About - Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy & Clinical Hypnotherapy

What exactly is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis can be understood to be a wide variety of techniques that form a process in which to assist an individual or group to enter a highly focussed and alert state, which is a natural form of trance. This trance state is a natural state of consciousness that we all enter many times per day. The word Hypnosis can also be understood to represent this natural trance state as well as the process used to enter it.

Dr. James Braid (1795-1860), a Scottish surgeon and physician, inadvertently coined the term ‘hypnosis’ in 1841 when developing therapeutic techniques from his studies of the earlier works of Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer. At first, Dr. Braid believed in a sleep-based physiological theory to explain the state induced from the techniques he had developed, and so using the Greek word for sleep (‘hypnos’ the Greek god of sleep), he named his technique ‘neuro-hypnotism’, which was then shortened by others to ‘hypnosis’. A short time after this, in 1847, as Dr. James Braid continued striving to accurately describe the underlying mechanisms of hypnosis, he realised that the state was in fact an alert-focussed state, not like sleep, and thus changed his sleep-theory to a psychological theory, which emphasised mental concentration on a single thought or idea. He then renamed his techniques ‘monoideism’, however it was too late, the name hypnosis had stuck and it has been known by this name ever since. So while the term hypnosis suggests a type of sleep, it is in fact a trance state of focussed-attention, much like Samatha meditation. Though the term hypnosis is an inaccurate and inappropriate term to describe the state, it is unfortunately a term that is here to stay.

Hypnosis can be understood to be a natural state of consciousness in which one enters. Focussed trance-like states are naturally occurring states in everyday life. The hypnotic state can feel as if you are dreaming or daydreaming and is a natural state many people experience on a daily basis. For example, every morning, just before we become fully awake, we pass through a natural trance state between sleep and full-awakened consciousness, which is known as the ‘Hypnopompic state’. Similarly, anytime we fall asleep, we pass through a natural trance state known as the ‘Hypnogogic state’. Throughout the day we all pass in and out of natural trance states when relaxing and daydreaming. These naturally form part of our ultradian rhythm, which are natural recurrent periods or cycles repeated throughout a 24-hour circadian day, where the brain and consciousness spindles down in much the same way a hard-drive spins down at various points. Whether we are sitting at work, travelling somewhere, taking a shower, or just sitting and relaxing, we can enter this natural trance state. Throughout this hypnotic experience, we remain in full control, not unconscious or asleep. We are aware of what is happening around us and we are able to snap out of this altered state whenever the need arises. The same is within the state of Hypnosis induced within Hypnotherapy. Hypnosis itself can be described as a state of relaxation and consciousness combined with a state of heightened awareness, concentration and focused attention. It is akin to the experience of certain forms of meditation, and meditation can be one way to enter the state of hypnosis. Dr. Braid believed that when the individual is so focused on one thought or idea to the exclusion of all others, the focussed trance-state we know as hypnosis ensues. This theory continues to be the main belief of most hypnotherapists today.

The terms 'Hypnotherapy' and 'Clinical Hypnotherapy'

While the term Hypnotherapy is used to describe the use of hypnosis within a therapeutic context, the term Clinical Hypnotherapy refers to the level of academic training the qualified hypnotherapist has received, being trained with clinical and medical knowledge. Clinical Hypnotherapy refers to the use of hypnotherapy in a clinical setting, including the clinical diagnosis and application of hypnotherapeutic strategies and approaches within the treatment of individual problems.

What are the benefits of Hypnosis?

Within the hypnotic state one can access deeper levels of awareness than possible within the normal fully awakened state. In the hypnotic state, one can by-pass the barriers of self-limiting conscious thoughts, so that the subconscious mind can act upon suggestions much more powerfully than is possible within the normal conscious state of mind. This can provide us with a wider selection of choices about the way we think, feel and behave. One can enter the state of hypnosis alone, as in self-hypnosis and meditation, or with the assistance and guidance of a hypnotist or hypnotherapist. The state of hypnosis allows us to access a deeper level of our mind where we can affect change in the ways we truly desire without the mental chatter and sabotage of the conscious mind interfering and acting in incongruence with our inner desires. Thus, it is easier and more effective to overcome many self-inflicting issues, such as fears, phobias, addictions, unwanted behavioural responses, or even increase certain areas of performance, such as confidence, motivation and creativity.

