Lifehut is a Hawaiian company based on the island of Maui. Our primary focus is to help people cope with the negative mental effects which often accompany the experience of a traumatic situation. Regardless of whether the stress is brought on as a result of a natural disaster, war, or by other means, our aim is to provide international aid organizations, mental health practitioners, corporations and the general public, with relaxing audio and video media for people in stressful situations. We also provide relaxation media for people from all walks of life. All of the media on our lifehut.com site is made available to members of the general public who may wish to experience these educational programs.
The evolution of lifehut and new psychology for the 21st Century
Our approach to new psychology of the 21st Century includes the integration of psychology and multimedia content streamed on the internet and also available via modern media delivery platforms (CD, DVD, mp3, internet capable cell phones, etc.). It is created with the intent of delivering healing messages and suggestions directly to people worldwide.
Talk therapy is understood in the left temporal brain, then cognated in the frontal region above the eyes. Auditory and visual stimuli carry verbal information through the limbic region, planting suggestions in the distant receptive areas of the brain. This is the basis of lifehut’s approach to assist people to harness the power of their minds, for positive changes in their lives. Lifehut’s videos include musical themes and crafted verbal delivery of targeted relaxation techniques to help people make positive cognitive and emotional changes.
Psychotherapy and the power of media enable a direct remote relaxation experience. In situations dealing with traumatic effects on an individual level, as well as populations, our media based distribution system for rest and recovery is designed to reach the maximum number of persons for relief of symptoms.
Lifehut and Time Therapy
Beginning in November 2008, Richard M. Sword, PhD, one of lifehut’s founding members, developed Time Therapy based on internationally renowned psychologist Philip Zimbardo, PhD’s Temporal Theory as presented in his book, The Time Paradox (2008). In essence, Time Therapy assists the individual in checking and balancing their Time Perspectives of Past/Present/Future so the individual is not stuck in any one Time Perspective to the exclusion of the others.
In early 2009, Drs. Zimbardo and Sword created The Z Team, a specialized team of clinical mental health professionals, researchers, educators, psychology students and veterans. The Z Team conducted a pilot study of 32 veterans suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in June 2009 on Time Therapy’s effectiveness with veterans suffering from PTSD. The results were astoundingly positive and can be viewed at www.lifehut.com/presentation.html.
In order to enhance the benefits of Time Therapy, Lifehut created a special video, The River of Time, based on Temporal Theory. The River of Time is a mental simulation of a balanced Time Perspective as well as a refreshing new way to view our lives. It leads the observer through a powerful yet relaxing experience…offering the opportunity to let go of Past Negatives, embrace a Positive Future while living in the Present. It can be viewed at www.lifehut.com/rivervid.html.
About Richard M. Sword, PhD
Dr. Sword is a practicing psychologist on Maui. His work in behavioral medicine has helped people to heal from traumatic events, accidents and physical injuries. He played a lead role in developing a model for Psychology in Disaster Stress Response, with the National Disaster Medical System and FEMA. He also created a series of guided imageries designed to reduce PTSD which significantly decreased overall stress levels.
His unique program is currently used in the Maui Memorial Medical Center including the Cardiac Care’s Integrated Medicine Unit and Malama Puuwai (Take Care of Your Heart) Program. The Meyer Friedman Institute at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco found it helpful in modifying the Type A Behavior Patterns.
Dr. Sword has been working with Vietnam Veterans, for well over twenty years. This experience led to the development of pre-recorded relaxation experiences as a means of treating combat related PTSD. He also works with WWII – including the distinguished Americans of Japanese Ancestry, the 442nd – Korean War and Gulf War veterans as well as those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Veterans Administration recognizes him as a leading expert in combat related PTSD.
In response to the deployment of US troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, a broadband audiovisual experience was created for Hawaiian based U.S. Troops deployed overseas. It was dedicated to the brave men and women who serve our country. An audiovisual experience was also created for the families of Hawaiian based U.S. Troops deployed overseas. One was also produced with Aloha for those people whom had to cope with the absence of a loved one. Lifehut gave 600 DVDs away to the troops and their families at a 2004 Christmas party - and then posted them on lifehut.com’s web site.
Many troops and their families access the media over the Internet. The specifically tailored messages for the troops were crafted with the special assistance of the Vietnam Veterans of Maui. Combat veterans and their families were the inspiration for this work, and they helped guide its creation and development.
Writing - Richard M. Sword, Barry Spanier and Rosemary K.M. Sword
Message content is a direct outgrowth of Dr Sword’s years of clinical practice and experience. Working closely with Barry Spanier, a successful designer, experienced in marketing and communications, they created the core concepts of lifehut’s media psychology. Spanier, along with Dr. Sword’s wife/partner/co-counselor, Rosemary Kuulei Moore Sword, a Hawaiian Kahuna (Shaman) specializing in counseling, work together to create scripts with the meter and pace necessary to best project the messages.
Images and editing - Robert Masters
Another key component of the lifehut program are the images presented to the viewer - and the editing which binds them together. To achieve the desired look, Dr. Sword has teamed with media producer and self described “ambient TV” cinematographer, Robert Masters. Dr. Sword loves how Robert’s approach to creating and editing natural images adds one more soothing layer to the lifehut.com meditation programs.
With a production and editing facility based in San Pedro California, Robert and his media development team is involved in the creation of video programs, news releases, documentaries and TV commercials for government agencies, Fortune 500 corporations and media directors from around the world. The facility boasts the latest technology for use in television, DVD and streaming media for on-line delivery.
Since the mid eighties, Robert Masters’ motion images has been used by clients such as Baywatch Productions, ABC Sports, National Geographic, Coors, Ferraro, TWI, ESPN and Eurosport. In addition to awards at U.S.A. Film Festivals, New York Film Festivals and several Worldfests, Robert has earned recognition from his peers in the form of one Emmy award for best editing and three additional Emmy nominations for best electronic cameraman of the year.
© 2010 lifehut.com. No portion of this lifehut.com site may be duplicated or reproduced in any way, without the prior written consent of lifehut.
The educational experiences contained on this site are intended to be a compliment for counseling or support groups and not a substitute for professional mental health counseling. If you are experiencing significant depression or negative feelings, please contact your doctor or a mental health professional.