Hypnosis FAQ
1. What is hypnosis/hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis is a procedure in which a trained hypnotherapist applies suggestions in order to help a client change his or her experiences and behaviors (Cardeña, 2014). It provides a positive context for change to occur as part of a treatment. Specifically, many clients are often afraid to engage in experiential learning, and rational or irrational thoughts and fears can come in the way of fully engaging in new experiences. In these cases, hypnosis provides a platform that can help clients focus their thoughts and their attention on new, positive and constructive images and suggestions, while at the same time allowing them to detach from the often anxiety-provoking everyday experience and concerns. Importantly, at its most fundamental level, hypnosis has been described as “self-hypnosis,” because clients’ participation is necessary for the success of the approach. While the therapist can help guide the client with suggestions, it is the client’s responsibility to actively participate in the suggestion. Hypnotherapy is a very cost-effective and portable aid to treatment (Green, Laurence, & Lynn, 2014).
2. How did you become qualified to be a hypnotist?
After my 6 years of training to become a registered psychologist I trained at the Australian Academy of Hypnosis and I have also had advanced hypnotherapy training with the Californian based psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Cal Banyan. His 5 Path process is widely acclaimed as being one of the best approaches to hypnotherapy.
2. What is the difference between hypnotism and hypnotherapy?
The induction process is the same. In other words hypnotising a person means ultimately facilitating a state of dissociation (a split in attention, where a focus is directed at something particular while another part of that person’s awareness is attentive to a set of instructions that he or she is not consciously aware of). Up to this point one can say this is the state of ‘hypnosis’. Therapy starts as soon as instructions are given aimed at changing undesired thoughts, feelings and consequent behaviours while in the state of hypnosis – hence the term ‘hypnotherapy’.
3. What sort of conditions do you deal with?
I must say that I deal mostly with people that come as a consequence of them feeling high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and many who come for weightloss (emotional eating). There are many other conditions I deal with but interestingly most are simply symptoms of the conditions I have outlined above. For instance, depression is a consequence of persistent anxiety and so is obsessive compulsive disorder. If a person is stressed at work he or she is actually saying that she is worried (anxious) and the natural adrenal response provokes a fight or flight response (i.e. the adrenal response).
Persistent anxiety eventually leads to all sorts of physiological problems. Hypnotherapy can help through implementing cognitive strategies designed to deal with the perception of the anxiety provoking stimulus. Most people feel that they have lost control over part of themselves and this very much eats away on their self-confidence. They desperately want back that control. As there is much evidence that perception is also a matter of personality I always use a personality assessment with my clients first. This will determine a number of things. For instance if someone has a more introverted disposition (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this) he or she will most definitely not feel over the moon when dealing with large crowds of people they don’t know, or people they don’t know asking them personal questions.
In fact, it causes them stress. The stress is massively increased if they now start their internal negative self-talk, thinking that they ‘should’ be able to do this ‘like everyone else seems to be able to’. Well the answer is ‘an apple is an apple and an orange is an orange’, and if an apple tries to become an orange then that will be a pretty difficult thing to accomplish. Knowing what makes one ‘tick’ and accepting ones personality preferences can be a healing thing. All one then needs to do is bringing up the courage (courage =being afraid and doing it anyway) to get out there and tackle the obstacle without berating oneself because it is perfectly ‘normal’ for an introverted person to feel uneasy in those situations! They have strengths that others haven’t but there is a way to alter that perception and get a handle on things. Shutting down the negative self-talk through understanding the mechanisms of one’s internal dialogue frees up an enormous amount of energy.
Once we have worked out what it is that holds the person prisoner we can truly move into the direction they want. Although in some instances escapism and avoidance is a valid way to dealing with issues, in the long term it is never the right answer if one wants to truly change unwanted thoughts and feelings for good.
4. How does hypnotherapy compare to ‘traditional’ treatment? i.e. vs pills for anxiety?
Pills for anxiety work with the physiological aspect of anxiety. What is the physiological aspect of anxiety? If anxiety caused the system to get into a fight or flight the body produces a number of physiological* responses which we usually come to notice as increased heart rate and butterflies in the stomach (but there are many more) –
* Physiological responses: i.e. fight or flight responses that could include the production of catecholamine hormones, such as adrenaline or noradrenaline, facilitate immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action. These MAY include the following: Acceleration of heart and lung action, paling or flushing, or alternating between both, inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or stops, general effect on the sphincters of the body, constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body, liberation of nutrients (particularly fat and glucose) for muscular action, dilation of blood vessels for muscles, inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation, dilation of pupil (mydriasis), relaxation of bladder, inhibition of erection, auditory exclusion (loss of hearing), tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision), disinhibition of spinal reflexes, shaking.
