CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY
What is Hypnotherapy?
According to the ASCH, hypnosis is a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention. When our minds are focused it opens up a realm of healing, helps reach potential and can even improve self-control.
Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state in which you have heightened focus and concentration. Hypnosis is usually done with the help of a therapist using verbal repetition and mental images. When you're under hypnosis, you usually feel calm and relaxed, and are more open to suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain. It's important to know that although you're more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don't lose control over your behavior.
Hypnosis conducted by a trained therapist or health care professional is considered a safe, complementary and alternative medical treatment. However, hypnosis may not be appropriate in people with severe mental illness.
What you can expect...
Your therapist will explain the process of hypnosis and review your treatment goals. Then the therapist will typically talk in a gentle, soothing tone and describe images that create a sense of relaxation, security and well-being.
When you're in a receptive state, the therapist will suggest ways for you to achieve your goals, such as reducing pain or eliminating cravings to smoke. The therapist may also help you visualize vivid, meaningful mental images of yourself accomplishing your goals.
When the session is over, either you are able to bring yourself out of hypnosis or your therapist helps you end your state of relaxation.
Contrary to how hypnosis is sometimes portrayed in movies or on television, you don't lose control over your behavior while under hypnosis. Also, you generally remain aware of and remember what happens during hypnosis.
You may eventually be able to practice self-hypnosis, in which you induce a state of hypnosis in yourself. You can use this skill as needed.
The top 10 myths about hypnosis
From Successminds.com
While hypnosis is a scientifically-proven method for treating a variety of conditions, it still remains a bit of a mystery. Below, we debunk the ten most common myths about hypnosis.
MYTH #1- When in hypnosis, you can be made to say or do something against your will. Fact: The truth is, hypnosis cannot make you do anything that you don’t want to do. It can help you achieve something you do want to do, and it can help you stop doing something you want to stop doing. But hypnosis cannot make you do anything against your will. If a suggestion was made to you during a hypnosis session which truly offended your ideals or sensibilities, then you would simply break the hypnotic state and end the session.
MYTH #2- You can get “stuck” in hypnosis and be unable to wake up. Fact: You cannot get “stuck” in a hypnotic trance. Hypnosis is a natural and normal state that we all enter into on a daily basis, so it’s nothing you haven’t experienced before. Of course, hypnosis is a subjective experience and everyone will experience it differently, but the “worst” that could happen is that you drift into a natural state of sleep and wake up soon afterwards.
MYTH #3- I’ve never been hypnotized before. Fact: Actually, you have been hypnotized — in fact, we all have! For example, have you ever been so entranced in a book or film that you don’t hear someone call your name? Or have you ever driven somewhere, but don’t remember the route? These all involve hypnotic states to some extent, which means hypnosis is just a natural extension of everyday awareness.
MYTH #4- Hypnosis isn’t an effective modality. Fact: Contrary to what you may have seen on television or in movies, hypnosis is a scientifically-proven method for treating a variety of conditions, from chronic pain to insomnia. The world-renowned Stanford University School of Medicine’s Stanford Center on Stress & Health teaches hypnosis techniques as a treatment in clinical settings as part of an integrative medicine approach. There have been hundreds of studies conducted and published in reputable medical journals on the efficacy of hypnosis; if you’d like to learn more about the studies and results, click here.
MYTH #5- Hypnosis works instantly. Fact: While some people can experience changes very quickly, hypnosis is generally not an “instant miracle cure.” The results you will experience depend on a variety of factors, including: the issue you’re addressing, your level of susceptibility, how often you listen, your mindset each time you listen, and more. To start noticing the benefits, we recommend daily listening for at least one to three weeks (or more, if you like). Once you’ve achieved your goals, we recommend occasional listening to maintain the results you desire (or to simply relax).
MYTH #6- You are asleep or unconscious when in hypnosis. Fact: Hypnosis is neither sleep nor unconsciousness. The experience of a formally-induced hypnotic state might resemble sleep from the physical point of view (for example: slowed breathing, eyes closed, muscles relaxed, activity decreased), but you are never actually asleep. You may be relaxed and comfortable, but you’re alert and aware. You’re focused and able to clearly think and communicate, as needed. To be clear, it is possible to drift into a state of sleep during hypnosis, but that is not the intended outcome.
MYTH #7- Hypnosis will only work on certain people. Fact: It’s true that some people are more susceptible to hypnosis, but everyone is susceptible to a certain degree. The effectiveness of hypnosis often comes down to the person’s motivation, willingness, and ability to concentrate. Think of it this way: if you’re interested in something and it’s something that you want, then you’ll be open to its effects. It’s the same with hypnosis — if you want it to work, you have a much higher chance of success than if you’re uninterested or fighting it.
MYTH #8- People who get hypnotized are weak-minded. Fact: In fact, it is the opposite. Without a doubt, it’s the people who can concentrate well and have a creative imagination who make the best hypnosis patients. People with these valuable attributes can enter a state of hypnosis with ease, which means they’re more likely to absorb the messages and achieve the results they desire. There’s nothing weak-minded about that.
MYTH #9- Hypnosis can be dangerous. Fact: Hypnosis is simply a state of focused, hyper-awareness — it’s completely safe and natural. If for whatever reason you wanted to leave a hypnotic state, you can naturally do so by opening your eyes, stretching, or speaking. There is no danger of “getting stuck” in a hypnotic trance or losing control.
MYTH #10- Hypnosis is a “miracle cure. ”Fact: While Hypnosis is a relatively quick method of making permanent changes or improvements, there is no such thing as a one-time “Hypno-Miracle.” Every individual makes progress at his or her own rate and stories of “overnight success” should be heeded with caution.
