Clinical Hypnosis

People have been entering into hypnotic-type trances for thousands of years. Suggestive therapy is perhaps the oldest of the therapeutic methods. In many cultures and religions, it was regarded as a form of meditation.

Clinical hypnosis an approach used by licensed and trained clinicians for treating a psychological or physical problem and involves a set of skills that facilitate a natural, altered state of consciousness called trance. During therapeutic trance, the conscious, critical mind, is usually relaxed and relatively inactive, while the subconscious mind is able to access resources, skills, and abilities that are otherwise unavailable to the conscious mind. During trance, openness to suggestibility can be enhanced, senses heightened, mental absorption increased, and imagination activated in controlled manners that promote insight, ego strengthening, and activation of solution-focused skills.

Hypnosis elicits and makes use of the experience of a highly relaxed state of inner absorption, concentration, and focused attention. Using hypnosis and self-hypnosis can allow people to have increased control over their behaviors, thoughts, emotional responses, and even physiological responses and physical health. Because hypnosis allows people to use more of their potential, learning self-hypnosis is the ultimate act of self-control. Recent research supports the view that hypnotic communication and suggestions effectively changes aspects of the person’s physiological and neurological functions. The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as hypnotherapy. (Clinical Hypnosis is not stage hypnosis which is a form of entertainment for an audience.)

There are two primary myths about hypnosis. One is the belief about loss of control. (The client actually remains in control of the process and cannot be made to do anything against his or her will. The client will not begin to reveal information you wish to keep private.)

The second myth is that hypnosis always results in a deep state of unconsciousness, with no memory of what took place. (Clinical hypnosis is not a state of sleep and is not stage hypnosis. The client will be aware of everything at all times and cannot be made to do anything that is against his or her will.) Hypnosis, particularly the deeper forms, can appear to be like sleep because the person’s body is typically very still and quiet. However, there is usually a great deal of mental activity, and measurements of brain activity during hypnosis show a significant level of neurological activity. (The hypnotic EEG pattern is entirely different from the sleep EEG pattern.)