Severe psychological illnesses and addictions have a negative impact on a person’s quality of life, and traditional medicine methods do not always give the expected result. Hypnotherapy is a safe method of influencing a person’s consciousness, which allows for the treatment of such severe conditions as severe chemical and emotional dependence, panic attacks and obsessions. The article describes the types of hypnotherapy most used in modern practice, indications for using this method of treatment, and the stages of the session.
Historical background on hypnotherapy
Franz Anton Mesmer
Hypnosis has been known to man for a long time - it began to be actively used more than 3 thousand years ago in Egypt, India, Greece and Rome.
The pioneer of modern hypnotherapy was the Austrian physician Franz Mesmer (1734-1815). He was the first to propose a rational basis for the effects of hypnosis, and the first to develop a consistent method for hypnosis. Although he was accused of fraud by the medical community of his time, hypnosis was known as "mesmerism" for a very long time. A Viennese doctor first demonstrated the effects of hypnosis in public at the end of the 18th century in Paris.
The very concept of “hypnosis” appeared several decades later, it was introduced by the English physician James Braid. The term comes from the ancient Greek word "ὕπνος" (sleep). The method of hypnotherapy received scientific recognition at the end of the 19th century after the report of the French neurologist Jean Martin Charcot at the Paris Academy of Sciences.
The founders of the theory of hypnosis in Russia are V. M. Bekhteev and K. I. Platonov, who at the beginning of the 20th century studied the problems of hypnosis and suggestion and created methods for using hypnotherapy for therapeutic purposes.
But the major figure of modern hypnotherapy is the therapist Milton Erickson (1901-1980), who pioneered “indirect hypnosis,” a permissive style of trance induction based on subtly persuasive language patterns. His approach was based on the understanding that hypnotherapy must be meaningful to the individual in order to be successful - an approach that is still used in the 21st century.
Kinds
Depending on the many approaches to hypnotherapy, it is divided into several types.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy
Founder: Milton Erickson (1901-1980) - famous American psychiatrist and psychotherapist.
Work: M. Erickson “Man from February. Hypnotherapy and the development of personal self-awareness.”
The bottom line: “Ericksonian hypnosis” is a special state of trance into which a person is introduced without any instructions or instructions (as in classical sessions). He is awake and actively communicating with the specialist. The focus of attention shifts from the surrounding reality “inward”. Thanks to this, the patient is able to concentrate on personal experiences. Breathing slows down, the body is as relaxed as possible, but memory and will are completely preserved.
His legacy was picked up by Dave Elman. As a radio host, comedian and singer, he developed a method of hypnotic induction based on Erickson's discoveries. He learned to work with patients in just 3 minutes, and also described in detail the benefits of hypnosis for the treatment of many diseases. It was he who was invited as a hypnotist for the first operation (carried out on the heart), when it was decided to use hypnosis instead of anesthesia.
Cognitive hypnotherapy
Books: E. Thomas Dowd “Cognitive Hypnotherapy.”
The bottom line: active work with cognitive processes within the framework of cognitive therapy is enhanced by the return to memory during a hypnotic session. The patient turns his inner gaze to childhood, remembers the traumatic situation that happened then, and understands his current state. Once you understand the essence of the problem, it is always easier to eliminate it.
Clinical hypnotherapy
Books: V. A. Ruzhenkov “Fundamentals of clinical hypnotherapy”; S. Lynn, I. Kirsch “Fundamentals of clinical hypnosis. An evidence-based approach."
The essence: treatment of diseases and severe mental disorders using hypnotherapy. Its application in medicine and psychotherapy.
Regressive hypnotherapy
Books: A. Kachorowski “Therapeutic hypnosis in regression and reincarnation”, V. Polyakova “Regressive hypnosis. A journey into the past. Dive into skill."
The essence: returning the patient to the past with the help of verbal attitudes. Activation of deep layers of memory. Extracting certain truths from accumulated experience that can be applied in the present in order to prevent further mistakes.
Hypnoanalysis
Founders: L. R. Volberg, R. M. Lindner.
The essence: a combination of psychoanalysis and hypnotherapy. Taking a history and identifying emotional experiences occurs during hypnosis. Allows you to bring to the surface events that have been repressed from the patient’s consciousness under the influence of some factors. It is distinguished by the use of a variety of techniques: free associations, visualization of scenes, automatic writing, etc.
What is hypnosis?
Trance healing (or altered states of consciousness) is one of the oldest phenomena known to man and is found in one form or another in virtually every culture around the world. It can also be legitimately described as original psychological therapy.
Hypnosis is a human state enhanced by mental and physical relaxation in which our subconscious mind is able to communicate with our conscious mind.
