Skeptic to Soul traveller
When meeting a client for their first regression, I can almost bet that one of the first questions or worries will be: ‘What if I can’t regress?’ I know that concern well, I feel it every time I undergo a regression myself. It is entirely normal to doubt.
It’s natural to worry that none of it is real, or to feel that you can’t trust the process because your imagination is simply making it all up. During the early stages of a session, clients often reach a point where they question their experience. Their inner critic chats noisily, whispering, ‘This isn’t real; you’re just making this up.’ However, regression is simply a bridge you cross to enter the subconscious mind, allowing you to find deeper truths and the root causes of your issues. For my analytical skeptics, the best way to understand this is by looking at the brain.
The brain consists of two halves. The left side is logical, rational, critical, and future-oriented; it is the part that keeps us safe. The right side is the realm of emotion, creativity, intuition, and symbolism, the ‘present time’ mind. In regression, we aim to shift from the left-brain critic to the right-brain experiencer. Analytical people often struggle initially because their mental filter the part that distinguishes reality from imagination is hyper-active. When the left brain is overworking, it can be a challenge to fully let go. Sometime I think it comes down to just trusting and not doubting what you experience. And I truly believe that the majority of people can be regressed, but it may take a session or two, to dive into it fully.
The inner critic isn't there to ruin your session. It is there to protect you. But sometimes, it doesn't realize that the 'danger' it’s guarding against is actually the healing you’ve been looking. Your analytical mind (the prefrontal cortex) is designed to keep you safe. Your logical mind is like a fiercely protective friend. It sees those raw, messy emotions bubbling up from your subconscious and panics because it doesn't have a plan for them. It tries to shut them down not because they are 'wrong,' but because it wants to keep you feeling steady and safe in the world you already know. The analytical mind often prefers the known, even if its something you want to change in your life, and uses skepticism to block any deep shifts that feel unpredictable.
If you’re feeling a bit nervous about your first regression, please know that’s completely normal. To help you feel steady and ready, I always suggest starting with a reach out and have a real chat with your therapist to make sure you feel truly seen and safe with them, and you have built some trust. In the days leading up to our session, I suggest some breathwork, yoga, or simple meditation; these aren't just for relaxation, they actually teach your body how to stay grounded even when big emotions bubble up. Most importantly, spend some time playing with guided visualizations. Think of it like a gentle workout for your intuition, it helps quiet that busy, logical "chatterbox" in your head and wakes up the creative, visual side of your brain, making it much easier for you to flow with the stories and symbols that want to emerge during our time together.