You may remember Pavlov and his dogs from
Biology lessons? (I’m pretty sure my Biology teacher, Mrs Wilson at Mayfield, is utterly amazed to know I was actually listening!) Classical conditioning is when one develops a response to an unconnected stimulus. Dogs shouldn’t salivate at the sound of a bell. People having chemotherapy may associate something with their chemotherapy session. One of my clients started to feel sick when she put her red coat on to come to the hospital. This association can feel like it’s hard to shake off. There is quite a bit of research into the efficacy of hypnotherapy in classical conditioning [2].
Operant (or instrumental) conditioning is when the stimulus is connected. I wonder if you know anyone who shudders when walking into the exam hall of their old school? A memory of an event can trigger a physical response. Some of our clients having chemotherapy start to feel very ill at the sight of the intravenous infusion before the drugs are even connected. Secondary needle phobia describes a person who was fine with needles until their diagnosis and treatment, but now needles are a trigger for their stress response and they may feel unable to cope. Again, hypnotherapy has a track record of efficacy [3]. We offer two hypnotherapy tools with these conditions, the dissociative trance as mentioned before (a few sessions of this is usually curative), and the distraction trance. This is usually short-acting, and we would need to do it again if the client was having another injection, but it is a good ‘first aid kit’ tool.
Basically, hypnotherapy is for anyone who is fed up of being hijacked by their thought patterns and would like to feel calm, confident and in control. Most importantly, hypnotherapy is about empowering the client with the skill to do this for themselves; to that aim I try to work quite quickly. The fewer sessions the better, is our view. Hypnosis is a tool rather than a belief system or a way of life. Mental wellness is best when we have a few good tools in our toolkit. Mindfulness, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and, if you believe, prayer, are all great tools for mental wellness. Add some positive action (as in taking some exercise), and some positive thought, using your imagination as a force for good (imagine what that event would be like if everything went well?). Finally positive interactions: humans are tribal and we need connection. Social isolation is detrimental to our health. These are the tools we all need to feel calm, confident and in control.
OC
Dorothea Downey Read (née Read) Class of 1975
References [1] Ballou, S, Keefer L. Psychological Interventions for Irritable Bowel Disease. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology (2017) 8, 214.
[2] Ursula Stockhorst et al. Anticipatory Nausea in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Classical Conditioning Etiology and Therapeutical Implications. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science. April 1993, Volume 28, Issue 2, pp 177–181.
[3] Matthew D. Jacofsky et al, of the Bio Behavioral Institute. Operant Conditioning And Avoidance Learning . Aug 9, 2013.
https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/operant- conditioning-and-avoidance-learning/ accessed 01/08/2012.
[4] Edzard Ernst et al. Mind-Body Therapies: Are The Trial Data Getting Stronger? Alternative Therapies, Sep/Oct 2007, Vol. 13, No. 5
The Old Cornelian SUMMER 2017
Annual Reunion Date: 20th
We are pleased to announce the following events for the coming months and look forward to welcoming Old Cornelians to them.
For more details or to RSVP, please see the enclosed booking form or contact the Old Cornelians’ office on (01435) 874674 or email
oc@mayfieldgirls.org
Coffee Morning for Former Staff Date: 15th November 2017 Time: 10.30am There will be another former staff coffee morning here in the Courtyard, open to all members of staff, please spread the word. We look forward to welcoming you back. RSVP
cball@mayfieldgirls.org / 01435874674.
Live Crib Cream Tea Date: 13th December 2017 Time: 4.30pm This event is incredibly popular and early reservation for spaces advised. Tea will be served in the Courtyard, child friendly and full of festive spirit. Relax with old friends in front of a roaring log fire with cakes and mulled wine, before viewing the procession through the village. For those OCs travelling some distance, the tea is very informal and allows for arrival at any time from 4.30pm onwards. The procession in the village begins at 6.30pm. Seats in chapel will be reserved for Old Cornelians who attend the tea but places are limited.
Do book early as last year this was hugely popular and there is a limit to the number of seats we are able to reserve in Chapel. RSVP
cball@mayfieldgirls.org
We are delighted to announce the first Schola reunion to be held at Mayfield. If you were in any of the Schola choirs during your time at school, we would love for you to come and sing again!
Schola Reunion Date: 17th March 2018 Time: 10.00am RSVP
cball@mayfieldgirls.org / 01435874674. May 2018 Time: 11.30am
A whole school reunion, for all Old Cornelians. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you all back to Mayfield for a Cornelian celebration. The day begins at 11.30am with Mass. A drinks reception will follow at 12.30pm before lunch is served (Mass is not compulsory). After lunch there will be an opportunity to explore the School and the grounds, revisiting old haunts, enjoying a trip down memory lane, and seeing the School’s new developments. Cream tea will complete the day at approximately 3.30pm. Husbands, partners, parents and children are welcome. To register please return the enclosed form or contact Claire Ball on
cball@mayfieldgirls.org / 01435 874674
OC 45
Former Directors of Music, Mr Kenneth Pont and Mr Peter Collins, will join forces with Dr Matthew Ward our current Director for a day of song - interspersed with food, friendship and relaxation! Arrival at 10am for coffee, followed by rehearsals, before a delicious lunch. The day will culminate in a performance from Schola Past and Present at 3.30pm. Cream tea and prosecco will be served after the performance.
We would love to make this a very special occasion and a fitting celebration of decades of outstanding choral performances from Mayfield girls. Knowing how important Schola was to many, we very much hope to welcome as many of you as possible. If you were not in Schola, yet wish to attend to hear the performance at 3.30, please let us know. You are more than welcome – it would be lovely to welcome you. Families are also very welcome to join the performance.
2017 / 2018 Thursday 10 Diary Dates 2017 / 2018
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