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Hypnosis explained

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness, focus or concentration. Hypnotic states are characterised by an extremely pleasant state of relaxation during which metabolism , heart rate and breathing rates slow and brain waves change to alpha waves - a wave associated with a quiet, receptive state. Meditation, day dreaming, being engrossed in a good book, movie, or driving for distances without being aware of the usual landmarks are all examples of alpha states.

Hypnosis: myths, misconceptions and facts

  • MYTH: Hypnosis is something someone "does to you"
  • FACT: This is a common myth about hypnosis. But in fact ,all hypnosis is self-hypnosis: the hypnotherapist accepts the role of  facilitator or guide. You choose to enter in to a hypnotic state, to continue in or to come out at will. If you can concentrate and follow simple instructions you can put yourself into a state of hypnosis necessary to bring about personal change.
     
  • MYTH: "I might not be able to be hypnotized"
  • FACT: Approximately 90-95% of people can be hypnotized. Willingness, desire, belief, expectation and motivation have profound influence over "hypnotizability".
     
  • MYTH: What if I can't  relax enough or "be hypnotized"
  • During hypnosis you are not asleep or unconscious but are in fact in a state of heightened awareness- like meditation. Relaxation can aid hypnosis but is not an essential requirement: hypnosis can occur when either standing or sitting and with your eyes open or closed. There simply needs to be a willingness to engage in the process and to follow the instructions of the hypnotherapist in initiating the hypnotic state.
     
  • MYTH: "Don't I have to be deeply relaxed for it to work?"
  • FACT: Hypnotherapy can be effective whether you are deeply relaxed or not: in fact many hypnotherapists choose to work in a "light trance" state.
  • FACT: Hypnosis is a learned skill: some people find they are initially better at it but everyone can improve with a little practice. The mind does not have to be quiet, still or empty which makes hypnosis initially an easier skill to learn than meditation.
     
  • MYTH: "I'm too strong minded/willed to be hypnotized"
  • FACT: Those who are strong-willed are thought to be easier to hypnotise rather than the other way around - contrary to common assumption.
     
  • MYTH: "I might get stuck in hypnosis"
  • FACT: you cannot get "stuck" in hypnosis. Even if the hypnotherapist were to leave the building and forget about the client , the client would either drift into a natural sleep for a few minutes or would open their eyes and emerge from the hypnotic state.
     
  • MYTH: "I might fall asleep and not be able to wake up"
  • FACT: During hypnosis you will neither be asleep or unconscious and will always come out of a hypnotic state when you wish.
     
  • MYTH: "I might do something I don't want to whilst in hypnosis"
  • You cannot be made to do anything against you will in hypnosis - you always have choice and control. You will not therefore divulge secrets, or "cluck like a chicken" - not unless you think it is therapeutically necessary.
     
  • MYTH: "I might divulge secrets"
  • FACT: Hypnosis is not a truth serum: you will always be aware, in control and have a choice over what you say (or don't say).
     
  • MYTH: "I don't want anyone to control my mind"
  • FACT: hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness, focus or concentration. The "critical factor" of the mind protects , ensuring that your morals, beliefs and values are kept intact, and ensures only positive suggestions are accepted into the unconscious. In addition Persephone uses "permissive" hypnosis, in which the unconscious mind is invited and encouraged to allow positive suggestions, rather than other more traditional,  authoritative approaches.

SUMMARY

  • All hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
  • Hypnosis is a way of utilizing the untapped potential of your mind - positively. It does not have any religious affiliation and does not require any particular belief system.
  • Hypnotherapy is a process of mutual participation between therapists and client: the hypnotherapist works to create the most effective and powerful session for you based on the information you give and the goals you wish to achieve.
  • Self-hypnosis is a lifelong skill and you can continue to use the benefits of self-hypnosis , to aid relaxation, reduce stress, and  to enhance your life long after you have left the hypnotherapist's office.
  • Hypnosis can be used alongside other interventions, including medication.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is the application of therapy during hypnosis to modify or change behaviour: smoking, over-eating etc. Hypnosis involves accessing the power and the resources of the unconscious mind to unlock potential and to discover solutions to difficulties which the conscious mind has been unable to deal with.

Read about the effectiveness of hypnosis

What is Hypno-psychotherapy?

Hypno-psychotherapy is the use of hypnosis/hypnotherapy within a supportive psychotherapeutic environment. For over two hundred years hypnosis has been used in medicine to treat a wide range of physical, psychological and emotional conditions. It has long been recognised that hypnosis can be successfully combined with other approaches or techniques in psychotherapy or counselling. In 1977 the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) formally endorsed the term Hypno-psychotherapy as 'a branch of psychotherapy using hypnosis'. Persephone's psychotherapy techniques currently include CBT, Symbolic Modelling, Gestalt and counselling skills.

