1. Resolved (not dissociated) guilt about past actions
2. Accepted disease symptoms as teachers
3. Resolved traumatic or abusive memories
4. Found a stable experience of integrity
5. Improved their relationships generally
6. Chosen healthy role models

The challenge seemed obvious. How could I help people duplicate this? What was the underlying  physiology and psychobiology of human consciousness? How could people apply this knowledge? One of my goals was to help people live fulfilled lives. How could I coach people with integrity?

Which Reality is Real?

Do you want to understand your past, to live appropriately in your present and to plan future events? People who confuse their inner and outer worlds may be called neurotic or psychotic. I sought to model how people create healthy inner worlds (see Quantum Thinking and Chaos Coaching), to help people make better decisions (see Expert Modeling) and to enjoy relationships (see Enjoying Partnership).

Clues to coaching people to move from disease to health appeared to lie in the biology of the neurological structures that mediate perceptual, emotional and cognitive experiences - the body-mind. Changes in the body-mind are usually quickly followed by changes in emotional reactions, behavior and the physical body.

Damaged Children - Damaged Adults

I avoid researching people's past, rather focusing on what present perceptions of past events trigger emotional reactions or unwanted behavior. And then, resolving the emotional consequences of child maltreatment or abuse (as perceived by people now - not what really happened) is often a key step to coaching motivated adults to enjoy a lasting sense-of-life - a sense of worthwhile mission

Together, the consequences appear to support the dissociation of emotions and memories. As I offer help in finding long-term resolution for these consequences, I look forward to a time when a medical professionals can view brain scans before and after my coaching.

Coaching the Body-Mind

I coach people to change their perceptual, emotional and cognitive experience. Short-term change is commonplace and is offered by very many people. For me, long-term change indicates that:

• appropriate neurotransmitters are now generated, and
• changes were appropriate and were rightfully accepted, and
• the coach communicated with many brain structures simultaneously

It now seems clear that cognitive coaching interventions (thoughts) are unlikely to communicate with brain structures that mediate emotional, perceptual and somatic change (feelings). So I explored how my coaching works in the strange realm of psychobiology and psychobiological change.

Psychobiological Change

Motivated adults acknowledge and respond to logical questions and requests. People also respond to imagery, music, metaphors, movement and symbols. I can check if verbal messages were received by observing people's verbal and nonverbal responses.

How would Western philosophy be different if Descartes said I feel therefore I am?

The words conscious and unconscious seem to refer to which parts of the brain process certain information. In most people, the left cerebral hemisphere is considered to dominate the processing of logic, reason, judgment and understanding (thoughts), while the right hemisphere is believed to dominate the processing of images, metaphor and inferred communication (feelings).

Coaching the Left Cerebral Hemisphere

The left brain hemisphere appears to store and process logical information. I can coach people to define their goals, to explore the consequences of achieving those goals and the blocks to achieving them. People become actively and consciously involved with the cognitive details of their own coaching.

Coaching the Right Cerebral Hemisphere

Research on alexithymia (people cannot express emotions and develop somatic symptoms) implicates the right brain for storing and creating emotions. I can communicate with the right brain hemisphere using humor, metaphors, puns and symbols.

The work of Milton Erickson, MD, inspired me to research and develop a Hawaiian dreamtime ritual (moe uhane) into what I often call interactive metaphors. Interactive metaphors appear to simultaneously stimulate both cerebral hemispheres. I generally call it Dreamwork - using interactive isomorphic metaphors to help people understand and integrate their emotional and cognitive responses. Dreamwork helps people change emotional reactions that delay or prevent them getting what they want.

What do you want?

My coaching seems to stimulates left and right brain activity simultaneously. While verbalizing goals, people unknowingly communicate objections by nonverbal incongruence, which can be recognized and dissolved by people we have trained. I assume that verbal/nonverbal incongruence indicates dissonance between verbal language processing (left brain) and nonverbal or body language (right brain), or between the cerebral cortex and the hind-brain. (For example, you may say, "I understand", while shaking your head from side to side.) Other common signs of incongruence include asymmetric postures or gestures.

A person who can gently dissolve yes-no incongruence has a powerful tool for helping people find inner peace and congruent goals by dissolving verbal and nonverbal objections. (I teach this on my Systems 2 training, which also includes dissolving self-criticism and responses beginning with "Yes, but...”).