This means that we have consciously or unconsciously (i.e. cognitively) recognised a stimulus that causes us angst. We may not be aware what exactly produces the worry we are experiencing and so we may have a consistent feeling of being under attack somehow for some reason (i.e. feeling uncomfortable, stressed etc.) and that could eventually even lead to panic attacks which may come as a total surprise to us. Once we are experiencing an unexplained panic attack it could also happen that we start associating the environment where we had the panic attack as being ‘dangerous’ (in psychology we call this Pavlovian conditioning). This means that next time we are entering into a similar environment another panic attack could be triggered, thus reinforcing the perception that this environment is indeed something to be avoided. In order to get a handle on the anxiety provoking stimulus we are then aiming to more and more control the world around us therefore reinforcing the stimulus even more (the more we try to shut something out, the more we generally start enforcing it). This is the path to generalised anxiety which is often accompanied by obsessive compulsive behaviours.
As becomes clear from the example there are two things at work here, physiology and psychology. For the increased heart rate, pulse, etc., medication can reduce the effect of the physiological response and in a way one hopes that this also then reduces the psychological symptoms. However this is often not the case and so it appears to be always best to also train a person in the application of cognitive strategies in order to change ones perception of the anxiety provoking situation. In many instances changing the person’s perception through cognitive behavioural therapy or hypnotherapy can bring that change without having to necessarily resort to medication.
Medication is useful but it is better to get a handle on the stimulus that has caused the undesired thoughts and feelings in the first place. Moreover, being dependent only on medication to get through the day could erode self-confidence, i.e. thinking thoughts like ‘am I really happier, or is it the medication?’ Whereas knowing that you found the power there within yourself to overcome the obstacles you are facing increases feelings of internal control confidence and self-belief. There is a place for both, no doubt, however it is my opinion that the cognitive aspect is of the greatest importance.
5. What are some common misperceptions about hypnotherapy?
People often think that they are somewhat unconscious when they are getting hypnotised, or lose control in some way i.e. made clack like a chicken, etc. This is not true. Generally the client stays in control and hears everything the hypnotist says. I do have ways of showing the client that a split in attention has taken place though. I often use it during a session to make the person realise that their awareness has somewhat shifted.
6. How many sessions are recommended? Is it dependent on the person and their response to treatment?
It really depends on the person and the issue. My sessions are quite intensive and long as I have a specific way of addressing the issues in clients. Thus, most have between 2-3 sessions and then some maintenance schedule (if required) in which the client can decide if s/he wants to have a monthly or 6 weekly session thereafter. Many clients like to have a maintenance schedule as this means they have to be accountable. However, this doesn’t mean that they actually need it. Mind you, I give most of my clients a CD that I have recorded in preparation of the session to take home with them. This is worth a session each time they are listening to it. It enables them to stay on track with the identified aims of the session. They will also get a little homework which basically consists of them listening once a day to the CD for a period of time and then filling in a short questionnaire asking them to identify what changes they have noticed taking place.
7. Does hypnotherapy work on everyone? Are some people more difficult to hypnotise than others?
There are differences between people but if a good rapport has been established between hypnotist and client most let go enough to get into a hypnotic state. It is very much based on trust. There are also many different techniques that get even the most skeptical person into trance, a skilled hypnotist knows what they are. Basically the conscious mind can only hold about 5-7 of pieces of information in focus at the same time. If it is overloaded it will have no choice but to drop attention. This is the time when the defence mechanisms are lowered thus creating greater openness to suggestions which are then likely to have increased effects.
8. Who would you recommend would benefit from this kind of therapy?
Anybody really who feels uneasy or notices that their issues are taking on a life of their own. Some people believe it is somewhat shameful to have to admit that they need some assistance with getting their perspective sorted out and some more control back into their lives. But let me assure you no one is an island, we all need to get feedback and reassurance from others to know where we stand. People that come to see me are typically, but not exclusively highly trained professionals with stressful jobs or interpersonal relationships that don’t quite work the way they anticipated. They are normal people (although they may not think that about themselves) who feel somewhat out of control (eating, anxiety, procrastination, depression, relationship issues, etc.) and need to get a second unbiased opinion with the aim of getting a deeper insight into the causes and consequences of their action. Once we have come to a sensible understanding of the causes of their issues and it is absolutely clear to the person of how they got where they are right now, we look at where we need to go from here to change undesired thoughts and feelings in future. This is where hypnotherapy comes in as an excellent cognitive goal reinforcement technique. The goal of therapy is that of achieving the fastest possible independence for the client so that s/he can take back control over his/her life and live with true self confidence.
