Afraid of Flying?
Emily, the head of a non-profit mental health organization, had
instituted some innovative practices to maintain the level of client service within the
constraints of managed care. Because of the success of her programs, she was invited
to consult with other organizations around the country.
She was delighted to have this
role, but agonized over an upcoming flight and wishing she didn't
"need" a tranquilizer to make the trip possible.
I walked her through
a
visualization (it only takes five or six minutes) and then we moved on to other
matters.
When we met again two weeks later, I asked her how the flight had gone.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Well, did you need a tranquilizer?"
"Wow," she said. "I didn't even think
of it. In fact, now that I review the flight, the only time I was even
remotely nervous was when we hit a bit of turbulence before landing and
the woman next to me grabbed the arm rests. I said to myself at the
time, 'I certainly understand that. I
used to be like that,' and
then my attention went right back to the upcoming consultation."
