What Is Hypnotherapy and How Is It Used?

Hypnotherapy is a flexible treatment style that helps with many mental and physical health conditions, such as improving undesirable behavioral changes, eating disorders, spiritual exploration, poor self-esteem, phobias and anxiety. It is not entirely different from other relaxation and psychological techniques used in therapies such as CBT. In fact, is helpful when using with other psychotherapies, such as CBT. But the major point of distinction is the involvement of a trance-like state. Hypnotherapy is about the experience, rather than analyzing the details from a fixed perspective.

Commonly treated with hypnotherapy are:

• Repetitive behaviors like nail-biting and skin-picking disorders.
• Depression.
• Sleep disorders.
• Eating disorders like binge-eating disorder, anorexia, and bulimia nervosa.
• Addictions, especially nicotine use disorders.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hypnotherapy is an effective psychological treatment for reducing a person’s overall stress level. This impact on stress is damaging on our mind, body, and spirit, leading to many mental health symptoms.

However, it has been demonstrated through research that some other health conditions have a profound medical application in managing stress and pain through the use of hypnotherapy like

•  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
  • Pain management during dental procedures.
  • Skin conditions include warts and psoriasis.
  • Management of certain symptoms of ADHD.
  • Treatment of chronic pains such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Reduction of pain during childbirth.
  • Reduction of dementia symptoms.
  • Management of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients.

Overcoming stress and anxiety is one of the most important ways to change behavior. Stress and anxiety remove the power from the person so change feels impossible. The goal of hypnotherapy is help the client reclaim their power.

COMMON HYPNOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES: Hypnotherapy is different from traditional psychotherapies but it has significant results in terms of achieving the desired results. Instead of having a conversation for an hour, the client is in a relaxed state actively exploring the situation with the help of the Hypnotherapist. The client needs to be in a high-awareness state to respond to the collaborative changes because it needs to bypass the thinking mind’s what-if chatter.

During Hypnosis it is common for the hypnotherapist to use:

MENTAL IMAGERY
After attaining the person’s focused state of attention, it is easier for the mind to grasp the situation using metaphor’s and imagery. It is important for the hypnotherapist to use imagery the client is familiar with. The client needs a foundation of familiarity before exploring new ideas. The new ideas are easier to grasp when the client has imagery they are familiar with and can hold in their mind.

SUGGESTIONS
When the patient is in a trance-like state, the therapist will provide suggestions that align with the goals and vision of the client. A hypnotherapist can not force anyone to believe or release anything. It is also important for the hypnotherapist to create a safe environment for the client to want to integrate suggestions, even something as simple as “I am confident”. The goal is to remove mental blocks so the client can integrate these suggestions and believe what they are trying to integrate.

UNCONSCIOUS EXPLORATION
Hypnotherapy allows the client to explore their mind without the distraction or judgement of the conscious mind. Many clients find it exciting to explore parts of their mind they may have never considered even existing. This can create a healthier relationship with oneself and create a sense of wholeness. It can sometimes be compared to lucid dreaming, minus being in a deep sleep. Hypnotherapy can help a client strengthen their ability to hold ideas and images in their mind while living in their everyday world. One does not have to only be asleep and in deep meditation to have unconscious exploration.

There is no right kind of therapy as long as the client feels as though their needs are being met. Hypnotherapy is an experience outside of our everyday world. Years of therapy have the potential to be resolved in just a few sessions due to being in a trance state and the hypnotherapists ability to guide the client to the root of the problem.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to working together! -

Jarisa