What is Hypnotherapy?
Modern Solution Focused Hypnotherapy combines clinically proven techniques and a scientific understanding of how the brain works with the state of trance to help people make significant positive changes within relatively short periods of time. Resolving unwelcome habits and thought patterns at a subconscious level means that hypnosis is very effective in helping to break the negative trance states of depression and anxiety.
It can help with addictions, anger, blood pressure, blushing, lack of confidence, insomnia, IBS, relationship/marital difficulties, migraine, nail-biting, nightmares, obsessions, pain control, panic attacks, phobias, sexual problems, skin disorders, stress, trauma flashbacks and weight control.
Hypnosis is a normal and natural method of altering someone's state of consciousness: it is very pleasant and relaxing and enhances deep concentration. Hypnotherapy is the application of hypnotic techniques in such a way as to bring about therapeutic change.
Suggestion Therapy is a traditional treatment used to help with problems such as smoking, nail-biting etc. It makes use of the mind's heightened awareness and susceptibility to beneficial suggestions in order to make changes. This type of therapy generally requires one or two sessions. Anti-smoking Therapy takes just one session.
Solution Focused Therapy uses a practical, modern and well researched approach to help people to make significant, positive changes in their lives in a relatively short period of time, by awakening abilities that often appear beyond their control. It is particularly helpful with confidence and self esteem problems and is now recognised as a successful intervention in the treatment of depression and anxiety (including panic attacks, agoraphobia, IBS etc).
The average length of treatment varies but is generally under twelve sessions.
Modern minor phobias such as spiders, water, flying, public-speaking etc., can be cured quickly, generally in three to four sessions. Painful memories and traumatic experiences can often be dealt with in the same way.
The use of CDs is an integral part of therapy. This continues to focus the mind, and provides solutions between sessions.
All interventions have a profound affect on the way our problems are both viewed and dealt with. A major re-evaluation takes place, enabling greater self- knowledge allowing us become the person we were always meant to be.
It is advisable, except where Anti-Smoking Therapy is involved, to have a Free Consultation to discuss the problem and to help decide on the method of treatment.
How will I feel when I am Hypnotised ?
Being hypnotised is surprisingly normal, in fact you go into hypnotic trance many times a day. It is a very pleasant nice state of relaxation where you may feel nothing at all except relaxed and you will be totally in control at all times.
So you can't be made to do anything you don't want to do, despite what you might have seen on TV. This is solely for entertainment and bares no relation to clinical hypnotherapy.
Does Hypnotherapy work?
- “Hypnosis seems helpful in treating addictions and the depression and anxiety associated with them”- Psychology Today
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy has been rooted in science with evidence based results reported for many years. Although the American Medical Association (AMA) currently has no clear position on the effectiveness of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, in 1958, the AMA reported hypnotherapy has a recognized place in the medical armamentarium and is a useful technique in the treatment of certain illnesses.
Hypnotherapy is considered an effective adjunct in psychotherapy for many issues, and more are being studied. On its own, hypnotherapy is reported to be beneficial: In 2001, the British Psychological Society commissioned a group of expert psychologists and published a report that declared hypnosis a proven therapeutic medium and valid for study.
The report went on to say hypnotherapy is beneficial for a wide range of issues encountered in medicine, psychology and psychiatry with regard to stress, anxiety, pain, and psychosomatic illnesses. Some illnesses described are insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and migraines, asthma and a variety of skin maladies. Weight reduction was also cited as benefiting from hypnotherapy.
A comparison study reported in 2007 by American Health Magazine indicates some psychological issues benefit more from hypnotherapy than psychoanalysis and behaviour therapy. A German university meta-analysis of 444 studies supported this claim, concluding a 64 percent success rate with hypnotherapy for stress, anxiety and chronic pain.
According to Sanjay Paul, A psychology instructor at several universities, hypnosis is a heightened sense of suggestibility for accessing the subconscious mind which is responsible for up to 90 to 95 percent of our thoughts and actions. No one can be made to do anything they do not wish to under hypnosis. That old, inaccurate reputation stems from night club acts. Paul goes on to say hypnosis can provide lasting change by “cleaning the bottom of the mental fish tank” and it is the sub-conscious that helps to maintain ones self-image and record all memory via sensor input as a 24 hour mental tape recorder.
Ohio based certified hypnotherapist Janet Berg describes hypnosis as the state one must achieve in order to be receptive to hypnotherapy. She describes hypnosis as a state where the sub-conscious can readily accept and act on new information and suggestions for healing, change, growth and attainment of individual goals.
The experience, according to Paul, is the phase one enters directly before falling asleep or upon awakening and Berg claims those under hypnosis can leave this state voluntarily at any time and those who receive hypnotherapy describe the experience as relaxing and refreshing. More information can be obtained through her website www.janetberg.com. where she identifies a host of issues she can help with.
The American Psychology Association (APA) website has declared most clinicians now agree hypnotherapy can be a powerful, effective therapeutic technique for a wide variety of conditions.
Apparently, hypnotherapy is gaining ground fast as a respected form of therapy within the corridors of the scientific community.
Paul Mountjoy is a Virginia based writer and a member of the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES - April 28, 2013