What is LBL?
LBL stands for Life Between Lives. In practice it means a session conducted in hypnosis where, after preparation and entering a focused state, the client describes images, emotions, impressions, dialogue or a sense of knowing connected with the "between lives" space. For some people it is spiritual experience, for others a symbolic narrative of the unconscious, and for others a structured way of working with meaning, values and life story.
A responsible description of the method should not promise one objective truth. The center is the client's experience and how it can be integrated into everyday life. That is why calm language, clear boundaries and no pressure for a "major experience" matter so much.
What did Dr. Michael Newton contribute?
Dr. Michael Newton organized a way of describing LBL sessions and popularized the topic through books presenting client reports from hypnotic work. His legacy became a reference point for people interested in spiritual regression, but also for practitioners who wanted a more structured frame: preparation, session sequence, notes and integration.
It is important to separate inspiration from uncritical acceptance of every interpretation. Good LBL practice is not about imposing a story on the client. The facilitator should ask questions, protect comfort and check whether the client remains connected with themselves, their body and their boundaries.
Why safety matters more than effect
An LBL session can touch relationships, loss, guilt, meaning, life decisions and difficult emotions. Even if the client treats the work spiritually, the process can be psychologically intense. Before a session, contraindications, emotional state, expectations and a plan for returning to daily life should be discussed.
- The practitioner should explain clearly what LBL is and what it is not.
- The client should have the right to pause or slow the process.
- The session should not replace treatment, therapy or crisis intervention.
- After the session, integration is needed rather than immediate radical conclusions.
How should experiences be interpreted?
The safest place to start is personal meaning: what a scene, figure, emotion or sentence says about your values, relationships, needs or decisions. Metaphysical interpretation may matter to the client, but it should not replace simple questions: "What will I do with this?", "How does it support me?", "Is this decision mature and safe?".
A good session does not end with the story itself. It ends with clearer contact with life: the body, relationships, responsibility and concrete steps the client can take without pressure or destabilization.
Where to go next
If you are new to the topic, read the session-process guide next and then the checklist for choosing a specialist. It is better to understand the process first and decide later whether and with whom you want to work.