SHIP - Spontaneous Healing

SHIP® AS A THERAPEUTIC MODALITY IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
THE SHIP® FOUNDATION was established as a training school for Clinical, Counselling and Educational Psychologists registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in September 2001. The HPCSA accredited THE SHIP® FOUNDATION with CPD status in 2002.

Human beings have been endowed with spontaneous healing processes in the bodily system, but have been mistakenly taught to deny the spontaneous rebalancing mechanism. In the same way as sutures keep the lips of a wound together, the SHIP® facilitator creates an environment within which the internal spontaneous healing process of the client may follow its natural self-normalizing sequence and in this manner allow the emotional wound to heal itself. SHIP® focuses on the activation of, and spontaneous release of the repressed information.

Ultimately it is the connection of the client with his or her repressed material (the two sides of the wound) that brings about healing. The facilitator continually guides (facilitates) the client to remain in this healing space of self-normalising activity of the system and to reclaim these past filed trauma experiences. The spontaneous healing process within the client is therefore allowed the opportunity to express (release) repressed information, to release trauma experiences and to move towards rebalance.

The practical benefits of SHIP® as psychotherapy model in everyday practice are the following:

SHIP® is applicable to the treatment of a variety of psychological symptoms, problems and DSM-5 disorders. It is a practical form of psychotherapy that does not focus on pathology but on healing and growth.

SHIP® provides structure for the psychologist and client. It creates feelings of security with clients. SHIP® creates a space for individual differences and the client’s own pace. It is non-judgemental and follows the client’s own rhythm and tempo and respects the client’s feelings throughout.

It provides a focus on cognitive, behavioural, emotional and bodily experiences and is therefore an integrated and holistic approach It activates a spontaneous healing process in each individual and does not only offer temporary solutions in the form of short lived coping techniques and dissociation. It focuses on psychological integration and freedom from painful and hurtful experiences.

SHIP® unlocks and provides access to the power of the unconscious (disconnected) functioning of clients. This contributes to permanent healing. This is one of a few psychotherapy perspectives that can claim this.

It is culture free and therefore appropriate for use across all culture groups in South Africa and respects the client’s own frame of reference. SHIP® can be used with all age groups and has different categories that specialise in age appropriate psychotherapy.

It helps to heal the past that contaminated and dictated a person’s life. It helps a client not to be a victim and slave of his circumstances and provides him with control over his life. SHIP® releases a great deal of positive energy within the self. It unlocks wisdom and the client experiences freedom that will allow him to accept the self and others. SHIP® improves self-validation and the client’s emotions are less fluctuating.

Freedom from chronic physical and psychological symptoms takes place as well as freedom from projections. Chronic life crises disappear and creativity in personal lives and careers are unlocked.

It helps the client feel comfortable with the self and being more assertive to the degree that one no longer feels threatened by other people. The client becomes more spontaneous and the constant sense that something inside of him is holding him back all the time disappears.

SHIP® breaks the destructive and negative patterns and themes in a client’s psychological functioning and behaviour.

Applications of ship®

A huge asset of SHIP® is its broad spectrum of application possibilities. One of the big contributing factors is that symptoms are not only regarded as pathology but signs of healing, integration and spontaneous healing reactions. SHIP® does not claim to be everything to everyone but it has proven over many thousands of psychotherapy sessions to be helpful in the following application scenarios, problems and symptoms that clients present with and seek help for.

1.       Irritable bowel syndrome
2.       Headaches: Migraines (vascular); Tension (muscle contraction)
3.       Self image and assertiveness
4.       DSM-5 Disorders, e.g.
               1.       Post traumatic stress disorders
               2.       Anxiety disorders and problems
               3.       Mood disorders
               4.       Somatoform disorders
               5.       Sexual dysfunctions and problems
               6.       Sleeping problems and disorder
               7.       Personality problems and disorders
               8.       Panic disorders and panic attacks
               9.       Eating disorders
              10.     Phobia
              11.     Impulse control problems
              12.     Identity problems and disorders
5.       Impacts positively on intimate and marriage relationships
6.       Psychological burnout
7.       Rehabilitation and adjustment e.g. the consequences of accidents, operations,                    injuries, etc.
8.       Life crises and adjustment e.g. divorce, death of loved one, family murder,                              terminal illness, loss of job, financial crisis, etc.
9.       Aggression problems
10.   Destructive behavioural patterns and habits
11.   Stress problems
12.   Bronchial asthma
13.   Peptic ulcers
14.   Irritable bowel syndrome
15.   Headaches: Migraines (vascular); Tension (muscle contraction)
16.   Self image and assertiveness
17.   Psychological burnout
18.   Rehabilitation and adjustment e.g. the consequences of accidents, operations,                    injuries, etc.
19.    Life crises and adjustment e.g. divorce, death of loved one, family murder,                              terminal illness, loss of job, financial crisis, etc.
20.   Aggression problems
21.   Destructive behavioural patterns and habits
22.   Stress problems
23.   Bronchial asthma
24.   Peptic ulcers
25.   Eating problems / weight problems / obesity
26.   Acute trauma
27.   Chronic pain e.g. low back pain
28.   Low energy levels
29.   Bereavement
30.   Personal growth
31.   Healing of painful and hurtful experiences that happened in the past
32.   Interpersonal problems.

It is important to understand the limitations and consequent contra indicators for SHIP®. Screening and assessing of clients is just as an important factor of effective treatment as the psychotherapy itself. The following are contra indicators:

1. Organic mental problems and disorders
2. Lack of motivation and focus on psychotherapy
3. No need for long term psychotherapy

 

References:

1. Dr. JOS. (2002). SHIP® : The age-old art of facilitating healing. Pretoria: JOS Publications.

2. JOS (2004). Workshop 1: SHIP® Back to basics; Introductory Lectures – Continued.

3. SHIP® website: www.ship.org.za

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