Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy FAQ

Question and Answers about Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.

Questions




1. What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is best described as a very deep state of relaxation. Hypnosis is a normal, natural, healthy state of mind. It is a naturally occurring body defence mechanism. Hypnosis appears spontaneously as a protective mechanism in humans when they are frightened, disoriented, or in situations of severe violent stress - mental or physical.

All hypnosis is self hypnosis. Our bodies experience what are known as Ultradian Rhythms. These Ultradian Rhythms are the basis of what is known as a common, everyday trance or hypnotic state in which we may find ourselves daydreaming or just taking a break.

The following are some examples:
  • Have you ever been in a room full of people ostensibly taking part in the group yet mentally being far away from it?

    •
  • Have you ever had the experience of driving home while thinking about an issue that preoccupied you and suddenly realised that, although you have arrived safely at your destination, you can't recall having driven past familiar landmarks? You avoided collisions, stopped at red lights - it is as if you had somehow been travelling on automatic pilot.

    •
  • Have you ever been unsure whether you did something or just though about having to do it - for example, not knowing whether you either mailed a certain letter or just thought about mailing it?

    •
  • Have you ever been able to block out sounds from your mind so that they were no longer important to you? Or so that they seemed very far away? Or so that you no longer understood them? Or so that you did not hear them at all?

    •
  • Have you ever been staring off into space, actually thinking of nothing and being unaware of the passage of time?

    •
  • Have you ever had the experience of recollecting a past experience in your life with such clarity and vitality that it was almost like living it again?

    •
  • Have you ever been able to shut out your surroundings from your mind by concentrating very hard on something else?

    •
  • Have you ever had the experience of reading a novel (or watching a play) and, while doing so, actually forgotten yourself and your surroundings and lived the story with such reality and vividness that it became temporarily real to you?

    •
  • Have you ever been lulled into a dreamy state or put to sleep by a lecture or a concert, even though you were not fatigued or tired?

Return to Top


2. What is the History of Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is not a new modality of treatment. Under a variety of names, hypnosis has been known and utilised for millenia as a means of influencing human behaviour. Therapeutic suggestion and concentration has been practised throughout the history of human endeavour, as we have sought to recognise and treat discomfort, disorder and disease. The Celts and Druids practiced hypnosis. The Egyptians founded "sleep temples" some 4,000 years ago dedicated to therapeutic trance states in which curative suggestions were given. The Bible has many sections which allude to hypnotic phenomena. Primitive tribes had Shamans who practised ritual, sleep cures and healing suggestions to remove the influences responsible for illness. Undoubtedly, the chants of the earliest medicine men helped many patients into such a restorative state, just as the crooning and rocking of a mother helps her fitful child into a peaceful state of quietness and sleep.

The "modern" era of hypnosis is usually dated in Vienna in the 1700s with a young physician named Mesmer. The method Mesmer used became known as Mesmerism. Mesmer guided his patients into using the powerful effects of their imagination. Unwittingly, Mesmer laid the corner stone for many present day therapies so that now imagery techniques are being used with many health care sciences, cancer patients and in the areas of sports and business motivation.

In 1855, James Esdaile, and English surgeon, used hypnotic skills in India. He operated on three thousand patients in which three hundred were major procedures. He discovered the mortality rate dropped from 50% to 5% and that many of his patients recovered more quickly, had increased resistance to infection, and had greater comfort. He presented his findings to the Royal Academy of Physicians in London. His work was denounced as blasphemous because "God intended for people to suffer"

Then during the 1st and 2nd world wars, interest in hypnosis was heightened because hypnosis was found to be very effective in combating war neurosis. The success of hypnosis in the dismissal of symptoms through a reliving of the events of a traumatic experience, created a wave of enthusiasm for hypnotic methods.

It is probably true to say that hypnosis is clouded with more myths and misconceptions than any other form of psychological practice - even though these misconceptions have their roots in long-distant history and have no foundation in fact.

In Australia and elsewhere throughout the world, Hypnotherapy is now recognised as a valuable therapeutic methodology.

Return to Top


3. What is a Clinical Hypnotherapist?
A Clinical Hypnotherapist is really a specialist in hypnosis, using the healing state of hypnosis to work with problems or conditions that the client wishes to change.

Return to Top


4. What Happens in Hypnosis?
A Clinical Hypnotherapist uses hypnosis to enable the client to acheive a state of mental, physical and emotional relaxation.

