Correspondence Address:
Praveen Khairkar
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, Maharashtra
India

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[AUTHOR:1]

Book Title: Subliminal Therapy: Using the Mind to Heal

Written By: Edwin K. Yager, Ph.D

Publisher: Crown Hose Press, San Diego, California, USA

Published In: 2011

Pages: 263

Prize: $ 90 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-184-590-1226

We know that our mind operates more through subconscious and unconscious forces than merely visible human consciousness, but we are much ignorant about its implications as far as treatment perspectives in medical disorders are concerned. The author, now 93 by age, takes us with him on personal and professional journey as he reminds us of the central truth about an innovative hypnotic technique called subliminal therapy, which can engage our subconscious/unconscious mind to uncover the cause of patient's problems, whether manifesting physically, emotionally, intellectually, or behaviorally. He further provides with great clarity that how these problems can then be resolved through reframing and reconditioning in an efficient and logical ways. This technique is one of the recent psychotherapeutic tools, which has evolved over the past 30 years both in psychological and physical disorders. The author works on the concept that mind contains a higher level of unconscious intelligence that he calls "Centrum." This domain, although not well defined in psychiatric literature, yet is easily authenticated subjectively. This entity can communicate with the conscious level of awareness by means of ideomotor or ideosensory signals, using rational logical protocols to heal oneself or others.

This book is a lucid and simplified illustration subtly divided into nine chapters and two comprehensive appendices that are of value to both clinicians and experts in mental health field as well as educated lay public. Among a series of nine chapters, its first chapter discussed the background evolution of subliminal therapy, compared with other simulative psychotherapeutic techniques. Chapter 2 elucidated the assumptions and conceptual framework whereas Chapters 3 and 4 explained the process and applications. Aptly followed by them are wide and comprehensive case illustrations in Chapter 5 and how author in his long four decades of practice typically encountered various problems while treating patients runs through his sixth chapter. I was fascinated by critical 108 pages of case illustrations and honest open-mindedness as well as the passion of his writing at the age of 90 years. His ability to choose right words so well has reshaped both the understanding and implications of subliminal therapy; which I believe goes beyond author's unusually interwoven engineering and psychology background, giving us the pure repository of therapeutic wisdom in treating most difficult patients specially who are not amenable to initial lines of management.

Author boldly describes the controversial findings about research on efficacy and validity of this form of therapy, and he compared the success rates with other forms of therapy in few of the trials conducted across the globe as mentioned in [Table 2] and [Table 3] of Chapter 7. To my surprise, effect size of subliminal therapy has surpassed even CBT as well as medications over an unusually wide range of presenting problem that too in a shorter time span. This book, therefore, has been a classic and formidable tool in our armory of techniques, a moving and accessible read, a call for empathic and intellectual understanding, motivating clinicians, and bring hope to the forefront for treatment of intractable diseases such as asthma and cancer(s). To all those who are curious to know about the availability of training and certification, author in Chapter 8 has humbly and concisely put together information on Subliminal Therapy Institute which he established in 2009 in California, USA, and offers training under the auspices of San Diego Psychological Association. His final Chapter 9 explores the boundaries of this therapy beyond our imagination, such as self-use of therapy, therapy by telephone or use of computer in lieu of therapist, and the apparent limits of centrum. Appendix I mentions algorithmic flowcharts and Appendix II talks about general principles or set of information as to be provided to patient before treatment. The book ends with about 200 standard references and further reading resources, a way forward to enrich understanding and treatment of medical disorders and integrating psychiatry into freelance of medical dignity.