Dr. Alex Rivlin’s office will be permanently closed as of August 10, 2019 due to his retirement.
For assistance with locating a new doctor, please speak with your family physician. If this is an emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room.
If you were the patient of Dr. Alex Rivlin and you need a copy of your medical records, please don't hesitate to email us at dr.alexrivlin@gmail.com.
Dr. Alex S. Rivlin MD, M.Sc
STRESS THERAPY
GUIDED MEDITATION as a method of medical hypnosis
Many patients have an idea of hypnosis, as a kind of entertainment or magic,But they think about meditation as an ancient religious ritual created in Asia. Meditation in peoples mind is connected with an idea of yoga or other esoteric practices. In fact, meditation is as much Eastern as it is a Western practice. Moreover, what was practicing before and after Anton Mesmer, Abe Farria, Dr. Jaims Braid and others was nothing else then guided meditation.
Very soon after Dr. Braid coined the word "hypnosis" (in 1841) he wanted to take it back, but it was too late, because it became a word, which meant many things, depending on the person who uses it.
I found that the term "guided meditation" is much more relevant to my practice than the term "hypnosis".
There is a very sound reason for that. From the word hypnosis the patient expects (each on it's own way) a magic divination which like a stroke of lightning will implant a new pattern of behavior, will eliminate a habit, or even totally change the personality of a patient. The patient expects someone to do something for him/her totally without self participation. This is not what Dr. Jaims Braid was thinking or writhing about his term "hypnosis". Therefore, this word confuses the meaning of the therapy.
Unlike hypnosis, guided meditation involves combined efforts of the patient and the doctor and in fact is much more superior than hypnosis in it's results.
This method of therapy is used to treat a wide range of diseases and conditions.The nervous system penetrates everywhere within the organism. By influencing the nervous system, the muscles, vessels, heart, endocrine system and immunity of the organism could be affected. In the hands of a practicing physician, M.D.,versed in modern medicine (medicine, blood tests, functional studies) guided meditation as a method of therapy which has a great strength.
Patients who are interested in the medical practice of Dr. Alex Rivlin usually ask what the doctor is treating and how.
Any disease is a combination of organic pathology and fear. Fear is a powerful force. Stress destroys the body by the weakening the immune system. Additional factors of destruction are suddenness of the disease and lack of knowledge about the mechanisms of the disease create fear. This fear helps the disease to destroy the patient.
Prevention, early detection and early elimination are powerful forces to fight disease.
If the disease doesn’t create an internal panic, its course is often easier to manage.
Dr. Rivlin helps the patient to overcome the disease by the following methods:
1.Guided mediation develops visualization and understanding of symbols and metaphors. Without sufficiently developed visualization, even the most modern methods cannot influence our consciousness.
Each session lasts about fifty minutes to one and a half–two hours.
Ericksonian methods are used for hidden suggestion to influence diseases and during the casual conversation.
2. Metaphores-a special way of introduction of an idea into the subconscious through the imagination.
Sometimes one or two autogenic training exercises are given to the patient to practice at home.
Past life regressions are of esoteric nature. They are not included in the medical practice of Dr. Alex Rivlin, but could be done by him in the outside of the medical practice settings.