Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is difficult to define as therapists differ in their ideas about it and there is no single agreed upon definition of hypnosis. The aim is to bring about a therapeutic change by using hypnosis to suggest the experience of changes in sensations, thoughts, perceptions and behaviour. A simple way to think about it is the bringing together of hypnosis and therapy to bring about a useful and satisfactory outcome.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis conjures up all sorts of images from having a watch dangling in front of your eyes to hypnotherapist entertainers who click their fingers to achieve an instant hypnotic state after which people follow commands to perform all sorts of antics. If you have been nervous about this stereotype of hypnosis then you can be relieved to know that this is not what hypnosis is about and has no relevance to the practice of clinical hypnosis.

It is a valuable system of communication that includes using words and imagination to achieve a specific outcome.

There is no single agreed upon definition of hypnosis. A part definition is that it is a naturally occurring state of mind that people dip in and out of all of the time to some degree or another –often called trance.

Daydreaming, for instance, is a trance state. Trance, therefore, is an everyday experience that people dip in and out of to varying extents. What the professional hypnotist does is to create the trance state deliberately by using hypnotic language.

Hypnosis is still mysterious and not completely understood, however, regardless of sceptics and debates about what it is, we do know that hypnosis definitely exists and it has increasingly become the subject of serious scientific study:

• A scan called a 'PET' scan shows that when people are given suggestions under hypnosis brain activity is altered.
• Who can deny it’s effectiveness when people have undergone surgery under hypnosis?
• Research shows people can be subjected to painful stimuli such as having a hand immersed in icy water for a length of time and yet feel no pain

Therapy

The ‘therapy’ part refers to treatment and relief of physical, somatic ( relating to the body), and psychological problems, as well as psychosomatic disorders which are aggravated by psychological factors such as stress. The therapy delivered depends on the skill and expertise that the therapist brings to the hypnotized state. The content that the therapist provides whilst you are in a pleasant and relaxed trance state is very important in helping you resolve your difficulty.

Relax with hypnosis.

‘Being in hypnosis’ is very relaxing in itself and I will teach you self hypnosis so that you will have a technique to help you deal with life’s stresses long after you have left me. Have you heard the saying ‘give a man a fish and you have given him a meal. Teach him how to fish and you have given him a livelihood’?

I use hypnosis to access and activate a persons inner resources to bring about a therapeutic change and help people overcome difficulties and problems.

Is ‘it’ Safe?

This is a question often asked.

Hypnosis in itself is not harmful. In fact it is very beneficial as the application of it can, amongst other things relieve stress, reduce blood pressure and bring about healthy and effective responses. It is very useful and effective, when appropriate, for the treatment of some conditions that are treated with medication e.g. depression, which can be helped without the side effects of drugs.

It is more desirable to use hypnosis for other medical conditions like anxiety for which sometimes anti-depressants and beta- blockers are used. All drugs have side effects, so hypnosis is a safer option because hypnosis has no side effects.

Some people wonder if they could stay stuck in trance. The answer is ‘no’. Trance is a state of focused attention – like being absorbed in reading a book. It is controlled by you and facilitated by the therapist.

Does ‘it’ Work?

This is another frequently asked question.

Theoretically everyone can be hypnotized. Perhaps you have come across people who boast that no one can hypnotize them. That is true, no one can be hypnotized against their will and if they do not want to be hypnotized then they won’t be. Some people think that it is weak minded to be hypnotized and it is about giving over control to someone else. This could not be further from the truth. The person who is willing to experience hypnosis is very much in control and focused. If you are that person who is willing to experience hypnosis you will be in control and will not say or do anything that you do not want to or that compromises your own integrity and beliefs.

What can Hypnotherapy help with?

The range of things that that hypnosis can help with is vast. It can be used to promote healing, reduce the blood pressure change the experience of pain, improve digestion, for hypno-birthing, and much more.

For an at a glance list of common conditions refer to Conditions that can be helped with hypnotherapy