A different way of understanding psychological suffering
Many approaches to personal change focus on managing symptoms, changing thoughts, or regulating emotions.
The Psychological Illusion Model (PIM) starts from a different place.
Rather than asking “How do we fix this experience?” it explores something more fundamental:
What if much of our psychological suffering is based on a misunderstanding of thought, identity, and the sense of self itself?
In this free live session, Jørgen Rasmussen introduces the core principles behind the Psychological Illusion Model and demonstrates how insight into the illusory nature of psychological experience can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
Developed through nearly three decades of client work, the Psychological Illusion Model reflects Jørgen’s distinctive approach to understanding human experience and facilitating change.
Why do clients suffer so much over things that aren't happening?
Why do clients suffer so much over things that aren't happening?
The person who fears flying knows the fear is irrational. The client replaying a painful conversation knows it ended years ago. And yet it feels real, every single time.
Many approaches to change try to fix that experience. They manage the symptoms, challenge the thoughts, or regulate the emotions.
The Psychological Illusion Model (PIM) starts somewhere else.
What if much of our psychological suffering rests on a misunderstanding of thought, identity and the sense of self itself?
Going backstage with the magician
"I have friends who work as magicians and mentalists, and whenever they show me a new trick, I feel like an idiot. I fall for it every single time. I know it's a trick, but it feels real. And everything I do to figure it out just makes me easier to fool, because I'm not seeing the mechanism to begin with. Over the years I've come to see phobias, anxiety and so much of what clients bring me as a kind of psychological magic trick." Jørgen Rasmussen
Imagine taking a visitor from the year 1000 to a magic show. On stage, the person he loves is seemingly sawn in half. He knows nothing about magic. How do you think he would respond?
Now imagine it's someone you love on that stage. You'd probably feel something. Curiosity, perhaps, or a flicker of nerves. But you wouldn't storm the stage.
What's the difference? You didn't have a better childhood. You aren't using a breathing technique, an anchor or an affirmation. It looks just as real to you.
The difference is that you understand magic. You know that no matter how real it looks, it isn't really happening.
PIM helps people have that same realisation about their own experience. Not as an idea, but as a direct, felt discovery. And just as with a magic trick, once you've seen how it's done, it rarely has the same hold again.
It is not a technique. It is a different way of understanding experience.
What is the Psychological Illusion Model?
The Psychological Illusion Model is a framework for understanding human experience that brings together:
Modern insights from psychology, hypnosis, and change work
Direct, experiential inquiry into thought, identity, and perception
A practical, non-dogmatic exploration of how the sense of “self” is created moment to moment
Rather than offering techniques or protocols, PIM points to something simpler and more radical:
When people clearly see how their experience is being created, suffering often reduces naturally, without effort or control.
What this session will explore
In this free online event, Jørgen Rasmussen will explain how much psychological suffering is not the result of people being broken or mentally ill, but often arises from innocently falling for basic psychological illusions.
When people misunderstand the nature of their own experience, distress can feel deeply personal and inescapable. Helping them see through these misunderstandings can make a profound difference.
Jørgen will also introduce how the Psychological Illusion Model effectively turns hypnosis upside down. Rather than reinforcing suggestion, it offers a way of helping people “de-hypnotise” themselves, seeing through the assumptions that keep anxiety, low mood, chronic pain, or trauma-related patterns in place.
Who Should Attend?
This session is especially relevant for therapists, coaches, counsellors, hypnotherapists, and other change-workers who want a deeper understanding of how psychological suffering is created and maintained. It will also appeal to those who are curious about approaches that go beyond techniques and symptom management, and who are interested in insight-based change, identity, and the nature of experience itself. No prior knowledge of the Psychological Illusion Model is required, just an openness to exploring a different way of understanding mind and change.
What People Are Saying
"I'm looking forward to studying Jørgen's work again, again, and again. I use his work every day with clients and achieve amazing results. Since starting to work with PIM, I don't advertise anymore, I get all my clients through word of mouth. I highly recommend anyone working with people to study PIM."
Peter Jakobsen, Hypnotherapist and Metacognitive Therapist
“It was Jørgen's books, which I discovered by accident, that sparked my desire to discover more. I signed up for his weekend seminar in search of personal transformation techniques that were different and outside the box, in order to resolve myself and others. But what I discovered was quite extraordinary. My experience was truly life-changing, embodying a knowledge that goes far beyond the intellect. Jørgen's commitment to this model, which he has created throughout his practice, is evident. The stories he introduces are countless and each one has a real purpose. I recommend this experience in Aether and Alchemy without any hesitation".
Natasha Gallo, Clinical Psychologist
"Anyone serious about leading their clients towards meaningful and lasting change should consider training with Jørgen Rasmussen. And it goes without saying that Pete Dalton is hosting one of the best platforms for change workers through Aether and Alchemy, making it an excellent resource for professionals in the field".
Thomas Wood
Want to go further?
This free session is a taster for the PIM Foundation Workshop, Jørgen's two-day live online training on 30th and 31st January 2027.
Over the two days, you'll explore the model in depth, see how sessions actually unfold, and practise the thought experiments yourself. You'll also get access to around 15 hours of Jørgen's real client sessions, with follow-up over time.
The workshop is also the route into the PIM Deep Dive Development Group, a year-long programme starting in 2027.