Hypnotherapy involves learning how to use your mind and thoughts to manage emotional distress, and uncomfortable physical symptoms or to help you change certain habits or behaviors. Although hypnosis sessions may differ depending on a particular client’s needs, sessions typically have four primary phases.
Phase 1 of Hypnotherapy
The induction is the first phase of hypnotherapy. The therapist helps relax your nervous system to ease your cognitive mind. They may ask you to imagine a peaceful place or do progressive relaxation. This imagery will help you become more focused and concentrated on what you need to accomplish during your hypnosis session.
Phase 2 of Hypnotherapy: Working Phase
The working phase is the second phase of hypnotherapy. This point of the session is when you and your therapist will work on your issue. At this juncture is when your therapist will help you gain insights into your emotional distress, behavioral problem, or pain.
Phase 3 of Hypnotherapy: Reinforcement Phase
Suggestions make hypnosis effective because they target your specific symptoms or difficulties. In the reinforcement phase, your therapist will suggest the insights you have gained through your hypnosis. These themes will help you change your relationship with your emotion, habit, or physical symptoms. For example, if you are experiencing anxiety, your therapist may suggest that you will be calmer or less activated by feelings of anxiety during or the following hypnosis. If you are experiencing pain, your therapist may enforce that you will no longer experience pain after the hypnosis, or you will be able to manage any pain you do experience.
Phase 4 of Hypnotherapy: Waking Phase
The last phase of a hypnotherapy session is when the therapist wakes you up.
Hypnotherapy is not a type of psychotherapy. It is a technique or tool taught to a health care professional. Trained and credentialed health care professionals should only conduct clinical hypnosis. These providers need to be taught hypnosis extensively and work within the limits of their professional expertise.
What can I expect from hypnosis?
Hypnosis has many benefits, from simply improving difficulties and symptoms to eliminating them. Most folks describe hypnosis as a pleasant experience. The therapist and you will decide what you want to work on and afterwards, you may feel more alert, present, comfortable or peaceful.
Myths about Hypnotherapy
Misconception 1: The therapist will control the hypnotized person and can puppeted to do or say anything the hypnotist wants.
Fact 1: This is not true. No matter how deeply hypnotized you become, you will remain in control throughout the hypnotherapy session. You will not do anything that you do not want to do.
Misconception 2: Hypnosis is done to people rather than something they can do for themselves.
Fact 2: This is not true. Hypnosis is a skill you can learn. It is a tool you can use to help yourself feel better. Celine can help you to learn self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is the state of being in a trance. Being in a trance is a state we spend a part of our days, like while having highway hypnosis or when we daydream.
Misconception 3: People become trapped in hypnosis and cannot “come out” of it when they want to.
Fact 3: This is not true. People can end the session whenever they want. At the beginning of a session, Celine will tell you that you can stop the session at any time and say stop or hold up your hand so that you feel in complete control of your session.
Misconception 4: People have to be very “hypnotizable” or “suggestible” or “gullible” for hypnosis to work.
Fact 4: This is not true. Research has indicated that many people can benefit from hypnosis. Furthermore, being hypnotized or choosing to be responsive to suggestions means you are a willing participant. It is not at all related to being weak or gullible.
Myth 5: During hypnosis, people are unconscious.
Fact 5: This is not true. During hypnotherapy, people are not asleep or unconscious. Although they may feel very relaxed, they are active in their hypnosis session.
Hypnosis is effective with a wide variety of conditions, including (but not limited to):
- Pain
- Dental and Medical Procedures Post-Surgical Recovery
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Anxiety and Phobias
- Depression
- Stress
- Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Dissociative Disorders
- Smoking Cessation
- Weight Management
- Habit Disorders
- Asthma
- Gastrointestinal Disorders (e.g., IBS), Hemophilia Skin Conditions Childbirth
Celine is a Certified Clinical Hypnotist her trainer was Dr. Becky Beaton-York.
This information is from the APA Div 30, which studies and supports clinical psychologists.
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