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a Hypnotherapist
Hypnotherapy
What Is It?
How Does It Work?
What Happens During Treatment?
What Is It Used For?
Side Effects/Cautions
Recommended Books
Recommended CDs
What Is It?
Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis - the inducing of a trance-like state
which enhances the power of suggestion - to treat a range of illnesses,
emotional problems, phobias and addictions.
The use of hypnotic suggestion in healing dates back
to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese. Modern
hypnotherapy originated in the 18th century, when Austrian
physician Franz Anton Mesmer introduced the concept
of “animal magnetism”. Mesmer believed
that imbalances in the body’s magnetic forces
caused illness, and that he could restore this imbalance
by transferring magnetism from his body to the ill.
His technique came to be known as “mesmerism”,
from which the word “mesmerise” originated.
While his treatments were said to be effective, they
were performed with such theatricality that Mesmer
was widely discredited. During the 19th century, interest
in the power of suggestion for healing purposes was
renewed by Scottish surgeon James Braid, who coined
the term “hypnosis” from the Greek word “hypnos”,
meaning sleep.
How Does It Work?
The mind is divided into two parts: the conscious, which provides
awareness of our thoughts, feelings and actions, and the subconscious,
which holds unexpressed emotions and memories (good and bad)
that we are unaware of, and normally have no control over. The
strong connection between the mind and body means that fears
or painful memories which are hidden in the subconscious can
cause physical, mental and emotional problems. Hypnotherapy aims
to reach the level of the subconscious by inducing a trance-like
state, opening the mind to suggestion to promote positive change.
A hypnotic state or trance is similar to the kind
of state we enter while daydreaming, or when we are
completely absorbed in reading a book or some other
activity, and are able to shut out all distractions.
A trance induces deep relaxation while we are still
fully aware, allowing us to focus on problems, pain
or memories that are bothering us. A hypnotherapist
can then provide positive suggestion to help create
new ways of thinking and behaving.
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What Happens During
Treatment?
During the first visit your hypnotherapist will discuss with you
the problem/s you want to work on and what you hope to achieve
from the therapy. Hypnotherapy does not work for around 10% of
the population and some hypnotherapists will perform tests which
measure your susceptibility for hypnotic suggestion, to determine
whether you are a good candidate for hypnotherapy.
When therapy begins, you will be made comfortable
in a chair or couch, often in a darkened room with
no distractions. The method used to induce a hypnotic
trance varies; your therapist may talk to you in a
soft, soothing voice, suggesting that you are feeling
sleepier while slowly counting backward, or you may
be asked to focus on an object or a spot on the wall
until you enter a deeply relaxed state. The time it
takes to enter a hypnotic state varies from person
the person. While in this state, your hypnotherapist
will help you to focus on what is bothering you, sometimes
facilitating the resurfacing of deeply buried memories
which may be at the root of your problems. Your therapist
will then introduce positive statements designed to
help you change the way you respond to your problems.
For example, if your problem is overeating unhealthy
foods, the statement may be something like “I
enjoy eating healthy foods and only eat as much as
my body needs”. Or you may be asked to visualise
your problem in some form, then make it disappear.
Your therapist may also teach you self-hypnosis techniques
to use at any time.
Hypnotherapy sessions last between 60 and 90 minutes.
People generally see their therapist once a week for
5-10 weeks, though long-standing emotional problems
may require a longer period of therapy.
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What Is It Used
For?
Hypnotherapy has been used to help people overcome drug, alcohol
and food addictions, for relaxation in those suffering from stress
and anxiety, for pain relief during childbirth or dental procedures,
and to treat many other ailments such as asthma, allergies, high
blood pressure, morning sickness, arthritis, back pain and insomnia.
Side Effects/Cautions
Hypnosis is not recommended for people suffering from psychosis,
or other severe psychiatric disorders.
Hypnotherapy does not work for everyone, and the outcome
of treatment will depend on the skill of the practitioner.
References
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a Hypnotherapist
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Recommended
Books
Prices are in US Dollars
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Finding True Magic: Transpersonal
Hypnotherapy / NLP
Jack Elias
"This is a manual for those wishing to
be hypnotherapists and for those who simply
want to explore and understand the process
for their own reasons. The book is divided
into six phases, each of which cover different
aspects of therapy, such as the basics, including
induction; regression and past life; parts
therapy; timeline; shame and addictive personalities;
archetypes; the 'Shadow'; and several other
topics.
Mr. Elias's approach is to integrate aspects of various approaches
to hypnosis and therapy with spiritual actualization to resolve
issues. This is a practical 'how-to' book, not just another
book of scripts, or theory, or metaphors used by Milton Erickson.
You'll learn more about hypnotherapy from this book than
any other you're likely to find." - A. T. Eagles, hypnotherapist.
Learn
more...