While the hypnotic experience varies from one person to another, it generally involves natural deep states of relaxation in which one accesses their unconscious resources to facilitate positive changes in their life. This naturally relaxed focussed state of hypnosis allows us to establish and act upon new belief systems, resulting in breaking unwanted habits, changing behaviour patterns and overcoming previously self-limiting beliefs. After each consultation, patients often report a great feeling of well-being and a more positive outlook on their life.

Patients often seek Hypnotherapy to assist with such things as the modification of internal behaviour, emotional content, and attitudes, as well as a wide range of conditions including dysfunctional habits, anxiety based disorders, stress-related illness, pain management, and personal development. Hypnotherapy can help with a variety of psychological issues such as anxiety, fears, phobias, lack of confidence, panic attacks, habit cessation, weight control, and pain control. It can also help with a variety of physiological symptoms that may have a psychological basis.
Common treatments include:

Common Misconceptions

The use of hypnosis in hypnotherapy differs dramatically from the way performers use the guise of hypnosis for entertainment purposes under the name of ‘stage-hypnosis’. From a clinical perspective, the use of hypnosis for entertainment purposes is highly unethical and it is from this activity that most misconceptions and fears of hypnosis arise.

In truth, though stage-hypnosis may use some of the techniques in hypnosis, it in fact relies heavily upon the exhibitionism within certain people or relies upon something known as ‘compliance’. Compliance is where an individual is more embarrassed to stand up, confront and disagree with someone than to go along and comply with the directions of another. In this case the person being stage-hypnotised can transfer the responsibility of their behaviour upon the person giving the directions, and so not take responsibility for their actions and thus not feel embarrassed. Like all stage-magic, stage-hypnosis is based on smoke and mirrors. For example, through the use of something called ‘suggestibility tests’, the magician or entertainer has already worked out who in the audience will either be more embarrassed to stand up and say ‘no, it does not work’ as opposed to being embarrassed by acting like a chicken, or has worked out who is more likely to comply due to a level of exhibitionism. So, overal it relies upon subjects who will display compliance, and just ‘go-along’ with the directions of the magician or entertainer. This is a very different thing to actual hypnosis used in a therapeutic context.

The great misconception that derives from this stage-hypnosis is that the subject will lose control and be in a kind of trance that can be manipulated and controlled by the hypnotist. This is not true. The truth is that no one can hypnotise anyone in this way. Only an individual can allow their self to enter a trance state just as a meditator allows their self to enter a meditative state. If the subject chooses not to enter the state, nothing can make them enter it. As hypnosis is a highly focussed natural state of concentrated attention, the subject can snap out of the focussed state of consciousness at any moment they choose. The clinical therapist acts only as a guide in this process, assisting the patient to enter the focussed trance-state, whilst possessing the knowledge of how to best assist the patient, based upon their clinical knowledge and training, their prior discussion with the patient in the form of their case-history, including an understanding of the patients desire for change, and a deep understanding of the therapeutic abilities of the meditative trance-like state that is hypnosis.

The guise of hypnosis displayed in stage-hypnosis and stage-magic is therefore nothing but an illusion.

The other main misconception that Hypnosis involves sleep or a state that is similar to sleep, unfortunately stems from it's own inaccurate name as stated within the second paragraph of this page.

Training in Clinical Hypnosis

If you are interested in training within clinical hypnosis, please visit www.bstfoundation.co.uk to learn more about the clinical training programmes in conjunction with St Mary's University College, London. This is currently the only undergraduate BSc (Hons) degree programme of its kind within the UK and abroad and thus represents groundbreaking history within clinical hypnosis.