It may be better to define "hypnosis" by what it does rather than what it is. In this regard, it is widely recognized as the most beautiful method by which we can access our inner potential.
The mentioned state of mind can be induced either by oneself, without outside help (self-hypnosis), or with the help of another person. If this other person is a trained professional who uses the resulting state of mind to stimulate beneficial changes, the process is called "hypnotherapy."
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, meaning that the hypnotherapist is merely a guide or catalyst to elicit the client's trance experience. The power of hypnosis lies in the client, not the hypnotherapist.
What is hypnosis based on?
The main term here is “trance state”
.
It is very natural for each of us. It is believed that we are in this state several times a day. Has it ever happened to you that you were walking down the street and were so immersed in your thoughts that you didn’t notice how you got to the right place, not seeing anything or anyone around? Or when you read a book and find that you read the last few paragraphs “automatically” and have to go back to understand the meaning of what was written? It is at these moments that we are in a trance. That is, the main thing to understand about trance: when a person is in this state, nothing gets into his head “from the outside
. Using special techniques, a hypnotherapist can put a client into a trance and help them reach the unconscious.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a method of psychotherapeutic practice during which the patient's consciousness enters a so-called trance. In an altered state, consciousness is susceptible to external suggestion, self-awareness and self-control are reduced. In a state of trance, all a person’s senses are heightened, the consciousness is open to receiving any information from it.
Hypnosis can solve problems:
- psychological – aggression, fears, obsessive states;
- medical – diseases, unexplained somatic complaints.
“Disabling” self-control allows us to identify the underlying causes of the patient’s problems and work through internal conflicts.
During therapy, the person’s psychological state returns to normal, after which biological health is restored. Important! The effectiveness of hypnotherapy depends not only on the experience of the hypnotherapist, but also on the degree of hypnotizability of the patient, that is, the ability of the person to be hypnotized.
Stages
A hypnotherapy session can be divided into 3 stages.
Stage I
Names: drowsiness, drowsiness, shallow sleep, minor hypnosis.
Signs:
- closed eyes;
- relaxed muscles;
- state of rest;
- normal breathing;
- the ability to control one’s own body is partially preserved;
- control over your thoughts is maintained;
- inhibition of the kinesthetic system;
- free will;
- increasing heaviness in the body;
- memory saved.
The person understands everything that is happening around him, hears the words of the hypnotherapist perfectly, and can interrupt the session at any moment.
Stage II
Titles: hypnotaxy, mid-sleep.
Signs:
- catalepsy - freezing of the body in one position, the ability to control thoughts and movements is lost;
- smooth and calm breathing;
- decreased perception acuity;
- decreased interest in the environment;
- muscle weakness;
- realization of inspired illusions;
- decrease in heart rate, pressure, pain sensitivity;
- suppression of will;
- partial memory loss.
A person hears and understands everything that the hypnotherapist tells him, but is no longer able to open his eyes and do anything.
Stage III
Names: somnambulism, deep sleep.
Signs:
- complete loss of consciousness;
- openness of the subconscious to any attitudes and suggestions;
- loss of sensation;
- inducing positive and negative hallucinations with open eyes;
- lack of reactions to external stimuli;
- inspired transformation of age (return to childhood);
- complete loss of memory.
Experts consider staying in stage 3 as a transition between normal sleep and an altered state of consciousness.
E. S. Katkov, a doctor and researcher of hypnosis, also described three more degrees for each of the three stages. His classification is widely popular all over the world.
Indications for the use of hypnosis therapy
The decision about the need to use hypnotherapy can only be made by a qualified specialist.
Hypnosis is used to treat conditions:
- fear of a certain event: an interview, public speaking, exams;
- panic attacks;
- lack of self-acceptance, low self-esteem;
- phobias, obsessions, groundless fears, anxiety;
- neurosis;
- professional burnout;
- psychological family problems;
- psychogenic infertility;
- impotence, lack of libido;
- prolonged depression;
- drug addiction;
- eating disorders: pathological overeating, anorexia, bulimia;
- pain of various types, including headaches;
- nervous tics;
- stuttering;
- reflexes that prevent the implementation of medical procedures: gag reflex, intestinal spasm;
- paralysis;
- loss of taste;
- asthma;
- allergy;
- hormonal imbalance;
- post-traumatic syndrome.
Hypnotherapy is effective not only for adults, but also for children.
Hypnosis therapy is often used in combination with drug treatment of diseases. Reference! Hypnotherapy is used to reduce a woman's fears and pain during childbirth.
Treatment of alcoholism with hypnosis
Coding using hypnosis is a popular method of treatment for alcoholism.
Not all alcohol-dependent individuals will benefit from this treatment method: a course of hypnotherapy only eliminates psycho-emotional cravings for alcohol. If the addiction has moved to the physiological level, it will be more difficult to overcome the disease.