9. What is the history of hypnosis?
Explorations into the mysterious reals of altered consciousness have dominated Eastern traditions for a long time. However, the more recent history of hypnosis as a clinical and scientific field can be traced back to the theories of F. A. Mesmer who discussed ‘animal magnetism’ in the 18th century. ‘Mesmerism’, a term associated with hypnosis, derives from his name. Based on his theories, some practitioners began investigating the changes in consciousness that accompanied the hypnotic experience, which led to the development of the scientific field of hypnosis as it is known today. Scholars attempting to shed light on these processes that lie at the border between the conscious and unconscious mind have also sought to draw upon knowledge from consciousness-altering substances such as drugs, and from consciousness-altering experiences such as meditation and prayer. Hypnosis is still a fascinating area of research, and it has recently become the focus of several neuroscientific studies exploring the nature of consciousness (Cardeña, 2014).
10. What is a clinical hypnotherapist?
A clinical hypnotherapist employs hypnosis as a tool to enhance the medical or psychological treatment of a client. The clinical hypnotherapist does not use hypnotic trance in itself as a treatment. It is therefore important that the hypnotherapist be a trained and skilled practitioner, and that hypnosis is applied according to a well-thought-out and case-based treatment plan. The hypnotherapist may be the primary clinician delivering the psychological/medical treatment, or may be an expert as part of the treatment team. The clinical hypnotherapist will help with the case conceptualization and provide input on when hypnosis is an appropriate and useful approach to enhance treatment. The clinical hypnotherapist has an appropriate level of education and training in hypnosis and should be able to assess when hypnosis would be useful as an assessment, therapy, or medical tool.
11. What happens in hypnosis/hypnotherapy?
There appears to be little disagreements among scholars and practitioners that hypnotic states lead, in some people, to changes in consciousness (Eimer, 2012). During hypnosis, a trained clinical hypnotherapist will apply different suggestion strategies based on case conceptualization and the goals of the therapy in order to help the client overcome negative thinking patterns or automatic physiological processes. In hypnosis, the therapist helps the client detach from typical fears and distractions, and helps the client explore new imaginary experiences which can then be translated into everyday experiences through careful implementation and monitoring.
12. What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis can be experienced very differently depending on the individual who is being hypnotized, the type and the purpose of the procedure, but in general terms it can be thought of as a deep state of active relaxation. Historically, systematic efforts have been developed to characterize the changes in consciousness that were reported to occur during the hypnotic state. Initial descriptions of what hypnosis felt like included comparisons with sleep walking (Cardeña, 2014). More recent and rigorous scientific examinations of the hypnotic state found that patients often report increased positive affect, enhanced feelings of energy, greater relaxation, and better stress management in their lives after listening to self-hypnosis tapes (Jensen & Patterson, 2014).
13. How does hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy helps on many levels, from helping clients feel more relaxed and more positive to helping them develop a stronger therapeutic relationship with their clinician, to safely exploring areas of behavior and personality that may be desirable, fear provoking or important to process. However, one of the fundamental assumptions of hypnosis is that consciousness is changeable and malleable. During hypnosis, attention becomes more narrow and focused, and this can be directed at strengthening positive self-talk and more optimistic ways of viewing the world (Yapko, 2010). In depression and anxiety, spontaneous and negative self-thoughts can take over, and it is these thoughts that can become fruitful targets for suggestion during hypnosis. Furthermore, it has been proposed that hypnosis can be viewed as a ‘controlled’ form of dissociation, which can be used to help the client overcome traumatic memories, help with processing physical and emotional pain, trauma and grief, and other psychological problems (Green et al., 2014).
14. Can anyone be hypnotised?
Generally speaking, everyone can be hypnotized to varying degrees and approximately 15 percent of people fall within in the highly hypnotizable range (Barnier, Cox, & McConkey, 2014), and research suggests that clinical groups do not differ substantially in their hypnotic suggestibility. An exception to this are individuals with PTSD, who are more hypnotizable, obsessive–compulsive disorder (less), and psychotic conditions (less) (Green, Laurence, & Lynn, 2014). This disposition to be more or less hypnotizable also depends on a range of individual factors, including sociocultural, and experiential dimensions, and imaginative involvement (e.g., one’s ability to immerse oneself in the experience of sensory, creative, or religious experiences), among other factors. Overall, it appears that individuals who are more hypnotizable may have a propensity to have unusual experiences, and that this propensity has significant genetic contribution (Cardeña, 2014; Lichtenberg, Bachner-Melman, Ebstein, & Crawford, 2004).
15. Will l lose control or be asked to do something against my will?
In popular culture, hypnosis is often depicted as subjects who lose control over their actions. While it is the case that hypnosis can reduce voluntary motor activities, reduce or even temporarily eliminate the experience of pain, and narrow the focus of attention, the psychological processes that occur during hypnosis are more complex. For example, psychologists have drawn a distinction between automatic and controlled processes (Moors & De Houwer, 2006), with automatic processes being viewed as unconscious, reflexive behaviors. While some of these automatic processes appear to be innate, others can become highly reflexive as a result of practice and overlearning. For a long time it was believed that, once established, this automatization is permanent. Recent evidence, however, shows that hypnosis can help de-automatize these processes and bring them back into the conscious realm (Lifshitz, Aubert Bonn, Fischer, Kashem, & Raz, 2013).
