In our June newsletter, we announce the July 8 teleseminar with Dr. Eric Greenleaf on How to Prepare for and Recovery from Surgery. We announce a special bonus program, and continue to update our training calendar. News From the Pain Front features How to Prepare for Successful Surgery.

Please be well and stay well,

You've probably noticed that loyalty has taken a backseat to convenience and economy in our global culture in the last few years. In thinking recently about what is most important to me in my internet business, I'm clear that building a solid email community is a top priority for me.

Like you, I receive hundreds of emails promising me everything from good health to ways of earning millions of dollars. I know that sometimes it is tempting to reduce stress (and the time you spend every day dealing with emails) by unsubscribing to internet-based business offers.

I also realize that I have lots of competition for your email attention, yet I firmly believe that I offer valuable learning experiences and products related to the mindbody healing of emotional and physical pain and related issues. Hopefully, you have sampled some of these during the time you've been on my list.

Beginning now, I am instituting a bonus program that will gift you a special bonus at the end of each quarter. So if you remain on my mailing list through September 30, you'll receive your first free bonus. Thereafter, your bonus will arrive at the end of each 3 months you remain a subscriber to my free newsletter and other products by deciding to stay on our email list. I have decided to challenge myself to do everything I can to earn and keep your loyalty so that I continue to grow my online business based on mutual goodwill and trust.

Examples of possible bonus products include e-courses like the one I offered in March on "How to Create Lasting Change in Body Experience," free audio downloads and replays, and special reports like the one I'm writing now on neck and back pain. If you have ideas about what you'd like me to offer, please let me know at mphillips@lmi.net. My goal is to please you because I so appreciate your participation and support!

We have a very important seminar coming up in early July. Eric Greenleaf is an expert in Ericksonian hypnosis. Director and founder of the Milton H. Erickson Institute of the Bay Area, Eric Greenleaf, Ph.D., has practiced, taught, and written about hypnotherapy for 35 years. Eric and I have known each other for more than 20 years and his work with Ericksonian approaches to healing is legendary.

We both encounter many people who struggle with intrusive medical procedures, especially surgery, and we want to offer our top techniques to help you and those you might refer to prepare for and recover from surgery successfully. Sign up now for How to Prepare for and Recover From Surgery at: www.maggiephillipsphd.com/courses_teleseminars_eg.html.

Our topics include:

• Ways of inviting your unconscious mind to assist with rapid recovery
• Boosting your confidence in your success with medical procedures
• Strategies to reduce fears that can block healing
• How to resume life after surgery with the "good chemistry" of positive emotions

I am starting to get excited about the workshops I'll be teaching in Europe this fall after some extended time relaxing this summer.

During the month of October, my schedule is:

10-11 October I will be presenting a workshop on "Mindfulness and Mind Body Healing" in Heidelberg, Germany sponsored by the Milton Erickson Institute, directed by Dr. Gunther Schmidt; contact office@meihei.de for more information.

17-18 October I'll travel to Paris to teach "Empowering the Self Through Ego-State Therapy and Structural Dissociation." These two days follow a special day on Friday, 16 October, with Dr. Onno van der Hart on Structural Dissociation. For more information and registration, email Bernard Mayer at mayer@ietsp.fr.

24-25 October I'll be teaching "The Body as the Ultimate Healer of Trauma and Pain" in Zurich, Switzerland. Please contact Silvia Zanotta at szan@bluewin.ch if you are interested.

29-31st October, I present at the Child Psychotherapy Conference in Heidelberg on "Saving the Velveteen Rabbit: Ericksonian Approaches to Pain Management with Children and Adolescents." For information, contact DanielBass@meg-rottweil.de.

1st-2nd November I'll join Dr. Wally Hartman at the Milton Erickson Institute in Heidelberg to teach a 2 day post conference workshop on "Ego-State Therapy with Children and the Child Within." Contact office@meihei.de for information and registration. The first day will begin at 2 pm (14:00 pm) on Sunday, 1st November, directly after the Child Psychotherapy Conference.

7-8 November I will teach an advanced workshop in Rottweil, Germany on "Ego-State Therapy with Personality Disorders." And on Friday, 6 November, I will lead a group consultation workshop focused on ego-state therapy. These events provide For all 3 days, please contact DanielBass@meg-rottweil.de. I will also be scheduling private personal consultations on 4-5 November. Please contact me directly if you would like to schedule private individual consultations sessions at mphillips@lmi.net.

Toward the end of November, I will be traveling back to China. On 28-29 November and 5-6 December, I will be teaching Somatic Experiencing® Beginning I on two weekends in Hong Kong. Please contact George Zee, the organizer, at gzeesj@yahoo.com, for more information.

12-13 December I will be teaching an Introduction to Somatic Experiencing® in Beijing. Please contact Rob Blinn at rob.blinn@ufh.com.cn or alex@beijingbookworm.com for more information.

Please note that all of the events above will be taught in English. There will be translation in Paris and in Beijing. Also, I will be offering private sessions before and after all of these events. Again, please contact me directly at mphillips@lmi.net for scheduling.

