Hypnotherapy

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a type of psychological therapy that uses hypnosis to help treat certain mental and physical health conditions. It can also be used to change habits.

Some therapists also use hypnosis to increase the effectiveness of other psychological treatments, or pain management. However, they may describe the treatment they are You can also perform hypnosis on yourself, which is called self-hypnosis.

What conditions can hypnotherapy help to treat?

• Post_traumatic stress (PTSD)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• insomnia
• Eating disorder
• functional disorders (bodily symptoms and conditions such as headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or backaches which may have a significant psychological component)
• improving memory for people who have experienced a brain injury

It has also been shown to help in the following medical conditions, often by reducing anxiety but also by reducing other symptoms:

• pain
• medical and surgical procedures
• cancer treatment side effects
• anaesthetic procedures
• burn wound care
• dental procedures
• childbirth
• menopausal symptoms

What happens in hypnotherapy session

Hypnotherapy sessions usually involve sitting comfortably and listening to a therapist or a recording for between 10 and 90 minutes.

A typical hypnotherapy session begins with something called an induction procedure. The therapist will speak slowly and softly and make suggestions that help you to focus your attention and relax. They will often do this by describing relaxing images such as lying on a beach, or whatever imagery you find relaxing.

When the therapist decides you are in a deep enough hypnotic state, they will begin to make suggestions. These suggestions will be things that help to change your outlook in ways that are helpful to you. Or they might help you to understand the best way forward for yourself.

These suggestions might also involve creating images of desirable possibilities. For example, picturing yourself in a public situation where you are not experiencing anxiety. When you are in a hypnotic state your mind can accept these images without excessive criticism.

It is important to remember that you are in control when under hypnosis and do not have to follow the therapist’s suggestions if you don’t want to.