What
is hypnosis?Hypnosis myths and misconceptions
As a hypnotherapist I often find it is important to separate FACT from FICTION. It is unfortunate that most people's first encounter of hypnosis is through watching television and stage hypnotism. This can lead people to believe that hypnosis is some kind of mind control and that they may be controlled or manipulated or made to do something 'silly'....
Nothing could be further from the truth!
During hypnosis your senses, creativity, concentration and awareness are actually heightened - you will not fall asleep and indeed you can even talk quite easily whilst relaxed (and in analytical therapy are encouraged to do so).
It is also a commonly held belief that there are some people that 'cannot be hypnotised' but this is again inaccurate. EVERYBODY, both children and adults, can easily achieve the state of hypnosis and enjoy its benefits such as relaxation.
| 10 facts about REAL therapeutic hypnosis |
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Hypnotherapy - using hypnosis for health and wellbeing
In my practice I use what is commonly known as a 'progressive relaxation' method which is a very gentle and incredibly effective way of helping people to relax at their own pace.
I use the same progressive relaxation hypnosis induction method with all ages, from 7 to 70, and have hypnotised many hundreds of people over the years. In my experience there is no better method for achieving a wonderful state of relaxation and hypnosis in the therapy room.
At my Cheltenham Hypnotherapy Clinic I use this relaxation and the phenomena of hypnosis in two different ways depending on each client....
In what is usually called 'Suggestion Therapy', hypnosis is combined with positive suggestions to bring about immediate change and benefits for minor symptoms such as stopping smoking.
In 'Analytical Therapy', using hypnosis in these sessions allows the client to relax and feel very comfortable whilst talking about their experiences and aids the release of bottled up or negative emotions, releasing the symptoms.
A (very) brief history of hypnosis
Hypnosis and hypnotism in some form or other has been in use for thousands of years. There is a great deal of evidence to support the belief that Hypnosis and hypnotic suggestion was being used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans - for therapeutic benefit - as far back as about the fourth Century BC. Hypnosis, hypnotism and suggestion as we know it can be traced to the 1700's and the austrian Franz Anton Mesmer. Mesmer (hence 'mesmerism') treated many patients at his Paris clinic with the aid of suggestion and magnets, which he believed gave people healing properties.
In 1819 the Portuguese priest Abbé José Custudio di Faria discarded the use of magnets but continued to get patients to close their eyes and enter a state of relaxation or trance, noting the use of suggestion to achieve it.
In 1841 a Manchester doctor by the name of James Braid was the first person to use the term 'hypnosis' and 'hypnotism' to describe this kind of 'sleep state'. He named it after the Greek God Hypnos.
In the 1900's French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot and his rival Hippolyte Bernheim continued to promote the use of hypnosis and verbal suggestion for nervous ailments. In those days the practice was known as 'Suggestive Therapeutics' but is know commonly known as hypnotherapy. In the 1950's both the British and American Medical Associations officially recognised hypnosis as a valuable therapeutic tool.
| Treatment for Fear
of needles
 "The
difference after several sessions of hypnotherapy has been
remarkable! The process of inserting needles for administration
of treatment and taking samples is far less traumatic for
the patient and a smoother pathway for both patient and nurse
has been achieved."Sister Louise Kidner, Knightsbridge Ward, Cheltenham General Hospital |