When in hypnosis, the conscious mind (that busy, critical, analytical part of the mind) takes a rest. Hypnosis allows people to tap into the storehouse of information that lies in the subconscious (sometimes referred to as the unconscious) mind and make positive changes to thought patterns, habits or the effects of traumatic incidents that are having a negative impact either mentally or physically.

Return to Top


5. What does Hypnosis feel like?
The feeling when in hypnosis is of being physically and mentally relaxed. It has been likened to the feelings we experience just before waking completely from sleep or just as we drift off to sleep. Some people say it feels like daydreaming. When in hypnosis, people experience a state of complete mental, physical and emotional relaxation. In itself, this is a very healing state. Dr Milton Erickson, a leading American hypnotherapist, described the process of clinical hypnosis as "a free period in which individuality can flourish".

Return to Top


6. Can Anyone be Hypnotised?
Virtually anyone can be hypnotised - some more easily than others. Like anything else in life, the more people practice self-hypnosis, the more easily they can slip into that wonderful relaxed state. The depth that people reach in hypnosis varies between individuals. It is not necessary to achieve a very deep level of hypnosis to bring about change to habits or conditions that are having a negative impact either mentally or physically.

A common myth about hypnotisability is when a person says, "No one could hypnotise me, and I'm too strong minded". All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. A person goes into hypnosis because they choose to. So strong-minded individuals are really good candidates for hypnosis provided they are committed to wanting it to work for them.

Return to Top


7. Is Hypnosis the same as Meditation?
Scans of people in hypnosis show that the brain activitation seen in hypnosis is quite different from that seen in normal waking or sleeping or in meditation.

Return to Top


8. Are any abilities enhanced during Hypnosis?
Yes - these are:
  • The ability to IMAGINE
  • The ability to REMEMBER
  • The CREATIVE abilities
  • Responsiveness to POSITIVE suggestions

Here are some examples:

The ability to IMAGINE - People in hypnosis respond extremely well to the use of imagery techniques, which have powerful benefits for change. Brain scans taken of people in hypnosis show increased activity during hypnosis, particularly in the motor and sensory area relating to heightened mental imagery. Under hypnosis the powerful benefits of imagery can be used to treat a wide range of conditions.

The ability to REMEMBER - People in hypnosis experienced a heightened sense of recall. For example, in some instances, hypnosis is used by the police to assist witnesses to recall car number plates or describe people at a crime or accident scene. The enhancement of the ability to remember in hypnosis enables the client and therapist to explore the origin or cause of symptoms that may be causing a client distress and take an appropriate course of action.

The CREATIVE abilities - By having access to increased creativity in hypnosis, people are able to allow themselves to be much more creative in their thinking thus enabling them to more readily explore options and solutions to issues that are troubling them. People can also utilise the benefits of self-hypnosis in all areas of their lives that involve creativity, such as painting, writing, music, etc.

Responsiveness to POSITIVE suggestions - Working as a team, the client and clinical hypnotherapist agree on what outcomes the client is wishing to achieve. Heightened responsiveness to positive suggestion in hypnosis means that the clinical hypnotherapist can reinforce the changes the client wishes to make. This reinforcing under hypnosis is at the subconscious (or unconscious) level which is much more powerful than making the suggestions to the conscious mind.

Return to Top


9. Would I be asked to do something against my will?
This is one of the common misunderstandings associated with hypnosis. This is probably tied in with another misconception that the hypnotherapist has control over the client. This is not the case. People will not do or say anything under hypnosis that they would not do when not in hypnosis. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis - you cannot be hypnotised against your will. This fear probably comes from the TV shows and performances by stage hypnotists. The stage hypnotists know how to select the most hypnotisable of their volunteers.

Research conducted at the University of NSW by Dr Amanda Barnier and reported in The Sydney Morning Herald on February 2, 1998, states that "Hypnotised people do not act like robots, nor are they powerless pawns of post-hypnotic suggestions planted in their subconscious". The report goes on to state that "some people genuinely experience their new persona, others talk themselves into the whole thing, while a small proportion simply fake it".

Return to Top


10. When I'm Hypnotised, am I unconscious?
No. When in hypnosis, the conscious mind takes a rest. Hypnosis allows client and hypnotherapist to tap into the storehouse of information that lies in the subconscious (or unconscious mind) and makes positive changes to thought patterns, habits or the effects of traumatic incidents that are having a negative impact either mentally or physically.

