I have been reading Richard Bandler's Guide to Trance-formation: How to Harness the Power of Hypnosis to Ignite Effortless and Lasting Change. While I have always realized Richard Bandler was a genius, I have usually found books difficult to read.  This one, while it still has some challenges, has some gems that have really led me to pause and think about the work we do with children and others whose lives have been affected by trauma.

The most powerful possesion that most people have are their beliefs.  Many of us really can't even tell the difference between our beliefs and reality, because we filter reality through our beliefs.  Our beliefs tell us what we, and others, can and can't do.  I titled this post the Power(s) of Believing because believing has both incredibly powerful positive and negative potential.

For a number of years now, the research has indicated that the experience of trauma, especially repetitive trauma creates lasting changes in the brain.  Taken at a surface level, this could be very discouraging to those who want to help children and others who have been abused and neglected.  If someone's brain has been changed, then what can be done.  I have seen this research lead people to just accept and accommodate to the problems caused by trauma, rather than work to heal the effects.  They have read the research and developed limiting beliefs, beliefs that people can't be helped.

Henry Ford once said "Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right..."  This is a very applicable statement for working with trauma survivors.  The power of believing we can't make a difference makes an incredible difference, in a negative direction.  There are many ways the lives of trauma survivors can be improved when those around them believe in their potentials.

The power of believing we can make a difference is even more powerful.  Trauma effects the brain, making measurable changes in brain function.  So does meditation, Tai Chi, being held, and any number of other experiences we can make available to a growing child, or even an adult client.  We need to be careful to read the research, know what the effects of trauma are, then work diligently to prove that those effects can be largely healed.  I have done this successfully, but haven't had the brain scans to prove it.