What Is Hypnotherapy?
Understanding Its Clinical Power
Hypnosis, the tool used in hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state in which one has a heightened focus and concentration.
When under hypnosis, one feels calm, relaxed, more open to suggestions and very comfortable.
Hypnosis can be used to help gain control over undesired behaviours, help cope with anxiety, negative thinking, depression and pain, and increase positivity throughout many areas of one's life. It's important to know that although you're more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you do not lose control over your behaviour, and you can open your eyes at any time if you're uncomfortable and do not wish to continue.
Dr Milton Erickson, a leading American hypnotherapist, described the process of clinical hypnosis as “a free period in which individuality can flourish”.
In Australia and throughout the world, hypnotherapy is now recognised as a highly valuable therapeutic technique.
Techniques of Hypnotherapy I use
ERICKSONIAN HYPNOTHERAPY - a method made famous by Milton Erickson and the foundation of modern hypnotherapy, using metaphors, imaginary lands, and scenarios to connect with the subconscious mind to bring about change.
TRADITIONAL HYPNOTHERAPY - using more direct suggestions to bring about change.
PARTS HYPNOTHERAPY - discovering and learning about then reassigning parts of you that can sometimes be acting not in your best interest.
REGRESSION HYPNOTHERAPY - returning to, emotionally releasing from, coming to terms with, or perhaps learning to bypass, any issues which may still be causing problems in your present.
SELF-HYPNOSIS - In actuality, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Your hypnotherapist is merely a guide and facilitator. Using recordings at home to take yourself into a deep relaxing state and reinforce what was worked on in clinic.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION - teaching life skills to gain understanding and deal with that overly busy, possibly negative, mind, and developing a sound path of growth and insight.
NLP - utilising the power of words and phrasing techniques used throughout all hypnotherapy.
A brief history of hypnosis
Hypnosis is not a new modality of treatment. It has had a variety of names and has been used for millennia as a means of influencing human behaviour. Therapeutic suggestion and concentration have been practised throughout history as we have sought to treat pain and disease. The Celts, Druids and Egyptians all practised hypnosis.
In Vienna during the 1700s a young physician named Franz Anton Mesmer rediscovered the use of hypnosis, which at that time became known as Mesmerism. Mesmer guided his patients to use their powerful imaginations with remarkable results, and by doing so unwittingly lay the cornerstone of many present-day therapies.
In 1855, English surgeon, James Esdaile, used hypnotic skills in India. He operated on three thousand patients, of which three hundred were major procedures. Using hypnosis his mortality rate dropped from 50% to 5%, and many of his patients recovered quicker, had both increased resistance to infection, and had greater comfort both during and after the procedures. He presented his findings to the Royal Academy of Physicians in London... his work was denounced as blasphemous because,
“God intended for people to suffer”.
During World Wars I and II interest in hypnosis was heightened as it was found to be very effective in combating various war neuroses. This success through a reliving and re-pathing of traumatic events created a wave of enthusiasm for hypnotic methods post-war.
Even though hypnosis is highly effective, it's probably true to say that hypnosis has been clouded by more myth and misconceived ideas than any other form of psychological practice. Fortunately for modern healthcare, this is now changing.