Hypnosis: Myths & Misconceptions
There’s much confusion out there regarding hypnosis, yet it’s likely that the better you understand it the more you’ll get out of it. Hopefully, the following can shed some light on this valuable technique and explain why it’s so useful as an aid to therapy.
What is hypnosis?
In modern psychology, hypnosis is defined as a state of increased suggestibility. Evidence shows that, above all, it’s about responding powerfully to suggestions. It’s a highly focused, natural state of deep absorption in your imagination and visualisations. It can be likened to the feeling of calm daydreaming, meditation or perhaps the pleasant feeling of being thoroughly engrossed in a really good story.
Hypnosis often feels like an enjoyable state of profound relaxation. Critical thinking is put on hold, bringing peace, calm and clarity, leaving you free to fully respond to suggestions.
Guided hypnosis is always collaborative. You allow yourself to focus on the suggestions of the hypnotist by using your imagination to evoke concepts, images, emotions and even practice behaviour. Allowing ourselves to visualise behaving differently in a given situation has obvious potential for helpful, therapeutic change.
Almost everyone can respond to hypnotic suggestion, it just requires a little focus and imagination, a positive attitude and the willing intention to respond. Yet it’s a skill that improves with practice. Interestingly, many people get to the point where they learn to be their own hypnotist, guiding their imagination in line with their own suggestions. Some argue that, fundamentally, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis at some level because you choose whether or not to follow the suggestions of the hypnotist.
Unfortunately, when it comes to hypnosis, there are myths and misconceptions everywhere you look. Hypnosis is commonly portrayed on television and in movies as somehow mysterious and enigmatic, and often manipulative or even controlling – all very entertaining but incredibly misleading! Sadly, such portrayals can put people off seeking hypnotherapy and benefitting from all that it has to offer.
Myth Busting – What hypnosis is not…
- Hypnosis is not ‘done to you’ – it’s a collaborative process between both parties – rather like a dance, the hypnotist leads and the hypnotised subject chooses whether or not to follow
- Hypnosis is not mind control – you are always in control and cannot be compelled to do anything that goes against your principles, ethics or better judgement
- Hypnosis is not passive - you must want to accept the suggestions on some level and actively imagine responding
- Hypnosis is not sleep or unconsciousness – it’s common to be given the suggestion to ‘sleep now…” but you don’t actually fall asleep (if you did you wouldn’t be able to follow suggestions) - suggesting sleep is a profound way to calm the mind and encourage a deep level of relaxation but most people report being fully aware of everything that happens in hypnosis
- Hypnosis is not stage hypnosis – stage hypnotists incorporate a number of psychological ‘tricks’ in addition to hypnosis, all designed for comedic effect and very entertaining, but with precious little in common with hypnotherapy
- Hypnosis is not dangerous - there are no harmful side effects - nobody has ever been ‘stuck’ in hypnosis – it’s as easy as coming out of relaxation so you can choose to end the session at any point
- Hypnosis is not ‘woo woo’ – it isn’t magical or mysterious (psychologists now believe it isn’t even truly ‘trance’) – it is scientifically well understood, comprehensively researched and well supported by evidence
- Hypnosis is not all about unearthing memories or ‘past lives’ – in fact, the evidence suggests hypnosis for such purposes is problematic/unreliable and the British Psychological Society cautions against such use
- Hypnosis is not relaxation – it’s common to use relaxation to help induce an enjoyable state of hypnosis, but it’s not essential. Athletes have been known to use active hypnosis to help with athletic performance!
Now that you understand more about hypnosis it’s hopefully easy to see how it can be a useful tool supporting you in reaching your goals and making lasting changes.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy (also known as ‘clinical hypnotherapy’) simply refers to the use of hypnosis in a therapeutic context, but hypnosis is not really a stand-alone therapy in itself, it’s a technique that can be used to enhance the effect of any therapeutic approach. Research shows that hypnosis combines particularly well with cognitive behavioural therapy – an approach known as ‘Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy’.
The hypnotist’s suggestions in hypnotherapy are all designed to reinforce your goals and the changes you wish to make. Following your discussion/action plan with your therapist you will have the opportunity to practice feeling differently, imagine thinking differently and rehearse behaving in a new, more constructive way. Together you’ll focus on the thoughts you would like to have or visualise responding in the way you would like to respond, until it becomes second nature.
Summary
Hypnotherapy is a straightforward, practical therapy, grounded in science and well supported by evidence. It is known to be of benefit in many areas, especially pain management, anxiety and insomnia (click here for more areas that have been shown to respond well to hypnosis).
If there are any points above that you’d like to discuss, please feel free to raise them during our initial phone call.
Note: Sometimes it’s possible to achieve results with relaxation and visualisation alone. If you’re really nervous about being hypnotised this can be a good alternative.
