What is Hypnosis?

It is a state of focused attention – sometimes called a trance – involving an increased ability to respond to suggestion.  It allows the person in hypnosis to utilize their imagination to access and amplify their own personal resources.  Hypnosis usually but not always involves relaxation.

Trance is a natural phenomenon in daily life.  We all have been in trance when we have:

 *Day dreamed,

*Fallen in love,

 *Prayed in a house of worship,

 *Listened to a great piece of music

  *Seen a compelling show or movie

 *Been transfixed by mountain, waterfall or other scene in nature,

  *Hugged a puppy

  *” Driving trance”

Kids are especially good at achieving trance.

Hypnosis is very much like mindful meditation, but is focused on a therapeutic goal.

Clinical hypnosis is NOT:

                        -- Mind control

                        -- Simply Relaxation

                        -- A way of accessing “past lives”

                        -- A form of sleep

                        -- A way of accurately retrieving all memories

The last of these myths led to the so called “memory wars” of the 1970’s, in which day care providers, grandparents and other care givers were unjustly accused of the most horrendous forms of child abuse because of clinicians’ suggestions to children during therapy session

   Like all techniques in psychotherapy, sad feelings might arise (so called “abreactions”).  These feelings are natural in any form of therapy, and, in fact, in daily life!   They of course should be acknowledged, and utilized to help reach the goals established by the patient and clinician.

    What you see in hypnosis shows on Las Vegas and in town fairs on on YouTube is NOT clinical hypnosis.  It is the use of showmanship to get people who may like to ham it up on stage a chance to do so.  They are skilled in getting rid of the reluctant volunteers by making an initial suggestion like “falling asleep”’; those that don’t comply are deemed unfit and kicked off the stage.  The hypnotist may add a little pressure to go along by saying something like “only smart people can be hypnotized”.

Children are especially good at clinical hypnosis, because:

1.     They have better imaginations than adults.

2.     They like to learn new skills.

3.     They look up to adults.

4.     In general, they want to be well

Who should practice clinical hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a powerful tool that should only be utilized by someone who is trained to treat the problem the patient or client has by other means.  This seems obvious until you realize that the majority of “hypnotists” in the United States may have learned how to do hypnosis at short community college or other training sessions and have no training in mental or physical health.

     Only trained psychotherapists (social workers, psychologists, nurse clinicians), physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals should practice clinical hypnosis.  They are usually trained, and certified by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or the Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.