Dr. Paul Leslie: Creating Magical Sessions and the Art of Creative Transformation

In this episode of AWAKEN, Ryan DeJonghe sits down with Dr. Paul Leslie, an author, psychotherapist, and educator known for his unique blend of clinical expertise and creative "magic" in the therapy room. Inspired by the recommendation of James Tripp, Ryan explores Paul’s philosophy on moving beyond the "mechanical" nature of modern therapy to embrace the unpredictable, the creative, and the truly transformative. They discuss how to build a "magical session" where the therapist and client co-create a reality that makes change not only possible but inevitable.

Key Discussion Points
The Magical Session: Dr. Leslie breaks down the core concepts of his book, Creating a Magical Session, explaining how to move away from rigid protocols and toward a more fluid, presence-based approach to healing.

The "Tripp-Leslie" Connection: Paul shares insights from his fruitful friendship and collaboration with James Tripp, discussing how their shared views on hypnosis and change work have influenced each other.

Beyond the Diagnostic Label: Why Paul believes that treating the "human" rather than the "disorder" is the key to unlocking profound breakthroughs in psychotherapy.

The Role of Mystery and Play: Discover how Dr. Leslie incorporates elements of mystery and creative play into his work to bypass the conscious mind’s resistance to change.

Clinical Intuition: A deep dive into how practitioners can develop their intuition to know exactly when to "break the rules" for the benefit of the client.

Memorable Quotes
"A magical session isn't about tricks; it's about creating a space where the impossible starts to feel like a choice."

"If you’re just following a script, you’re missing the person sitting right in front of you. Transformation happens in the 'now,' not in the manual."

Special Segment: Hypnotic Gift
At the end of the episode, stay tuned for a special hypnotic gift provided by Dr. Paul Leslie. He leads a gentle yet powerful session designed to help you integrate the learnings from the conversation and tap into your own creative resources for personal growth.

Episode Timestamps
00:00:01 – Introduction of Dr. Paul Leslie

00:06:30 – The influence of James Tripp and the synergy of their work

00:14:15 – What makes a therapy session "Magical"?

00:25:50 – Breaking free from the "Medical Model" of psychotherapy

00:38:20 – The importance of presence and "Unknowing" in the room

00:51:10 – Creative interventions: Using mystery to spark change

01:05:30 – Hypnotic Gift: A Journey into Creative Resourcefulness

01:10:19 – Closing thoughts and where to find Paul’s books

Connect with Dr. Paul Leslie

Official Website: drpaulleslie.com

My favorite book of his: Creating a Magical Session on Amazon

Connect with Ryan DeJonghe

If you are a practitioner looking to add more "magic" to your work, or an individual ready to experience a transformative shift, let's connect:

Website: trancewell.help 

Email: ryan@trancewell.help