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   | | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis has been defined as an "altered state of consciousness" that is different from normal waking consciousness. This altered state of consciousness sustains a condition of inner absorption, concentration and focused attention. Once the hypnotic state has been induced the client is given a set of instructions or suggestions that help the client change their feelings, thinking and/or behavior. Responsive subjects report that they experience a feeling state, much different than their normal waking state. The state is similar to being involved in a good book or movie. If someone were to come into the room when someone was involved in a book or movie, they would not be aware of their presence and likely not hear things said to them. As most parents know, children easily enter this type of altered state when watching television. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis to help patients make changes they want to make. In the typical hypnotherapy session, the first ten to twenty minutes is used by the therapist to obtain a history and obtain information about the sorts of issues the patient would like to work on. Doing this helps the therapist formulate hypnotic suggestions that best fit the patients needs. Next, the patient is placed in a comfortable chair. A recliner is better than a typical office chair. Induction suggestions are given to the patient. These are verbal instructions involving images that are generally found to be relaxing and focusing of the feelings that occur when one relaxes. Then deepening suggestions are given. This involves focusing on the feeling of relaxing even more and giving more powerful relaxing images. When the patient is deep enough, clinical suggestions are given having to do with the changes the patient wants to make. Sessions are often audio taped and the tape given to the patient. Playing the tape in the comfort of the patient's home can reinforce the suggestions of the face-to-face session and thus accelerate the process of change. Hypnotherapy has a wide-range of uses. It can be used to change habits, such as smoking, overeating, and nail-biting. It can be used to change feelings helping patients feel more relaxed, less depressed or more confident. It can be used to change behavior helping people sleep better or perform to their potential academically or athletically. Hypnotherapy is most often used in conjunction with other treatments, such as cognitive behavior therapy and substance abuse therapy. < Back | |
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