Clinical Hypnosis: Is this long-used technique for you?

Clinical hypnosis has been used since the 1700s as a drug-free way to help patients with dealing with pain, phobias and numerous other ailments. According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis “Clinical hypnosis is an altered state of awareness, perception or consciousness that is used, by licensed and trained doctors or masters prepared individuals, for treating a psychological or physical problem. It is a highly relaxed state.”

Clinical hypnosis is used to help treat phobias, anxiety, alcoholism and speech disorders and that it can even be the sole anesthesia during surgery. Essentially, it helps to focus energies, clear doubt, and allow you to tap into the natural abilities of your mind to enact lasting change to our lives.

In addition to the above conditions, Clinical hypnosis is employed in the following circumstances:

Trauma
Anxiety and stress management
Depression
Sports and athletic performance
Smoking cessation;
Obesity and weight control
Sleep disorders;
Concentration difficulties or learning disorders

Clinical hypnosis is most beneficial for those who are highly motivated to overcome a problem, especially when they are paired with a professional that’s both trained in hypnosis and their specific condition.

Clinical hypnosis myths:
When many people hear the word hypnosis, they immediately think about a person on stage getting coaxed to sleep by a magician with a watch. On the magician’s command, the person being hypnotized clucks like a chicken, does a funny dance or hugs a stranger. The spectacle ends when the person is woken up and doesn’t remember anything that just happened. This type of “trick” hypnosis is just for entertainment and gives the practice of clinical hypnosis a bad name. Clinical hypnosis is a professional practice much like a guided meditation where most participants remember everything that happens during the session. The patient is never under the control of the hypnotist; they are only the facilitator that helps the patient accomplish their goals through the practice of hypnotism.

Is clinical hypnosis for me?
Clinical hypnosis has incredible benefits that most people can benefit from. Some believe, just as people have a predisposition to being tall, or being able to drink milk, they may also have then inclination to be hypnotized. The practice doesn’t work for some people. Others believe that it takes some time to properly train yourself to become hypnotized, much like training a muscle. It’s important to note this because if you do decide to try hypnosis and it doesn’t work at first, you shouldn’t be discouraged. It may take a little bit of time to get into, or it just may not be for you.

Either way, if you want to stop smoking or overeating, or you have issues with phobias or anxiety, trying clinical hypnosis is definitely worth it. Especially if you have the motivation to overcome your problem.

A note of caution: You’ll often hear about large, well-advertised events where a professional comes to hypnotize a large group of people at the same time, usually to help them to lose weight or stop smoking. The allure of these events are strong, but they should be approached cautiously. In order to get the best results from a clinical hypnosis situation, it’s best that you choose an accredited and licensed practitioner and engage in individual or small group sessions as compared to these larger events. More than anything, your comfort and care should be the most essential part of your clinical hypnosis experience.

Francis Killory, CMS-CHt, Certified Medical Support, Clinical Hypnotherapy Seattle. Hypnotherapy works by teaching you how to relax deeply, let go of the critical self-talk of the conscious mind, and trust in your subconscious mind’s ability to replace old, limiting beliefs and habits with positive new beliefs and behaviors.I am a graduate of the internationally recognized Hypnotherapy Academy of America, I completed 500 hours of clinical hypnotherapy training for certification as a Medical Support Clinical Hypnotherapist. I am also a Fellow of the International Board of Hypnotherapy (IBH) which maintains the highest certification standards in the field of hypnotherapy.