Hypnotherapy

1. What is Hypnotherapy?

First, it is helpful to understand hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind which occurs in everyday life. All people experience hypnotic states of mind during each day of their lives. For example, when you concentrate intensely on either work or play your awareness becomes totally focused. With this kind of focused attention other external events are often not noticed. While absorbed in a book, or watching television, you may not hear your name being called by someone else in the room. You were concentrating intensely, so you only perceived what you were focused on. This happens to everyone. During these focused times we are actually in a hypnotic state of mind.

Daydreaming is another common experience of a hypnotic state of mind. During daydreaming you temporarily shut out the outside world and focus on thoughts and images inside your mind. In your normal daily life, you move naturally in and out of hypnotic states of mind often without being aware of it. Each day you experience many altered states of consciousness.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for gaining a deeper understanding of who you are and why. Hypnosis can be used as a tool to transform your life. The changes which occur during hypnotherapy can help make your life the way you want it to be.

In hypnotherapy, the door to the inner mind is opened and early forgotten or repressed memories are recalled or sometimes relived in vivid detail. These early memories still have a powerful impact on our lives by having a hold on our inner child. There are advantages in recalling and understanding these memories and experiences now. As adults we bring a new perspective to these inner memories. Hypnotherapy allows us to see subconscious memories and experiences from our adult perspective. As one gains this new perspective on the past, the result is often a rapid change in one's attitudes, beliefs, and abilities. Such changes can transform the way we relate to others and to our life circumstances.

2. What is the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for self-improvement and/or the release of problems. All hypnotherapy employs hypnosis; but not all hypnosis is hypnotherapy. Additionally, mastering the art of hypnosis does not necessarily mean one is qualified as a hypnotherapist. Contrary to what many might believe, there is more to helping someone overcome an unwanted habit than simply giving hypnotic suggestions. If a person's subconscious resists positive suggestions for goal achievement, the competently trained hypnotherapist is far more likely to be of service than those with minimal training in hypnosis, or who are simply self-taught.

A background in therapy is NOT a substitute for adequate training in hypnotherapy when hypnosis is used to help people. However, the opposite is true, hypnosis is often used as a part of therapy.

3. What Makes Hypnotherapy Different From Other Types Of Therapy?

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for self-improvement and/or the release of problems. All hypnotherapy employs hypnosis; but not all hypnosis is hypnotherapy. Additionally, mastering the art of hypnosis does not necessarily mean one is qualified as a hypnotherapist. Contrary to what many might believe, there is more to helping someone overcome an unwanted habit than simply giving hypnotic suggestions. If a person's subconscious resists positive suggestions for goal achievement, the competently trained hypnotherapist is far more likely to be of service than those with minimal training in hypnosis, or who are simply self-taught. And a background in counseling is NOT a substitute for adequate training in hypnotherapy when hypnosis is used to help people.

4. How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Our minds function on at least two levels. One level is called conscious or outer awareness. The second level is called subconscious or inner awareness. The subconscious level of awareness is so called because it means beneath or forgotten. But the memories and experience we store in our subconscious are not really forgotten. Just the opposite! All the memories and experiences in our subconscious can and do have an influence on our day to day conscious lives.

Every experience we have, every thought we think, and every action we make, is permanently recorded in our subconscious mind. During our formative years as children the critical or judgment faculty of the mind is not yet developed. At that time in our lives, our parents and others in our environment make a direct impression on our subconscious minds. This is like writing directly on the open slate of the subconscious. In this process we gather notions and develop beliefs about ourselves and the world around us. Often these beliefs can be negative and limiting. These ideas limit who we are and what we can do and be. For example, if parents frequently tell a child he is dumb or bad, that idea becomes like an internal script which our subconscious mind plays over and over to us. Such subconscious scripts may become like an "operational program". This type of internal program can run the way in which we think and act. A program which says, "I'm dumb", affects a person's life by filtering perceptions of people and events to reinforce the idea, "I'm dumb." This perceptual filter, then, organizes the experiences in our lives to continue the belief, that "I'm dumb."

