Hypnotherapy is often wrongly associated with stage hypnotism and way it is portrayed on television.
In reality, hypnotherapy is an effective therapeutic approach that can create effective, lasting improvements for those suffering from problems such as smoking and drinking too much, eating problems (especially under- and over-eating), phobias, and lack of self-confidence among others.
One of the many myths about hypnotherapy is that once you are in a ‘trance’, you have no control over your actions and can be made to act in a way you don’t want.
This is fiction and often comes from scenes in movies or dramatic stage performances which, coincidentally, are often more related to the hypnotist choosing extroverted audience members to “act out” rather than being representative of genuine hypnosis.
To debunk some of the other myths about hypnosis and hypnotherapy, let’s look at how hypnotherapy really works…
How Hypnotherapy Works
Hypnotherapy aims to stop you relying on “bad habits” or unhealthy coping mechanisms which can be like routines in the mind that run before you have a chance to logically assess what action might be better to deal with what is going on.
The intention of hypnotherapy is to quieten the conscious mind by guiding you in a deeply relaxed state so as to bypass the normal “chatter” of thoughts.
The deep state of relaxation in hypnotherapy allows you and the therapist to access the subconscious mind where there are no busy surface thoughts or worries to pull you into negative or compulsive thinking.
In this way, suggestions of new behaviours can be seeded below the conscious level to help you manage better during times of stress, tension or when you feel compelled into your problem habits (such as smoking, eating, anxiety, or similar).
The hypnotic process can last between 20-40 minutes (or longer if required) and can be repeated to reinforce the messages further.
Can I Be Forced into a Trance or into Being Hypnotised?
You cannot forcibly be hypnotised, nor will you forget what happens during your therapy session because you will continue to create memories as you usually would.
Many liken the hypnotic state as a being like a deep state of relaxation, similar to when very deeply relaxed at home but with the benefits of being given gentle suggestions by the hypnotherapist which helps manage their problem(s).
What Problems Does Hypnotherapy Work For?
The problems best treated with hypnotherapy are those that might have their behaviour rooted in this subconscious area the mind.
These include:
- Habits such as smoking, drinking and other compulsions
- Impulsive behaviours such as spending, eating
- Anxiety and tensions
- Phobias
- Difficulty relaxing
- Confidence and low-self esteem
Hypnotherapy is especially helpful to help with compulsions, phobias, and problems related to impulsive behaviour as well as those anxiety driven or related to tension.
Hypnotherapy works well by itself, but is especially powerful when combined with another therapy such as CBT, ACT, or counselling.
Finding the Best Hypnotherapy in Newcastle
If you think that hypnotherapy might help you, we are happy to offer a short phone consultation with our hypnotherapist in Newcastle, Claire Turnbull (Specialist Hypnotherapist & Counsellor), to discuss whether hypnotherapy is right for you, or whether another approach might be better suited.
To find out more or to arrange a conversation with Claire, contact us using the box below, or call us today on 07966 645 198.
Best wishes,
Dr Stuart Sadler
Lead Clinical Psychologist
