Question to a Client: What do you Think Hypnotherapy Actually is?
Answer: ”I have seen it on TV where people are made to do strange things. I have heard it can be used to help people with anxiety.”
Discussion:
Like many other people that I have asked over many years, this client accurately identified hypnosis as used as entertainment on television. However, it is important for us as hypnotherapists to address the statement “people are made to do strange things.”. Now I must admit there is evidence in the entertainment industry of post-hypnotic suggestions making people “cluck like a chicken” (Waller D 2016), after they hear a trigger, such as the hypnotist counting from 1 to 3. However, what is important that clients are made aware post-hypnotic suggestions, which is what this technically is, can be used to benefit them. A professional and ethical hypnotherapist is only ever going to be doing you good in a nice and pleasing way. In fact many clients will go away after hypnotherapy having enjoyed the experience.
Good Ethical Post-Hypnotic Suggestion Is a Good Technique
Good ways we can introduce post-hypnotic suggestion to new clients include telling clients of evidence that positive post-hypnotic suggestions can last from 1 to 8 months with intervening hypnotherapy treatments (Patton E 1930). So, this technique can positively benefit them now and well into their future. Additionally, Fultcher R (2014) says positive goals the client has given us when applied through suggestion in their own words are “…likely to remain active … because the suggestions … are … designed to work alongside [their] own beliefs and values.” So, we have lasting therapy here and can be enhanced when required to continue longer.
Evidence Tells Us Hypnotherapy Can Help With Anxiety
This client was also correct that hypnosis, when used as hypnotherapy can be used to help with anxiety. Orlick T et al (1987) tells of tournament fencers anxiety levels being affected positively before competitions by the use of post-hypnotic suggestion. Also, Stanton H (2001) tells us of medical practitioners who’s anxiety levels were lowered during an examination by a confidence increasing hypnotherapy sessions. This is important to clients because the larger the evidence base we have to prove hypnosis and hypnotherapy works well for people, the more people will know we can help them. Also lets not forget with a growing evidence base we can truthfully tell this to people. Hypnotherapy is proven to work for many personal problems in life.
References:
Waller D (2016) Their Worlds Your Words: The Hypnotherapists Guide to Effective Scripts and Sessions Ann Jaloba Publishing
Waterfield R (2004) Hidden Depths: The Story of Hypnosis Pan Macmillan. Kindle Edition pp36
Patton E (1930) The duration of post-hypnotic suggestion [online] available at https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1931-02719-001 accessed 25/02/21
Fulcher R (2014) The Beginner’s Guide to Hypnotherapy Kindle Edition pp165
Orlick T et al (1987) The effects of post-hypnotic suggestion and relaxation with suggestion on competitive fencing anxiety and performance. [online] available at https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1989-10500-001 accessed 25/02/21
Stanton H (2001) Using Hypnotherapy to Overcome Examination Anxiety[online] available at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00029157.1993.10403004 accessed 25/02/21
Fulcher R (2014) The Beginner’s Guide to Hypnotherapy Kindle Edition pp168
Roet B (2000) Understanding Hypnosis: A practical guide to the health-giving benefits of hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition
References:
Read you article and understand what you are saying. However I have a question for you. If I come to you with a very personal, private anxiety problem to fix, will it be kept private or do you make records that others can read? Lenny
Hi Lenny, Thank you for reading my studies and your question. Everything that happens between you and I when you are a client is 100% private and confidential. I do keep records. This is required by law and is good practice so I can remember details of what has happened. They are for my eyes only and no one else will read them. Even the police will need a court order to access them. So, do not worry your personal private issues are kept personal and private.
I will also like to say, you are not broken. So try to move away from the idea of being fixed by someone else. Anxiety is often a learned response to a trigger situation that used to do you some good.
For example imagine you get anxious when you see or hear a dog. It could be that when you were a child this response kept you safe from a potential danger. The dog was big to you then and had sharp teeth so might bite you. As a child that is a good reaction for the most part. However, if this fear response happens too often it can become overwhelming. No one wants to be frightened every time they walk down a street and hear a dog barking or even if there is no dog but, you are scared there might be one around the next corner. This anxiety about dogs has become irrational.
So to help with this issue (not fix but, help) we might “reframe” dogs for you, looking at the situation of a dog barking differently. A dog bark might be because it is lonely, bored and wants some company. Just a quick example of how hypnotherapy can help with anxiety. Feel free to contact me if you want an appointment. I am always happy to help. All the best, Kevin