Schultz relaxation

Today we will discuss the Schultz method of relaxation. Schultz’s autogenic training is one of three relaxation methods highly recommended by Dr. Malbos and for your patients who are anxious, addicted or who have an eating disorder. This relaxation method will ultimately be applicable to most of your patients, but will be particularly effective on your patients who are chronically stressed, in other words, who have a generalized anxiety disorder, but also on those who have a panic disorder or who have agoraphobia. For the small historical point; this method of relaxation was written by Doctor Schultz, psychiatrist of the German Göring Institute. He applied this method of relaxation with veterans of the first world war.

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1. WICH RELAXATION METHOD TO CHOOSE ?

Schultz autogenic training may be the relaxation method of choice if your patient complains of unpleasant sensations that bother them. These feelings, related to anxiety, often present themselves as feelings of heat, tingling and paresthesias. On the other hand, if your patient tells you that he or she is tense and has muscle pain, then it is more likely to be Jacobson’s relaxation which is recommended.

This method can be considered as self-hypnosis, but is not hypnosis. The idea is to recreate, in your patient, the same bodily sensations that we experience when we are hypnotized.

As with all methods of relaxation and meditation, your patient should be sitting or lying down, relaxed, without his or her jacket or purse: at ease. Once this is done, you can start the session.

2. THE FEELING OF HEAVINESS

Schultz’s autogenic training is based on different sensations (heaviness, warmth…) that you will induce in your patient through speech. With a deep, warm voice and a slow flow, you will be able to say to your patient : 

“Now you are going to focus on your right arm and imagine that it is made of lead. Your right arm is very heavy. Concentrate on this feeling of heaviness. [after a moment] Now let this feeling of heaviness spread throughout your body. Your whole body is heavy. Say to yourself in your head, twice: my arm is heavy, heavier and heavier, very heavy. [after a moment] Say to yourself in your head, twice: my body is made of lead, my body is heavy, more and more heavy, very heavy” 

3. THE FEELING OF WARMTH

Once the heavy feeling is done with your patient, you can start with the warm feeling. Your patient should feel that their right arm is warm as if they were standing at a window sill and feeling the gentle warmth of the sun streaming down their arm. Your patient should focus on this warm feeling. . 

If you ever do this session in the summer, you should do this exercise with a cold feeling. It is not pleasant to concentrate on a warm feeling when you are already very hot. In this case, you can tell your patient to imagine that he is lying by a lake and that his right arm is immersed in the water of this lake. That his arm is immersed in the cool, pleasant water of a clear lake. 

Let’s go back to our explanation with the example of heat. Ask your patient to say to himself twice and in his head: “my arm is hot, hotter and hotter, very hot”. Guide your patient to let this feeling of warmth spread throughout his or her body as if he or she were fully exposed to the sun on a beautiful beach. Then ask your patient to say to himself twice in his head: “my body is hot, hotter and hotter, very hot”.

Now your patient should repeat the following phrase twice: “I feel relaxed, more and more relaxed, very relaxed. Ask your patient to imagine themselves in a place that calms them, such as a tropical beach. C2Hypno can accompany patients who have difficulty projecting themselves into an imaginary place. The wide choice of environments offered by C2Hypno can make this software your new ally in relaxation sessions. Your patient must concentrate on the sounds, the smells and move around in this place. Then, again, ask your patient to repeat to himself twice: “I feel relaxed, more and more relaxed, very relaxed”.

4. THE HEART RATE

Now ask your patient to focus on his or her heartbeat. All his concentration and his mind should be focused on his heartbeat, the sensations of beating, slight movements of the torso, the sensations of pulsations in the wrists. And he has to say twice in his head: “my heart is beating slowly, more and more slowly, very slowly”.

5. BREATHING

Here, your patient will have to concentrate on his breathing but without controlling it. He will have to pay attention to his breathing, observe and feel the movements of the respiratory cycle. That is to say, the torso expands on inhalation and retracts on exhalation. 

