Holotropic breathing in combination with other elements of the therapy

In the course of conduction of classic holotropic breathing emerged a hypothesis of potentiating the psychotherapeutical effect and smoothing of possible unwanted manifestations. It became possible with the help of inclusion of some Buddhist mantras, elements of meditative melodies, harmonic songs into music that formed the mystical mood and accelerated the entry into the state of altered consciousness. The single respiratory rhythm layered on music to facilitate the control of breathing stability. At certain periods, the effect was enforced by baby’s cry that symbolized the process of birth. Henceforth with the help of computer, the fragments of imperative suggestion  layered on active rhythmic melody that demanded
continuous breathing. These fragments were: screaming, crying of patients, their exclamations and basic key words that form the negative attitude against the drug.

Further combinations include varying degrees of intensity of the voice instructions layered on melody. The starting point of researches in this field was the work of our native scientist I. Smirnov “Computer-based psychosemantic analysis and therapy at an unconscious level”, 1995. It was dedicated to the research of the effectiveness of catatonic audial information input and its combination with the state of altered consciousness. All kinds of psychological defense are engaged because of perceivable manifestations of semantic stimuli, part of which can be rather important and emotional for the patient. The obtained
results will reflect the peculiarities of this defense in the memory of the patient and not the suggested information. The uncontrolled words and phrases of the patient create the opportunity to overcome the mechanisms of psychological defense with actual impact on the behavior when taking decisions (if to buy a drug or not).

The final principles of performing the combined holotropic breathing were based on the way the patients went through classical periods of all 4 “matrixes”.

These kinds of combination of the classical version of holotropic breathing with various musical and verbal compilation allowed to increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy for various substance abuse as for the duration of treatment (expressed reaction from the first days in group sessions of suggestion), and the depth of the desired effect. Over the last year 88% of patients formed aversion to psychoactive substances, which is manifested on psychological and physical levels.

Active desire of the patients to purchase CD’s with sounds that accompany these sessions speaks about the effectiveness of the selected method.