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Complementary therapies: Hypnotherapy
What is hypnotherapy?What is hypnotherapy good for?
Before you go
Precautions
What to expect from hypnotherapy
Hot tip!
Afterwards
Different types of hypnotherapy
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy involves a trained practitioner guiding you through a form of deep relaxation known as hypnosis. Not to be confused with stage hypnotism, therapeutic hypnosis is designed to increase your susceptibility to suggestion in order to alter your behaviour patterns and increase motivation relating to specific life issues.
In a therapeutic setting, hypnotherapy is often used alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
What is hypnotherapy good for?
Hypnotherapy is considered by many people to be effective in dealing with issues including:
* Smoking
* Weight loss
* Phobia management
* Stress
* Irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic disorders
* Depression, anxiety, panic attacks;
* Low self-esteem
* Pain relief, e.g. for child birth
* Impotence
Before you go
Before you embark on any form of hypnotherapy it's recommended that you talk to your GP. You'll also want to spend some time researching and ensuring that your chosen therapist is properly trained.
Precautions
Hypnotherapy is not deemed suitable for:
* People with epilepsy
* Very young children
* Women in the early stages of pregnancy
* People with severe mental health issues, in particular bi-polar disorder
* People suffering from chronic depression
* People suffering from dementia
* People with an addiction to illegal drugs
* People taking tranquilisers and some anti-psychotic medications
What to expect from hypnotherapy
Your therapist will want to talk at length with you before undergoing any sort of hypnosis. It's imperative that your therapist gets a full and complete understanding of the issues you want to tackle during your session/sessions. You'll also need to undergo some "suggestibility" tests. There's no right or wrong answers to these little tests; they're designed to help your therapist find the most effective ways of guiding you into hypnosis.
During a hypnotherapy session you'll be aware of what's going on and be in control of your faculties at all times. Hypnosis is not a form of control in a therapeutic setting; it is essentially a form of guided meditation.
Your therapist will ensure you are comfortable, and may dim the lights or play some soothing music quietly to "set the mood". Your therapist will then guide you into the meditative state of hypnosis. Different practitioners achieve this in different ways; some may give you clear commands, others may approach your hypnosis in a more subtle manner. You'll be encouraged to close your eyes and relax, perhaps focusing on a particular object or an image in your mind.
During your hypnotherapy session, your therapist will use a range of techniques to encourage you to deal with any underlying issues that are affecting your ability to make lifestyle changes. The aim is to allow you to achieve your set goals by increasing your motivation and altering your current behaviour patterns.
Hot tip!
You really need to approach hypnotherapy with an open mind. Try to relax, ask lots of questions at the beginning if there's anything you're unsure of, and remember that your therapist will be used to dealing with people who are a little nervous. If in doubt, ask!
Afterwards
You'll hopefully feel very relaxed by the end of the session. Take some time to reacclimatise to your surroundings and don't dash off out the door before you're ready. Many people claim to feel the positive effects of hypnotherapy from the very first session, although more complicated issues can take up to five sessions to reach a resolution.
Different types of hypnotherapy
Broadly speaking, hypnotherapy falls under two categories:
Suggestion Therapy
This method of hypnotherapy is gentle and relaxing. Your therapist will guide you using carefully constructed verbal "suggestions". This form of hypnotherapy can be particularly effective for habits such as nail biting where there isn't an underlying anxiety.
Pure hypnoanalysis
This form of hypnotherapy can be effective for more deep-seated problems. Many clients describe pure hypnoanalysis as effective and powerful, and there is a greater element of exploration with this form of therapy. Pure hypnoanalysis can be effective in dealing with phobias, some forms of depression, panic attacks and social anxieties.
See also:
* Complementary therapies: Reiki
* Complementary therapies: Aromatherapy
* Chakra and qi -- what are they?
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