Top 10 Question About Hypnotherapy

The latest research suggests it could be a successful treatment for awhole host of health issues. We reveal what you need to know...

A quick quiz around your friends and colleagues will probably reveal there's a lot of cynicism when it comes to hypnotherapy - mostly because we cant understand how it could possibly work But now, new research from the Universality of Konstanz. ln Germany. has shown that those who do turn to it - for everything from morning sickness to nicotine addiction - successfully overcome their problems in 74% of cases, with an even higher outcome for anxiety-related disorders Furthermore, a study from Soroko University. ln Israel, has revealed that 28% of women who were hypnotised because they couldn't get pregnant went on to conceive, compared to only 14% of those who didn't receive hypnotherapy.

Here, three leading hypnotherapists answer your most common questions and explain the reasons why this little-understood form of therapy can be so effective in tackling problems that are notoriously difficult to treat.
 

1) Does it work for everyone? I’ve heard some people simply aren’t suggestible. ..
 

'Hypnosis is a natural state all of us enter many times a day,' says Georgia Foster. lt’s the mode your mind goes into when you’ve been driving and suddenly realise you don't remember the past five minutes of the journey, say, or when you get so lost in a task. you can't believe two hours have passed' ln practice. hypnosis depends on you entering this natural state - and that's where we all differ: 'It can be hard to enter a hypnotic state if you're sceptical or don't trust the person trying to get you there,' Foster says. Also, do you really want the thing you're being treated for? lf. for example. you don't actually want to stop smoking, no amount of hypnosis will make you. The decision has to come from you - hypnosis acts as the enabler.
 

2) How exactly doses it work?
 

'When a person is under hypnosis, the conscious mind is bypassed, which allows direct communication with the unconscious mind,' explains Foster. 'lt's the part of the brain that stores all of your memories, and where habits are ingrained. So, assuming a hypnotist can successfully access it, it's essentially a more efficient way of making positive suggestions to someone. And the more carefully worded those suggestions are, the more easily they become stored by the subconscious mind as references for how to think and feel in future.'
 

3) Will I be out of control while under hypnosis?
'This is a common concern,' says Ursula James. 'But no one can be kept in a hypnotic trance forever, nor can you be made to do things against your will. Just as when you're asleep, noise will wake you, when you`re under hypnosis, your subconscious protects you. So if a practitioner tries to make suggestions that you haven't previously discussed, you'll snap out of the state.

But how does that explain stage hypnosis. where people really do end up running around like chickens, seemingly against their better judgement? ‘That kind of trance relies on a combination of coercion, expectation on the part of the volunteer as well as external pressure from the audience, says James. And never underestimate the role of alcohol - people at these social events may well have enjoyed a drink or two in the bar first! Plus the fact it's the exhibitionists who tend to be the ones who volunteer in the first place!
 

4) What dose it feel like to be hypnotiesd?

It's different for everyone. but most people say they feel extremely relaxed, and come away refreshed afterwards, says Brenda Bentley. ‘Although it's not quite the same as sleep, a hypnotherapy session can be revitalizing because, just like meditation, it effectively gives the mind a break. allowing the body to repair and rejuvenate it self.
 

5) What's it good for?

Hypnosis can be an effective way to break emotional states that are inhibiting your wellbeing, says Foster. ‘lt's great for anxiety, overeating, overdrinking, smoking, persistent negative thinking and low self-esteem, but can also be used to enhance creativity, improve memory, help overcome phobias or beat stuttering and obsessive compulsive disorder.'
 

6) Can hypnotherapy be used to treat physical conditions as well?
 

'The mind and body are inextricably linked, making hypnosis useful for IBS, eczema, psoriasis and labour pains,' Foster says. ‘lt can direct the mind to “turn down" pain receptors and encourage a surge of feel-good endorphins, enhancing your ability to take on positive suggestions and heal your body
 

A client came to sec me recently because her eczema had suddenly become really bad. We focused on what was causing her anxiety and, after a couple of weeks, she was dealing better with her stress - and her eczema had started to clear.'
 

7) Do Hiypnosis books and CDs work?
 

'Hypnosis is a bit like school,' says Foster. ‘You can go and learn how to do things differently, but it's the teacher who makes the difference. That said, a tailor-made recording can be useful, especially when used in conjunction with live sessions.'
 

But what about all those books you buy off the shelf? 'They can be very good! asserts James. 'But because they're generic, they can only help in a general way, unlike a therapist, who will tailor your treatment to your requirements. But they're also useful for finding out if you're comfortable with hypnotherapy in the first place. And depending on the extent of the problem, some people find a CD is all they need.'
 

8) Can hypnotherapy help us to uncover 'lost' memories?
 

'Yes. but it would never be done "accidentally" or without your knowledge,' says James. 'lf you feel previous experiences have had an impact on your current behaviour, a therapist can help you to explore your relationship with the past by leading you to memories. But, bear in mind that regression therapy is not simply for finding out things from the past - it's only useful if it's used to address the present.
 

‘Once, a patient of mine had a fear of dogs. She regressed under hypnosis and recalled being scared by a black dog. When she told her mother about it, her mother said she was actually the one who'd been scared by the dog, and that she'd told her daughter about the experience, My patient had then absorbed the memory as if it were her own. The reality of a memory is not important - it's how the patient feels about it that matters. Hypnotherapy can help make sense of memories and alter their emotional charge.'
 

9) How many sessions will i need?
 

'It varies, depending on hw many layers your problem has,' says Bentley. Usually, tough, not every asfect needs to be addressed, since the benefits of therapy tend to have a ripple affect - by tackling one issue, other related issues, can be resolved. When a problem has a specific cause - such as a one-off negative experience - between one and three sessions is normally enough.'
 

10) Do the effects last?
 

'Yes, in most cases,' says Foster. 'But if someone endures a period of stress, it can trigger a relapse. That said, a good hypnotherapist will identify potential triggers and find a way to deal with them.
 

'One client came to see me for her overeating problem - she used food to numb her low self-esteem. Under hypnosis, l gave her the suggestion that whenever she felt like overeatirtg, she should try to address her feelings in a positive way such as by sharing her thoughts with a trusted friend - and not pushing them away with food.'
 

For more information, or to find a practitaoner nearr you, log onto www.hypnotherapists.org.uk.