Direct suggestions may be given to help the client bring about an alignment of the outer and inner minds. This alignment creates the cooperation within the self needed in order to bring about the desired change or outcome. In other cases, hypnotherapy is used to uncover causes and inner beliefs that are interfering with the desired change. Hypnotherapy can be used to reduce or eliminate pain in the birthing process as well as various other conditions where intractable pain exists. Major surgery has been performed using only hypnotic anesthesia.

5. How does hypnosis feel?

Since hypnosis is a natural state of mind, clients are often surprised that they hear every word. Unless one enters a deeper state, or at least a medium state, he or she may not "feel" any different than when relaxing in the favorite easy chair with a good book. One may feel quite mellow, and may feel light (or weightless), or very heavy as if sinking into the chair. If one enters a really deep state, the feeling may be euphoric for some, or almost like being intoxicated without the side effects. In a light state, it is entirely possible for a client to believe that he or she was not hypnotized; so it is important for a hypnotherapist to know how to competently handle the pre-induction discussion as well as the discussion after hypnosis.

6. Do I have To Be Referred By A Physician To Get Hypnotherapy?

No.

7. In What Areas Is Hypnotherapy Used?

Hypnosis has numerous applications and can be used in all areas of human experience. For example, hypnotherapy can be used:

It is commonly used to change patterns in our life when there is a conflict between out the conscious or outer mind and the subconscious or inner mind. For example, we have decided in our outer mind what we want, lets say to change our job, but our inner mind is still operating under a different set of old assumptions, such as fear of major change.

An Illustrated Case

The following case illustrates a hypnotherapeutic outcome. A man in his fifties had severe stuttering problems for as long as he could remember. The stuttering had affected his social interactions, education, and type of employment. With an age regression the cause of the problem was revealed to the client. The client remembered repressed memories which took place when he was three years old. He had put some "ducks" in a tub of water to see them swim. They drowned; as they were really baby chickens. His dad came home drunk, beat him severely, and beat him more when he started to cry. While in hypnosis, the client experienced the long repressed tears. With this emotional release, the problem of stuttering cleared itself.

8. I've Heard About Self-hypnosis. How Do I Learn It?

The best way to learn self-hypnosis is by asking a qualified hypnotherapist to teach you, and to give you post-hypnotic suggestions to reinforce what you learn. Additionally, you may find it helpful to read a good book on the subject. See the list of book at the bottom of this article.

9. What Is Required To Become A Hypnotherapist?

The Canadian Professional Hypnotherapy Association (CPHA) was founded in 1977 in Vancouver BC, Canada. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public in the value of hypnosis as well as setting standards for its members in the field of hypnotherapy. It is a totally independent body and does not certify any particular training but takes each application for certification at its own merits.

There are six (6) levels of membership within the CHA. Associate, and Professional membership is for those who do not practice hypnotherapy but choose to be members for other reasons. Student, Resident, Clinical, and Certified Clinical Membership is for those who wish to practice hypnotherapy.

Student Member
A person who is studying hypnotherapy with the intention of becoming a professional Hypnotherapist. Must have all work supervised by a certified member and is limited to work as identified under Resident Membership.

Resident Member
A person who is/has studied hypnotherapy with an institution recognized by the CHA, and/or can, if requested, pass the Resident examination. This is the first level at which a student can practice professionally.

If upgrading from a Student Member, a Resident applicant must verify he/she has completed the required 225 hours of time consisting of, 100 hours of observation, 125 practical hours of mentor-supervised time.

A resident member has some restrictions:

Clinical Member
A person who has studied hypnotherapy with an institution recognized by the CHA, and/or can, if requested, pass the Clinical level examination of the CHA.

A Clinical Member must have documented proof of completion of the required 650 hours of mentor-supervised hours or equivalent. The mentor must be approved by the CHA executive unless he or she is a member of the CHA at the Clinical or Certified level.

Certified Clinical Member
A person who has studied hypnotherapy with an institution recognized by the CHA, and/or can, if requested, pass the Certified Clinical level examination of the CHA.

A Certified Member has documented proof of completion of the required 1500 hours of practice and supervision.

Web Sites:

Books to Consider Reading: