HypnotherapySwinging pendulums, staring eyes, and manipulative stage shows... are just as frequently associated with hynposis, as the idea of it being a new-miraculous panacea. Hypnotherapy, or the idea of healing from an altered state of consciousness has fascinated people for thousands of years.
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With the very word hypnosis (from ὑπνος meaning sleep), we are remembering the ancient Greeks, who made extensive use of healing sleep: In temples, patients were put to sleep with the intent of receiving a curing message from the gods. The Egyptians, as we can read on some papyri they left behind, not only used hypnotic states during their religious ceremonies, but also in aid of surgical procedures. Throughout the world, in shamanic, indigenous cultures, altered states have been used to bring upon physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Today, even after a considerable amount of brain wave research, hypnosis remains just as mysterious and powerful as it ever was. Whenever I tell about my profession as a hypnotherapist in a social setting, curious conversations and questions quickly arise. What is hypnosis really?
Today, even after a considerable amount of brain wave research, hypnosis remains just as mysterious and powerful as it ever was. Whenever I tell about my profession as a hypnotherapist in a social setting, curious conversations and questions quickly arise. What is hypnosis really?
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis can be described as a relaxed and focused state of mind, during which the attention is brought away from the outside world towards the inner world. It is a peaceful, blissful state in which deeper and higher layers of the psyche can be accessed
The hypnotic state is more common and natural than many would assume. We may enter it many times during the day, for instance, while driving or watching television - hence we become more susceptible to advertisements. In hypnotherapy, this state is used to facilitate positive changes in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, so that our lives can change for the better.
If conducted with professional expertise, hypnotherapy is applied through guided self-hypnosis, as opposed to the authoritarian method of hetero-hypnosis. Rather than giving direct commands or prescribing remedies externally, hypnosis in therapy opens up a safe space, where a client's internal resources and wisdom can be activated.
The hypnotic state is more common and natural than many would assume. We may enter it many times during the day, for instance, while driving or watching television - hence we become more susceptible to advertisements. In hypnotherapy, this state is used to facilitate positive changes in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, so that our lives can change for the better.
If conducted with professional expertise, hypnotherapy is applied through guided self-hypnosis, as opposed to the authoritarian method of hetero-hypnosis. Rather than giving direct commands or prescribing remedies externally, hypnosis in therapy opens up a safe space, where a client's internal resources and wisdom can be activated.
The Use of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be used for healing and improving any areas of our lives, as arising from the mind, such as:
- Overcoming fears, phobias, and anxieties, for example, fear of public speaking or exams
- Healing mental states that affect bodily functions, as in cases of stammering, impotence, and insomnia
- Improving memory and learning, such as learning languages (HypnoGerman is based on that)
- Finding meaning in our lives, for instance through past life regressions, and for spiritual growth.
- Overcoming fears, phobias, and anxieties, for example, fear of public speaking or exams
- Healing mental states that affect bodily functions, as in cases of stammering, impotence, and insomnia
- Improving memory and learning, such as learning languages (HypnoGerman is based on that)
- Finding meaning in our lives, for instance through past life regressions, and for spiritual growth.
Behind the Curtain: Three Laws of Suggestion Hypnotherapy Works With
1. The Law of Concentrated Attention. Whatever the unconscious mind is concentrated upon, will lead to the idea spontaneously realising itself. If we hold an idea long with the power of visualisation, our unconscious will rearrange everything to realise that idea (like a computer which runs a program). Those, who are aware of this law, can make it work to their huge personal benefit as well as the benefit of others. Those, who are unaware of the workings of this law, might be trapped by it, because the language of the unconscious does not know negation. (An example: if someone tells us not to think of a pink elephant, we will inevitably think of a pink elephant. Therefore, if we think of what we do not want, that also acts as unconscious programming, as a result of which we attract exacly the unwanted thing into our lives.) If we do not want something, we have to begin to visualise what we want instead.
2. The Law of Reversed Effect. The harder you try to concentrate on doing something that is governed by the unconscious mind, the more difficult it becomes. (For example: the harder an insomniac tries to fall asleep the harder it becomes.) This is the reason why all effective hypnotherapy and visualisation begins by relaxing the mind, releasing all tension and stressful expectations.
3. The Law of Dominant Effect. Finally, this third law states that the stronger emotion always replaces the weeker one. This sounds like an obvious statement, but how often are we using it? The "trick" for instance to overcoming any bad habit is to create a stronger emotion to anything that cancels out the habit than.
2. The Law of Reversed Effect. The harder you try to concentrate on doing something that is governed by the unconscious mind, the more difficult it becomes. (For example: the harder an insomniac tries to fall asleep the harder it becomes.) This is the reason why all effective hypnotherapy and visualisation begins by relaxing the mind, releasing all tension and stressful expectations.
3. The Law of Dominant Effect. Finally, this third law states that the stronger emotion always replaces the weeker one. This sounds like an obvious statement, but how often are we using it? The "trick" for instance to overcoming any bad habit is to create a stronger emotion to anything that cancels out the habit than.