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Effective Self Hypnosis: Pathways
to the Unconscious, Book/Tape Combination
Ernest L. Rossi
Effective Self Hypnosis: Pathways to the Unconscious
and the accompanying audiocassette tape are
a comprehensive guide to the theory and practice
of self hypnosis. Beginning with a history
of the phenomenon gives a firm foundation for
understanding. Next, the pillars of hypnosis:
the unconscious, mind/body, and suggestion
are the building blocks to develop concepts.
These concepts are presented with exercises
for understanding and easy accessibility. The
step-by-step instructions offer a gradual personal
experience to practice self suggestion and
trance phenomena as skills to use. The skills
can be then be applied successfully to help
in many areas. The final section shows how
to use this method of self hypnosis to enhance
learning, sports, self control, overcome pain
and fear, quit bad habits, and lessen stress.
Creative individualizing and adapting of the
method is encouraged. The companion tape supplements
the book and leads the listener into producing
and working with self hypnosis.
Learn
more...
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Hypnotherapy
Dave Elman
"This book is a classic and the part
of this book that has become the most popular
in hypnosis circles so far is probably the
famous Dave Elman Induction, which incorporates
suggestibility tests to ratify the trance state
and fractionation to help the individual enter
into a state of deep trance very rapidly.
Some of the techniques taught are so simple and effective
that there is even a charming example of a little girl who
learned who to use a rapid method of inducing self-hypnosis
to help herself deal successfully with an annoying itch.
The book also covers applications of hypnosis in different
areas of interest to medical doctors and dentists because
it was originally written for them." - Laura De Giorgio
"This book de-mystifies hypnotism and
gives real and workable techniques. A non "airy-fairy" approach
to this art. Each page has valuable, useful
information...a great book." - D. Kramer
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more...
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Hypnotherapy Books
Self-hypnosis
Books
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Recommended CDs
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Hypnosis for Self-Confidence
and Self-Esteem
Janet I. Decker
The eagle on the cover of this audio CD represents
what this hypnotic audio product can do for
you. [Eagle: It's ability to soar to great
heights without so much as a thought both inspires
and encourages.] This Audio CD contains 2 programs.
Program 1: "Hypnosis for Self-Confidence
and Self-Esteem". Verbal step-by-step
instructions gently guide the listener into
a hypnotic trance state. Positive suggestions
are then given to the subconscious mind to
improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Program
2: "Relax and be Self-Confident".
Step-by-step instructions guide the listener
into a deeply relaxed trance state. Deep relaxation
is extremely beneficial to mind, body and spirit.
Program 2 enhances the effects of program 1.
Program 1 and program 2 may be used independently
of each other. An enclosed booklet describes
what hypnosis is and how best to use this CD
to achieve the greatest results. Effects will
vary from person to person. Hypnotherapy is
considered "complimentary medicine" and
is not intended to be used in place of medical
or psychiatric care.
Learn
more...
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Appetite Zapper
Wendi Friesen
The Appetite Zapper - What is it? This CD
session uses a unique method of creating an
internal (and unconscious) mechanism that makes
food choices for you. Without a thought you
will find that your appetite has changed. One
of my clients told me that she was cutting
up vegetables the next day for a snack. She
says she never eats vegetables, but now loves
them. Another client told me that she had a
box of chocolates in front of her and didn't
feel like eating them. She called me to ask
if something was wrong with her. I said, well,
tell me how you feel about the chocolates.
She said that she just didn't feel like eating
them. Wonderful! You inner mind is doing just
what it should... making it natural and easy
for you to turn down the fatty foods.
Learn
more...
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Allergy Freedom
Wendi Friesen
Nine Sessions on CD Introduction- This track
will help you understand why the immune system
responds the way it does, and what the underlying
causes are for allergic responses. You will
learn how hypnosis, NLP, and EFT can permanently
reduce or eliminate your allergies. Allergy
Release, condition and anchoring. You will
create a condition in your body that does not
react to allergens. When you create the subconscious
anchors you can access that healthy condition
anytime. Disk of light - An easy process of
using a light meditation to cleanse the body
of toxins, and teach the mind to release the
triggers and cellular messages that relate
to allergies. Specific Allergy release - This
session is from an NLP trainer, Robert Dilts.
This process will target a specific allergic
response to ONE allergen, and remove the brain's
trigger to this specific substance. In many
cases, the reaction to this one substance is
permanently removed in just one session. You
can then do another session, targeting another
substance and eventually remove all of your
specific allergens. Holographic Mind and Body
- During this process your mind will integrate
all the functions of the mind and body to create
an optimum state of health. The immune system
is creating a balance state that integrates
the functions of mental, physical, emotional
and energetic aspects of the best state for
your body to be healthy and allergy free. Morning
Meditation - Listen to this when you awaken
in the morning. Your mind will hear a slow
and easy sunrise meditation that will help
you maintain your healthy balanced state throughout
the entire day. EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique
has a profound and instant effect on allergies.
Direct Suggestion - Listen to this when you
are going to sleep at night. Deep Trance Training
- Train your mind to go into trance easily
and quickly.
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more...
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