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 Let me introduce to you, Father Michael Flynn, O.Carm. Father Mike has the dual role of Carmelite priest and doctor of psychology. “I have always seen my work as my way of loving God whom I do not see by loving my fellow man whom I do; this I believe is the fundamental message left by Jesus, ”says Father Mike. He is a staff psychologist at the Jesse Brown Veterans Administration for the last 35 years. He is also a full professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Medical School. Above his doctoral degree Father Mike is board certified in Psychological Hypnosis, Pain Management, Medical Psychotherapy, and Personal Assessment. I could go on and on about him; his credentials and achievements are pages long.
At the age of 59, I had a reality check. After seeing parishioners younger than me leave this world, I decided to start to take better care of myself. Pushing away from the table and developing a vigorous exercise program, I lost 34 unwanted pounds. I was looking good, fitting into sizes I had not seen in thirty years. It was an incredible change for me. Even though I looked and felt better than I have in years, there was still one thing that haunted me; was the interior me, as good as the exterior me looked? The only way to find out was by visiting the doctor. He was happy with my weight and blood pressure and said I only needed a simple blood test to find out how things were. I seem to remember the last blood test some ten, or was it twelve years ago? I get a script for a blood test every year when I visit my doctor. I place it on the bulletin board at home, next to the one I | received the year before, and the one the year before that and so on and so on. I have a row of them, like wallpaper.
Being a priest and a psychologist must open up incredible opportunities for Father Mike to help people. I read about the wonders that he achieved in an article he wrote titled: Hypnosis in the life of a priest- psychologist, both sides of the hyphen. It was for a book titled, Heart of Hypnosis, by J.M. Marcun. That book unfortunately never got published, but the article was so wonderful that reading it I became mesmerized by his abilities and the good work he has achieved. “I started in slowly to insert hypnosis into my therapeutic work on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at West Side VA,” Father Mike wrote.”I also used it to help the medical students, student nurses, psychiatry residents, and staff there. I remember a medical student who had a needle phobia who got rid of it in one session of desensitization.” That was as far as I had to read, because after reading it, a bell went off in my brain. I have often seen Hypnosis used in theatrical shows. It was a source of amusement, watching people do all sorts of antics. But never did I think it could be used to help people in pain therapy or to assist them in letting go of a phobia. Father Mike has helped so many in such wonderful ways, surely he could help me.
 It was not long after reading this that I decided to contact Father Mike.
I was curious about his work and even more curious as to the prospect of him helping me overcome my phobia of needles through hypnosis.
Driving down to see him, my chest began to pound. What will this be like? Will I be a good subject? How will I react? Will he want me to get the test today? Questions were spinning around my head like the rays of sun that bounced off my windshield.
From the moment he greeted me to the end of our session, I knew this opportunity was God given. His mannerism was gentle and supportive. In his office, he reassured me that he could help cure my phobia of needles. Once he had given me his instructions and answered my questions we began the session. I responded to his direction letting myself fall into a trance. I recall how peaceful it felt and how refreshed I was when it was over. My fingers tingled, as tension left my body. “When you are relaxed,” he said, “you cannot be worried.”
Father Mike taught me how to administer this relaxation technique daily. “Give yourself a few weeks and then go for the test,” he said.
As I write this I can say for certain that I am beginning to be more relaxed. Not just about needles but about a lot of things. I use this learned technique daily adding it to my prayer time. It has reduced all sorts of stresses that have come my way. I have plans to visit the doctor and have my test. Until that day, I continue to practice the self hypnosis technique Father Mike has taught me, receiving the blood test over and over in my mind, as if it were real.
Father Mike helps people like me combat the pain of surgery, the pain of healing, and the distaste of phobias through his use of hypnoanesthesia. During his training in the psychoanalytic tradition an instructor told him, “I hope that you will listen closely to and understand the poetry that your patients will speak to you.” I thank Father Mike for listening to me, for I know that I would not have had the willpower to beat this phobia had it not been for his understanding and willingness to help.
Father Michael Flynn, O.Carm., a Carmelite priest, a psychologist; one who lives his dual role charism every day. Inquires for Father Mike can be received at the Carmelite Communications Center through ccc@carmelnet.org.
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