| Hypnotherapy Treatments
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"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
World Health Organisation, 1948
Although the word ‘hypnosis’ is derived from the Greek hypnos, meaning ‘sleep’, hypnosis is actually a waking state with increased concentration, awareness and suggestibility.
A hypnotic trance gives a focus of attention where the conscious mind and physical body are relaxed, and where there is heightened receptability to suggestion. Research with body scans have shown that in this relaxed state the brain rhythms change into alpha vibrations, a slowed down pace.
Utilising this natural change in the mind, hypnotherapy (the therapeutic application of hypnosis) is used to treat a wide range of everyday emotional & stress-related problems and habitual issues. It can even be effective with some physical ailments where there are psychogenetic (mind & body) influences creating symptoms. It is not, however, suitable to treat serious psychotic mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major intrusive thoughts, and delusions. Here treatment is generally medically prescribed antipsychotic medication.
Hypnosis can also facilitate memory recall.
There are many misconceptions about hypnosis created by films and popular fiction. The impression often given from stage shows, for example, is that participants are having their minds taken over! In fact, people in these performances will only do what they are prepared to do (as volunteers) and are fully aware of their actions when in hypnosis.
Individuals experience a natural state of mind (between full awareness and sleep) like a pleasant daydream where the mind is typically focused and absorbed. If you can daydream you're quite normal and can experience hypnosis. Very few people don't allow their minds to wander in a daydream. Be reassured that in a hypnotherapy session there is no personal loss of control, no zombie-like state, no surrender to the hypnotist. Quite the reverse, it's empowering like no other experience.
In a so called hypnotic trance you hear as normal and often remember everything that was said just like in a normal conversation, retain your free-will, don't go to sleep and can talk normally if requested. Your conscious or active thinking mind relaxes and your subconscious becomes more active. This change assists the therapist to help the client, through beneficial post-hypnotic suggestions ('reprogramming') and also on occasions by aiding the subconscious mind to review and resolve any unfinished issues which are impeding progress.
Hypnosis can be induced in a number of ways, such as by the soothing voice of the hypnotherapist.
Alan Gray often uses a combination of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy to achieve best results.
In a hypnotherapy session about half the time is spent at a mainly conscious level, so that an understanding of the client's thought processes relating to their problem is understood. Then in the hypnotherapy part a light to medium trance state is usually all that is needed to achieve therapeutic change.
Occasionally, a client may be unconvinced that they have entered hypnosis. They expect somehow to go to 'another planet' or lose consciousness, or 'go under' in some way. They might say they just went along with the hypnotist, could have opened their eyes at any time, remembered everything that was said (and anything they said) and could hear outside noises. These are frequently the exact impressions one has when in hypnotic trance - just as in a daydream we lose track of time, so it is in hypnosis. The client might ask to be put into a deeper state, but actually it is they who help achieve hypnosis. All they need to do is stop trying to relax.
Are there people who won't benefit from hypnotherapy?
Virtually everyone will benefit from hypnotherapy, either as personal development or to resolve chronic issues. There are, however, a small number of people who are less suited. For example, those who are not prepared to engage in change, are often impatient and want a 'quick-fix'.
They see hypnosis as an external force ('hypnotise me and cure me') and are typically not prepared to give sufficient time to the process of change - dropping out of therapy too early. Although hypnotherapy is a briefer process than other talking therapies, it still needs time to weave it's magic.
Always, change comes from within the client - with the therapist as facilitator.
Secondly, the other mistake that sometimes people make is being too analytical - thinking consciously about the possible cause of their problem. Hypnotherapy is about accessing the unconscious/subconscious mind which doesn't reason, but follows habitual 'programmes' - like computer software.
And Third, other people try too hard to experience hypnosis, (or keep thinking 'am I hypnotised?') That's like trying to go to sleep - it's best to just let it happen... the hypnotic experience varies from person to person and is powerful, in a gentle way.
Why is hypnotherapy effective?
Hypnotherapy accesses the emotional and habitual subconscious in a way which other 'talking therapies' (counselling, psychotherapy, CBT, psychology, psychiatry, or medication) do not. The subconscious is the depository of our established self-beliefs, habits, perceptions, fears and anxieties - good and bad.
For this reason, hypnotherapy can help with many issues, such as:
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Fears & Phobias
Stress
Insomnia
Grief
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Unwanted habits, such as to stop smoking, overeating and other obsessive & compulsive behaviours
During Hypnosis:
• The body and conscious mind are relaxed - not asleep or unconscious.
• Breathing and heart rate slow down.
• The subconscious mind is more open and aware, receptive to suggestions.
• Depth of hypnosis can vary from a deep state to a light one. If it is very deep there tends to be very little sensation of pain (anaesthesia is achieved) and surgical operations can be conducted painlessly, without anaethetics. (See the link to Dr Jack Gibson on the Home Page). Dr Gibson, a highly qualified medically trained doctor, gives a fascinating account of his experiences as a surgeon and then hypnotherapist.
After hypnosis - typical feelings are of being rested, refreshed and energised with a positive outlook. Able to do normal things, including driving a motor vehicle.
Is Hypnotherapy safe?
• Totally, it is very safe when used by a qualified practitioner.
• Remember the person being hypnotised remains in full control when in hypnosis.
• Hypnotherapy has been approved by the British Medical Association (BMA) as a valued treatment for numerous psychosomatic conditions.
Hypnotherapy has also been proved by independent research to be the most effective method to stop smoking. Recent independent research has also shown hypnotherapy to be effective in the treatment of stress and anxiety, asthma, atopic eczema, erectile dysfunction, headaches, insomnia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and weight loss.
Hypnosis has also been used extensively in dentistry, surgery and as an aid to childbirth to block pain without anaesthetics.
Remember too that other 'talking therapies', such as counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), are much less effective at communicating with the unconscious - which is the main source of many internal stress and emotionally-related problems. Also, CBT (essentially positive thinking), operating as it does at a conscious level, can take as many as 16 sessions, which is a much slower process than hypnotherapy.
All hypnotherapists are not the same, just as doctors are not all the same. Many will only give you suggestions which will not address the source of your symptoms. Alan Gray is trained both as an Analytical and Clinical Hypnotherapist which means he seeks a permanent resolution of your issues or problems. He uses a combination of approaches.
Perhaps surprisingly, research has shown that we spend up to 80% of our 'thinking' waking life in a hypnotic daydream-like state of mind - in other words, living effectively with our subconscious thoughts. The effects are accessed habits, emotions, self-beliefs, opinions, anxiety states, and physical effects, such as high blood pressure arising from unconscious anxieties. We can spend much of life in these hypnotic daydreams. It's the way evolution has conveniently made us. Some of our 'mind programming' will be good like a belief in the work ethic, others like panic attacks, or depressive thoughts, are clearly negative and undesirable. The subconscious has a protective function which is often 'out-of-date'.
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