MHM Magazine

Issue 5 | 2022 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 27 MHM is a complete myth and if it were true, the CIA would use hypnosis instead of torture. In fact, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis and the patient uses the suggestions of the therapist to induce the patterns of brain waves in their own brain to go as deep as they would like to go into the trance. In actual fact, rather than a loss of control, hypnosis helps a patient become more effectively in control within themselves, by gaining access to processes that are usually outside of their conscious awareness. What is hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy is the clinical application of the state of hypnosis to alleviate symptoms and presenting complaints and reach therapeutic goals. The fact that hypnosis works using patterns of brain waves that regulate the brain from the bottom-up and create meaningful change on the level of the sub-cortex and subconscious, means that hypnotherapy is a brain based therapy. In hypnotherapy, a trained clinical hypnotherapist works with the client to understand what the symptom- maintaining rule of the subconscious or unconscious is, and then offer suggestions for selective thinking that allow the unconscious and subconscious to perform their protective duties without resulting in symptoms. The art of hypnotherapy lies in the accuracy and effectiveness of the post-hypnotic suggestion. How can hypnotherapy help patients? Hypnotherapy can be used to change any pattern of behaviour or subjective experience that is no longer serving the person but is instead causing symptoms of problems in living. Some examples are: - Self-defeating relational patterns - Lack of confidence or assertiveness in the workplace - Over eating and other substance abuse - Weight loss management - Smoking cessation - Pain management - Phobias - Trauma recovery and healing from PTSD - Anxiety - Sleep disorders However, hypnosis will only be successful if the patient is ready and sincerely wanting to change these patterns and the psychological function of these symptoms is accurately replaced by the effectiveness of the post hypnotic suggestion Who can be hypnotised? In the modern understanding of hypnosis, we no longer use the term “suggestible” but rather understand that everyone can experience hypnosis as long as there is: 1. Consent 2. Communication 3. Freedom from fear Far from gullible or “suggestible”, in my clinical experience, the more creative, imaginative, intelligent and resourceful a person is, the easier it is for them to learn this powerful skill to mobilise their own healing. • Final thoughts Hypnosis is now being understood as a brain based psychotherapeutic approach grounded in neuroscience. It’s powerful but safe, and can be used effectively to treat a variety of presenting complaints and reach therapeutic goals. An understanding of hypnosis is essential for a patient to be able to meaningfully give consent and remove any fear. The efficacy of the hypnosis lies in the patient’s readiness to change as well as therapist’s explanation to the patient of how hypnosis works, the therapist’s understanding of trance and how to induce it, and the accuracy and effectiveness of their post hypnotic suggestion. When patients are seeking hypnotherapy, make sure they ask for the therapists’ credentials to make sure they are thoroughly and suitably trained in order to get the most out of the hypnotherapy process.