16. When I’m hypnotised, am I unconscious?
Hypnosis is a technique that helps temporarily change a client’s individual’s state of consciousness, but it is not the same as being unconscious. As a matter of fact, for hypnosis to be most effective, the client’s cooperation is absolutely necessary. That is, the client must receptive to learning and trying suggestion, must be able and willing to comprehend and follow instructions, and should be capable of focusing and sustaining attention. Furthermore, the client must be willing and able to communicate with the hypnotherapist, as otherwise the practice has little effectiveness (Eimer, 2012). Furthermore, in order for automatic mental processes to become more de-automatized through hypnosis, the client must be able to sustain and shift his or her attention to a deeper and more focused modality. Recent findings suggest that hypnosis can actually help an individual re-gain conscious control of automatic (unconscious) processes (Kihlstrom, 2014).
17. Will my personality be changed?
This is a common concern, but scientific theories explain that any ‘alternate selves’ that are observed during hypnosis are temporary instances of dissociation. They should not be dismissed as non-significant, however, and caution should be used when suggesting hypnosis to individuals whose sense of self is particularly unstable. Once it has been determined that hypnosis is safe and will not endanger a client’s sense of self, it may be of interest to further explore the phenomenon of the “hidden observer.” Here, a coherent set of mental events develop and manifest alternative and in parallel to those of conscious experience, for example a self that does not experience physical pain. This parallel experience of self does not have the breath and depth of a personality, but it shares some resemblance with how the personality is constructed, and can help inform the client about aspirations, goals and self-perceptions (Cardeña, 2014).
18. In what areas can hypnotherapy be used?
The application of hypnotherapy to medical and clinical ailments can be extensive, but many hypnotic suggestions can be categorized as either focusing on calmess and relaxation, or on enhancing self-esteem and positive attitudes. Hypnotherapy can be applied to strengthen other evidence-based interventions (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance), to switch and focus attention, to experiencing ‘the moment’, as well as observe negative or distracting thoughts and letting them go nonjudgmentally. Hypnotherapy can also be incorporated into established treatments for symptoms of a particular disorder, e.g. PTSD and depression (Ponniah & Hollon, 2009), obesity, smoking addiction, and anxiety (Green et al., 2014).
19. How safe is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is generally a safe procedure when applied by a trained hypnotherapist. However it is not completely without risk, as a trance induction could activate distressing associations, thoughts, feelings, and memories. For this reason, when negative consequences do occur, they are likely a result of hypnosis being used inappropriately or by inadequately trained health care providers (Eimer, 2012).
Safe hypnosis is conducted in settings where trained and responsible hypnotherapists can ensure that they can provide appropriate follow-up if necessary. It is conducted after a context appropriate intake evaluation has been performed, and after informed consent has been obtained from the client. Safe hypnosis is not applied to particularly vulnerable individuals, such as people who are actively psychotic, schizophrenic, severely borderline, markedly dissociative, and persons with certain unstable medical conditions that could be acutely aggravated by negative emotional states. Furthermore, safe hypnosis is not practiced on clients who are acutely intoxicated, inebriated, high, or under the influence of drugs because the hypnotic context could increase the likelihood that they will engage in inappropriate, dangerous, high risk or destructive behavior (Hunter, 2010).
Barnier, A. J., Cox, R. E., & McConkey, K. M. (2014). The province of “highs”: The high hypnotizable person in the science of hypnosis and in psychological science. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(2), 168–183. doi:10.1037/cns0000018
Cardeña, E. (2014). Hypnos and psyche: How hypnosis has contributed to the study of consciousness. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(2), 123–138. doi:10.1037/cns0000017
Eimer, B. N. (2012). Inadvertent Adverse Consequences of Clinical and Forensic Hypnosis: Minimizing the Risks. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 55(1), 8–31. doi:10.1080/00029157.2012.686071
Green, J. P., Laurence, J.-R., & Lynn, S. J. (2014). Hypnosis and psychotherapy: From Mesmer to mindfulness. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(2), 199–212. doi:10.1037/cns0000015
Hunter, C. R. (2010). The art of hypnosis: Mastering basic techniques. Crown House.