Your patient should repeat the following sentence twice: “my breathing is becoming calm, more and more calm, very calm”.  Then ask your patient to repeat twice: “I feel relaxed, more and more relaxed, very relaxed”. Then ask your patient to concentrate on the solar plexus (at the top of the abdomen) and he/she should have a feeling of warmth as if this part of his/her body was diffusing a soft light, a soft warmth. Then he should say to himself twice: “my belly is hot, hotter and hotter, very hot”.

6. FRESHNESS

Then, your patient will be able to concentrate on the cool sensation on the forehead. It is as if a kind person had placed a cloth soaked in cool water on the forehead. Feeling these sensations through images is the key to a successful Schultz relaxation.

Your patient should now say twice: “my forehead is getting cooler, cooler, very cool”. Then once again: “I am relaxed, more and more relaxed, very relaxed”. Slowly your patient will be able to open his eyes, look around, make stretching movements. The method is thus completed.

7. GOOD TO KNOW

During the application of the Schultz relaxation method, it is not uncommon for the patient to fall asleep. This is normal and not serious. However, consider providing recordings so that he or she can listen or re-listen to the steps of the relaxation.

Find our article on positive slogans or instructions and the AWARE method. 

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FAQ

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology that enables patients to be exposed to immersive and controlled environments, facilitating the management of numerous psychological and psychiatric disorders. Its use in mental health offers several advantages:
  • Gradual and Controlled Exposure: VR allows patients to confront anxiety-inducing situations in a secure environment, gradually adjusting the intensity of stimuli to promote habituation and emotional regulation.
  • Realistic and Reproducible Environments: Unlike traditional techniques, VR provides immersive scenarios that can be consistently reproduced, ensuring a coherent and effective approach.
  • Increased Patient Engagement: The interactive and immersive nature of VR enhances treatment adherence and motivates patients to continue their therapy.
  • Personalized Treatment: Virtual environments can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.
  • Versatile Applications: VR is used to treat anxiety disorders (phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders), addictions, mood disorders, and even cognitive remediation.
The use of virtual reality in healthcare is not new! It has been studied and utilized for over 30 years in the medical and psychological fields. As early as the 1990s, researchers began exploring its potential for treating anxiety disorders, particularly phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, numerous scientific studies have confirmed its effectiveness in addressing various psychiatric, neurological, and cognitive disorders.
Today, VR is widely integrated into therapeutic and medical practices, with clinically validated protocols. It is used in hospitals, clinics, and psychologists' offices worldwide to provide patients with innovative, effective, and safe treatments.
To use virtual reality, one must immerse themselves in a virtual environment. There are several ways to achieve this.
In the past, the CAVE system (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), a 3D setup consisting of multiple screen walls, was the primary method used. This system allowed users to be fully immersed in the virtual world, with their movements detected in real-time. However, this technology was expensive and not widely accessible.
Since around 2016, with the introduction of virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, VR has become much more accessible. These headsets immerse users in virtual reality through an enclosed screen that projects digital images. The user's head movements are tracked, enabling them to look around and interact with the environment as they would in the real world.
Today, VR headsets are wireless and standalone, providing maximum comfort and ease of use without requiring external sensors or cables.
A virtual environment is an immersive digital simulation created through virtual reality. It allows users to navigate in a 3D space that accurately replicates everyday situations or specific contexts.
In mental health, these environments are designed to help individuals gradually face certain situations, manage their emotions, or enhance cognitive skills. By interacting with these virtual spaces, patients can engage in meaningful experiences tailored to their needs.
You need to equip yourself with a virtual reality headset. Our software is compatible with Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S. 
You will then only need an internet connection. 
Numerous studies confirm that virtual reality is safe to use. However, some restrictions are in place to protect users from potential adverse effects.
For instance, individuals with epilepsy and pregnant women should avoid this type of therapy.
As with any immersive technology, prolonged use may cause visual fatigue or mild discomfort, particularly for those sensitive to motion sickness. Therefore, it is recommended to take regular breaks and adjust session durations according to individual needs.