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Coaching the Limbic System

Right brain and left brain communications appear to be simultaneously processed through the limbic system, which associates thoughts with emotions. Emotional states generated by the limbic brain influence and can override the cognitive processes of the neo-cortex. The limbic brain seems to trigger both somatic sensations and psychosomatic symptoms.

Coaching at the limbic level can help people change emotional states. (Common examples include the emotional reactions to certain art, poetry or music). When the limbic system is engaged, people's physiology and emotions change. Many people find better solutions for problems if they listen to music, for example. This concept is utilized by young adults everywhere, and also in hypnosis and meditation.

A knowledge of the limbic brain helps explain simultaneous incongruence, for example knowing (intellectually) that something is true, while feeling (emotionally) that it is false. (This is especially common when thinking is influenced or distorted by identity loss and unpleasant relationships bonds).

Logical arguments (mediated by the neocortex) rarely change emotional beliefs (mediated by the limbic system). Intuiting this, effective salespeople and politicians often make emotional, rather than logical, appeals. Emotions may not be subject to the logical neocortex - even a good actor may be unable to spontaneously choose to feel angry or happy.

As the limbic system operates without conscious logic, classical conditioning can influence people. Classical conditioning techniques can be used to access people's emotions, and to merge or dissociate them (often outside people's awareness and without their consent. Such techniques are often taught in predatory sales and seduction courses.)

By communicating with the limbic brain, I help people change their perception of their own emotions, so that they can experience emotions as interesting body-mind communications. (I note that integrated brain function seems to minimize the impact and influence of hypnotic language, unwanted sales pitches, seduction attempts and political rhetoric! People can better choose how they want to react!)

Coaching the Pineal Gland

The pineal gland is in the center of the brain. It is active until puberty, then it shrinks and may calcify. It is rich in lecithin, which has both neural and endocrine properties. A neural connection between the eyes and pineal gland sensitizes the nervous system to ambient light.

The pineal gland synthesizes and secretes melatonin and pinoline during darkness, entraining the nervous system to the local circadian 24-hour clock and perhaps acting as an antidepressant. Melatonin is an antioxidant that inhibits pre-puberty sexual development and may protect the nervous system against degeneration. Pinoline is also antioxidant and induces Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and dreams. (Pineal gland extract improves the metabolism of sugar in chronically ill patients.)

People are affected by the rhythm of their pineal glands and thus by ambient light levels. (This hints at why dark retreats were favored by Buddhist and Taoist monks). I find that coaching with interactive metaphor (Dreamwork) leads to predictable ecstatic states of consciousness that are commonly described as light-filled, clear light, etc, which may affect pineal gland function.

(Pineal stimulation may resolve some frigidity and erectile dysfunction issues ... more needed).

Coaching the Amygdala

The limbic brain (including the amygdala) also mediates music, speech intonation and metaphor. Coaching strategies that communicate directly with the limbic brain are interactive metaphors and symbolic integration. As the limbic brain responds emotionally to symbols, such as icons, mandalas and art, people can use real or imagined symbols to stimulate their limbic brains.

The amygdala has been called the heart of the limbic brain. If you take a moment and recall the bitter taste and smell of lemon juice ... what happens to your saliva flow within a few seconds? Your amygdala rapidly responds as if your imagined events were actually taking place.

By stimulating the amygdala, I can better coach people to explore strategies for achieving worthwhile goals, and to reduce the emotional impact of trauma. I help people learn from traumatic, phobic or abusive events without being overwhelmed by emotion, until memories of trauma, phobia or abuse, etc,  can be peacefully evaluated and assimilated.

Coaching and Synesthesia

I often use synesthesia to cross-link (or unhook) sensory systems. Coaching at the limbic level helps people experience unpleasant feelings as interesting communications, without being overwhelmed by body sensations such as guilt, sadness or anxiety.

As the limbic system also interprets (attributes meaning to) music, speech intonations and metaphors, I can communicate directly with the limbic brain by changing the tempo, tone and pitch of my voice, and by using interactive metaphors and symbols. (I find symbolic maps to be valuable tools for evaluating during systemic diagnosis and changing perceptions during systemic change-work.)

Coaching the Hind Brain

The hind-brain also translates body-mind communication. It is sometimes called the reptilian hind- brain and controls everyday repetitive behaviors such as habits, rituals, routines and motor skills. (You might think of it as an auto-pilot when daydreaming - even if driving a motor vehicle.)

