Clinical Hypnosis
Questions and Answers about Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural state of inner focused thinking and is induced normally in everyday living much more often than it is induced artificially. Every time we become engrossed in reading a book, watching television, listening to music, or can’t remember passing certain streets while driving a car, we are in a natural hypnotic state or trance. It is self-induced by the individual, even when with a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis is not a sleep state even though a person may appear to be sleeping. One who goes into a deep trance may have partial amnesia, thus incorrectly assuming that they were sleeping. The hypnotherapist acts like a coach who facilitates the hypnotic process by guiding the client into a trance. The common belief evidenced by research is that a person experiencing hypnosis slows down his or her brain waves from BETA into ALPHA – although some people believe that we may actually enter THETA during deep trance states. (THETA is normally the “dream” state. We pass through ALPHA on the way to and from sleep). We could easily say that all of us experience hypnosis daily.
What are the benefits of hypnosis?
Hypnosis is helpful in empowering people to allow the unconscious mind to accept their conscious decisions especially when a competently trained therapist facilitates hypnotherapy. Hypnosis can be helpful in overcoming undesired habits, managing stress, insomnia, anxiety and phobias. It can enhance job performance, increase self-esteem, increase self-motivation, and self-confidence. After a medical evaluation, referral to hypnotherapy can be very successful in assisting individuals in managing acute and chronic pain.
Does a hypnotized person give up control?
No. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The client is in full control of him or herself during the trance state. They can stop the process at any time if they wish to do so. During stage shows, there is an expectation to follow the lead of the “hypnotist.” Thus, subjects in this setting are more likely to do what they are asked to do. In all cases, they would not do anything that they truly did not wish to do. This is a reason that the success rate for habit control is about 50%. The ethical hypnotherapist will encourage the client to increase their self-empowerment and build their strengths, and not become powerless which is a frequent reason for entering therapy. When used ethically, and therapeutically, hypnotherapy is safe and very effective.
How does hypnosis feel?
Keeping in mind that hypnosis is a natural state of mind that we all experience from time to time, clients are often surprised that they may hear every word that is said to them. Unless one enters into a moderate to deep trance, he or she may not feel any different than they usually do. Many clients are in a light trance while in traditional psychotherapy. They are highly focused on the discussion and not easily distracted by outside nuisances. One may feel quite mellow, relaxed, heavy or light, euphoric, have tingling sensations, or feel removed from the present.
How do we induce a hypnotic trance?
Hypnotic induction takes place when the hypnotherapist creates a quiet and safe atmosphere with the client. The client may become relaxed, or may be anxious if new to the treatment method, and may become inwardly focused on the therapist’s voice and directives. There are many methods of inducing a trance. The use of storytelling, metaphorical communication, imagery, tapping into one’s olfactory and tactile senses, memory, and use of progressive relaxation, guided imagery, and loss of inner equilibrium, mental confusion, and eye fixation are some of the many methods of entering into a trance. Induction can be spontaneous or gradual.
What is the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for self-improvement and /or a method to assist one to make personal changes. All hypnotherapy employs hypnosis; but not all hypnosis is hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist is a competently trained psychotherapist who is additionally trained in hypnotherapy, and uses hypnosis to assist clients to make healthy life changes. Hypnosis without therapeutic intervention is what is seen on stage shows.
What makes hypnotherapy different from traditional therapies?
Traditional therapy deals with issues at a cognitive here and now level of consciousness. Hypnotherapy focuses on the unconscious or subconscious level of reasoning which we are not aware of in the here and now. Hypnotherapy deals with the unconscious or subconscious mind; that part of us that is unaware of current here and now processes of living.
Can hypnosis be used to reduce pain and /or suffering from illness?
Pain may be a warning sign that something is wrong with the body, and someone qualified to do so should properly diagnose the cause. You should only seek hypnotherapy for pain management after receiving the appropriate referral from your primary care physician. The hypnotherapist will speak to the physician prior to doing hypnotherapy to obtain clinical information on the nature of the pain and suffering. The hypnotherapist will know when to work at removing the symptom verses assisting the client with how to manage their suffering from pain. Hypnotherapy is effective in the treatment of migraine headaches, and other bodily pain from muscle tension, surgery, accidents, injuries, and other traumas.
