Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy which utilises the hypnotic state. For hypnotherapy to be affective the therapist will use a variety of counselling techniques to work with the patient to help patient and therapist to understand the issue. It’s important to discuss the problems the patient is experiencing so the therapist can tailor an effective treatment.
But what is hypnosis and how can it be utilised in therapy?
Hypnosis is a consent state of mind, no one can go into the hypnotic state unless they choose to; and the best method for this to us the guidance of a clinical hypnotherapist. Another consent state of mind is meditation. Meditation is similar to hypnosis in this regard because no one can force you to meditate; you have to choose to do it.
However, Hypnosis is not mediation and vice versa. Hypnosis is a state of relaxed body and mind, intensified awareness and focus, mental attention, and is a state of mind between sleep and being awake. Hypnosis is not sleep and the patient is aware of the entire hypnotic session. A hypnotherapy session will not be effective if the patient falls asleep.
When observing the brainwaves (neural oscillations) of people under hypnosis, we can see that a hypnotherapist can actually alter the patient’s brainwaves towards the theta and delta wavelengths. These wavelengths are closely aligned with dreaming, sleep, recall/memory, REM, and what athletes refer to as ‘the zone.’ It is in this state that patient often experience profound change.
The hypnotherapist will use their training in hypnosis, psychotherapy, counselling, and incorporate it with the patient’s desired outcomes to find the best solution.
Hypnotherapy can offer treatment in the following
· Anxiety
· Depression
· Phobias
· Quit smoking
· Weight loss
· Pain relief
What separates hypnotherapy from other types of therapy?
Patient’s issues can vary from psychological, habitual, behavioural, or mental health. There are many reasons why a patient might need assistance from a therapist or counsellor. Hypnotherapy is one of the only treatments which works with a the unconscious mind. Hypnosis is a mental state which lets patents change their own unconscious processes; whether it’s emotional, cognitions, or habitual.
For more information please visit the EH Therapy website
Evan Haines
Clinical Psychotherapist and Hypnotherapist
Adelaide Hypnotherapy
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