What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence.
Induction
During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your hypnotherapist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing (breathing in over a count of seven, then breathing out over a count of 11), or progressive muscle relaxation (tensing muscles as you breathe in and relaxing muscles as you breathe out, then repeating in a certain order of muscle groups throughout your body) or focusing on a visual image.
Deepener
This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.
Suggestions
This is the stage for actual change in experience, behavior or perception. Your hypnotherapist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behavior.
- Example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference and install the changed behavior. You may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.
Emergence
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your hypnotist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing up stairs or counting up.
Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Hypnosis is usually used along with other therapies and treatments, as part of a complete total treatment plan. The decision to use hypnotherapy in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy or traditional medicine is made in consultation with a qualified professional who’s trained in the use and limitations of hypnotherapy.
What’s the typical length of treatment with hypnotherapy?
There’s no typical length. Treatment varies depending on what and how severe the issue is. Hypnotherapy may take many sessions.
RISKS / BENEFITS
Does hypnotherapy work?
Despite its use since the 1700s, hypnotherapy continues to have skeptics in the medical community. However, it’s becoming a more accepted and recognized form of therapy. The number of certified and licensed medical professionals incorporating hypnotherapy in their practice is increasing.
Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hypnotherapy has been limited, but is growing. Some studies show “promising” results or “may be helpful in” conclusions. The strongest evidence supporting the use of hypnotic treatments comes from research on hypnosis for treating pain, IBS and PTSD symptoms. Most medical associations and organizations state that more studies are needed to draw meaningful conclusions about the effectiveness of hypnotherapy.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotized. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotized.
What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
The person most likely to benefit is the person who’s highly motivated to overcome an issue. Like any other treatment, hypnosis may be helpful for certain conditions or in certain people, but it can also be unhelpful.
Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. It might also be inappropriate for someone who uses drugs or alcohol. The use of hypnosis for memory retrieval is largely unsupported by research. Caution is also advised regarding its use in managing stressful events from early life. The use of hypnosis in these situations may create false memories, especially if unintended suggestions are given, and could cause more distress and anxiety.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
Hypnotherapy is a safe procedure when done by a trained therapist. Hypnotherapy isn’t mind control or brainwashing. Your therapist can’t make you do something embarrassing or something you don’t want to do.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
Yes, it’s possible to practice self-hypnosis. Deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness techniques may work similarly to aspects of hypnosis. This can be particularly useful for controlling the side effects of chemotherapy or managing recurring (repeating) health issues, such as headache pain.
What is sleep hypnosis?
Sleep hypnosis is using hypnotherapy to manage sleep problems, such as insomnia and sleep anxiety. It’s not about helping you sleep during a hypnotherapy session. Sleep hypnotherapy helps you work on the underlying issues that prevent you from getting quality sleep. Sleep hypnotherapy may be used along with other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
Complete Guide To Hypnotherapy
What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence.
Induction
During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your hypnotherapist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing (breathing in over a count of seven, then breathing out over a count of 11), or progressive muscle relaxation (tensing muscles as you breathe in and relaxing muscles as you breathe out, then repeating in a certain order of muscle groups throughout your body) or focusing on a visual image.
Deepener
This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.
Suggestions
This is the stage for actual change in experience, behavior or perception. Your hypnotherapist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behavior.
- Example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference and install the changed behavior. You may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.
Emergence
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your hypnotist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing up stairs or counting up.
Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Hypnosis is usually used along with other therapies and treatments, as part of a complete total treatment plan. The decision to use hypnotherapy in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy or traditional medicine is made in consultation with a qualified professional who’s trained in the use and limitations of hypnotherapy.
What’s the typical length of treatment with hypnotherapy?
There’s no typical length. Treatment varies depending on what and how severe the issue is. Hypnotherapy may take many sessions.
RISKS / BENEFITS
Does hypnotherapy work?
Despite its use since the 1700s, hypnotherapy continues to have skeptics in the medical community. However, it’s becoming a more accepted and recognized form of therapy. The number of certified and licensed medical professionals incorporating hypnotherapy in their practice is increasing.
Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hypnotherapy has been limited, but is growing. Some studies show “promising” results or “may be helpful in” conclusions. The strongest evidence supporting the use of hypnotic treatments comes from research on hypnosis for treating pain, IBS and PTSD symptoms. Most medical associations and organizations state that more studies are needed to draw meaningful conclusions about the effectiveness of hypnotherapy.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotized. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotized.
What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
The person most likely to benefit is the person who’s highly motivated to overcome an issue. Like any other treatment, hypnosis may be helpful for certain conditions or in certain people, but it can also be unhelpful.
Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. It might also be inappropriate for someone who uses drugs or alcohol. The use of hypnosis for memory retrieval is largely unsupported by research. Caution is also advised regarding its use in managing stressful events from early life. The use of hypnosis in these situations may create false memories, especially if unintended suggestions are given, and could cause more distress and anxiety.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
Hypnotherapy is a safe procedure when done by a trained therapist. Hypnotherapy isn’t mind control or brainwashing. Your therapist can’t make you do something embarrassing or something you don’t want to do.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
Yes, it’s possible to practice self-hypnosis. Deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness techniques may work similarly to aspects of hypnosis. This can be particularly useful for controlling the side effects of chemotherapy or managing recurring (repeating) health issues, such as headache pain.
What is sleep hypnosis?
Sleep hypnosis is using hypnotherapy to manage sleep problems, such as insomnia and sleep anxiety. It’s not about helping you sleep during a hypnotherapy session. Sleep hypnotherapy helps you work on the underlying issues that prevent you from getting quality sleep. Sleep hypnotherapy may be used along with other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.