The effectiveness of treatment is also influenced by the patient's willingness to undergo hypnotic influence and belief in a positive outcome. If an addict refuses to communicate with a hypnotherapist, then it is impossible to help him in this case.
The therapy will have an effect only after completing the required number of sessions, since the results obtained must be consolidated.
Hypnosis from smoking
In the next video you will hear audio hypnosis for quitting smoking. This session can be listened to at any time, including just before bed. Help yourself quit smoking with a professional hypnosis session!
Exposure regression
The method is in demand for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Exposure involves conducting a behavioral experiment to identify a feared object and then adapt the person to the source of anxiety or the context of fear, in the absence of a direct threat.
Exposure regression is used to overcome pathological anxiety by recalling encounters with the source of an inappropriate reaction. Through regression, memory is activated. A person “collects” a chain of memories associated with interaction with the plot of fear. This allows you to see the whole picture of the disorder, establish the causes and study the mechanism of development of abnormal anxiety.
In a hypnotic state, experiences will appear in an intensified form. Hypertrophied reactions will lead to an emotional reaction, the release of painful sensations - abreaction.
The standard course of exposure regression involves consistent emotional release of pathogenic memories. Reducing the significance of the trigger and rethinking the experience leads to a decrease in the intensity of the experience, followed by complete neutralization of the pathological reaction of fear.
Contraindications
Not all patients benefit from hypnosis treatment.
Contraindications to hypnotherapy:
- epilepsy;
- dementia;
- hysteria;
- schizophrenia;
- recent strokes, heart attacks, surgical interventions, head injuries;
- the patient’s reluctance to undergo hypnosis, mistrust of the doctor;
- withdrawal syndrome;
- irreversible mental damage due to chemical dependence;
- oncological diseases.
Hypnotherapy sessions should be discontinued if the patient's condition worsens in response to treatment.
It is not recommended to use this method of treatment for people who particularly enjoy being in hypnosis - hypnomaniacs. After completing the course of sessions, patients experience deep discomfort and the results achieved during treatment disappear.
What methods of hypnotherapy exist?
There are 2 ways to put a person into a state of hypnosis:
- putting the patient into a trance under the influence of the hypnotherapist;
- self-hypnosis – the patient independently puts himself into a trance state under the supervision of a specialist.
Some patients are able to immerse themselves in hypnosis and work through problems without the participation of a doctor. Such skills are possessed by persons who have undergone long-term treatment with hypnosis under the supervision of a specialist and who have been trained in self-hypnosis.
Types of hypnotherapy
The method of therapy is determined by the doctor based on the individual characteristics of the patient, the conditions of the session, the degree of the person’s susceptibility to hypnosis and the purpose of therapy.
Directive
Important!
Directive hypnosis is a classic type of hypnosis, based on direct suggestion to the patient by the doctor. When the patient is under hypnosis, and the level of perception of his consciousness is as high as possible, the doctor pronounces short, precisely worded phrases aimed at destroying existing negative attitudes and creating new positive ones. In therapy, the doctor plays the role of an authoritative mentor. The statements of the hypnotherapist are authoritative and cannot be objected to. The doctor literally forces the patient to let go of negative thoughts and give up addictions.
Elmanovsky
With hypnosis according to Elman, the patient very quickly puts himself into a trance on his own, and the hypnotherapist only helps him to do this.
During the session, the patient himself determines the causes of problems and diseases, looks for solutions, the doctor at this moment provides so-called support and does not interfere with the process.
Elman's type of hypnosis is used when working with very restless and anxious patients.
Ericksonian
Ericksonian hypnosis is a gentle influence on the patient’s consciousness without “coercion” on the part of the hypnotherapist. During the session, the doctor invites the patient to independently understand the deepest mental problems, gently guiding the course of his reasoning.
The hypnosis method is considered the most effective and universal, its effectiveness reaches 100%.
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The essence of the approach
In the article about body-oriented therapy, we talked about the psychoanalytic paradigm. From its founder S. Freud, the concept of the unconscious as the source of all our desires, needs and passions has been firmly entrenched in psychology. Using psychotherapeutic techniques, psychoanalysts try to get to the unconscious of their clients in order to understand what is really happening there, overcome the “thickets” of psychological defenses and help cope with anxiety and neurosis. Sometimes this work takes years. And sometimes it is not possible to find that very key to the client, and therapy ends without a deep and lasting result.
This is where hypnosis comes to the aid of a specialist.
It is important to understand here that hypnosis is not a separate psychotherapeutic school or paradigm.
This is a technique, a tool that a psychologist with the necessary skills can use when working with clients.
