What is hypnosis as it is used to conduct healing, i.e., hypnotherapy?
First off, it would be good to say what hypnosis is not. It is not mind control. It is not sleep, unconsciousness, or other-worldly behavior. It cannot make an individual perform degrading acts or acts against his will. However, the list of things that are true of hypnosis is much longer. Indeed, during hypnosis, the client is an active partner in making the changes he wants. S/he is in a relaxed state much like that of the daydreamer and is fully aware of the surroundings. During hypnotherapy, the therapist uses skilled verbal communication which helps direct a client’s imagination and self-healing potential.
Some practitioners refer to it as an altered state of consciousness. Perhaps the best comparison might be the experience of motorists on long stretches of the interstate who suddenly become aware that 20 or more miles of monotonous highway have passed totally unnoticed. Autopilot was on all the while and the driver was in full control of his vehicle.
The power of hypnosis for positive change can be found throughout the human services professions. Physicians and dentists use hypnosis for anesthesia and pain management. Some counselors, social workers, and psychotherapists use hypnosis in their areas of expertise. Speaking of hypnotherapy and religious faith, Chaplain Paul Durban, Ph.D. , a clergyman and retired United States Army General at Human Trinity Hypnotherapy Louisana, points out that goal-oriented hypnotherapy is a powerful tool that can integrate body, mind, and spirit. In a recent article in American Health Magazine, Dr. Alfred Barrios, clinical psychologist and researcher at UCLA, identified hypnotherapy as providing a higher recovery rate than psychoanalysis or behavioral therapy.
At SHC, the client and the therapist working together relax the conscious mind in order to access the subconscious where deep-learning, retraining, and reprograming take place.
Prior to the first session, clients are offered a first interview-consultation where the goals of the clients and the suitability of treatment are discussed. There is no fee for this initial consultation. Some clients with substance, metabolic, and chronic medical issues undergo treatment simultaneously with their physician. Hypnotherapy is a mind-body modality that supports integrative medicine. As such, it is an ideal complement to allopathic treatment. SHC maintains a working relationship with several local medical specialists and can provide referrals as needed. Further aspects of hypnotherapy at SHC e.g., provisions of treatment, disclaimer, and fees are discussed in the attached pdf files. Prospective clients interested in reading more about hypnotherapy are referred to books by E.L. Rossi, S. Rosen, D.C. Hammond, M.H. Erickson, and J.K. Zeig, to name just a few.
