Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation between sleep and wakefulness. It is used in therapy (hypnotherapy) to help kick tobacco addiction, aid weight loss and relieve stress.

What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness in which the subject becomes completely relaxed and disconnected from the outside world, as if they were watching a particularly captivating film. This state is used in psychiatry to access the unconscious more easily, to overcome mental blocks and to recall childhood problems. Hypnosis deepens and accelerates the process of therapy. The objective of a hypnotherapy session is to reach the unconscious and uncover a traumatic event from the past that has been repressed and is causing psychological problems, such as anxious behaviour or phobia.

Who is it for?
Hypnosis would appear to be an effective tool used to rid people of various problems and it's becoming more commonly used in psychotherapy, even though the basis of its effects are unknown. Current information shows that it is mainly used for psychological and psychosomatic problems: stopping smoking, losing weight, anxiety, nervousness, stress, bedwetting, insomnia, phobias, trauma, obsessive compulsive disorder, shyness and also personal development. Children and students who lack self-confidence can also benefit from it prior to an exam, for example. Hypnosis can also be used in brief psychotherapy.

What happens during a session?
There are two types of hypnoses. The first traditional, Freudian type is based on the power of suggestion. The patient is subjected to verbal, visual and physical commands (“sleep!”). This technique works on the principle that if you suggest to someone that they heal themselves, they can heal themselves. This method is sometimes effective but is short-lived.
The Ericksonian method of hypnosis isn’t suggestive; the patient is actively involved. A hypnosis session takes the form of a simple conversation where the patient is in a state of profound relaxation and, little by little, freely accesses their unconscious. The hypnotist maintains the conversation by using metaphors and symbols and gradually leads the patient to find the solutions to their own problems themself. This non-suggestive type of hypnosis totally respects the subject's personal values and is much more effective than the first method.

How much does it cost?
As it’s not widely available on the NHS, you will probably have to pay for hypnotherapy sessions. Prices range from £40 to £150 for a one-hour session. Five to six sessions are sometimes necessary, depending on the problems to be treated. However, hypnotherapy isn’t covered by any legislation in the UK. Find out as much as you can about the professional competencies of therapists before deciding on one. For more information, see the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis: www.bsch.org.uk and the National Council for Hypnotherapy: www.hypnotherapists.org.uk

EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desenstisation and Reprocessing. This method is similar to hypnosis (the patient follows a moving object with their eyes). It enables the practitioner to work with the brain and has fairly impressive results on post-traumatic stress patients.

Are there any dangers?
Hypnosis grants the hypnotist a sort of power over his patient. But there’s no need to worry: our brain possesses safety measures that prevent us from acting against our personal values. The influence of hypnosis isn’t as powerful as people think and you remain 'yourself' throughout.