Jensen, M. P., & Patterson, D. R. (2014). Hypnotic approaches for chronic pain management: Clinical implications of recent research findings. American Psychologist, 69(2), 167–177. doi:10.1037/a0035644
Kihlstrom, J. F. (2014). Hypnosis and cognition. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(2), 139–152. doi:10.1037/cns0000014
Lichtenberg, P., Bachner-Melman, R., Ebstein, R. P., & Crawford, H. J. (2004). Hypnotic Susceptibility: Multidimensional Relationships With Cloninger?s Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, COMT Polymorphisms, Absorption, and Attentional Characteristics. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 52(1), 47–72. doi:10.1076/iceh.52.1.47.23922
Lifshitz, M., Aubert Bonn, N., Fischer, A., Kashem, I. F., & Raz, A. (2013). Using suggestion to modulate automatic processes: From Stroop to McGurk and beyond. Cortex, 49(2), 463–473. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2012.08.007
Moors, A., & De Houwer, J. (2006). Automaticity: A Theoretical and Conceptual Analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(2), 297–326. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.132.2.297
Ponniah, K., & Hollon, S. D. (2009). Empirically supported psychological treatments for adult acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review. Depression and Anxiety, 26(12), 1086–1109. doi:10.1002/da.20635
Yapko, M. D. (2010). Hypnosis in the Treatment of Depression: An Overdue Approach for Encouraging Skillful Mood Management. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 58(2), 137–146. doi:10.1080/00207140903523137
Hypnosis is a procedure in which a trained hypnotherapist applies suggestions in order to help a client change his or her experiences and behaviors (Cardeña, 2014). It provides a positive context for change to occur as part of a treatment. Specifically, many clients are often afraid to engage in experiential learning, and rational or irrational thoughts and fears can come in the way of fully engaging in new experiences. In these cases, hypnosis provides a platform that can help clients focus their thoughts and their attention on new, positive and constructive images and suggestions, while at the same time allowing them to detach from the often anxiety-provoking everyday experience and concerns. Importantly, at its most fundamental level, hypnosis has been described as “self-hypnosis,” because clients’ participation is necessary for the success of the approach. While the therapist can help guide the client with suggestions, it is the client’s responsibility to actively participate in the suggestion. Hypnotherapy is a very cost-effective and portable aid to treatment (Green, Laurence, & Lynn, 2014).
2. How did you become qualified to be a hypnotist?
After my 6 years of training to become a registered psychologist I trained at the Australian Academy of Hypnosis and I have also had advanced hypnotherapy training with the Californian based psychotherapist and hypnotherapist Cal Banyan. His 5 Path process is widely acclaimed as being one of the best approaches to hypnotherapy.
2. What is the difference between hypnotism and hypnotherapy?
The induction process is the same. In other words hypnotising a person means ultimately facilitating a state of dissociation (a split in attention, where a focus is directed at something particular while another part of that person’s awareness is attentive to a set of instructions that he or she is not consciously aware of). Up to this point one can say this is the state of ‘hypnosis’. Therapy starts as soon as instructions are given aimed at changing undesired thoughts, feelings and consequent behaviours while in the state of hypnosis – hence the term ‘hypnotherapy’.
3. What sort of conditions do you deal with?
I must say that I deal mostly with people that come as a consequence of them feeling high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and many who come for weightloss (emotional eating). There are many other conditions I deal with but interestingly most are simply symptoms of the conditions I have outlined above. For instance, depression is a consequence of persistent anxiety and so is obsessive compulsive disorder. If a person is stressed at work he or she is actually saying that she is worried (anxious) and the natural adrenal response provokes a fight or flight response (i.e. the adrenal response).
Persistent anxiety eventually leads to all sorts of physiological problems. Hypnotherapy can help through implementing cognitive strategies designed to deal with the perception of the anxiety provoking stimulus. Most people feel that they have lost control over part of themselves and this very much eats away on their self-confidence. They desperately want back that control. As there is much evidence that perception is also a matter of personality I always use a personality assessment with my clients first. This will determine a number of things. For instance if someone has a more introverted disposition (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this) he or she will most definitely not feel over the moon when dealing with large crowds of people they don’t know, or people they don’t know asking them personal questions.
In fact, it causes them stress. The stress is massively increased if they now start their internal negative self-talk, thinking that they ‘should’ be able to do this ‘like everyone else seems to be able to’. Well the answer is ‘an apple is an apple and an orange is an orange’, and if an apple tries to become an orange then that will be a pretty difficult thing to accomplish. Knowing what makes one ‘tick’ and accepting ones personality preferences can be a healing thing. All one then needs to do is bringing up the courage (courage =being afraid and doing it anyway) to get out there and tackle the obstacle without berating oneself because it is perfectly ‘normal’ for an introverted person to feel uneasy in those situations! They have strengths that others haven’t but there is a way to alter that perception and get a handle on things. Shutting down the negative self-talk through understanding the mechanisms of one’s internal dialogue frees up an enormous amount of energy.
