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What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and
psycho-analytical techniques to aid the removal of emotional root
causes that can be attributed to problems such as fears, phobias,
anxiety, depression and panic attacks ... the 'root emotional causes'
are always found locked away in childhood experiences, so the basis of
our hypnotherapy is to use pure hypnoanalysis to help clients release
their emotional blockages in a gentle, caring environment.
Now there are different schools of thought on how
and why hypnosis works, in particular with the removal of anxiety
driven problems, what we find is it works very well when the client is
motivated and supported through their therapy sessions with us.
BBC2 Alternative
Therapies explains more ...
There's an enormous amount of research into the
mind and how it really works. In fact on a BBC2 programme called
Alternative Therapies, Kathy Sykes, Professor of Science and Society at
Bristol University goes on a personal journey to find out more and
travels across the world looking for answers that elusive question:
'Does hypnosis exist and does it work?'
She follows patients who are trying the therapy
for themselves; sees hypnotherapists at work and meets scientists
looking inside our brains to try and unravel what might be going on
during hypnosis. As hypnotherapists, we know that it doesn't matter too
much on what people might think happens ... all we're concerned with is
the results our clients get from experiencing hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
Kathy tries hypnotherapy herself to explain what
it felt like for her, which is something we'd expect from a professor
... She also looks at what scientists make of trance. And
in Italy, she looks into the minds of people as they are given
suggestions both under, and without, hypnosis. She discovers that suggestions really can
affect how we perceive the world.
Although, this is nothing new. In fact as far back
as the 19th Century we had prominent scientists such as Emile
Coué stating: "Day by day, in every way, I am getting
better and better."
But does any of this
translate into health
benefits?
After examining the evidence, Kathy decides to
explore two areas where hypnotherapy is being used by medical
practitioners who believe it can offer something particularly valuable.
At the South Manchester Hospital she meets Professor Peter Whorwell who
is pioneering the use of hypnotherapy for people suffering from the
most extreme form of Irritable Bowel Syndrome; in Scotland she meets
Mandy whose dentist is about pull out her front teeth and drill metal
implants into her jaw using hypnosis but without a local anaesthetic.
It's then reported that Kathy then travels to
Montreal to meet Professor
Pierre Rainville, a world expert on pain and follows his latest
experiment using brain scans to explore the basis of hypnotic pain
relief.
All of this travel and experience will definitely
show Kathy how versatile hypnosis and hypnotherapy is and more
importantly how it can complement traditional medicine in aiding the
recovery and improvement in people's lives!
So, what is hypnosis?
Hypnosis was originally named
using the Greek
word Hypnos, meaning sleep…..but it is definitely not sleep.
It is in fact a state of deep relaxation, along
with intense concentration and this state is brought about by nothing
more than the sound of a voice.
The hypnotherapist uses their voice to relax the
client to the point where the person's unconscious mind can be offered
positive suggestions which are solely to their benefit. From
suggestions for relaxation in previously stressful situations, to
"rewards" for ceasing unwanted behaviour i.e. to stop smoking or
nail-biting.
You probably won't feel "hypnotised" as there is
no such thing as a "hypnotised feeling" only a feeling of calm,
restfulness; possibly the most peaceful feeling you can achieve without
actually being asleep.
Most people are surprised to find that they are
able to talk and answer questions during therapy and that they will
most likely remember every word spoken by themselves and the therapist.
Far from being in the therapist's control, they
are able to move around, even to stop the session and leave at any time.
Afterwards, most clients leave the office in a
state of peaceful relaxation - some say that this is the most relaxed
they have felt in months or even years and that feeling lasts for some
time afterwards.
If you have ever returned home from work or the
shops, following a well-known route and found yourself at home with
little memory of the journey….that is hypnosis. Simply relaxation, (you
know where you're going,) plus concentration (dinner or a work problem
perhaps.)
If this section has raised questions for you,
please see Frequently Asked Questions
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