Resources - Dr Peter Thompson

Articles and Blog Posts

Clinical and Sport Hypnosis

Developing mental skills for performance (athletic, arts), habit control, weight loss, injury rehabilitation, and self-confidence is an important strategy for enjoying a life well lived. Hypnosis can be an excellent, and effective method for attaining such goals. Contrary to popular notions of an hypnotic state (now, act like a chicken!), the process for engaging in a trance-like state is actually quite common.

Positive Psychology and Youth Development

Numerous researchers (Ryff & Keyes, 1995), Peterson, Park and Seligman (2005), and Keyes (2009) have found that young people reported having more developed feelings of emotional well-being than they did a sense of psycholical well-being. Keyes' central question became; "is it ok for children to feel happy, but rarely challenged, and frequently disconnected?" Keyes' question is central to out times. He called for youth programs that both challenge (at the short-term expense of hedonic well-being) and support adolescents to grow. Academic achievement, community involvement, and good inter-personal relationships all require hard work and attention.

Flow State Development

Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi's Flow Theory (1975, 1990) describes moment to moment subjective experience, defined by the relationship between person (perceived skills) and environment (perceived challenge) that is engaged in for the sole purpose of enjoyment. Achieving a flow state is the ultimate manfifestation of intrinsic motivation. Empirical research has proven that when entering a flow state, one not only produces positive emotions, but also experiences personal growth.

Jackson and Marsh (1996) define the Flow Sate;

1. A balance exists between perceived skills and perceived challenge

2. The task has clear goals for the participant

3.