term change in a fraction of their previous time, AND that they have more energy at the end of a working day. See Relationship Bonds

Ecology is the Study of Congruence

The key to effective changework are congruent goals. Without a congruent goal, changework will likely have short term or unpleasant effect. When clients learn about their acceptance of another person's influence, they can choose to prevent recurrence and focus on their goals, choosing exactly what resources, goals and visions they want.

[ Emotional Incest ] [ Daddy's Princess ] [ Mother's Little Prince ] [ Codependence ]

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