Hello,I am the parent of a special needs son as well as a Consulting Hypnotist. This blog will comment upon some of the events that my family has experienced or faced. It will also comment on how hypnosis and self- hypnosis may be beneficial to caregivers and families.

Professionally the focus of my practice is directed at offering resources to families with special needs issues.

Although there is not one specific issue or concern that I address with my client(s)... stress, anger, guilt and improving sleep habits are examples of issues that I work with my clients to improve or control.
Further information can be found at www.slugahypnosis.com


A bit about my family.

My wife Annie and I adopted our son Vinnie from an orphanage in central Mexico in April of 1991. He was four years old at the time and had a very limited medical history. Very little was known of his mother or father.
Vinnie lived at the orphanage in Celaya, Mexico from the time he was eight days old. Vinnie was almost four years old when we were introduced to him and began the legal adoption work. It took about 2 months to complete the legal work and return home with him.

It was one of our dreams and goals to have a family and we are blessed with Vinnie as our son.

As we continued to get acclimated to each other and follow through with complete medical, dental and visual examinations for Vinnie, we became aware of issues that weren't noticed while he was a child at the orphanage.

In short order we were apprised of some of the issues that were to become challenges for Vinnie and us.

Vinnie's eye examination showed a diagnosis of bilateral cataracts of which the left lens was unstable and was soon removed with cataract surgery.
Various intestinal parasitic issues were also addressed and resolved.
The first 'hint' that other issues might be at play came when we were referred to Dr Ira J. Chasnoff, a doctor specializing in Fetal Alcohol Effect/ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Dr. Chasnoff concurred that Vinnie displayed some of the classic signs of FAS/FAE including: learning disorders and poor impulse control as well as anxiety and a minor heart defect.
As our family continued to mature through the years we have received additional diagnosis describing Autism Spectrum issues, AAD, bi-polar tendencies and depression.

However, we are blessed as a family. We live our family life a day at a time... sometimes an hour at a time. We have Vinnie to love and he loves us.

We have many friends and acquaintances who are parents and / or caregivers of special needs children. They are in similar or more difficult situations with greater challenges than we are faced with.

As we all try to be involved in support, social and therapy groups and friendships, we continue to share information and keep each other motivated to do the best we can for our children, siblings and other family members.

So What?

What does hypnosis have to do with special needs families and their issues?

As a caregiver, stress rides at the forefront of all issues. There are times when our family is focusing on our child's care to the detriment of our own health. We may think that if we can get through the 'current crisis du jour', we can finally relax but life doesn't dole out challenges one at a time, it seems to over lap them. Juggling balls seems to come to mind occasionally.

So, stress builds, it begins to affect our demeanor which leads to poor sleeping habits which affects our health which adds to our stress. And on and on.


Issues with guilt- I've spoken with clients that have carried a feeling of guilt with them for years or decades. This 'Stinkin Thinkin' as on of my mentors aptly states serves no use to the person carrying it with no benefit at all. Learning to release or deal with that guilt can remove a tremendous burden from their life and refocus their resources more effectively.

Forgiveness- Often the person needing forgiveness the most is the client. A major event happens and the client carries the psychic pain with them for the rest of their life. The client can learn to forgive those that did him or her wrong and regain control of their life. This doesn't mean that when you forgive, you forget... The client can learn that they can regain the control that belongs to him or her.