Rapid transformational therapy at Ocean Hills

paulettecrowley
Oct 13
3 min read

Updated: Oct 18

A vibrant blue butterfly with black spots perches on a green leaf, set against a soft, blurred brown background, creating a serene scene. — Rapid transformational therapy gently yet powerfully accesses the subconscious mind to uncover deeply buried patterns that can influence daily life.

Rapid transformational therapy is one of the modalities used in the therapeutic programme of recovery at Ocean Hills. So what is rapid transformational therapy at Ocean Hills, and how does it help you stay sober?

Rapid transformational therapy (RTT) is a hybrid hypnotherapy approach that has been developed in therapeutic communities in recent years. Although this unique approach is in the process of being recognised by therapeutic regulators, all of the therapies that RTT is based on are recognised as legitimate science-proven therapies. Those therapies include hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Rapid transformational therapy at Ocean Hills

Rapid transformational therapy is a highly effective, holistic method to get to the root cause of hard-to-shift problems and patterns, says Jan Ellis, therapist and programme facilitator at Ocean Hills. RTT gently yet powerfully accesses the subconscious mind to uncover deeply buried patterns that can influence your daily life without you realising. Once the root causes are revealed, RTT can help to establish new, positive patterns of behaviour to replace the old, unhelpful behaviors.

One of the ways she implements the techniques of RTT is during “whiteboard workshops”, which feature in the group therapy sessions at Ocean Hills.

“I will ask our clients about the role, function, purpose and intention of their addiction. Answering those questions can help to access the subconscious mind.”

What is uncovered during this exercise can help clients understand the relationship between how they think and feel, and why they use alcohol and other substances, she says.

“When people first come here they know that they have a problem with alcohol or drugs but therapies such as RTT actually helps them to uncover why they drink or use,” Jan says. “They might realise that they’ve been using alcohol to mask their emotions. Some people can realise they’ve been anxious for years and didn’t understand what was going on, and how that led to them drinking to try and feel better.”

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Silhouette of a person drinking from a bottle against a blue background. Other bottles are on the table, creating a moody atmosphere. — RTT methods can help people to understand the underlying causes of why they want to drink or use drugs.

Emotions and drinking

Unpacking the relationship between thoughts, feelings and drinking can be a powerful step in learning to stay sober.

“RTT methods can help them to understand the underlying causes of why they wanted to drink in the first place – why they wanted to take drugs, why they wanted to do cocaine, why they wanted to take pills. It will also help people to identify where they feel things in their bodies.”

Once underlying issues have been uncovered, it’s then time to learn to face them, feel them and process them safely and in a sober way, Jan explains.

“This is about understanding that the fear of those emotions is actually what's keeping them in that addictive cycle. Using alcohol to quell anxiety over feelings only provides a short-lived solution. Alcohol may mask the anxiety for a little while but ultimately it reinforces it.”

Jan Ellis, Ocean Hills therapist — Though she hasn’t personally struggled with addiction, she grew up with a mother who was an alcoholic, which made a huge impact on her life.

More about Jan Ellis

Staring down the barrel of addiction is a professional experience that doesn’t faze Jan these days, but it was a challenging part of her life experience on a personal level.

Though she hasn’t personally struggled with addiction, she grew up with a mother who was an alcoholic, which made a huge impact on her life.

“It took a really long time to say, ‘My Mum’s an alcoholic’. It was always just ‘Mum drank too much again’.”

Living with a practicing alcoholic had her growing up walking on eggshells. “I’d learn to ID how the car was driving up the road, or if the door took a long time to open when she got home, and other little clues like that.”

Alcoholism also affected a couple of close friends of Jan’s, as well as a boyfriend. But though these experiences were disturbing, frustrating and deeply emotional, they ultimately led her into working with people suffering from addiction.

"I have seen the destruction of alcohol and drugs in loved ones' lives and I now am dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive approach to allow our guests to navigate their recovery in the best way possible for them."