A B C D E F-G H I-J-K L-M-N O P-Q R S T U-Z

Catalepsy: A state of hyper suggestibility in which an individual will display signs of body rigidity that goes beyond their usual conscious state's ability. A state in which the subject has no external sensitivity and cannot perform voluntary movements. It is usually manifested by a rigidity of the body or certain parts of the body. In this condition the body and the limbs will keep any position in which they are placed.

Cataleptic: A person who can go into and remain in the state of catalepsy.

Catharsis: The act of releasing stored charged emotions either of an uncomfortable or a pleasant nature.

Central Nervous System (CNS): That portion of the nervous system that lies within the skull and spinal column; the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebral Cortex: The part of the brain associated with conscious experience and higher mental processes. A grayish rind of tissue covering the cerebrum.

Cerebral Hemispheres: They are symmetrical halves of the brain. There are two occipital lobes, two parietal lobes and two frontal lobes. These two hemispheres are in continual communication with one other. Each functions as an independent parallel processor with complementary functions.

Cerebrum: The main part of man's brain, divided into right and left hemispheres; also known as the new brain.

Client Centered Therapy: A form of therapy designed by Carl Rogers in which the client assumes responsibility for solving his or her own problems. The therapist's role is to clarify and assist, not to give advice.

Clinical Hypnosis: Hypnosis that is performed by a professional hypnotist under certain standard guidelines or conditions; therapeutic application of hypnosis.

Co-dependence: A pattern of painful dependence on compulsive behavior and a need for approval from others in an attempt to find safety, self-worth and identity.

Confusion: Used to counter unconscious resistance, this technique interrupts, overloads, or distracts the conscious mind. Non sequitur is used: I wonder why shopping carts always seem to stick together, and as the client tries to make sense of the confusing statement, he is receptive to suggestions. Generally more effective in short bursts, and should always be used judiciously.

Cognition: The process or processes by which an organism gains knowledge of or becomes aware of events or objects in its environment and uses that knowledge for comprehension and problem-solving.

Cognitive: Pertaining to thinking, knowing, understanding of the internal processing of information.

Collective Unconscious: According to Jung's theory, a portion of the psyche that is common to all people and that contains archetypal images.

Commitment: If people commit to something, they are more likely to comply. Commitment is a hypnotherapeutic tool for increasing the effectiveness of suggestions.

Compensation: Counteracting a real or imagined weakness by emphasizing desirable traits or seeking to excel in other areas.

Complex: A conglomeration of psychological elements that have developed a strong emotional charge.

Compounding: The use of a suggestion given early in the line of suggestion management that continues to be reinforced throughout the suggestion sequence.

Compulsion: An act the individual feels driven to repeat, often against his or her will.

Conditioned Reflex(Response) (CR): A learned response to a stimulus not originally capable of arousing the response. A reflex that responds automatically. A constant or learned response to some action or event.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A stimulus, ordinarily ineffective, which by association with an unconditioned stimulus becomes effective in eliciting behavior.

Conditioning: Basic form of learning in which conditioned responses are established.

Cone: A primary receptor cell for vision located in the retina. It is sensitive to color and used primarily for daytime vision.

Confabulation: The falsification of memory due to a partial amnesia.

Conscious: Awareness, alertness, referring to the state of being subjectively aware, that which is known and experienced; the left hemispheric brain function which maintains an interpretative contact of the individual with the environment. A term used to describe an individual organism while it is perceiving, remembering, thinking, imagining, etc. The condition where one is aware of both inner and outer events /actions.

Conscience: Our personal concept/judgment of certain behaviors.

Conscious Mind: The rational, subjective, linear oriented portion of our awareness. Located roughly in the brain's cerebral cortex.

Consciousness: The all-inclusive nature of being aware of self in whatever state one is at.

Convulsion: An involuntary spasm of muscular activity.

Cornea: A thin, curved transparent membrane on the surface of the front of the eye. It begins the focusing process for vision.

Corpus Collosum: A large nerve unit in the middle of the brain connecting the two hemispheres; serves to transfer information from one hemisphere to another.

Cortex: This is where most high-level functions associated with the mind are implemented. Some of its regions are highly specialized. For example, the motor cortex helps coordinate all voluntary muscle movements. The occipital lobes located near the rear of the brain interprets visual stimuli.

Counter Suggestion: A suggestion given to a person to displace or challenge a core or fixed belief/idea.

Critical Factor: A theoretical concept explaining the separation of conscious and subconscious as a filter that filters conscious messages to the subconscious. This is by-passed in hypnosis.

Covert: An adjective applied to internal activities of organisms that ordinarily can be observed only with the aid of special instruments.