Hypnotherapy
Introduction
Hypnotherapy is a form of treatment
which exposes a client to subconscious elements. When exposed to their own
subconscious behavior the client begins to function on a higher level of
intellect. The process of hypnosis takes place when a person begins to
experience a deep relaxation which is initiated by the therapist upon client
agreement. Hypnotherapy is part of a practice that helps a client either
overcome an experience or become empowered through subconscious manipulation.
Reaching the subconscious will only happen after a hypnotist has explored the
patient's problem or traumatic event. Hypnotherapy creates a trance-like state
in which the patient undergoes a heightened sense of focus and awareness.
Goals of Hypnotherapy
The purpose of hypnotherapy is to
re-program the individual's brain pattern because it has been causing distress,
irrational thoughts, phobias or suppressed emotions. These conflicts must be
having a negative impact on their lives in one way or another. It's often times
that there are misconceptions behind the goal of hypnotherapy. The practice is
not for the purpose of making a patient do anything that they wouldn't normally
do. Patients are completely aware of their surroundings during the trance.
Therapy is for the purpose of treating a patient who may be facing an
emotional, bodily or psychological disorder. It allows the client to overcome
the problem and go about dealing with it in a strategized and focused
manner.
When is Hypnotherapy Used?
Hypnotherapy is used depending on the
client's condition and participation. It cannot be used to treat a medical
condition although it has the capacity to assist the individual in dealing with
symptoms associated with a chronic condition. Those who are fit for it
experience a shift in their automatic response to scenarios they are faced with.
The hypnotists work in co alliance with a doctor to help the patient reduce
pain sensations in medical situations, such as surgery or childbirth. The
methods are often used with patients who experience phobias or suppressed
memories. It is commonly used with those who have undergone a traumatic event.
Traumatic events can make an individual experience night sweats and violent
behavior. Hypnotherapy helps prevent these events from affecting their lives
and relationships.
How Hypnotherapy Works
Therapy can only work if the hypnotist
has the ability to get past the subconscious gatekeeper. In order to do this
the hypnotist must put the client into a trance state by relaxing their mental
and physical until consciousness has been altered. It's important that the
person has the right attitude before the trance and doesn't have any hesitancy
in believing that it can happen. If there is hesitancy present it may prevent
the conscious mind from opening up the subconscious.
When a client is in their trance state
the hypnotherapist may help to get rid of old influences and replace them with
new ones. The hypnotist may assist the patient in remembering an experience
that is causing problems in their life. When the experience has been found the
therapist uses techniques to explore it, heal the patient and help them patient
grasp a new thought process or response. Imagination plays a huge role in the
change and the person must be able to imagine overcoming the issue if they want
to break free of the grievance.
Hypnotherapy is effective because once
a suggestion has been placed within the subconscious mind it is accepted. The
changes that happen in the subconscious alter the client's reality and feelings
toward a given subject. It doesn't require any willpower on the behalf of the
client because the subconscious mind has already decided upon its course of
action.
Criticisms of Hypnotherapy
There is some controversy toward
hypnotherapy in terms of repressed memories or a client experiencing their old
thought process after some time has passed. It is a sensitive issue if the
experience to overcome relates to sexual abuse, especially when the client does
not recall the experience. If a therapist suspects that a client has been abused
it is then their job to override the client's denial by confronting the truth
through trance. It's been scrutinized that some do not possess higher
educational training although states capacitate the practice in training
programs and medical guidelines. Some argue that just because a person has been
trained in psychotherapy; it doesn't mean that they are competent enough to
implement the practice without having completed advanced training. While some
seem to think that the criticism of hypnosis comes from therapists planting
hidden suggestions into the mind of the patient – it usually has to
do with repressed memories or patients using a hypnotherapist who isn't
licensed to perform hypnosis.
References
About hypnotherapy. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.thehypnotherapyassociation.co.uk/abouthypnotherapy draft
1a.php
Mental health and hypnosis. (2012, June
5). Retrieved from
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-hypnotherapy
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