Hypnosis What is Hypnotherapy?

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses guided methods of relaxation and intense concentration, focusing the client's attention to achieve a heightened state of consciousness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused that while in this state, everything that happens around them is temporarily blocked or ignored by the person in the hypnotic trance. In this naturally occurring state, a person can focus her attention on her – with the help of a trained therapist – on specific thoughts or tasks.

How does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis is generally considered an aid to psychotherapy because the hypnotic state allows people to explore painful thoughts, feelings, and memories that may have been hidden from their conscious minds. Also, Hypnosis allows people to perceive some things differently, such as blocking an awareness of pain.


Hypnosis can be used in two ways, as therapy or as an aid for patient analysis.


Suggestion therapy: The hypnotic state makes the person more able to respond to suggestions. Therefore, hypnotherapy may help some people change certain behaviors, such as quitting smoking or nail biting. It can also help people change perceptions and sensations, and is particularly useful in treating pain.

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Analysis: This method uses the state of relaxation to explore a possible cause or psychological root of a disorder or symptom, such as a past traumatic event that a person has hidden in their unconscious memory. Once the trauma is revealed, you can be directed into psychotherapy.



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What happens in a hypnotherapy session?

The initial task of the therapist is to establish a good relationship with the client. This involves encouraging the client to talk about her concerns. The therapist might spend time with him first to take a medical history. As well as the establishment of medical history, the examination helps to foster trust between the therapist and the client. Feeling safe and comfortable with the therapist helps in the induction of a hypnotic trance.


The objectives for the therapy are discussed and agreed upon between both, and a complete explanation of what Hypnosis consists of is provided. Any questions or misconceptions about hypnosis are also addressed.


There are many different ways to achieve a trance state. Typically, the client sits in a chair or recliner, and the therapist speaks in a slow, soft voice. You may be asked to imagine or visualize yourself walking down a path, or you may be made to look at a fixed point, or simply listen to the sound of the therapist's voice. To deepen the trance, the therapist may count from 10 to 1 or ask you to imagine walking down a flight of stairs. You will then feel very relaxed, but aware of your surroundings.


To return to full consciousness, the therapist can count from 1 to 10.


The duration of treatments depends on the problem or individual symptoms and circumstances. For some people, a problem such as nail biting can be successfully treated in a single session. Other problems like panic attacks can take up to 5 or 6 sessions.


During the course of therapy, clients are taught to induce self-hypnosis as part of a series of therapeutic homework assignments.


The first session usually lasts an hour and a half, subsequent sessions between an hour and an hour and a half.

Things you should know about hypnosis:

No one can ever be hypnotized against their will and even when hypnotized, people still remain in complete control of all suggestions given.

The whole object of clinical hypnosis is to regain control that has been lost and therefore has resulted in the symptom or problem.

It is estimated that approximately 85% of people of all ages will readily respond to hypnosis.

What are the benefits of Hypnosis?

The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestions. It can improve the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:


Phobias, fears, and anxiety

Sleep disorders

depression

stress

post-traumatic stress

the pain of loss

Hypnosis can also be used to help control pain and overcome habits, such as smoking or overeating. It could also be helpful for people whose symptoms are severe or who need crisis management.

What are the disadvantages of Hypnosis?

Hypnosis may not be appropriate for someone who has psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, or someone who is using drugs or alcohol. It should be used for pain control only after a physician has evaluated the person for any physical disorder that may require medical or surgical treatment. Hypnosis may also be a less effective form of therapy than other psychiatric disorders.


Some therapists use hypnosis to retrieve repressed memories, which they possibly believe are linked to a person's mental disorder. However, Hypnosis also poses a risk of creating false memories, usually as a result of unintended suggestions on the part of the therapist. For this reason, the use of hypnosis for certain mental disorders, such as dissociative disorders, remains controversial.

Is hypnosis dangerous?

Hypnosis is not a dangerous procedure. It is not minded control or brainwashing, as has been claimed on some occasions. A therapist cannot make a person do something that is embarrassing or that the person does not want to do. The greatest risk, as mentioned above, is that false memories can potentially be created and that they may be less effective than pursuing other, more established, traditional psychiatric treatments.