Once we have worked out what it is that holds the person prisoner we can truly move into the direction they want. Although in some instances escapism and avoidance is a valid way to dealing with issues, in the long term it is never the right answer if one wants to truly change unwanted thoughts and feelings for good.
4. How does hypnotherapy compare to ‘traditional’ treatment? i.e. vs pills for anxiety?
Pills for anxiety work with the physiological aspect of anxiety. What is the physiological aspect of anxiety? If anxiety caused the system to get into a fight or flight the body produces a number of physiological* responses which we usually come to notice as increased heart rate and butterflies in the stomach (but there are many more) –
* Physiological responses: i.e. fight or flight responses that could include the production of catecholamine hormones, such as adrenaline or noradrenaline, facilitate immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action. These MAY include the following: Acceleration of heart and lung action, paling or flushing, or alternating between both, inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action to the point where digestion slows down or stops, general effect on the sphincters of the body, constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body, liberation of nutrients (particularly fat and glucose) for muscular action, dilation of blood vessels for muscles, inhibition of the lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation, dilation of pupil (mydriasis), relaxation of bladder, inhibition of erection, auditory exclusion (loss of hearing), tunnel vision (loss of peripheral vision), disinhibition of spinal reflexes, shaking.
This means that we have consciously or unconsciously (i.e. cognitively) recognised a stimulus that causes us angst. We may not be aware what exactly produces the worry we are experiencing and so we may have a consistent feeling of being under attack somehow for some reason (i.e. feeling uncomfortable, stressed etc.) and that could eventually even lead to panic attacks which may come as a total surprise to us. Once we are experiencing an unexplained panic attack it could also happen that we start associating the environment where we had the panic attack as being ‘dangerous’ (in psychology we call this Pavlovian conditioning). This means that next time we are entering into a similar environment another panic attack could be triggered, thus reinforcing the perception that this environment is indeed something to be avoided. In order to get a handle on the anxiety provoking stimulus we are then aiming to more and more control the world around us therefore reinforcing the stimulus even more (the more we try to shut something out, the more we generally start enforcing it). This is the path to generalised anxiety which is often accompanied by obsessive compulsive behaviours.
As becomes clear from the example there are two things at work here, physiology and psychology. For the increased heart rate, pulse, etc., medication can reduce the effect of the physiological response and in a way one hopes that this also then reduces the psychological symptoms. However this is often not the case and so it appears to be always best to also train a person in the application of cognitive strategies in order to change ones perception of the anxiety provoking situation. In many instances changing the person’s perception through cognitive behavioural therapy or hypnotherapy can bring that change without having to necessarily resort to medication.
Medication is useful but it is better to get a handle on the stimulus that has caused the undesired thoughts and feelings in the first place. Moreover, being dependent only on medication to get through the day could erode self-confidence, i.e. thinking thoughts like ‘am I really happier, or is it the medication?’ Whereas knowing that you found the power there within yourself to overcome the obstacles you are facing increases feelings of internal control confidence and self-belief. There is a place for both, no doubt, however it is my opinion that the cognitive aspect is of the greatest importance.
5. What are some common misperceptions about hypnotherapy?
People often think that they are somewhat unconscious when they are getting hypnotised, or lose control in some way i.e. made clack like a chicken, etc. This is not true. Generally the client stays in control and hears everything the hypnotist says. I do have ways of showing the client that a split in attention has taken place though. I often use it during a session to make the person realise that their awareness has somewhat shifted.
6. How many sessions are recommended? Is it dependent on the person and their response to treatment?
It really depends on the person and the issue. My sessions are quite intensive and long as I have a specific way of addressing the issues in clients. Thus, most have between 2-3 sessions and then some maintenance schedule (if required) in which the client can decide if s/he wants to have a monthly or 6 weekly session thereafter. Many clients like to have a maintenance schedule as this means they have to be accountable. However, this doesn’t mean that they actually need it. Mind you, I give most of my clients a CD that I have recorded in preparation of the session to take home with them. This is worth a session each time they are listening to it. It enables them to stay on track with the identified aims of the session. They will also get a little homework which basically consists of them listening once a day to the CD for a period of time and then filling in a short questionnaire asking them to identify what changes they have noticed taking place.
7. Does hypnotherapy work on everyone? Are some people more difficult to hypnotise than others?
There are differences between people but if a good rapport has been established between hypnotist and client most let go enough to get into a hypnotic state. It is very much based on trust. There are also many different techniques that get even the most skeptical person into trance, a skilled hypnotist knows what they are. Basically the conscious mind can only hold about 5-7 of pieces of information in focus at the same time. If it is overloaded it will have no choice but to drop attention. This is the time when the defence mechanisms are lowered thus creating greater openness to suggestions which are then likely to have increased effects.
