What is Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a state that allows a person to suspend the logical conscious thinking and access their subconscious mind. Why would anyone want that? A lot of behaviours are automatic, and driven by our inner processes. Some may say these ways of operate are innate, or part of one’s makeup, but in reality they represent a secondary way of thinking that’s hidden under the surface.
Accessing this ‘other’ brain is a good way to understand why we do what we do, our belief system, but most importantly influence it. Humans are in control of their own minds, and hypnosis gives anyone the opportunity to dig deeper. Even our logic is dictated by our beliefs, so the power to change how you feel, and what you do, is at your reach!
Hypnotherapy
In a therapeutic context, guided hypnosis is used to reach those states where intervention is possible. It is based on suggestions only, and the patient remains in complete control, even if they don’t remember anything afterwards.
There is evidence that pain is diminished, habits are stopped, and symptoms of emotional disorders are eased with the use of hypnotherapy. As an effective method of modifying behaviour, it can be used in support to psychotherapy. Some conditions are even treatable in alert mode, without the need to enter a trance mode.
Hypnotherapy has recently been included in the UK’s National Health Service as a form of therapy doctors can prescribe, in recognition of hypnotherapy’s effectiveness.
