Everyone has likely experienced
a trance-like state many times, but we don't usually
call it hypnosis. All of us have been so absorbed
in thought while reading a book, or riding in a vehicle
that we fail to notice what is happening around us.
While we were zoned out another level of consciousness,
commonly referred to as our 'unconscious mind', took
over. These are very focused states of attention
similar to hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a state of inner absorption,
concentration and focused attention. It is like using
a magnifying glass to focus the rays of the sun and
make them more powerful. Similarly, when our minds
are concentrated and focused, we are able to use
our minds more powerfully. Because hypnosis allows
people to use more of their potential, learning self-hypnosis
is the ultimate act of self-control.
Clinical hypnotists essentially
do three things with hypnosis. First, they encourage
the use of imagination. Mental imagery is very powerful,
especially in a focused state of attention. The mind
seems capable of using imagery, even if it is only
symbolic, to assist us in bringing about the things
we are imagining. For example, a patient with ulcerative
colitis may be asked to imagine what her distressed
colon looks like. If she imagines it as being like
a tunnel, with very red, inflamed walls that are
rough in texture, the patient may be encouraged in
hypnosis (and with self-hypnosis) to imagine this
image changing to a healthy one.
A second basic hypnotic method
is to use ideas and suggestions with a patient. In
a state of concentrated attention, ideas and suggestions
that are compatible with what the patient wants seem
to have a more powerful impact on the mind.
Finally, hypnosis may be used for
unconscious exploration, to better understand underlying
motivations or identify whether past events or experiences
are associated with causing a problem. Hypnosis avoids
the critical censor of the conscious mind, which
often defeats what we know to be in our best interests.
People often fear that being hypnotized
will make them lose control, surrender their will,
and result in their being dominated, but a hypnotic
state is not the same thing as gullibility or weakness.
Many people base their assumptions about hypnotism
on stage acts but fail to take into account that
stage hypnotists screen their volunteers to select
those who are cooperative, with possible exhibitionist
tendencies, as well as responsive to hypnosis. Stage
acts help create a myth about hypnosis which discourages
people from seeking legitimate hypnotherapy.
Another myth about hypnosis is
that people lose consciousness and have amnesia.
A small percentage of subjects, who go into very
deep levels of trance will fit this stereotype and
have spontaneous amnesia. The majority of people
remember everything that occurs in hypnosis. This
is beneficial, because the most of what we want to
accomplish in hypnosis may be done in a medium depth
trance, where people tend to remember everything.
In hypnosis, the patient is not
under the control of the hypnotist. Hypnosis is not
something imposed on people, but something they do
for themselves. A hypnotist simply serves as a facilitator
to guide them.
We believe that hypnosis will be
optimally effective when the patient is highly motivated
to overcome a problem and when the hypnotherapist
is well trained in both hypnosis and in general considerations
relating to the treatment of the particular problem.
Some individuals seem to have higher native
hypnotic talent and capacity that may allow them
to benefit more readily from hypnosis.
It is important to keep in mind
that hypnosis is like any other therapeutic modality:
it is of major benefit to some patients with some
problems, and it is helpful with many other patients,
but it can fail, just like any other clinical method.
For this reason, we emphasize that we are not "hypnotists",
but health care professionals who use hypnosis along
with other tools of our professions.
A consumer has an amazing level
of choice when searching for a hypnosis practitioner.
As of today, a simple search in Google™ for "hypnosis" yields
approximately 14 million hits. As in choosing any
health care professional, care should be exercised
when selecting a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis and the
use of hypnotic therapies are not regulated in most
states (Texas is among them), and hypnotherapists
are, in most cases, not state licensed in hypnosis.
At the extreme, this means that someone without any
training whatsoever, or with a minimal weekend course,
could hang out a shingle and practice hypnotherapy.
Lay hypnotists are trained in hypnosis,
perhaps through excellent training programs, but
may lack medical, psychological, dental or other
professional health care training. A lay hypnotist
can be certified by the organization that trained
them or a national hypnosis certification board,
and have received a good deal of hypnosis training.
Licensed health care professionals
typically have six to nine years of university coursework,
plus additional supervised training in internship
and residency programs. Their hypnosis training is
in addition to their social work, medical, psychological,
or dental training. Careful questioning can help
you avoid a hypnotherapist who engages in fraudulent
or unethical practices. The main issues to consider
are professional preparation and accountability.
Ask if the person is licensed (not
just certified) in their field by the state of Texas.
These days it is very easy to check a professional's
state license online. If they are not licensed, they
may lack the education required for licensure in
their health or mental health field. Find out what
their degree is in. If it is in hypnosis or hypnotherapy,
rather than a state-recognized health care profession,
the person is likely to be considered a lay hypnotist.
You can check for membership in the American
Society of Clinical Hypnosis or the Society
for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (which
are the only nationally recognized organizations
for licensed health care professionals using hypnosis)
as well as membership in the National
Association of Social Workers, the American
Psychological Association, American
Medical Association, the American
Dental Association. Contact a state or local
component section of the American
Society of Clinical Hypnosis to see if the person
is a member. If you have doubts about any person's
qualifications, bring those concerns up.
Surgery/Anesthesiology (In
unusual circumstances, hypnosis has been used as
the sole anesthetic for surgery, including the removal
of the gall bladder, amputation, cesarean section,
and hysterectomy. Reasons for using hypnosis as the
sole anesthetic may include: situations where chemical
anesthesia is contraindicated because of allergies
or hyper-sensitivities; when organic problems increase
the risk of using chemoanesthesia; and in some conditions
where it is ideal for the patient to be able to respond
to questions or directives from the surgeon)
Pain (back pain, cancer
pain, dental anesthesia, headaches and migraines,
arthritis or rheumatism)
Burns: Hypnosis is
not only effective for the pain, but when hypnotic
anesthesia and feelings of coolness are created in
the first few hours after a significant burn, it
appears that it also reduces inflammation and promotes
healing. We believe that a second degree burn can
often be kept from going third degree if hypnosis
is used soon after the injury.
Nausea and Vomiting associated
with chemotherapy and pregnancy (hyperemisis gravidarum)
Preparation for Childbirth:
Approximately two-thirds of women have been found
capable of using hypnosis as the sole analgesic for
childbirth. This eliminates the risks that medications
pose to both mother and child, and it is often found
that the average duration of labor is reduced by
two to four hours.
Hemophilia: Hemophilia
patients can often be taught to use self-hypnosis
to control vascular flow and keep from requiring
a blood transfusion