8. Who would you recommend would benefit from this kind of therapy?
Anybody really who feels uneasy or notices that their issues are taking on a life of their own. Some people believe it is somewhat shameful to have to admit that they need some assistance with getting their perspective sorted out and some more control back into their lives. But let me assure you no one is an island, we all need to get feedback and reassurance from others to know where we stand. People that come to see me are typically, but not exclusively highly trained professionals with stressful jobs or interpersonal relationships that don’t quite work the way they anticipated. They are normal people (although they may not think that about themselves) who feel somewhat out of control (eating, anxiety, procrastination, depression, relationship issues, etc.) and need to get a second unbiased opinion with the aim of getting a deeper insight into the causes and consequences of their action. Once we have come to a sensible understanding of the causes of their issues and it is absolutely clear to the person of how they got where they are right now, we look at where we need to go from here to change undesired thoughts and feelings in future. This is where hypnotherapy comes in as an excellent cognitive goal reinforcement technique. The goal of therapy is that of achieving the fastest possible independence for the client so that s/he can take back control over his/her life and live with true self confidence.
9. What is the history of hypnosis?
Explorations into the mysterious reals of altered consciousness have dominated Eastern traditions for a long time. However, the more recent history of hypnosis as a clinical and scientific field can be traced back to the theories of F. A. Mesmer who discussed ‘animal magnetism’ in the 18th century. ‘Mesmerism’, a term associated with hypnosis, derives from his name. Based on his theories, some practitioners began investigating the changes in consciousness that accompanied the hypnotic experience, which led to the development of the scientific field of hypnosis as it is known today. Scholars attempting to shed light on these processes that lie at the border between the conscious and unconscious mind have also sought to draw upon knowledge from consciousness-altering substances such as drugs, and from consciousness-altering experiences such as meditation and prayer. Hypnosis is still a fascinating area of research, and it has recently become the focus of several neuroscientific studies exploring the nature of consciousness (Cardeña, 2014).
10. What is a clinical hypnotherapist?
A clinical hypnotherapist employs hypnosis as a tool to enhance the medical or psychological treatment of a client. The clinical hypnotherapist does not use hypnotic trance in itself as a treatment. It is therefore important that the hypnotherapist be a trained and skilled practitioner, and that hypnosis is applied according to a well-thought-out and case-based treatment plan. The hypnotherapist may be the primary clinician delivering the psychological/medical treatment, or may be an expert as part of the treatment team. The clinical hypnotherapist will help with the case conceptualization and provide input on when hypnosis is an appropriate and useful approach to enhance treatment. The clinical hypnotherapist has an appropriate level of education and training in hypnosis and should be able to assess when hypnosis would be useful as an assessment, therapy, or medical tool.
11. What happens in hypnosis/hypnotherapy?
There appears to be little disagreements among scholars and practitioners that hypnotic states lead, in some people, to changes in consciousness (Eimer, 2012). During hypnosis, a trained clinical hypnotherapist will apply different suggestion strategies based on case conceptualization and the goals of the therapy in order to help the client overcome negative thinking patterns or automatic physiological processes. In hypnosis, the therapist helps the client detach from typical fears and distractions, and helps the client explore new imaginary experiences which can then be translated into everyday experiences through careful implementation and monitoring.
12. What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis can be experienced very differently depending on the individual who is being hypnotized, the type and the purpose of the procedure, but in general terms it can be thought of as a deep state of active relaxation. Historically, systematic efforts have been developed to characterize the changes in consciousness that were reported to occur during the hypnotic state. Initial descriptions of what hypnosis felt like included comparisons with sleep walking (Cardeña, 2014). More recent and rigorous scientific examinations of the hypnotic state found that patients often report increased positive affect, enhanced feelings of energy, greater relaxation, and better stress management in their lives after listening to self-hypnosis tapes (Jensen & Patterson, 2014).
13. How does hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy helps on many levels, from helping clients feel more relaxed and more positive to helping them develop a stronger therapeutic relationship with their clinician, to safely exploring areas of behavior and personality that may be desirable, fear provoking or important to process. However, one of the fundamental assumptions of hypnosis is that consciousness is changeable and malleable. During hypnosis, attention becomes more narrow and focused, and this can be directed at strengthening positive self-talk and more optimistic ways of viewing the world (Yapko, 2010). In depression and anxiety, spontaneous and negative self-thoughts can take over, and it is these thoughts that can become fruitful targets for suggestion during hypnosis. Furthermore, it has been proposed that hypnosis can be viewed as a ‘controlled’ form of dissociation, which can be used to help the client overcome traumatic memories, help with processing physical and emotional pain, trauma and grief, and other psychological problems (Green et al., 2014).