Return to Top


11. What is self-hypnosis?
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The Clinical Hypnotherapist facilitates the process using a range of techniques, which may differ from client to client. A Clinical Hypnotherapist can teach you to use self-hypnosis thereby giving you a life long skill.

Return to Top


12. How much does it cost?
There is no recommended fee. It is suggested that you check with individual therapists on their fee structure. Some health funds offer rebates on hypnotherapy.

Return to Top


13. How do I choose a Hypnotherapist?
It is recommended that you choose a Hypnotherapist who is a Full Member of a recognised association, such as The Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.

Return to Top


14. How many sessions will it take?
This is hard question to answer accurately as every person and every condition is different. It is suggested that you discuss this with your Hypnotherapist either prior to or during your first consultation.

Return to Top


15. Is a Doctor's Referral Necessary?
A referral is usually not necessary. A medical check is advisable before therapy in cases where the problem may have a predominantly physical cause. Often the Hypnotherapist will work with your Doctor as many problems can best be overcome by a joint effort.

Return to Top


16. In what areas can Hypnotherapy be used?
An Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists qualified hypnotherapist is trained to effectively help with a variety of problems, maintaining the highest standards, ethics and training as set out by the Society.

Hypnotherapy can help with: Smoking Cessation, Over Eating, Nail Biting, Bed Wetting, Insomnia, Headaches, Exam Nerves, Pain, Anxieties, Panic Attacks, Phobias, Bulimia, Depression, Mood Swings, Alcoholism, Relationships, Hostility, Anger, Resentments, Worry, Guilt, Grief, Asthma, Blood Pressure, Sex Dysfunction, Warts, Compulsions.

Hypnotherapy has been a great help in improving: Exam performance, Study Recall, Memory, Sports Focus, Public Speaking, Personal Growth, Pain Control, Performace, Assertiveness, Childbirth, Communication, Relaxation, Counselling, Confidence, Releasing the Past, Personal Power, Goal Setting.

Hypnosis can be utilised in the treatment of most disorders, whether mental or otherwise, where the relaxation response promotes the person's attitude. For example, with a physical injury, the person's mental resources can be enlisted to aid in managing the subsequent discomfort, allow for some rest and lessen the associated emotional trauma. It must be noted that Hypnotherapy is not a replacement for medical treatment from your doctor.

Return to Top


17. Will my personality be changed?
No. What hypnotherapy does is to help bring out the best in you. This means that you will change by leaving behind any habits or baggage you no longer need or want and thereby become a stronger and happier person. Hypnosis will not put something into you that was not there in the first place. It just helps you to uncover your strong and good qualities, which you may not even have known you have.

Return to Top


18. How safe is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a normal, naturally occurring, healthy state of mind. It is totally DRUG FREE. There has never been a single documented case of harm resulting from the use of hypnosis.

Leslie Le Crone, psychologist and authority on hypnosis, states: "As to self-induction, many thousands have learned it and I have yet to hear a report of any bad results of its use".

In his book Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Dr William S Kroger states: "quot;Platonof, an associate of Pavlov, who used hypnosis for over fifty years in over fifty-thousand cases, reports as follows: 'We have never observed any harmful influences on the patient which could be ascribed to the method of hypno-suggestion therapy, or any tendency toward the development of unstable personality, weakening of the will, or pathological urge for hypnosis'".

Dr David Cheek, MD, who has vast experience in the field, writes, "We can do more harm with ignorance of hypnotism than we can ever do by intelligently using hypnosis and suggestion constructively".

Dr Julius Grinker states, "The so-called dangers from hypnosis are imaginery. Although I have hypnotised many hundreds of patients, I have never seen any ill effects from its use".

Psychologist, Rafael Rhodes, in his book "Therapy Through Hypnosis", writes: "Hypnotism is absolutely safe. There is no known case on record of harmful results from its therapeutic use".

Dr Louie P Thorpe, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California, in his book "The Psychology of Mental Health", writes: "Hypnotism is a natural phenomenon, and there are no known deleterious effects from its use".

Clinical hypnotherapist, Gil Boyne, states, "In almost forty years of practice and more than 40,000 hours of hypnotherapy, I have never seen or heard of any harm resulting from hypnosis".

Return to Top


19. Have we answered all your questions?
Perhaps you have some other questions you would like clarified. If so, we will be happy to hear from you - you can contact us at info@asch.com.au

Return to Top

 

Designed and Hosted by Website Managers