A short introduction by David Kraft
The Unconscious mind is a huge topic in cognitive psychology, health psychology, and theories relating to hypnosis and psychotherapy. This page is an introduction to the topic. For more information on this, I would read a combination of the writings relating to cognitive psychology, psychotherapy, state and non-state theories and look at evidence from research using brain imaging. In the medical domain, consciousness relates to the fact that we, as human beings, are able, using our five senses, to be aware of our surroundings and various stimuli. Humans are also able to reflect and recall past events, to plan and show empathy to others; we can be abstract or logical, rational, digital and both linear and serial while we process stimuli. The unconscious mind relates to anything of which we are not aware. The unconscious is responsible for repressed feelings and memories, automatic skills, autonomic functioning, automatic reactions and reflexes, conflicts, hidden emotions and desires. The concept of the unconscious was brought to the fore by Freud who suggested that these processes which were responsible for mental disturbance. He also pointed out that, by understanding these conflicts, repressed thoughts, drives and desires we can effect change in our behaviour. We can also learn more about our intrinsic motivations and desires so that we can act them out and become more fulfilled in our lives. Thus, dreams and slips of the tongue are inextricably interconnected with unconscious mechanisms. Other unconscious phenomena include intuition, gut reactions, personal reactions and habits. There are also phenomena which have been described as semi-conscious. These include implicit memory, subliminal messages, the hypnogogic state and hypnosis. Hypnosis is useful because it helps people 1) to communicate with the unconscious mind; 2) to ask or direct the unconscious to do certain things and 3) to receive information from the unconscious (Heap and Aravind, 2002).
About the author
David Kraft is an experienced psychotherapist. He has a practice in Harley Street in the West End, and many clients of his are now seeing him in Enfield. The Enfield clinic was set up in 2014 in order to help people needing psychological support in the local area. The Enfield clinic has a catchment area which includes Barnet, Cheshunt, Winchmore Hill, Enfield, Southgate and Palmers Green; however, anyone can come for therapy here. And, indeed, people come from all over London to see David. David is a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a member of council for BSCAH.