Clinical Hypnosis by Avy Joseph - LCCH
Passive Hypnosis
There are, broadly speaking, two types of hypnosis: passive or clinical hypnosis and command or authoritative hypnosis used by stage hypnotists. Hypnosis, properly administered by skilled practitioners, has its proper place in psychiatric practice, and, in suitable cases, produces beneficial results. In the practice of medicine the type of hypnosis generally used is passive; the patient is allowed to, and helped to, go into hypnosis entirely voluntarily, and the hypnotist plays a completely passive role. This technique is quite the reverse of authoritative or command hypnosis, used by stage hypnotists, where the hypnotist assumes positive authoritative control over the subject, who though she/he may or may not be aware of what techniques the hypnotist is practicing, is nevertheless under the domination of the hypnotist pursuant to positive commands.
What is Hypnosis?
It may be surprising to many to learn that we experience trance states often during the course of our lives. Even passing into ordinary sleep involves a kind of trance state. The experience of hypnosis is similar: neither asleep nor awake and a little like daydreaming, with a pleasant feeling of deep relaxation behind it all. Hypnosis is a different state of consciousness which you can naturally enter so that, for therapeutic purposes (hypnotherapy), beneficial corrections may be given directly to your unconscious mind.
In this way, hypnosis is an effective way of making contact with our inner (unconscious) self, which is both a reservoir of unrecognized potential and knowledge as well as being the unwitting source of many of our problems.
Realistically no-one can be hypnotized against their will and even when hypnotized, a person can still reject any suggestion. Thus hypnotherapy is a state of purposeful co-operation.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is using the state of hypnosis to treat a variety of medical and psychological problems. It is estimated that 85% of people will respond at some level to clinical hypnotherapy. It may even succeed where other more conventional methods of treatment have not produced the desired result. When carried out by a trained and qualified hypnotherapist the benefits can be long lasting and often permanent. It is natural and safe, with no harmful side effects.
Hypnotherapy makes use of the bicameral nature of the functioning brain and the conscious / unconscious processes therein. At its simplest level the unconscious mind becomes (through our life experience) the repository of our conditioned experience, while the conscious mind is the waking mind dealing with appraisal and decision making. In hypnotherapy the critical faculties of the conscious mind are sidestepped (through the hypnotic condition) and new ideas and 'suggestions' placed directly into the uncritical unconscious to effect beneficial changes when back in the waking state.
Clinical applications of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is medically accepted to benefit the following and more: unwanted habits - smoking, nail biting, bed wetting, weight control / healthy eating, improve work / study / sporting performance, boost self-confidence and achieving potential, phobias, compulsions, emotional problems, sleep problems, inhibitions, worries, reduce stress, tension and blood pressure, stomach problems, IBS, gynecological problems - PMT, psychogenic infertility, obstetrics (painless childbirth), skin problems, pain control, minor surgery, dentistry, arthritic pains, aches and pains, some sexual problems...
Put simply, where your problem is due to habitual conditioning (habit formation), accumulated stress or unresolved events in your past then hypnotherapy can be used to access and reprogram these complexes which are being sustained and remain active at the unconscious level.
published by the British Society of Clinical Hypnotherapy
How does Clinical Hypnosis work?
Simply speaking hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Clinical Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy, therefore, is the use of an altered state of consciousness, or trance, for therapeutic endpoint. This means that people are not treated with hypnosis but are treated in hypnosis.
All hypnotic states are characterized by a tremendously pleasant state of relaxation, which individuals allow themselves to enter so that desired, beneficial suggestions may be given directly to the part of the mind known as the subconscious. Under hypnosis, the conscious, rational part of the brain is temporarily bypassed, making the subconscious part, which influences mental and physical functions, receptive to therapy. During the trance state there is heightened concentration for the specific purpose of maximizing potential, changing limiting beliefs and behaviors and gaining insight and wisdom.
Although hypnosis may be light, medium or deep, a medium trance is usually used during which metabolism, breathing and heartbeat slow and the brain produces alpha waves. Normal states of consciousness i.e. sleeping, dreaming, being awake, can be detected in the wave patterns produced by the brain. The state of hypnosis differs from all three. The brain waves associated with quiet, receptive states are called alpha waves. In alpha states, the body gradually relaxes. Hypnosis, meditation, day dreaming, being absorbed in a book or music or television, driving and arriving at your destination without recalling all the usual landmarks etc. are good examples of alpha states.
Trance state is therefore a natural phenomenon. Clinical Hypnosis practiced by a trustworthy and professionally qualified therapist is completely safe.
The subconscious mind is the source of many of our problems and self images. Our beliefs, habits and behaviors are stored as information. The subconscious is a tremendous reservoir of our unrecognized strengths and knowledge.
Hypnosis is a natural and effective technique for accessing the subconscious mind - the key to unleashing our potential, changing our unwanted habits and behaviors and finding solutions to our problems and concerns.
Any therapeutic intervention implies change, so entering a trance state alone does not signify a therapeutic endpoint. Once the individual has achieved a trance state the hypnotherapist uses many different therapeutic methods ranging from simple suggestions to psychoanalysis. For example, the therapist may ask about past, present or future concerns to establish the reasons for the problem. Alternatively the therapist may give suggestions to the subconscious mind aimed at overcoming specific problems such as lack of self confidence.
Some uses such as calming a person require minimal change on the part of the individual, more complex behavior patterns such as overeating or treatment of panic disorders or reactive (non-clinical) depression require a more complex therapeutic intervention together with psychological and behavioral homework.
What happens in a hypnotherapy session?
The initial task of the therapist is to establish rapport with the client. This involves encouraging the client to talk about his or her concerns. The therapist would spend time with the client first to take a clinical history. As well as establishing a clinical record, the discussion contributes to building trust and confidence between the therapist and the client. Feeling safe, comfortable and secure with the therapist helps the induction of a hypnotic trance.
Goals for therapy are discussed and agreed and a full explanation of hypnosis is provided. Any questions or misconceptions about hypnosis would also be dealt with.
There are many different ways of achieving trance state. Usually, you lie in a reclining chair or couch and the therapist talks to you in a slow and soothing voice. You may be asked to imagine or visualize walking down a country lane, or stare at a fixed point or listen to the sound of the therapist's voice. Suggestions for relaxation may also be given. To deepen the trance, the therapist may count you down from 10 to 1 or ask you to imagine walking down a flight of stairs. You will feel very relaxed but still aware of your surroundings.
To return to full consciousness, which you can do all by yourself at any time, the therapist may count up from 1 to 10.
The length of treatments depends on the problem or symptom and the individual's circumstances. With some people a problem like nail biting can be successfully treated in one session. Other problems such as panic attacks can take up to 5 or 6 sessions.
In the course of the therapy clients are usually taught self hypnosis as part of a number of therapeutic homework tasks.
The first session usually lasts one and a half hours with subsequent sessions between an hour and an hour and a half.
- Nobody can ever be hypnotized against their will and even when hypnotized, people still remain in complete control of any suggestions given.
- The whole object of clinical hypnosis is to take back control that has been lost and which has therefore resulted in the symptom or problem.
- It is estimated that approximately 85% of people of all age groups will readily respond to hypnosis.
