Hypnotherapy

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnosis is a trance-like state in which people experience increased attention, concentration and suggestibility. While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like state, it is better expressed as a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility. People in a hypnotic state often seem sleepy or zoned out, but in reality, they are in a state of increased awareness.

While there are many myths and misconceptions, hypnosis is a very real process that can be used as a therapeutic tool. Hypnosis has been shown to have medical and therapeutic benefits, most notably in the reduction of pain and anxiety.

While hypnotherapy is renowned for its effectiveness in treating phobias, weight loss, smoking cessation, and a variety of other applications. Angela mainly uses hypnotherapy as part of a treatment plan for stress, anxiety and/or pain management.

 

What to expect

During a hypnotherapy session, people are guided through a process to induce a trance-like state that helps them focus their minds, respond more readily to suggestions, and become deeply relaxed. Hypnotherapy utilises techniques including:

Relaxation: You will be guided by the hypnotherapist to feel or visualise yourself in a state of peacefulness and relaxation, even when confronting a problematic behaviour or the object of your fears.

Suggestion: Your hypnotherapist may make gentle suggestions for behaviour changes that can help you conquer your issue. For example, you may be taught to see anxiety as your bodies natural fight-flight response, as nothing to fear, lessening panic or fear when experiencing these natural bodily symptoms.

Coping skills: You may be taught certain cognitive-behavioural coping skills, such as guided imagery and the STOP! technique, that you can use when confronting fears or anxieties.

 

Benefits of Hypnotherapy

Some people may experience dramatic results with hypnotherapy. In other cases, people may simply feel very relaxed. Some of the benefits of hypnotherapy may include:

Relaxation: In the hypnotic state, you are deeply relaxed. Your conscious mind is quieted, allowing your unconscious mind to deeply focus on your issue. You are also calmer, and therefore more receptive to facing your problems or fears

Awareness: Some people remain fully aware during the entire experience. They recall everything that happens and are even able to have conversations while under hypnosis. Other people may experience states of relaxation that are so deep that they may even feel detached from what is happening.

Focus: Most of the time, we are distracted by our surroundings. Whether the TV is blaring, your kids are demanding attention or your spouse wants to talk, it can be difficult to fully focus on yourself. Our conscious minds are also cluttered. You may be worried about paying a bill, concerned about an upcoming project, or planning tonight’s dinner. The therapy session is intended to break through these day-to-day concerns and allow you to focus completely on the problem at hand.

 

Effectiveness

The effectiveness and impact of hypnotherapy can vary based on the individual and how the treatment is used. Hypnotherapy has been shown to have some degree of efficacy for certain applications, particularly:

Pain reduction and control during dental procedures and childbirth

Reduction in the severity of symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

While it may help people cope with problems related to stress and anxiety, it may be best applied when used in conjunction with first-line treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling.

 

Common Misconceptions

Hypnotherapy is still considered controversial, as many mental health professionals dispute its effectiveness. There are a number of myths and misconceptions about hypnotherapy that can affect how people view this therapeutic tool.

Hypnotherapy doesn’t cause you to forget what happened. You will remember the things that occur during your hypnotic state, you will not be asleep or unconscious, and you will be able to break the hypnotic trance at any time.

Hypnotherapy doesn’t cause you to lose control. During hypnotherapy, you remain in control. It is not possible for anyone to force you to do anything against your will, as suggested in stage hypnotist shows. You will be tuned in to the work at hand, and so may not pay attention to your surroundings, but you will always be in charge of your own actions, behaviours, and statements.

Being hypnotisable doesn’t mean you are less intelligent. While some people believe that they cannot be hypnotised, research suggests that most people are hypnotisable to a certain degree. Only about 10% of people are difficult or impossible to hypnotise.