Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.
A trained and certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides you into this deep state of focus and relaxation with verbal cues, repetition and imagery. When you’re under hypnosis, this intense level of concentration and focus allows you to ignore ordinary distractions and be more open to guided suggestions to make changes to improve your health.
Hypnosis allows you to be more open to suggestions to make healthful changes in your perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, thoughts or behaviours.
People describe hypnosis in different ways. You may feel like you’re “zoned in” or in a trance-like state — so focused that you’re able to block out surrounding distractions. Have you ever been so focused on a TV show or so entrenched in a good book that you don’t hear your family talking around you or even your dog barking? This experience is somewhat similar to how you might feel while hypnotized. Many people say they feel calm and relaxed despite their increased concentration. Most described it as a pleasant experience.
How does hypnosis work?
How hypnosis works isn’t fully understood, but many believe that during the deep state of focus and relaxation in hypnosis:
- Your active thoughts calm down.
- You can access the part of your brain where your ideas, beliefs, feelings, memories, and habits come from (your unconscious mind).
- In this state, you become more receptive to gentle guidance from your hypnotherapist. They can help you change or replace the unconscious thoughts behind your behaviours.
This process allows for exploring and adjusting the thoughts that influence your actions, offering a chance for positive change.
What happens in a Hypnosis session
There are four stages in hypnosis: induction, deepening, suggestions, and emergence.
Induction: In this stage, you start to relax and concentrate while blocking out distractions. Your hypnotherapist guides you using specific techniques like controlled breathing or muscle relaxation exercises to help you focus or visualize.
Deepening: This stage intensifies relaxation and focus further. It involves counting down or using imagery like descending stairs or sinking into a comfy bed. These steps aim to make you more receptive to suggestions.
Suggestions: This stage brings about actual changes in your experiences, behaviour, or perceptions. The hypnotherapist uses imagery and carefully chosen words. Suggestions often focus on resolving symptoms or exploring experiences linked to the start of symptoms. They can affect perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought, or behaviour.
For instance, for students feeling anxious during exams, hypnosis can help them identify triggers and manage anxiety, allowing them to recall what they’ve learned and write confidently without mistakes. Similar techniques can assist adults in meetings or presentations, fostering positive changes and new responses.
Emergence: In this stage, you exit hypnosis. The hypnotist may use reverse techniques like suggesting you’re climbing stairs or counting up to help you come back to your full awareness.
Case Study
The client had a skin problem resembling alligator skin. They explained that whenever they took medicine, the patches disappeared, but returned in a different body part after the treatment ended. The patches were never gone for good; they kept coming back after some time.
Once we began the session, the client revisited the time and the root cause of the issue, focusing precisely on the initial thought or feeling that triggered it. I didn’t need the whole story—just the feeling associated with it. The client felt guilty about a thought they had with anger. We explored the reason for the anger and released the guilt. After this, they emerged from the session feeling like a new person. This session permanently resolved the problem. It’s been over 11 years, and the issue hasn’t returned.
Our thoughts hold immense power and can affect our physical bodies. Thoughts stir emotions, prompting glands to release hormones and enzymes that influence specific areas of our body. Eventually, these thoughts can manifest as pain, disease, or self-harm.
Myths about Hypnosis
Myth: Hypnosis is just for entertainment, not real.
Reality: Hypnosis isn’t a magic show. Clinical hypnosis is a genuine medical therapy often used alongside traditional medical treatments.
Myth: Hypnosis makes you lose consciousness or forget everything.
Reality: Most people remember everything during hypnosis. You stay aware of yourself, your surroundings, and recall what happens in a hypnosis session.
Myth: You’re controlled by the hypnotist during hypnosis.
Reality: Your hypnotherapist guides, but you’re in control. You can’t be forced to do anything against your will or reveal secret information. Hypnosis doesn’t take away your control. It simply helps you be more receptive to suggestions without making you do anything you don’t want to do.
Few more questions
Is hypnosis the only treatment used?
Hypnosis is commonly used alongside other therapies and treatments as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. The decision to use hypnotherapy as the main treatment or as part of psychotherapy or traditional medicine is made with a qualified professional who understands both the benefits and limits of hypnotherapy.
How long does hypnotherapy treatment usually last?
There’s no standard duration. Treatment length varies based on the issue and its severity. Hypnotherapy often requires multiple sessions.
Can anyone undergo hypnosis?
People differ in their ability to be hypnotized. Fear or concerns about hypnosis might affect someone’s ability to be hypnotized.
Who benefits the most from hypnosis?
Hypnosis tends to benefit individuals highly motivated to overcome issues. While it can be helpful for specific conditions or people, it may not always be effective.
Are there situations where hypnotherapy isn’t suitable?
Hypnosis may not be suitable for individuals with severe mental health problems like hallucinations or delusions, or those using drugs or alcohol. Using hypnosis to retrieve memories isn’t well-supported and might create false memories, causing distress. Caution is also advised in using hypnosis for managing early-life stressful events due to potential unintended suggestions causing anxiety.
Other Common Questions Is hypnotherapy risky?
Hypnotherapy is safe when performed by a trained therapist. It isn’t mind control or coercion. A therapist cannot make you do anything embarrassing or against your will.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
Yes, self-hypnosis is achievable. Techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness can simulate aspects of hypnosis. It can be beneficial in managing side effects of chemotherapy or recurring health issues like headaches.
What is sleep hypnosis?
Sleep hypnosis helps manage sleep problems like insomnia and sleep anxiety. It addresses underlying issues preventing quality sleep, rather than inducing sleep during sessions. It can complement other treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia.