What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?
Clinical hypnosis itself has many definitions that ranges from psychoanalytical to physiological. It is an approach used by trained medical professionals for treating psychological issues involving a set of skills that facilitates trance which is an altered state of consciousness. While the conscious mind is relatively inactive, the subconscious mind accesses abilities and resources that are otherwise unavailable. It is also defined as a practice in which a professional therapist-patient, subject, or client experiences changes in their thoughts, behavior, perceptions, and even sensations according to American Psychological Association (APA). The use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes is called clinical hypnotherapy.
Clinical hypnotherapy services teach their clients to use relaxation states in order to address various issues such as self-improvement, pain relief, weight loss, or even smoking cessation. The decision to use hypnotherapy in a clinical setting is made after consulting an expert healthcare provider who knows the limitations of clinical hypnosis and is trained in it.
The context of hypnosis is established through an induction process. Even though there are vast hypnotic inductions, most of them focus on calmness, well-being, and relaxation with the help of instructions to include pleasant experiences.
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How can I benefit from hypnotherapy?
Clinical hypnotherapy offers relief from depression, stress, anxiety, pain, disorders, and many other psychological issues. Studies have shown its effectiveness in pediatric settings, childbirth, painful procedures, and surgeries. While some feel extremely relaxed after a couple of sessions, others can experience dramatic results in no time. It has been proven to treat medical, physical, and mental health diseases like:
- Pain management.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Bad habits.
- Intense fears (phobias)
- Weight loss.
- Confidence and self-esteem.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Sports performance.
Advantages
- Focus: it is hard to focus on ourselves with so much distraction around us whether is the kids, family discussion, or a TV that everyone forgets to switch off. One may also be financially worried or concerned about upcoming assignments or projects. All of this clutters the conscious mind and a therapy session breaks through these daily concerns and helps in focusing on the problem at hand.
- Awareness: while some people may experience relaxation states that are so deep it gets hard for them to stay attached to what is happening, others remain fully aware during their experience. They can have conversations during hypnosis and can recall everything later as well.
- Relaxation: you are deeply relaxed during the hypnotic state. Your unconscious mind focuses deeply on the issue. You become more receptive to facing your fears.
A series of messages like “no one can harm you" or "it is safe here" are used by hypnotherapists to avoid panicked reactions and to assure the clients that they are not alone.
What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
When the patient is in a deep state of attention and relaxation;
- You can focus on your perceptions, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, sensations, behaviors, and memory in your mind.
- Your conscious mind is quiet.
- You are open to guidance from your therapist in this state of mind. He/she can help you modify the unconscious thoughts that are responsible for your present behavior.
Techniques:
During a hypnotherapy session, patients are introduced to a trance state that helps them respond much more easily to suggestions given by the hypnotherapist. A heightened sense of awareness is utilized while you're in hypnosis to concentrate on the problem more intensely. Some of the techniques used in the session are:
- Relaxation: your hypnotherapist will guide you in a state of peace and calmness even when it's time to confront a fearful object or a problematic situation.
- Suggestion: gentle suggestions are made to conquer the issue to deal with behavioral changes. A client may also learn to trust him/herself and the ability to get through a specific situation.
- Coping skills: cognitive-behavioral coping skills are taught to the client such as the stop technique or imagery guidance which is extremely helpful in confronting anxieties or fears.
- Exploring past experiences: you are encouraged to talk about how you felt when you experienced the problem for the first time and the way you are dealing with it.
There are four stages during a hypnotherapy session. They are:
- Induction: at this initial stage, you begin to ignore distractions and relax. Certain techniques like controlled breathing ( breathing in till the count of 8 followed by breathing out till the count of 12), visual image focus, or progressive muscle relaxation ( contracting muscles during breathing in and relaxing during breathing out) are all used by the hypnotherapist to guide you through this stage.
- Deepener: the second stage takes your center of attention to a deeper level. It mainly involves descending imagery like sinking into the bed slowly and comfortably or walking down the stairs. Induction and deepener are directed towards you relaxing and opening yourself to suggestions.
- Suggestions: the third stage aims for the actual change in behavior, experience, and perception of an individual. Your hypnotherapist will choose careful language and imagery over here. The suggestions given are based on resolving the symptom or exploring the experiences that are related to the symptom. The changes suggested are mainly in emotion, sensation, perception, behavior, or thought.
For instance, if you want to quit smoking you have to first learn the triggers that make you smoke, learn ways to change positively, disrupt the pattern by understanding the resources that effects the change, attempt to make a better response, identify the difference and carry on with the changed behavior. Your therapist may encourage you to see your new self with clean lungs in a mirror and an old self with black lungs in the mirror. You will be given a chance to walk towards the self you want to choose for the rest of your life.
- Emergence: you are given reverse deepeners like counting upwards or climbing up the stairs. You are no longer in hypnosis at this stage.
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When should I go to a hypnotherapist?
People with medical conditions that influence psychological factors must book a consultation appointment with a hypnotherapist as this is a great treatment method with effective results in less time.
Some of the mental health conditions include:
- Anxiety and stress before any medical procedure.
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome.
- Panic attacks.
- Behavior control issues for example; losing weight, enuresis, and giving up smoking.
Common medical conditions in which hypnotherapy is used include:
- Skin conditions like psoriasis and warts.
- Hot flashes in menopause.
- Side-effects of cancer chemotherapy treatment like vomiting and hair loss.
- Pain control after childbirth, cancer, burns, surgery, migraine, fibromyalgia.
- Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders.
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Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Hypnotherapy is used along with other treatments and therapies however; it is the decision of a qualified professional who knows the limitations of it and its use if it should be used as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy or as a sole treatment.
How do people describe the hypnotic experience?
This experience is different for every individual. It mainly feels like you are zoned in on something so much that you have blocked all the surrounding factors and distractions. It is like being involved in a good book or your favorite tv show so much that you forget your dog barking or your family talking. This state is somewhat similar to what you feel in hypnotherapy. Many people feel pleasant and calm despite their increased attention to a particular issue.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that there is no typical length. It may take many sessions depending on how severe and what the issue is. It is generally customized to an individual's wants, beliefs, and needs at all times. You are also required to mention the approaches you want to avoid or use with the hypnotherapist so that the treatment plan is adjusted accordingly.
- You will not lose your inhibition.
- You will always have control over yourself.
- Your mind will be relaxed.
- Anything that you have not given consent to will not happen.
- You will be very well aware of what is happening around you.
- You have the power to stop the session at any time or become fully aware.
Moreover, psychological sciences that incorporate various psychological techniques are combined with hypnotherapy to produce far better results.
- It makes you forget what happened: this is simply not the case as clients are not unconscious or asleep. They will remember everything that happened including the questions asked. The trance can be broken anytime a person wants.
- It is the same as stage hypnosis: stage hypnotists look for extroverts that will help them put on a good show for the audience. They are great at reading to people and are performers for entertainment. It is still debatable if they can truly hypnotize the subject but the subject is always willing to follow outrageous suggestions.
- It makes you lose control: you are in control during the session and no one can make you do something under hypnosis against your will. You will be in charge of your statements, behavior, and actions even though you may not pay attention to your surroundings.
TWC provides holistic and natural ways to uplift your mental energy, body, spirit, and health level. Our therapy programs lay its emphasis on natural, safe, and non-invasive methods to treat underlying medical conditions that will ultimately improve your health and enhance the sense of well-being within you so may become a better version of yourself tomorrow. Feel free to contact us anytime for your future appointment.