What's so beneficial about Hypno-psychotherapy?

A qualified Hypno-psychotherapist  has at his/her disposal a deeper psychological understanding, training and skill in providing a supportive, empathetic therapeutic relationship (generally accepted as possibly the most important factor in treatment success) as well as added techniques for helping her client creatively resolve  physical, psycho-physiological, psychological or emotional difficulties. Along with hypnosis, a Hypno-psychotherapist is also trained in CBT - recommended by NICE as the treatment of choice for depression and anxiety. Your hypno-psychotherapist is able to offer CBT, integrated with hypnosis, within a supportive counselling/psychotherapeutic relationship. Persephone also offers the new, highly respectful, naturally occurring, organic change technique of Symbolic Modelling.

Research on hypno-psychotherapy/CBT

Many research studies show the effectiveness of hypnosis but, additional studies also detail the increased effects of using psychotherapy with hypnosis for even better results:

  • Cozolino (2002) , writing about change, growth and brain development, notes: "recent discoveries in the neurosciences.. [ the study of the brain]...seem to support the value of psychotherapy."
  • Maw&Maw (1995) state: "Hypnotherapy is most effective when practised in conjunction with psychotherapy, and is a proven technique for behaviour modification" (p.55)
  • Bolocofsky (1985) stated hypnosis for weight loss produced "significantly" better results, than "behavioural" weight management programmes, more hypnotic subjects "achieved and maintained their personal... goals" and continued to achieve additional weight loss even 2 years after treatment ended.
  • Schoenberger (2000) states that CBT is more effective when combined with hypnosis.
  • Bryant et al (2005) also found CBT and hypnosis more effective than CBT alone.

What is CBT?

"What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind."

Buddha

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and CAT (Cognitive-Analytical therapy) are both therapeutic approaches based on the theory that uncomfortable emotions, and even self-defeating behaviours, can be triggered by our 'cognitions' -  thoughts and beliefs we hold about our self or our world. These thoughts and beliefs are often based on specific situations experienced in the past or in childhood which can then become generalized to other experiences or situations in later life with unfortunate or unpleasant consequences. CBT involves exploring these thoughts and beliefs and accessing and activating new thoughts, beliefs and actions to bring about positive change and resolution of the current difficulty.

Cognitive therapies are short-term psychotherapies are the recommended evidence-based therapies used within the NHS due to clinical findings on their effectiveness. They are the NHS- recommended intervention for anxiety and depression. (See research on CBT)

Integrating CBT with hypno-psychotherapy offers a supportive, empathetic environment as well as the added benefit of hypnosis using the power of  the client's unconscious mind to take on the new more positive beliefs and thoughts discovered  bringing about easier, quicker positive change (See research on the added benefit of using hypnosis with CBT).

Training for hypnotherapists

At present, anybody can set up in practice as a hypnotherapist,  without undergoing any formal training. One way to ensure that your therapist  has been properly trained is to ensure that they are a member of the National  Register of Hypnotherapists and Psychotherapists (NRHP).

Training for NRHP members

All NRHP members have trained to the syllabus requirements  of the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy, or have equivalent  (UKCP) training. The National College provides a thorough training in  hypno-psychotherapy, with comprehensive coverage of hypnotherapeutic techniques  integrated with a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches. The National  College is the only institution of its kind externally accredited by the  British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education.  Such accreditation has been acknowledged by the Secretary of State for  Education as the only public guarantee of standards in independent institutions  of further and higher education in the UK.

United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy

The UKCP is a registered charity which aims to create  a well regulated, broadly based psychotherapy profession. UKCP expects  its Member Organisations to adhere to and apply guidelines for standards  of training and ethical practice intended for the protection of the public.  As a leading national register of Hypno-Psychotherapists, the NRHP, like  the National College, is a member of the Hypno-Psychotherapy Section of  the UKCP.

NRHP members are strictly regulated in respect  of:

  • Qualifications  (and their disclosure on request)
  • Terms, conditions and methods of treatment
  • Client  confidentiality
  • Professional  relationships
  • Research  and publications
  • Practitioner  competence
  • Personal  and professional behaviour
  • Post-qualification  supervision

All National Register therapists carry professional  indemnity insurance.

References:

Maw &Maw(1995):" Imagery, self-esteem and laughter", Occupational Health, Feb 55-57

Cozolino L. (2002): "The neuroscience of psychotherapy" p.viii, Norton & Co. N.Y.

  
 

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Denise Marleyn DHP(NC) MRNHP HBCE   Tel: 01525 850334   e-mail: contact@persephone-therapy.co.uk