His task is to “communicate” directly with a person’s unconscious to better understand the true situation and find the most effective way to help
. Hypnosis saves a huge amount of time and also gives a true, undistorted picture.
How it works?
For example, a person has experienced some kind of strong emotional shock, for example, sexual abuse in childhood from one of his close relatives. It is clear that this greatly traumatizes the psyche, and in order to make it easier for a person to survive the situation, his psyche builds a serious barrier that protects his conscious part from painful experiences, from feelings of fear and guilt. And all that remains is a trail of anxiety and mistrust, for example, towards the opposite sex.
Let's say it is very difficult for such a person to start a relationship, he is constrained during sexual contacts even with his loved one, he does not receive pleasure during intimacy and is not able to relax. This causes conflicts with the partner (by the way, formally they begin for completely different reasons, because of unwashed dishes or scattered things).
Since the topic of sex causes great anxiety, the couple does not discuss the problem in this area openly. It is safer and easier to communicate about everyday troubles, which is why they turn to a psychologist. You can try for a long time to teach such a couple to build a comfortable life for both, but only the partners do not become happier, because the real problem lies much deeper. This is where hypnosis helps. It helps the client remember the correct sequence of events and the true cause of anxiety
. The child’s brain could not bear all that pain and fear, but now an adult, with the help of a psychotherapist, is able to cope with his experiences and improve his life.
How is the session going?
At the first meeting, the doctor explains to the visitor in detail the course of the session and answers all questions in order to dispel doubts and reassure.
The specialist, together with the patient, determines the goals of therapy and the expected result of treatment. The doctor asks the patient to relax and take the most comfortable body position and, influencing the organs of vision and hearing, smoothly immerses the patient in a trance.
When consciousness reaches the required depth of trance, the doctor begins therapy, after which he gently brings the visitor back to consciousness.
After the hypnosis session, the doctor and patient discuss the results and set goals for the next meeting. Attention! On average, a session lasts 30-40 minutes. The number of meetings is determined individually, but usually the duration of therapy is 4-8 sessions.
What to expect when meeting with a hypnotherapist?
No, now they no longer work with shiny gold watches that the therapist swings with a pendulum in front of the client’s eyes. Now the methods have become much more civilized. You will be offered a comfortable chair or sofa. Experts often use relaxing music. You will need to close your eyes, relax... and let your subconscious mind call the shots. No one is unhypnotizable, but if you don't work with a therapist, you might really not succeed and you'll just be wasting your time.
Evidence-based research
In 1979, the American doctor M. Orne conducted a series of studies that confirm the reality of the existence of hypnosis. M. Orne proved the fact of unusual human behavior in a trance state, which can only be observed in hypnotized individuals.
For example, subjects were told little-known facts during a hypnosis session. After the patient was brought out of the trance, he was asked to take an erudition test, which included questions about his knowledge of the information that was given during hypnosis. The subjects answered the questions correctly, but could not explain how they knew this information, and remembered absolutely nothing about what happened to them in a trance state.
Hypnotherapy reviews
Typically, patients turn to hypnotherapy when other methods of solving problems have failed. The best results are achieved by people who have complete trust in the doctor and are ready to find and work through underlying problems.
Patients say that hypnotherapy helped them get rid of psychological disorders forever: love addiction, panic attacks, deep depression, childhood trauma, eating disorders, aggression, and self-doubt. Individuals who completed a course of hypnotherapy noted not only positive dynamics in solving problems, but also an improvement in their general emotional state, increased energy, and a return of interest in life.
However, there are a number of people for whom hypnotherapy sessions were useless. Typically, these patients note that they mistrusted the doctor and doubted the effectiveness of the therapy.
Pros and cons of hypnotherapy
The main advantage
is the ability to quickly cope with deep feelings and understand the essence of the problem. But remember that the work does not end with hypnosis sessions - this is just a way to speed up the process. The situation will have to be worked out with a specialist in classic psychotherapeutic sessions.
Main disadvantage
– high expectations that many clients have. You shouldn’t expect that you just need to sit with your eyes closed and all your problems will go away on their own. Hypnosis is not a pill, not a panacea. It helps to understand, live, remember the problem, but not solve it. If there are no unjustified expectations, then there will be no disappointment.
Hypnotherapy training
Hypnosis is taught in medical schools.
The following are accepted for training in hypnotherapy with the right to further practice:
- specialists with higher education in the field of psychology;
- doctors of other fields who have received additional (second) higher psychological education;
- psychiatrists;
- psychotherapists.
Training is conducted by qualified medical psychologists and hypnotherapists. The program consists of a large theoretical block and practical exercises. Students practice using hypnosis techniques.
Based on the results of the training, the specialist receives an official document on advanced training, which allows the doctor to immediately begin practicing as a hyptotherapist.
Books on hypnotherapy:
