What is Hypnotherapy?
By Dr. R. Y. Langham, Ph.D., licensed marriage and family therapist, author.
The aim of hypnotherapy is to create a positive change in an individual, while they are in a state of unconsciousness or slumber (sleep).
This form of therapy is considered alternative medicine with the purpose of utilizing one’s mind to help reduce or alleviate a variety of issues, such as psychological distress, phobias, insomnia and unhealthy, destructive, or dangerous habits (i.e. substance abuse or eating disorders).
The word “hypnosis” comes from the Greek word “hypnos,” which simply means, “sleep.” During hypnosis, a trained hypnotherapy therapist or psychotherapist uses guided relaxation techniques to elicit feelings of extreme relaxation, focus, and concentration in the individual with the goal of helping him/her achieve a heightened state of consciousness.
Is Hypnosis Used in Psychotherapy?
Yes, sometimes. More specifically, hypnosis is a form of hypnotherapy, which is a form of psychotherapy. As a result, hypnosis is sometimes used as a treatment modality during counseling to relax a patient or client. In this situation, a trained psychologist places the individual into a hypnotic relaxed state or “trance,” so he/she can openly and safely explore painful, traumatic, and repressed memories that tend to be “hidden” from the conscious mind. This “change” in consciousness can help some patients or clients view real-life situations, feelings, and events in a “different light” – i.e. relationship issues, nervousness or stage fright, work conflicts, and even chronic pain.
While “under hypnosis,” an individual becomes more “open” to the hypnotherapist’s or psychologist’s suggestions and guidance. As a result, he/she is able to make positive changes in his/her life.
What is Hypnotherapy Used For?
Hypnotherapy is used to treat a wide range of conditions, issues, and unwanted/unhealthy behaviors:
- Phobias
- Addiction
- Relationship/Family/Work Conflicts
- Sleep Disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Grief and Loss of a Loved One
- Cessation of Smoking
- Weight Loss
Note: Those, who have psychotic symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations, should speak to a qualified hypnotherapist or psychologist to determine if this therapy is right for them.
Who Administers Hypnosis to an Individual?
Trained hypnotherapists and psychologists can administer hypnosis to individuals.
What Happens During Hypnosis?
During hypnosis, a trained hypnotherapist or psychologist uses guided relaxation techniques to elicit feelings of extreme relaxation, focus, and concentration in the individual with the goal of helping him/her achieve a heightened state of consciousness.
What Methods Are Commonly Used in Hypnotherapy?
The two main methods of hypnotherapy are suggestion therapy and analysis.
What is suggestion therapy?
Suggestion therapy relies on an individual’s ability to respond to suggestions and guidance from the hypnotherapist or psychologist, while he/she is in a “trance-like” or altered state. This method is commonly used to control or stop unwanted or unhealthy behaviors like smoking, gambling, nail-biting, and excessive eating. Studies have suggested that it may also be beneficial for those with chronic pain. Moreover, research indicates that suggestion therapy may encourage positive and healthy behaviors like self-motivation and self-confidence.
Furthermore, this method may help clients or patients “uncover” the psychological root of a problem or symptom, for instance, the root of one’s social anxiety, depression, and/or past trauma. It is important to understand that feelings or memories associated with trauma tend to “hide” in one’s unconscious memory so that the individual doesn’t remember (on a conscious level) the trauma he/she experienced.
What is analysis in hypnotherapy?
Analysis in hypnotherapy has proven extremely effective for “digging deep” into the subconscious mind to retrieve repressed memories or past trauma(s) – all of which could be causing psychological distress, mental health conditions, and/or problematic behaviors. This method also referred to as “regression therapy,” is more exploratory in nature. In fact, the main goal of the analysis is to determine the root cause, issue, disorder, and/or symptom of an individual’s distress.
During analysis, a psychologist first hypnotizes the individual by putting him/her into a relaxed state. Then, he/she helps this individual explore past event(s) in his/her life. The goal is to probe the individual’s unconscious memories of said event(s), so he/she can move past them.
Disclaimer: This method is not meant to cure or directly “change” an individual’s behavior. Rather, the goal is to determine the main cause of the individual’s distress and treat it through psychotherapy.
Why Should I Hire a Hypnotherapist?
Depending on what your issue is and what you want addressed, hypnotherapy could be an effective form of therapy. Studies are just now beginning to tout the benefits of hypnotherapy for psychological issues. However clinical hypnosis has recently become a mainstream treatment alternative for people who want to break “bad habits,” confront past traumas, remember things their minds deliberately “forgot,” ease chronic emotional and/or physical pain, or reduce stress in their lives.
In addition, research suggests that this alternative psychotherapy treatment may prove to be extremely beneficial for a wide range of behavioral issues such as smoking, Insomnia, weight loss, or nail-biting, and psychological challenges including stress, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, phobias, and depression. Furthermore, hypnotherapy has been proven effective in the treatment of addiction for some individuals.
Ultimately, the true goal of hypnotherapy, especially when combined with other treatment modalities, is to help individuals develop a deeper understanding of themselves and achieve wellness.
It is important to note, that although hypnotherapy is considered complementary or alternative treatment, it is still a highly-regulated, legitimate form of psychotherapy that is sometimes used to help people cope with distressing and painful events.
What Should I Look for in a Hypnotherapy Therapist?
The methods used, along with hourly rates (costs) vary from hypnotherapist-to-hypnotherapist and psychologist-to-psychologist. Why? Well, mainly because this form of psychotherapy is a trust-based exercise that requires a large amount of time, training, skill, and effort. In addition, it requires a great deal of immersion on the part of the Individual. Therefore, it is important to interview several hypnotherapists and psychologists to see which one matches your temperament and personality. And, which one makes you feel at ease and comfortable in his/her presence. Trust is a key component of hypnotherapy, so it is imperative that you trust the person, who will be taking you “under.”
Ask for references and don’t forget to ask about the hypnotherapists or psychologists education and experience (how long he/she has been doing hypnosis and what percentage of cases have been successful). This is especially true if you decide to go with a psychologist for hypnotherapy. Make sure the psychologist has a substantial amount of training and experience in clinical hypnosis – and that he/she is certified and licensed in this area. Then, go with your gut. If your intuition says it’s a good fit – give it a chance. If not – keep searching.
Search and find a qualified hypnotherapist near you on TherapyTribe – therapist directory.
CASE STUDY
Hypnosis is used to successfully treat long-haul COVID
Although the ins and outs of COVID are slowly being revealed, we are still in the dark about many of its aspects. For instance, scientists, psychologists, and researchers are still studying the short-term and long-term effects of the virus and its vaccines. What health and medical researchers have discovered is that COVID can affect people in different ways, and that treatments and recovery may look different for each person. Some people, who contract COVID may recover quickly, while others may experience “long-haul COVID” or lingering COVID symptoms. Symptoms of “long-haul COVID” include: insomnia, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, dizziness, joint pain, depression, and/or anxiety. People, who continue to suffer from the effects of COVID after the infection has passed, are turning to alternative treatments, like hypnotherapy/hypnosis to help them cope with their symptoms.
Rebecca Jones, clinical hypnotherapist, conducted a clinical trial in 2020, and found that “long-haul COVID” sufferers experienced significant or total improvement in their symptoms after attending hypnotherapy sessions and being hypnotized. More specifically, Jones found that clinical hypnotherapy can help ease or alleviate pain, support recovery, and accelerate long-term healing. Hypnotherapists have been experiencing a significant increase in hypnotherapy referrals since the beginning of COVID. These providers attribute this boost in interest to COVID stress, anxiety, fatigue, and “burnout.” In fact, a recent survey on hypnotherapy found that there has been an almost 60% increase in hypnotherapy requests since the pandemic. Although hypnotherapy/hypnosis has been around for a long time, it has, in recent years, become extremely popular, primarily due to COVID fears.
Hypnotherapy/hypnosis is now considered a “trendy” alternative treatment for self-care. In other words, hypnotherapy/hypnosis has become the “go-to” treatment for people suffering from “long-haul COVID” and other issues. The goal of hypnotherapy is to teach people who are struggling with COVID-related anxiety, depression, and/or stress how to “disconnect” from their bodies and enter a semi-conscious, relaxed state. Hypnotherapists encourage people to use their mind to promote peace and to ease the stress and angst associated with COVID. People are also turning to hypnotherapy/hypnosis to get over their COVID vaccine phobias. This alternative therapy is helping to ease their angst, so they can make the best decisions for themselves. Online hypnotherapy/hypnosis sites have popped up since COVID to reduce people’s stress and anxiety, and help them self-hypnotize from home.
References
- WebMD. (2019). Mental health and hypnosis. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-hypnotherapy#1
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2017). Complementary health approaches for smoking cessation. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/smoking
- Aurora, R.N., Zak, R.S., Auerbach, S. H., Casey, K. R., Chowdhuri, S., Karippot, A., Maganti, R. K., Ramar, K., Kristo, D. A., Bista, S. R., Lamm, C.I., & Morgenthaler, T. I. (2010).Best practice guide for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 6(4), 389-401. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20726290
- Amatya, B., Young, J., & Khan, F. (2018). Non-pharmacological interventions for chronic pain in multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst, 12. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30567012
- Vos, H., & Louw, D. (2009). Hypnosis-induced mental training programs as a strategy to improve the self-concept of students. Higher Education, 57(2), 141–154. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9138-0
- Hague, M., & Mabbutt, P. S. (2013). Hypnosis within a therapeutic framework. Healthcare Counseling & Psychotherapy Journal, 13(2), 24–26. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31265368/
- Duff, S. C., & Nightingale, D. J. (2006). Long-term outcomes of hypnosis in changing the quality of life in patients with dementia. European Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 7(1), 2–8. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34119811/
- Homeotherapy Directory. (2021). Can hypnotherapy help with long COVID? Retrieved from https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/blog/2021/07/07/can-hypnotherapy-help-with-long-covid
- Jones, R. (2021). Long COVID and hypnotherapy – Research study update. Homeotherapy Directory. Retrieved from https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/long-covid-and-hypnotherapy-research-study-update
- Fryer, D. (2021). Using hypnotherapy to cope with COVID is trendy. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/keeping-even-keel/202106/using-hypnotherapy-cope-covid-is-trendy
- Freeman, D., Loe, B. S., Chadwick, A., Vaccari, C., Waite, F., Rosebrock, L., Jenner, L., Petit, A., Lewandowsky, S., Vanderslott, S., Innocenti, S., Larkin, M., Giubilini, A., Yu, L. M., McShane, H., Pollard, A. J., & Lambe, S. (2020). COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK: The Oxford coronavirus explanations, attitudes, and narratives survey (Oceans) II. Psychological Medicine, 1–15. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720005188