Hypnotherapy is a psychological procedure which can assist in changing your perspective on how you think, feel and act, without the use of drugs, medicines or physical examinations. Hypnosis is a kind and gentle therapy, in which a state of highly focused concentration is induced by the therapist, whilst the client is deeply relaxed. In this relaxed state, the subconscious mind becomes open and willing, to accept suggestions for positive change.
To understand the value and importance of hypnotherapy in healing the mind and body, it is necessary to mention the longevity of its origins. The use of hypnotherapy as an antidote to pain, illness, mental and physical conditions, was first recorded in the bible; Genesis 2v21.22. Many links from the past to the present, also include the use of hypnosis by the Greeks, the Romans and the Egyptians, who set up ‘sleep temples,’ along the banks of the River Nile in the 5th Century BC. Genghis Khan, the 13th Century Mongol ruler, whose empire stretched from the Pacific to the Black Sea, was understood to use group suggestion, to sustain and strengthen his troops.
Hypnotherapy is used to treat both physical and mental conditions and to encourage change in habitual behaviours and beliefs. It is commonly used for chronic pain, and its use has been recorded in operative surgery and dental work, as a natural alternative to anaesthesia. It is commonly used to help boost our immune system, our confidence and self-esteem, as well as reprogramming our attitude to illness and associated pain. There are no side effects and almost everyone is able to be hypnotised. It is open to all, except those suffering from psychosis and epilepsy, or those under the influence of certain self-prescribed chemical substances. It is used widely in both medicine and sport, to change the way our brains interpret experiences.
In more modern times, Probably the most revered and quoted of all famous hypnotherapists, was Milton Erickson, 1901 – 1980, a remarkable psychiatrist and psychologist, who believed that everyone could be hypnotised. Even those who were sceptical and disbelieving, in his eyes, could absorb new ideas and perspectives without even being aware they were learning. He imparted his techniques through narrated stories, anecdotes and metaphors, which bypassed the subject’s critical faculties, enabling positive change in their perspective. He was remarkably successful.
Hypnosis is most effective when:
- The subject is genuinely keen and willing to go forward with treatment, (even if they do not fully understand it, but have an innate feeling that it might just be the way forward for them.)
- When the subject has chosen a therapist to assist them, with whom they instinctively feel comfortable. This creates a deeper sense of trust and allows the subject to be open and ready to make positive change in their lives.