An abreaction is an unpleasant response that may occur during trance. It is usually triggered as repressed uncomfortable memories are brought to conscious awareness during trance. This may happen at any time during hypnosis as the subject is accessing areas of the mind that are normally beyond conscious awareness, but it is more likely to occur during regression.
Many therapists attempt to induce an abreaction in their patients as a form of therapy, to help them release unconscious emotional energy. This can yield remarkable results. Other therapists prefer to look at a traumatic experience from a disassociated position, allowing more recently gained wisdom to change the way that an event affects their life.
So what happens if your client has an abreaction? Initially you will need to make sure that your client is abreacting, sometimes a client will cry after a moment of insight. An abreaction is typically an uncomfortable situation, you should recognize it as distress, usually accompanied by tears. To deal with an abreaction it is important to remember that it is simply a response to an experience. You can immediately ease the client by gaining rapport and leading them to a more comfortable place. You can do this with a simple script such as the one outlined below.
"You are crying, and although I am not sure exactly what you are feeling right now, as the tears run down your face you can understand that your subconscious mind knows that it is safe for you to have this experience. It is not important to make sense of these feelings here and now, just be comfortable that you can trust yourself and feel whatever it is you need to feel and then, with a great sense of relief, be happy that you have been able to do so. A wonderful sense of release and calm can wash over you as you recognize a remarkable step forward in the healing process."
Using such a script will enable you to pace your client to a more comfortable place and give them a positive outlook of the experience.