The process known as Past Life Regression takes someone (the subject) into hypnosis and then the subject is encouraged through various appropriate suggestions to bring to mind a life and that life's particular experiences.
As the person undergoing the process is describing a life which more often than not is from the past, it is called a past life. The word regression refers to the experience of going back (regressing) into the past.
Whether or not the past life or lives being described by the person has actually occurred isn't necessarily relevant to the experience or even the usefulness of the process. There are two distinct applications for Past Life Regression.
Firstly, Past Life Regression can be used for recreational purposes only. This is when a person is interested in discovering what past lives they might describe whilst in hypnosis. No is not a therapeutic side to this use of Past Life regression however in the hands of a skilled and experienced hypnotherapist there can be useful life lessons that can be utilised.
The other use of Past Life Regression, most often referred to as Past Life Healing, is when it is used for therapeutic reasons. For example, when a person has an issue and which no other forms of help has been able to resolve, a past life regression may just lead to the resolution of that issue.
One of the more well known past life regression examples when therapeutic benefit was gained was the example of a woman who had a fear of water. No other method of help has been able to resolve the phobia. During a past life regression she described being pushed into a canal by men and drowning in that past life. With the help of the therapist, this information was used to help the woman who then lost her phobia of water.
To summarise, Past Life Regression can be used for reasons of interest only or can form part of a professionally conducted therapy session. With both types of use the subject can gain useful insights into current behaviour and change unwanted behaviours.
Steven HaroldClinical Hypnotherapist - London