Hypnotherapy

The general understanding today is that all hypnosis is ultimately self-hypnosis, a hypnotist merely helps to facilitate the experience. In this heighten state of suggestibility a wide range of conditions can be addressed such as phobias, illness due to stress, areas of pain, anxiety, habits (like smoking and nail biting), and personal development.  The therapeutic state of suggestibility helps people make positive changes within themselves; they are always in control and will not do anything that they are not willing to- they are not made to do anything. According to the state of Illinois Hypnotherapy is " the induction of a hypnotic state in a client to increase motivation or alter behavioral patterns.  Hypnotherapy includes consultation with a client to determine the nature of the client's problem, assessment of a client to determine his or her suitability for hypnotherapy, preparation of a client to enter a hypnotic state, explanation to a client of the nature of the hypnotic state, instruction of a client in self-hypnosis conditioning, testing a client to determine the degree of physical and emotional suggestibility, induction of the hypnotic state in a client using individualized methods and techniques based on interpretation of test results and analysis of problems, and discussion with a client regarding the results of hypnosis."

The History of Hypnotherapy

Popular belief suggess that hypnosis can date back as far as 3000 BC in Egypt.  We do know that the acient Greeks and Romans had sleep temples for those who wanted healing, and certainly some comparsions exist between the trance-inducing rituals seen in most ancient socities and tribes.  However, the first real evidence that most people consider hypnosis relates to Franz Anton Mesmer. 

"The terms ‘mesmerise’ and ‘hypnotise’ have become quite synonymous, and most people think of Mesmer as the father of hypnosis, or at least as its discoverer and first conscious exponent. Oddly enough, the truth appears to be that while hypnotic phenomena had been known for many thousands of years, Mesmer did not, in fact, hypnotize his subjects at all. [...] It is something of a mystery why popular belief should have firmly credited him with a discovery which in fact was made by others. (Eysenck, Sense & Nonsense in Psychology, 1957: 30-31). "Franz Anton Mesmer held that trance and healing were the result of the channelling of a mysterious "occult" force called " animal magnetism". In the mid-Eighteenth Century, this became the basis of a very large and popular school of thought termed Mesmerism.

In the 1840s, Scottish physician James Braid, had already pioneered the concept of hypnotism as an opposing tradition to Mesmerism, based upon basic psychological and physiological mechanisms rather than the occult theories of animal magnetism. Braid's work was of limited influence in the UK but in France his ideas were developed into a more sophisticated psychological treatment. Hippolyte Bernheim began as a skeptic but became converted to the importance of hypnotism by observing the work of the celebrated country doctor Ambroise-Auguste Liebeault who rejected the theory of Mesmer and followed Abbe Faria.  Emile Coue, a former clinical assistant to Liébeault, proposed a more collaborative and educational alternative to hypnosis called "conscious auto suggestion" which became very popular as a form of self-help in the 1920s.

     In their original committee report on hypnotherapy, the British Medical Association (BMA), likewise, made a point of condemning the occult theories of Mesmerism and sharply distinguishing them from hypnotism.

The Committee, having completed such investigation of hypnotism as time permitted, have to report that they have satisfied themselves of the genuineness of the hypnotic state. No phenomena which have come under their observation, however, lend support to the theory of ‘animal magnetism’. ('Report on Hypnotism', British Medical Journal, 1892).

Nevertheless, as Eysenck complains, the confusion of Mesmerism and hypnotism continued to be perpetuated by popular fiction, the media, and its portrayal in comedy stage hypnosis shows. Basically, whereas Mesmerism is a supernatural theory, hypnotism attempted to explain the same phenomena in more established scientific terms, by reference to psychology and physiology. As Braid puts it, it is a scientific and 'psycho-physiological' (mind-body) discipline." (The above information are excerpts from the Free Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia).  This scientific approach to hypnosis through the years is producing some real alternative health care answers. 

How To Do Energy Healing-  Hypnotherapy?

Our minds have the ability to gather amazing amounts of information, most of which is stored in our unconcious.  These events in our lives are stored away with pictures, emotions, sounds and smells which are linked mentally to a particular perception of the event whether real or imagined.  These perceptions can operate right under our concioius level without us ever being aware of them and even though we may not notice them they still effect our every day lives and decisions.  Occasionally conflicts between these underlying perceptions and reality can cause problems; some which are minor and have little effect and others can be debilatating.  For example, we may have a fear of germs that may cause us to be a little extra clean conscious or it may be so controlling one may never step outside their house. 

 All hynosis is ultimately self-hypnosis, a hypnotist merely helps to facilitate the experience.   The therapeutic state of suggestibility helps people make positive changes within themselves; they are always in control and will not do anything that they are not willing to. These changes are accomplished  by helping the individual reorganize their unconscious mind by linking positive perceptions of the underlying events and reprogram patterns of behavior.  In this heighten state of suggestibility a wide range of conditions can be addressed such as phobias, illness due to stress, areas of pain, anxiety, habits (like smoking and nail biting), and personal development.

Benefits of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotism is a legal and recognized by the Hypnotism Act 1952, in the UK Book of Statues and there are no known records of anyone receiving any harm physically or mentally from hypnotism. 

Habits

• Alcohol Abuse
• Thumb Sucking 
• Drug Abuse 
• Weight Loss Management
• Nail Bitting
• Eating Patterns
• Smoking Cessation
                

 Psychological

• Addictions (see Habits)
• Anxiety- Panic Attacks 
• Anger
• Fears and Phobias (flying, spiders, public speaking, etc.)
• Concentration
• Confidence
• Self Image
• Success
• Procrastion
• Frustration
• Stress Reduction
• Depression
• Grief Issues
• Attitudes
• Shyness
• Motivation
• Sports Inhancement