The Risks and Benefits of Hypnotherapy

Practical Application in Understanding Hypnotherapy

We’ve probably all had a friend who called us for advice about how to solve a particular problem or change a specific pattern of behavior. At the time, the friend seemed to enthusiastically listen and agree with our advice. Yet, we later learn that our words of wisdom went in one ear and right out the other. This scenario is actually very similar to applying hypnotherapy and understanding how it works.

When we are awake, in a conscious state, our thinking, rationalizing, and over-analyzing may often be very well intentioned. Yet, we are still unable to make a positive change, kick a nasty habit, or truly heed words of wisdom which we feel are in our best interest.

The conscious mind is like a television where you are in charge of the remote control. However, if you are constantly flipping channels, trying to split the screen to watch four different things at once, or fruitlessly trying to ignore all the commercials, chances are you’ll probably end up exasperated and frustrated.

Hypnotherapy helps you push the mute button on that television of your mind, or at least turn down the volume of your mind’s constant whirlwind of static and white noise. When your mind is quieter and calmer, you can then take a few moments and really tune into and focus on your inner self.

Here is where Hypnotherapy can be very helpful as it can be applied to many different types of emotional, psychological, and physical disorders. Hypnotherapy can be useful for individuals dealing with stress related tensions and problems, panic attacks, habits, phobias, or used as an alternative or additional treatment method for pain management like in dentistry, childbirth, or other illnesses.

Keep in mind that the television of your mind is always on, so hypnotherapy is more like watching a silent movie. You are completely aware of everything that is going on. You can see exactly what’s on the screen, only the blockbuster hit stars you! In your starring role, you can be the “you” you’ve always dreamed you could be. So, if you want to change a behavior or work on a particular issue you’ve been struggling with, you are free to do so in a relaxing way.

If the thought of hypnotherapy has you fiddling with your rabbit ears, you’re probably still debating whether or not hypnotherapy is something that might work for you or not. The following Pros and Cons are just a few highlights which strive to offer some insight into the process and help you come to your own conclusions.

5 Pros of Hypnotherapy

1. Natural state of relaxation.

Hypnosis is a completely natural state of relaxation. Have you ever cried while watching a television program or a sad movie? Have you ever driven somewhere and when you arrived not remembered how you got there the last so many miles? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you’ve already experienced hypnosis whether you realized it or not.

2. Hypnosis is not evasive.

Hypnosis requires no poking, no prodding, no needles, no expensive surgical procedures, and no elaborate tests or scans. Hypnosis is not an evasive procedure at all. In fact, hypnosis is quite relaxing.

3. You can do it yourself.

With some practice, anyone can learn self-hypnosis and achieve successful results.

4. You are always in control of you.

A Hypnotherapist is basically a guide and a facilitator who helps you enter a deeper state of relaxation. The hypnotherapist makes suggestions to your subconscious, to help you bring about the positive changes which you desire. You are the one actually doing all the real work. Should the hypnotherapist make a suggestion that your mind disagrees with, you’d simply reject the suggestion and it would not be effective.

5. Surprisingly relaxing and refreshing experience.

Time and time again individuals say that about a hypnosis or hypnotherapy session. They also mention that hypnosis was nothing at all what they expected or what they thought it would be like.

5 Cons of Hypnotherapy

1. Not always successful.

For hypnotherapy to work, a client has to sincerely want to change and to sincerely be committed to that outcome. For example, let’s say a smoker decides, “hey, I think I might like to stop smoking so maybe I’ll try hypnosis just to see if it works or not.” If the smoker’s general attitude is fairly passive and he or she is still walking around with a spare carton of Marlboro hidden under the driver’s seat, than the smoker may not see the results desired.

2. Choosing and finding a skilled hypnotherapist can be a daunting task.

Hypnotherapy is still a largely unregulated field and it can be difficult to find a practitioner depending on the location. It is important to decide ahead of time whether or not to seek out a highly skilled physician or mental health professional who encompasses hypnotherapy as a tool within the scope of their practice, or whether to work with a person who is solely a hypnotherapist.

3. Not all hypnotherapists have the same training.

While a physician or mental health professional might implore hypnotherapy in conjunction with his or her field of medical expertise, a highly skilled hypnotherapist might be equally if not better prepared to assist a client in other ways.

4. Finding a Hypnotherapist you “click” with.

It is important for a client to trust and feel comfortable working with a hypnotherapist. If for some reason you feel like you just don’t “click” with a particular hypnotherapist, always trust your instincts and find another professional.

5. Hypnosis is not a substitute for medical attention.

Hypnosis can be an alternative treatment method for some problems but it should never serve as a substitute for comprehensive medical attention. Hypnosis for any medical reason should always be approached with the approval of your physician. You should be aware and prepared to acknowledge that many hypnotherapists will not assist a client with certain medical difficulties without prior doctor approval.

Summary

Hypnotherapy can be a very pleasant and very viable treatment option for practically everyone. If you decide that you would like to at least try it, you might just find that it can be a wonderful tool to assist you in creating positive changes in your life.

The author is a graduate of the Essex Institute Professional Practitioner Hypnotherapy Course and of the Henry Leo Bolduc Past Life Therapy Training Intensive. She completed an Independent Study on Hypnosis and Past Life Regression as part of her MALS degree, and she has used Self-Hypnosis methods twice during Labor and Delivery for successful pain management without the aid of epidurals and other pain medications. She has been both the “client” and the “practitioner” in numerous sessions of hypnotherapy. She occasionally serves as a “lay hypnotherapist” for colleagues, family and friends, and is always happy to discuss hypnosis with anyone considering it as an alternative form of therapy.

Additional article on Hypnosis:

Hypnosis in Advertising: New Strategies Incorporate Successful Techniques

For Additional Information About Hypnosis See Also:

National Guild of Hypnotists