Virtual environments are designed to be gradual and controlled, minimizing the risk of excessive anxiety. Most users quickly adapt to immersion and experience the benefits of this innovative approach from the first sessions.
Anxiety disorders and phobias can be effectively treated using virtual reality. Patients are gradually and progressively exposed to anxiety-inducing situations in various environments while remaining in a safe space. This process helps develop a sense of habituation, ultimately reducing or even eliminating anxiety over time.
Behavioral and substance addictions can also be addressed through virtual reality. By incorporating synthetic stimuli into the environments that trigger craving responses, patients struggling with addiction can work on their cravings to diminish the urge to consume.
Additionally, multiple environments—such as bars, casinos, and social settings—enable cognitive work on dysfunctional beliefs associated with specific temptation scenarios.
Regarding eating disorders, virtual reality software helps target key etiological factors, such as body dysmorphia, allocentric lock (a tendency to focus on others rather than oneself), and food cravings.
Currently, our TERV (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy) solutions include multiple software programs designed to address critical psychiatric, psychological, and neuropsychological determinants such as relaxation, cognitive stimulation, behavioral activation, and social skills training.
Reminiscence therapy is also a major therapeutic tool in treating depression. By allowing patients to relive sensations linked to past pleasurable activities (such as sports, driving, or traveling), virtual reality stimulates hypoactive brain areas, enhancing therapeutic success. VR serves as an excellent mediator for reigniting engagement in enjoyable activities.
Moreover, cognitive stimulation for elderly individuals is another area where virtual reality proves beneficial. By leveraging technology to make stimulation activities more engaging and accessible, patients and nursing home residents can improve executive functions and memory through specially designed applications.
Today, virtual reality in mental health care is advancing rapidly. Researchers, clinicians, and developers continue to explore new therapeutic targets to offer innovative and effective treatment solutions in the near future.
VR can be used by all healthcare professionals assisting patients with anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders, addictions, or other psychological challenges.
It is particularly beneficial for psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, specialized nurses, as well as psychomotor therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, sophrologists, and hypnotherapists. With a wide range of immersive environments, VR enhances therapeutic approaches and provides innovative tools to improve patient care.
Healthcare providers incorporating virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) expand their range of treatment options. VRET is a well-established therapeutic technique with scientific validation from cognitive-behavioral therapy research.
  • Professional Differentiation: Integrating VR into practice allows therapists to stand out from traditional treatment options.
  • Scientific Validation: VRET is backed by extensive research, reinforcing its credibility as an effective treatment method.
  • Improved Patient Engagement: The interactive nature of VR fosters greater patient involvement in therapy.
  • Time-Saving: VR provides direct access to various exposure environments without needing external logistics.

One of the considerable advantages of virtual reality is that it is effective on a wide spectrum of populations. Existing data from the literature on the subject shows us that it is entirely possible to expose a wide age group to virtual reality, with real therapeutic benefits.

The studies attest, in fact, to excellent feasibility and significant results; particularly in adults, in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders and mood disorders.

The results are identical for adolescents with a significant added value concerning therapeutic engagement where virtual reality promotes adolescents' interest in their therapy.

Among elderly subjects, study results encourage the use of virtual reality with the aim of working on cognitive stimulation, on behavioral disorders but also on anxiety.

One of the major advantages of virtual reality is its effectiveness across a broad spectrum of the population. Existing literature on the subject shows that virtual reality can be used with individuals of various age groups, providing significant therapeutic benefits.
Studies confirm excellent feasibility and significant results, particularly among adults in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders.
The results are equally promising for adolescents, with a notable advantage in terms of therapeutic engagement, as virtual reality enhances their interest and participation in treatment.
For older adults, research supports the use of virtual reality to improve cognitive stimulation, behavioral disorders, and anxiety management.
However, people with epilepsy and pregnant individuals are not advised to undergo this type of therapy.
Yes, all our environments are grouped within a single application.
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