What is Hypnotherapy?
I get asked this often, as hypnosis is often portrayed in books, television and other media as a way of controlling the mind. Hypnosis used in therapy is quite the opposite and actually allows the client to experience more focus and control.
During a solution focused hypnotherapy session, talking therapy is used for the first half of the session, to help the client discuss and explore solutions to the issues they are facing. These important conversations are then supported by the second half of the session which is the hypnosis.
Hypnosis is also referred to as a ‘trance state’ and is totally natural. We often find ourselves in a trance state when we are daydreaming and looking out of the window. If you have ever been lost in your favourite book or tv programme for example and someone is trying to get your attention by saying your name, it may take a few calls of your name to gain your attention. This experience is a natural trance and the hyper focus on what you are interested in.
Hypnosis works with this function and allows the therapist to lead the client into a state of heightened relaxation and focus.
How can this help?
Research has shown how the brain works on various brain waves that have different functions and hypnosis allows for more of the brain waves that allow for problem solving and reduced stress.
See below.
How hypnosis impact brain wave activity
Can a hypnotherapist control my mind?
In a word no. The control for the client is actually heightened during hypnosis.
Take external noise for example. During hypnosis the client is aware of other sounds in their environment but chooses to not focus on them, for example, car noises in the street outside or movements heard in neighbouring buildings and rooms. Instead the client is focusing their subconscious, on the voice of the therapist, or on dreams and thoughts of their own.
When we are going about life we often have a lot of noise in our heads and so trance allows for the client to focus without this interference. As a hypnotherapist I am presenting a route to follow and words to engage with, but the client chooses if they don’t want to engage with all of the words.
Suggestibility
Let’s talk about suggestibility, does this mean that you are more likely to be hypnotised and is this ok? There is a part of your mind that is always overseeing what you will believe and what you want, what ideas and suggestions you are open to and those you are not.
For example, Father Christmas, (yes sorry to mention Christmas away from the festive season!) this is an idea of a man dressed up coming down your chimney and delivering presents and somehow getting back up the chimney again. This idea is a suggestion to your consciousness that on some level you have accepted or criticised and not believed, but it has not meant a threat and so your mind has gone with the suggestion on some level. If there was a suggestion made to you in trance that went against your beliefs or that you felt uncomfortable with, then your mind would not accept or follow this suggestion.
When you are wanting to find more motivation to exercise, reduce anxiety or make healthier choices around food for example, then your mind is more willing to accept these suggestions as they fit with your hopes for change.
Anything you don’t want to do you will not engage with.
What if I can’t do it?
Some clients are fearful that they won't be able to ‘do’ the hypnosis correctly. I understand this worry, our brain often makes us question and be cautious of new experiences especially those that are based on an activity of the mind. I always reassure any concerned client that this is not an activity that you are good or bad at, as it does not require a skill, just an open mind to try something new that can be helpful to overcome issues. After the initial consultation a client will receive a copy of my hypnosis audio to listen to at home which allows for more familiarity of this process and allows for changes to be made sooner.
Hypnosis allowing for more autonomy where your body needs it
So we have established what is happening in the brain when a client is in trance, let’s look at the benefits on the body.
Our body has both voluntary activity and autonomous functions.
The healing benefits of hypnosis
A voluntary activity for example is clenching your fist, you decide which hand and how tense. Right now as you are reading this journal your digestive system is working away digesting your last meal, you have not decided to do this or not do this, but your body is making this happen, this is an autonomous function.
Hypnosis allows for more influence over some autonomous functions by helping you to access your subconscious and affect your nervous system and other regulatory functions of the body.
Take your breathing and heart rate for example, studies show that when a client is using hypnosis regularly and thinking calm and positive thoughts their heart rate and breathing are slower as the body is more relaxed and the brain is producing more relaxed and calming brain waves. This process is allowing for the body to be in a healing and growth ‘state’ as well as allowing the client to focus on more solutions toward better health.
Our state of mind affects how our body heals and there are now many studies and research papers showing how we have the ability to regulate our own physiology , including some of the so-called involuntary functions of the body and brain.
In hypnosis we can bypass the conscious mind’s critical judgement and tap into the power of the subconscious mind and a calm relaxed ‘state’, therefore allowing you to move that control further for yourself depending on the goals you are focusing on.
Hypnosis can also be effective in the treatment of PTSD and phobias as it allows for the client to be in a calm relaxed state when revisiting difficult and traumatic experiences held in their mind. A well trained hypnotherapist can then use various techniques to allow the client to remove the deep seated emotion attached to these events. As Bessel Van Der Kolk says in his book The Body Keeps the Score, “Hypnosis can also allow for the brain to observe traumatic memories without being overwhelmed by them”.
I was personally drawn to becoming a hypnotherapist following the very positive experience I had of hypnosis for fertility problems. The overwhelming anxiety and grief following a miscarriage meant I was creating psychological blocks for my body to carry out it’s natural process of conception. It was a success, and after falling pregnant I was very grateful for the positive and calming process that hypnosis had taught me. I again returned to hypnotherapy when managing anxiety through Long Covid and I saw first hand how the mind and body need to work together to enable the body to heal.
Hypno-thought
I recently had a client say to me, as they were coming out of the hypnosis trance, that they had a really important thought during the trance that was an answer to a difficult issue she was struggling with. She named this a ‘hypno-thought’ and was very pleased with the realisation of what was possible for herself.
We are often so busy with chores and stresses of life that we do not give ourselves time for reflection and deep focus on possible solutions. Our brains are wired to focus on the negative when we are worried or stressed as this is our survival mechanism kicking in that encourages ‘worst case scenario ‘ thinking. Hypnotherapy allows the mind and the body to focus on solutions and healing, finding it’s natural balance.
As a recent client said,”for moments of crisis in life, or deeply held fears or problems, this is a wonderful non-invasive gift to yourself.”