The hind-brain associates emotions with action (action can be called honest communication). People communicate aggression, submission and sexual interest through their often-unconscious body movements and nonverbal communication.

Like the limbic system, your hind-brain responds to metaphors and symbols. Hence I use interactive metaphors, symbolic language, puns and non-verbal signals to communicate with this part of the brain. This is particularly useful when coaching people to pull themselves together as they recover from abuse, trauma or identity loss.

Coaching the Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands (they are not in the brain - rather above the kidneys) guide the famous fight or flight response to stress. Healthy adrenal glands release adrenaline, which causes people to feel alert and focused, and cortisol, which converts proteins into energy. Adrenalin also increases the heart rate, respiration and blood pressure while tensing muscles, sharpening senses and slowing digestion so that people can better fight or run away.

Chronic stress may cause the adrenal glands to maintain high cortisol levels, which can damage body tissues. Some people say they have adrenaline addiction; although subsequent adrenal fatigue can cause mood swings - depression, fatigue and insomnia. Adrenal exhaustion can cause serious health concerns and mental breakdown.

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A Brief Psychobiology of Love

Falling in love is a profound feeling; while falling out of love can bring profound suffering. Our brains change when we are in love, in similar ways to some mental illnesses or illicit drugs. Falling in love can be addictive, and falling out of love is often associated with withdrawal symptoms!

Falling in love seems to have three main phases, with hormones and neurotransmitters associated with each phase.

1. Lust is driven by estrogen and testosterone (affecting both men and women).

2. Attraction is associated with dopamine and serotonin. People in love often feel obsessed. They may eat less, sleep less and day-dream about their partner.

3. Attachment supports lasting commitment and helps bond lovers together. This is associated with vasopressin and oxytocin.

Most people experience a surge of oxytocin bonding during extended touch, for example during sex or massage, and a surge of dopamine during arousing activities. Both trigger feelings of love and romance.

As love can be addictive (probably to forms of amphetamine-like adrenaline), love can have symptoms similar to substance abuse, and falling out of love can have serious mental health repercussions, similar to symptoms associated with withdrawal from addictive drugs.

A Brief Psychobiology of Soul

These various parts of the brain can function and communicate simultaneously ... and ecstatically. People can enjoy a stable experience of integrity as a basis for congruent decisions and long-term inspiration to choose and fulfill life goals.

People experiencing this integration display verbal congruence and nonverbal symmetry, which may indicate that the both cranial hemispheres, limbic system, amygdala and hind-brain are in an unusual state of cooperation. During this experience, people can simultaneously focus on abstract concepts and on specific details. Many people report a sense of transcendental awareness. (As many people called this experience Soul, I called this part of my coaching Soul-work. The name stuck.)

Many people, during and after Soul experience, have told us that Soul has an independent existence; that Soul existed before they were born; and that Soul will continue after the death of their bodies. (Psychobiology cannot confirm or disprove this concept, although many people enjoy this idea!)

Some of my graduate students believe that our coaching can enable or enhance spiritual connectedness – while others believe that Soul experience is a normal result of integrated brain activity. Whatever is true, what we call Soul experience seems to provide a rational basis for significant body-mind healing in short time frames.

In my experience, about 25% of motivated adults cannot experience this existential harmony without making some changes. The main reasons seemed to be: immaturity (lack of responsibility), trauma (preoccupied), guilt (need to suffer) and codependence (independent happiness may damage an important relationship). Less common were people who suffered long term dissociation (lost identity), had identified with another person (identification) or had identified with two people (identity conflict).

Hence I developed strategies for quickly dissolving these (relationship) issues. My resulting systemic solutions are steps towards optimal immune system function (as part of a spectrum of modalities, including diet, supplements and exercise.) While this appears to help reduce aging, increase resistance to disease, and offer potential solutions for psychosomatic illness and autoimmune disease, my overall goal remains ... to help people live fulfilled lives.

Please consult a physician about any medical or psychiatric conditions!

March 2010

Since I wrote this article twelve years ago, my graduates and I have refined and greatly improved our systemic solutions. And our paradigm has shifted. At first, I expected people to welcome fast, effective change ... but many people remain loyal to their conditioning ... and to their suffering. Most people seeking relief from emotional and relationship problems prefer to medicate or distract themselves.

We invite people who are searching for sense of life (without drugs) - for integrity - to explore some of the applications of our transformational change-work. There is a list of applications on the left ...

Would you like to benefit from our experience?

Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 1998-2010 All rights reserved