The GSR meter - Hypnotherapy's most important tool?
A wonderful way to work effectively. 'This is like reading your client's mind!'
How does this meter work?
A GSR Meter measures a client's Galvanic Skin Response. GSR is simply a measure of the skin's electrical conductivity. To measure this, the machine passes a very small electrical current (unnoticeable to the client) through the skin from one finger electrode to the other.
Changes in the salt and water in the sweat gland ducts affects your skin's electrical conductivity. These changes occur almost instantaneously in response to your emotional reactions: tension (electrical conductivity increases) and relaxation (electrical conductivity decreases).
Thus the GSR Meter is able to measure and display a client’s general state of relaxation and immediate emotional reactions.
This means that you will know when your client has changed emotionally - even when he or she has had a fleeting awareness of an emotional memory.. or when he/she has suddenly thought of something that evokes emotion. Clients are often very surprised when you ask them what they are thinking about!
The depth of relaxation or intensity of emotional response is indicated by the change in reading on the digital display.
Features:
>•Large, easy to read digital display.
• Switchable between 2 and 3 digit accuracy.
• Very low power consumption (typical battery life of 180 hours using a single 9V alkaline battery).
• Comfortable and unobtrusive velcro finger straps with high-conductivity copper electrodes.
• Long (2m), lightweight lead.
• Rugged protective rubber boot with built in tilt stand for convenient viewing angle.
• Dimensions in mm 108W x 170H x 42D (not including tilt stand).
• 2 year guarantee against faulty parts and manufacturing faults.
• Made in England.
Price
£119.00 (plus postage and packing).
If you are interested in buying one of these please give me a call (01202 423111). I gain a small commission for selling these, but promote them mainly because I believe that they are the most useful tool we have for helping clients.
Personal use
You will also find this meter helpful in your own life, since it provides you with feedback in relation to your own tension level. I have found that simply putting the sensors on my fingers and then watching the changes registered by the meter, I can achieve a greater sense of relaxation.
It is amazing to see how almost every thought affects our state of mind.
GSR Biofeedback Meter - Operating instructions
The sensor lead: Fit the velcro finger straps securely to your client's first and second fingers. Position the straps in the middle of the end section of the fingers, orienting them so the copper electrodes make good contact with the fingerprints (not the fingernails).
You need to position the finger straps well. If they are too loose, or too near the tips of the fingers, for instance, then the reading will tend to be too low.
It doesn't matter which hand you use, but do continue using the same hand every session to get comparable readings.
The front panel: Connect the sensor lead to the socket in the bottom right corner. You turn the meter on by using the rocker switch, and you can use the push button on the right to toggle between 2 and 3 digit mode. The first 2 digits of the reading are the same in both modes - 3 digit mode simply adds more accuracy.
More accuracy helps you see quickly in which direction the meter is moving (e.g. during analysis), however, you will find the 2 digit mode less distracting to read (e.g. during hypnosis).
Using the meter
You will discover that the readings will vary from person to person (due to variations in skin type, etc.), it is a good idea that you record the client's reading before you carry out therapy. This will give you a reference to work from. It is best you take this reading after your client has been sitting relaxed for a while.
You might attach the electrodes at the beginning of the initial consultation but record the reading near the end of the consultation. Typical readings at this second stage tend to be between 50 and 75.
Note that use of certain prescribed drugs or even herbal medication (anti-depressants, tranquillisers, etc.) may cause an unusually low reading. This low reading is still a valid reference point. From this you will have a way of assessing, say, how relaxed a client has become over the duration of the treatment.
Do note that if a client is particularly hot or cold this will affect the reading, making it higher or lower respectively. However, since the environmental conditions of your treatment room are mostly likely fairly stable this should not usually be a problem.
In any case, it is the changes in reading during a session that are of most interest.
Hypnosis:When you have your client comfortably settled, attach the GSR Meter electrodes to their fingers. Take a note of the display reading as you begin your Induction.
Normally as your client enters hypnosis the reading will fall and continue to fall as he/she becomes more and more relaxed. Occasionally your client's reading will rise even though he/she has entered trance - this tends to be indicative of subconscious anxiety.
It is recommended to continue deepening suggestions until the reading stops falling, or at least slows right down.
Analysis:As your client begins to talk during analysis (e.g. Free Association, Direct Regression, etc.) the reading will tend to rise somewhat as their trance lightens. This is normal, but when they enter a ‘no go’ area (anxious thoughts, etc.) the reading will rise more significantly, often very quickly, even though they may appear visibly relaxed. This is the time when you may decide to gently probe.
Reduced reactions in particular areas from session to session will indicate that your client has progressed.
Suggestions:With the GSR Meter you can monitor your client's emotional reactions to your suggestions during hypnosis and thereby pace your suggestions.
You can also get a good indication of progress made by observing his/her response to a fear or phobia before and after hypnosis.
Ultimately as you use the GSR Meter you will gain specific experience relevant to your particular methods of therapy and most likely you will find it an invaluable tool.
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