According to the ASCH, hypnosis is a state of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention. When our minds are focused it opens up a realm of healing, helps reach potential and can even improve self-control.
Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state in which you have heightened focus and concentration. Hypnosis is usually done with the help of a therapist using verbal repetition and mental images. When you're under hypnosis, you usually feel calm and relaxed, and are more open to suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain. It's important to know that although you're more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don't lose control over your behavior.
Hypnosis conducted by a trained therapist or health care professional is considered a safe, complementary and alternative medical treatment. However, hypnosis may not be appropriate in people with severe mental illness.
What you can expect...
Your therapist will explain the process of hypnosis and review your treatment goals. Then the therapist will typically talk in a gentle, soothing tone and describe images that create a sense of relaxation, security and well-being.
When you're in a receptive state, the therapist will suggest ways for you to achieve your goals, such as reducing pain or eliminating cravings to smoke. The therapist may also help you visualize vivid, meaningful mental images of yourself accomplishing your goals.
When the session is over, either you are able to bring yourself out of hypnosis or your therapist helps you end your state of relaxation.
Contrary to how hypnosis is sometimes portrayed in movies or on television, you don't lose control over your behavior while under hypnosis. Also, you generally remain aware of and remember what happens during hypnosis.
You may eventually be able to practice self-hypnosis, in which you induce a state of hypnosis in yourself. You can use this skill as needed.
The top 10 myths about hypnosis
From Successminds.com
While hypnosis is a scientifically-proven method for treating a variety of conditions, it still remains a bit of a mystery. Below, we debunk the ten most common myths about hypnosis.
MYTH #1- When in hypnosis, you can be made to say or do something against your will. Fact: The truth is, hypnosis cannot make you do anything that you don’t want to do. It can help you achieve something you do want to do, and it can help you stop doing something you want to stop doing. But hypnosis cannot make you do anything against your will. If a suggestion was made to you during a hypnosis session which truly offended your ideals or sensibilities, then you would simply break the hypnotic state and end the session.
MYTH #2- You can get “stuck” in hypnosis and be unable to wake up. Fact: You cannot get “stuck” in a hypnotic trance. Hypnosis is a natural and normal state that we all enter into on a daily basis, so it’s nothing you haven’t experienced before. Of course, hypnosis is a subjective experience and everyone will experience it differently, but the “worst” that could happen is that you drift into a natural state of sleep and wake up soon afterwards.
MYTH #3- I’ve never been hypnotized before. Fact: Actually, you have been hypnotized — in fact, we all have! For example, have you ever been so entranced in a book or film that you don’t hear someone call your name? Or have you ever driven somewhere, but don’t remember the route? These all involve hypnotic states to some extent, which means hypnosis is just a natural extension of everyday awareness.
MYTH #4- Hypnosis isn’t an effective modality. Fact: Contrary to what you may have seen on television or in movies, hypnosis is a scientifically-proven method for treating a variety of conditions, from chronic pain to insomnia. The world-renowned Stanford University School of Medicine’s Stanford Center on Stress & Health teaches hypnosis techniques as a treatment in clinical settings as part of an integrative medicine approach. There have been hundreds of studies conducted and published in reputable medical journals on the efficacy of hypnosis; if you’d like to learn more about the studies and results, click here.
MYTH #5- Hypnosis works instantly. Fact: While some people can experience changes very quickly, hypnosis is generally not an “instant miracle cure.” The results you will experience depend on a variety of factors, including: the issue you’re addressing, your level of susceptibility, how often you listen, your mindset each time you listen, and more. To start noticing the benefits, we recommend daily listening for at least one to three weeks (or more, if you like). Once you’ve achieved your goals, we recommend occasional listening to maintain the results you desire (or to simply relax).
MYTH #6- You are asleep or unconscious when in hypnosis. Fact: Hypnosis is neither sleep nor unconsciousness. The experience of a formally-induced hypnotic state might resemble sleep from the physical point of view (for example: slowed breathing, eyes closed, muscles relaxed, activity decreased), but you are never actually asleep. You may be relaxed and comfortable, but you’re alert and aware. You’re focused and able to clearly think and communicate, as needed. To be clear, it is possible to drift into a state of sleep during hypnosis, but that is not the intended outcome.
MYTH #7- Hypnosis will only work on certain people. Fact: It’s true that some people are more susceptible to hypnosis, but everyone is susceptible to a certain degree. The effectiveness of hypnosis often comes down to the person’s motivation, willingness, and ability to concentrate. Think of it this way: if you’re interested in something and it’s something that you want, then you’ll be open to its effects. It’s the same with hypnosis — if you want it to work, you have a much higher chance of success than if you’re uninterested or fighting it.
MYTH #8- People who get hypnotized are weak-minded. Fact: In fact, it is the opposite. Without a doubt, it’s the people who can concentrate well and have a creative imagination who make the best hypnosis patients. People with these valuable attributes can enter a state of hypnosis with ease, which means they’re more likely to absorb the messages and achieve the results they desire. There’s nothing weak-minded about that.
MYTH #9- Hypnosis can be dangerous. Fact: Hypnosis is simply a state of focused, hyper-awareness — it’s completely safe and natural. If for whatever reason you wanted to leave a hypnotic state, you can naturally do so by opening your eyes, stretching, or speaking. There is no danger of “getting stuck” in a hypnotic trance or losing control.
MYTH #10- Hypnosis is a “miracle cure. ”Fact: While Hypnosis is a relatively quick method of making permanent changes or improvements, there is no such thing as a one-time “Hypno-Miracle.” Every individual makes progress at his or her own rate and stories of “overnight success” should be heeded with caution.