WHAT IS HYPNOTHERAPY

Hypnotherapy can be defined as the use of hypnosis as a tool to achieve an alteration in a Client's habits, actions or emotions in order to produce a better quality of life. Hypnotherapy is used (sometimes with Psychotherapy) in the psychiatric field to successfully treat a range of conditions including Stress, Anxiety, Guilt, Grief, Panic Attacks, Fears and Phobias, Confidence Issues, Low Self Esteem, Sexual Difficulties, Depression and Relationship problems. In the behavioural field it is widely used and extremely effective in helping clients quit smoking, lose weight and improve sporting performance. It has been successfully used to resolve Tinnitus, Stammering and Migraine in Adults.

Hypnosis is employed in modern medicine today in the fields of post operative analgesia, control of acute and chronic pain, various surgical procedures such as Tooth extraction, Caesarean section, Dermabrasion, Rhinoplasty, Obstetric procedures, Suturing, Setting of Fractures and Burns Dressing. It is used in complementing or augmenting drug therapies in Asthma, Skin Disorders and chronic conditions such as Arthritis, Colitis, Peptic Ulcers etc. It's used in alleviating or curing many psychosomatic illnesses like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, habit disorders such as Nail Biting and even in certain metabolic disorders.

Hypnosis is widely used in dentistry to remove fear of dental procedures and to control bleeding - even in haemophiliacs. The growing side of Hypnotherapy is now in the holistic management of cancer and other conditions such as MS by improving the quality of life. It is remarkably effective in combatting the traumatic side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other drugs used in the management of cancer.

There is no question that hypnotherapy can achieve rapid results but all the phenomena can only happen in an atmosphere of trust and rapport between the therapist and the client. The skill of the therapist depends upon the creation of such an environment. Hypnosis is therefore an interactive process.

Hypnotherapy is a profoundly relaxing experience during which you will experience a total release of stress or anxiety. You are neither asleep nor unconscious and will remember everything which takes place.

THE MYTHS.....

Perhaps the most common question I'm asked is can you get stuck in hypnosis? More commonly expressed as, What happens to me if something happens to you? To which the answer is, the hypnotic state is restricted to the condition between the Hypnotherapist and Client, if something happened to break that link, the Client would terminate hypnosis of his or her own accord.

Another fear is that the Hypnotherapist will dominate the mind of the Client. In actual fact, a Client under hypnosis will reject any suggestion given that they would not usually accept in a normal state of conscious awareness. Real control lies with the Client, the Hypnotherapist only directs the power of hypnosis to trigger the Clients resources and abilities.

Some Clients fear that they'll reveal their innermost secrets. It's a common misconception that you'll talk freely as if you had been given a 'truth drug’. Clients will not reveal anything to the Hypnotherapist that they would not normally share. In a strictly suggestive therapy session (relaxation, self esteem boosting etc) Clients are not usually required to talk during the session.

The fear that the Client won't know what's happening is a myth. Hypnosis is an altered state of 'conscious awareness' with the emphasis very much on the words 'conscious awareness’. The Client in hypnosis will remember everything which happens during the session. This may be a surprise to many people who may have thought that the Client would have no recall of events which took place during the session.

So, having dispelled the myths.... just what does it feel like?

HYPNOSIS - WHAT TO EXPECT

"The calm, even toned voice in the background seems to fade further away. I can still hear every word that is spoken but somehow I just can't be bothered to pay that much attention. I'm sitting on a beach, with friends, around a driftwood fire at night and simply relaxing. The last rays of the sun have finally succumbed to the night and I am listening to the sounds of the waves as endlessly, they wash the sand in a gentle, rythmic motion. There is the occasional splash and cry of a wild dolphin. I know they are still there, for earlier in the evening, I enjoyed watching their graceful antics in the surfline as they played and chased fish. The temperature is warm and the sounds of my friends voices carry to me softly on the light breeze. I let my hand down and run the grains of sand through my fingers. The sand is still warm from the heat of the day and smoothes my skin where it touches.

There's that voice again in the background, strangely it feels very comforting somehow. I feel deeply at peace here on this beach, safe, comfortable and so relaxed. In fact I can't remember a time when I ever felt this relaxed before. I feel as though I've turned into a rag doll - everything seems loose and relaxed and it feels as though the physical and mental knots have somehow been untied.

I could stay forever on my beach, surrounded by peace and calm but I know there is another world calling me and I must leave for now. But I know I will return to my beach, time and time again for I have discovered that if I follow the directions given by the voice it will guide me here. My friends and the dolphins will always be here for me - whenever I need them to be.

The voice increases in speed and I feel as though I'm rising up as in a lift. I open my eyes and see someone smiling at me. How did I get here? Oh, I remember now - I wanted to reduce anxiety and increase my self esteem and my hypnotherapist started to talk to me and then I was on my beach. Phew - that was nice!"

What I've described to you are some of the feelings a Client will experience as a skilful hypnotherapist guides their Client through a suggestive imagery therapy script. Mentally, the Client was placed in a situation that the hypnotherapist had already discussed with the client and knew would appeal.

The therapy session would usually commence with detailed case taking. Some questions may not appear to be relevant or you may be asked to imagine stange things. For example you may be asked to imagine your house and describe your front door or you may be asked if you have ever had a bad experience in water. You might be asked to stare at your hand and, as you do, one of your fingers might twitch. All are absolutely normal occurences for a first session and is the process by which the hypnotherapist will decide how to build your own unique therapy.

The session will continue with explanation of what happens and what you should expect. Any fears you have will be addressed and any questions you may have are answered. You may then be asked to sit or lie back whilst you are guided through a relaxation routine.

At some point you may then find yourself on the same beach as the Client above. Or perhaps you would prefer a stroll through a beautiful garden. You might just prefer to laze in a gently swaying hammock strung between two coconut trees on a desert island. How about a leisurely canal boat trip or perhaps a magic carpet ride through wonderful exotic cities? Anything is possible. If you can describe it you can experience it! An imaginative hypnotherapist can conjur up such a magical experience for a Client that sometimes a Client will express real tears of joy during the experience. Indeed, a hypnotherapist will watch for 'lacrination' as it is known as a sign that the Client is fully engaged in the experience.

During the experience, whilst the Client is enjoying the feeling of being deeply relaxed, positive suggestions will be given to assist the Client in solving whatever problem it is that brought him/her to seek therapy. The number of sessions varies depending on the condition, problem or desires of the Client.

After a session you'll feel refreshed, relaxed and possess an acute sense of well-being. Your willpower and self confidence will be increased as a result. I thoroughly recommend it to you as a safe, extremely effective, totally natural and perhaps the most elegant therapy suitable for a variety of conditions and personal desires.
Incidentally, I don't know anyone who uses a pendulum or suggests that 'you are getting sleepy'!

The only mistake you can make is not asking for help.
Ian McLeod CHP(NC), MNSHP&M, DPLT

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