Our topic this month is "How to Prepare for Successful Recovery from Surgery and other Medical Procedures." This has been one of my specialties for many years as part of my mind body healing and pain practice. In my experience, the failure to prepare adequately can be highly correlated with complications and a painful recovery.

One of the best preparations is the development of a positive, confident attitude. It is very important to gather appropriate written information from your treating professionals about the procedure you will have, and if possible, to talk to someone who has successfully recovered from the same procedure. Before talking to the doctor who will perform the surgery or other procedure, make a list of questions you have and be sure to ask about the risks and benefits and what to expect before, during and afterwards.

Formulate realistic expectations about likely restrictions on your activity following your medical procedure. Your doctor or surgeon will give you an estimate of your recovery time. However, it is essential to note that this is indeed only an estimate based on the average time other patients have needed for recovery.

You will be better prepared if you make contingency plans in advance so that you will not be blindsided by unexpected disappointment if you do not live up to your own or your doctor's expectations. Many patients encounter challenges that are beyond their control and experience intense anxiety about what will happen if they do not respond according to plan. This kind of anxiety can be debilitating and further complicate recovery. So please get help in advance to formulate your expectations and recovery plans if you tend toward uncontrollable fears, especially if you have a history of significant past trauma that includes previous dental or medical trauma related to illness, accident, and injury.

If you will have a recovery longer than a few days, it is important to plan very thorough aftercare. Find out whether and when you will need to schedule post-operative appointments with your surgeon or other professionals including physical therapists. Arrange for meals that you will look forward to and that will meet any dietary restrictions. Don't be afraid to call on friends and family to help with this.

I usually recommend that patients set up a schedule so they have daily nutritional coverage. It's important to make sure that enough meals are cooked in advance or that takeout is procured that can be frozen and easily reheated. Make sure to stockpile plenty of liquids including bottled water and nourishing snacks. Some patients prefer to schedule at least one meal per day to be prepared and delivered by loved ones who check in a day ahead about menu items and how available you might be for a visit. An alternative is to arrange for this kind of care with a delivery service.

You may also want to procure housekeeping or other types of assistance such as transportation, grocery shopping, help with bathing or dressing or other needs. If you have a spouse or partner, discuss the needs you anticipate and plan ahead so that your loved one is not overwhelmed by caretaking duties. If you live alone, and you will need intensive care for several weeks, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional about the possibility of receiving care in a residential rehabilitation facility, or scheduling daily nursing visits to help you stay at home more comfortably. Almost always, if your doctor prescribes this type of assistance, it will be covered in large part by your medical plan.

It's also important to consider where you can imagine recovering within your home. Choose a corner where you feel relaxed and supported either on the floor, in a chair with appropriate support and comfort, or in a bed. Don't be shy about asking about renting a hospital bed, and consider sleeping on the first floor so that you do not attempt stairs too soon. It's also important to make sure that closets, drawers, and walkways are arranged so that necessities are convenient and you will not have to bend or lift.

I also think it's vital to fantasize about how you want to use any enforced time off you may have. I have found that patients who do not anticipate a positive, constructive post-surgery focus tend to have more difficulty with discomfort and pain. This may be a good time to plan a project you've never had time for, like learning a new language, writing a book, training yourself to use new computer software, reading a series of your favorite types of books or listening to them on tape, or even scheduling an at-home spiritual retreat. In my experience, patients who make sure that their minds are engaged fully in positive activities during aftercare will more likely have the most speedy and successful recovery with far less tendency to dwell on their difficulties.

If you are overweight or out of shape, you might want to complete part of your rehab before you have your medical procedure. Losing a few pounds and exercising to build strength may make a big difference in your recovery process later on.

And don't forget to arrange transportation to and from the hospital or clinic where your procedure will take place. If any type of general or twilight anesthesia is to be used, it is best to make sure you have someone stay through the procedure until you are released. Even if your companion is not allowed to be present during the procedure or in the recovery room, make sure that whomever you choose is capable of advocating for your needs. Discuss in advance how your representative can communicate with surgical or recovery room nurses to ensure that basic requirements are met-including warmth, privacy, quiet, and comfort. Discuss possible side effects of anesthesia or other drugs and what protocols will be followed if you have negative reactions.

And, finally, it's extremely important to make sure you are confident about your plan for managing pain during and following the procedure. Unfortunately, I have worked with many clients who, for whatever reasons, were not given a prescription when they left the hospital and encountered excruciating pain during the gap before getting proper medication. In other cases, the medication was not adequate or resulted in debilitating side effects. You must reflect on these medication issues with your doctors well in advance and make sure that your medication plan is as complete as possible, with contingency planning for unusual or unexpected circumstances.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this topic area which will appear in our July newsletter. We'll explore how to approach the procedure itself, including creative ways to accelerate healing. And all of this material will supplement the teleseminar on How to Prepare for and Recover From Surgery with Eric Greenleaf on Wednesday, July 8, from 9-10:30 am Pacific time. Please sign up right away, while you're thinking about it, at www.maggiephillipsphd.com/courses_teleseminars_eg.html.

Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter and to pass along information that would be appropriate to family, friends, and clients. And if you work with or know anyone who is facing a surgical procedure, please refer them to our teleseminar on Wednesday, July 8!

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