14. Can anyone be hypnotised?
Generally speaking, everyone can be hypnotized to varying degrees and approximately 15 percent of people fall within in the highly hypnotizable range (Barnier, Cox, & McConkey, 2014), and research suggests that clinical groups do not differ substantially in their hypnotic suggestibility. An exception to this are individuals with PTSD, who are more hypnotizable, obsessive–compulsive disorder (less), and psychotic conditions (less) (Green, Laurence, & Lynn, 2014). This disposition to be more or less hypnotizable also depends on a range of individual factors, including sociocultural, and experiential dimensions, and imaginative involvement (e.g., one’s ability to immerse oneself in the experience of sensory, creative, or religious experiences), among other factors. Overall, it appears that individuals who are more hypnotizable may have a propensity to have unusual experiences, and that this propensity has significant genetic contribution (Cardeña, 2014; Lichtenberg, Bachner-Melman, Ebstein, & Crawford, 2004).
15. Will l lose control or be asked to do something against my will?
In popular culture, hypnosis is often depicted as subjects who lose control over their actions. While it is the case that hypnosis can reduce voluntary motor activities, reduce or even temporarily eliminate the experience of pain, and narrow the focus of attention, the psychological processes that occur during hypnosis are more complex. For example, psychologists have drawn a distinction between automatic and controlled processes (Moors & De Houwer, 2006), with automatic processes being viewed as unconscious, reflexive behaviors. While some of these automatic processes appear to be innate, others can become highly reflexive as a result of practice and overlearning. For a long time it was believed that, once established, this automatization is permanent. Recent evidence, however, shows that hypnosis can help de-automatize these processes and bring them back into the conscious realm (Lifshitz, Aubert Bonn, Fischer, Kashem, & Raz, 2013).
16. When I’m hypnotised, am I unconscious?
Hypnosis is a technique that helps temporarily change a client’s individual’s state of consciousness, but it is not the same as being unconscious. As a matter of fact, for hypnosis to be most effective, the client’s cooperation is absolutely necessary. That is, the client must receptive to learning and trying suggestion, must be able and willing to comprehend and follow instructions, and should be capable of focusing and sustaining attention. Furthermore, the client must be willing and able to communicate with the hypnotherapist, as otherwise the practice has little effectiveness (Eimer, 2012). Furthermore, in order for automatic mental processes to become more de-automatized through hypnosis, the client must be able to sustain and shift his or her attention to a deeper and more focused modality. Recent findings suggest that hypnosis can actually help an individual re-gain conscious control of automatic (unconscious) processes (Kihlstrom, 2014).
17. Will my personality be changed?
This is a common concern, but scientific theories explain that any ‘alternate selves’ that are observed during hypnosis are temporary instances of dissociation. They should not be dismissed as non-significant, however, and caution should be used when suggesting hypnosis to individuals whose sense of self is particularly unstable. Once it has been determined that hypnosis is safe and will not endanger a client’s sense of self, it may be of interest to further explore the phenomenon of the “hidden observer.” Here, a coherent set of mental events develop and manifest alternative and in parallel to those of conscious experience, for example a self that does not experience physical pain. This parallel experience of self does not have the breath and depth of a personality, but it shares some resemblance with how the personality is constructed, and can help inform the client about aspirations, goals and self-perceptions (Cardeña, 2014).
18. In what areas can hypnotherapy be used?
The application of hypnotherapy to medical and clinical ailments can be extensive, but many hypnotic suggestions can be categorized as either focusing on calmess and relaxation, or on enhancing self-esteem and positive attitudes. Hypnotherapy can be applied to strengthen other evidence-based interventions (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance), to switch and focus attention, to experiencing ‘the moment’, as well as observe negative or distracting thoughts and letting them go nonjudgmentally. Hypnotherapy can also be incorporated into established treatments for symptoms of a particular disorder, e.g. PTSD and depression (Ponniah & Hollon, 2009), obesity, smoking addiction, and anxiety (Green et al., 2014).
19. How safe is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is generally a safe procedure when applied by a trained hypnotherapist. However it is not completely without risk, as a trance induction could activate distressing associations, thoughts, feelings, and memories. For this reason, when negative consequences do occur, they are likely a result of hypnosis being used inappropriately or by inadequately trained health care providers (Eimer, 2012).
Safe hypnosis is conducted in settings where trained and responsible hypnotherapists can ensure that they can provide appropriate follow-up if necessary. It is conducted after a context appropriate intake evaluation has been performed, and after informed consent has been obtained from the client. Safe hypnosis is not applied to particularly vulnerable individuals, such as people who are actively psychotic, schizophrenic, severely borderline, markedly dissociative, and persons with certain unstable medical conditions that could be acutely aggravated by negative emotional states. Furthermore, safe hypnosis is not practiced on clients who are acutely intoxicated, inebriated, high, or under the influence of drugs because the hypnotic context could increase the likelihood that they will engage in inappropriate, dangerous, high risk or destructive behavior (Hunter, 2010).
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