What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy was first described by Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in The Book of Healing, which he published in 1027. 

It was first of interest in Europe in the 18th Century. It was in 1842 that Scottish Surgeon James Braid first coined the term hypnotism, and proposed a mechanism of how it worked. 

In the 19th Century, during the American Civil War, hypnotherapy was being used for effective anaesthesia for injured soldiers before the use of chemical anaesthetics. 

Throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, hypnotherapy became very popular in Europe. In 1955 the British Medical Association advised that medical students and physicians should have fundamental training in hypnosis.

Dr Milton Hyland Erickson (1901 – 1980) spent his lifetime developing the evidence base for hypnotherapy and its practice in medicine. He has been credited with its re-emergence and establishment in the 20th Century.

Hypnosis is a condition of relaxation. It can vary in its depths - from light to deep. We often experience hypnotic-like conditions as we doze off before going to sleep, or if we are engrossed in a book or a movie.

The mind is more willing to accept change in these conditions and that is why is can be so useful to help change thoughts.

The therapist will help the client become deeply relaxed, sometimes using music and sounds, and using words to help relax the mind, until reaching a state of 'hypnosis'. Some clients will feel relaxed, others may even fall asleep. 

The therapist will work by speaking affirming thoughts, called 'suggestions', to the client. These affirmations will be in areas that the client has already agreed to work on. Only those thoughts which the client is in agreement with will be accepted by the mind.

The client will then be woken gently and debriefed. Often some 'homework' is given to client to continue the effect of the technique. Typically a hypnosis session can be done remotely and may last from 20 minutes up to an hour. 

On very rare occasions a hypnotherapy session may be quickly terminated, such as if traumatic memories have been recollected. However this is unlikely because the therapist will screen for suitability beforehand.

During a remote hypnotherapy session it is important to take some safety precautions, such as ensuring that the hob is off, and setting an alarm in case you fall asleep, or asking a friend to call you at a fixed time. 

According to the Royal College of Psychiatry

"Research has shown that the following psychological conditions can be helped by hypnotherapy:

• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• depression
• anxiety
• insomnia
• eating disorders
• functional disorders (bodily symptoms and conditions such as headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or backaches which may have a significant psychological component)
• improving memory for people who have experienced a brain injury

It has also been shown to help in the following medical conditions, often by reducing anxiety but also by reducing other symptoms:

• pain
• medical and surgical procedures
• cancer treatment side effects
• anaesthetic procedures
• burn wound care
• dental procedures
• childbirth
• menopausal symptoms

In addition, warts and other skin conditions can be improved by hypnotherapy. This is possible through the positive effects hypnosis has on the immune system.

Hypnotherapy may also be effective for people who are trying to quit smoking or lose weight.

You can only become hypnotised if you want to. Our minds will not allow any suggestion that is not in agreement with it. 

You can read more on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypnotherapy/

Usually the sessions will be recorded and will be available for you to watch/listen to. For some techniques it may not be helpful to watch a replay of the session as it may undo the work that has been done.

This can vary from person to person, some may need only one or two, others may need more, depending on the treatment plan. Discuss this in your 30 minute consultation.

Please see the Royal College of Psychiatry website

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/treatments-and-wellbeing/hypnosis-and-hypnotherapy