Please note that I am not currently practicing hypnotherapy as it is not my go-to therapy at the moment.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an altered state of mind where our focus narrows to enable us to concentrate intensely on one specific thing to a level where we are still aware of the environment; however it does not distract us. Many people fear that being hypnotized means becoming unconscious and losing control.The truth is that during hypnosis the individual is always in control. During our normal daily activities we often experience different states of self-hypnosis, albeit subconsciously. It is a natural phenomenon occurring when we focus our minds intensely on one activity such as performing a demanding task, watching a riveting movie, daydreaming in a class or writing an exam. We all are able to experience a hypnotic state of mind but the level of hypnosis varies from person to person and is dependent upon our creative ability, our imagination, our capacity to concentrate and to visualise our thoughts. If an individual is ambivalent about change and reluctant to participate then a positive outcome to hypnotherapy is unlikely.
Hypnosis is self-initiated and we spend the majority of our lives in a hypnotic state. We are either open to suggestion or else we close our minds off to any counsel. As a trained hypnotherapist I am able to guide my client to reach a state of trance or relaxation utilising various induction techniques and methodologies that are best suited to the individual. Throughout our lives we learn habits. Negative behavioural tendencies, including bad eating habits, fears, negative self-image, panic attacks, anger outbursts and depressive moods, are all learnt and become part of our daily lives. Our attempt to change these habits may lead to us becoming more anxious and depressed. We develop negative thoughts which, if dwelt upon, may have harmful repercussions.
Throughout our lives we learn habits. Negative behavioural tendencies, including bad eating habits, fears, negative self-image, panic attacks, anger outbursts and depressive moods, are all learnt and become part of our daily lives. Our attempt to change these habits may lead to us becoming more anxious and depressed. We develop negative thoughts which, if dwelt upon, may have harmful repercussions. Through controlled hypnosis, the client is able to reach a cognizant awareness of his or her subconscious that causes specific behaviour. Through guided relaxation and intense inner focusing whereby a state of heightened awareness (trance) is attained, the client is able to focus on specific memories, thoughts or tasks that led to problematic behaviour or psychological problems now retained by the subconscious. Hypnotherapy targets the problem and allows for control and, ultimately, positive change.
Who can benefit from Hypnosis?
Through hypnotherapy debilitating issues can be addressed, including:
- Phobias or fears – flying, heights, driving, socializing
- High levels of anxiety, panic attacks, performance anxiety, depression
- Sleep disorders
- Career development – confidence, public speaking
- Pain, and aid the healing process after illness or surgery
- Habitual tendencies – smoking, nail biting
- Personal development, motivation
- Study and exam performance
- Personal issues including sexual dysfunction
RESOLVING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MEDICAL HYPNOANALYSIS - Dr. Trevor Modlin
Psychotherapy is largely directed at the conscious control and modification of a symptom – providing “coping” tools to the client or patient. The robe a priest wears over his street clothes is called a “cope” – it hides his underlying clothes. However since the real problem is subconscious, the automatic - even relentless - drive to maintain the symptomatic ‘proof-of-life’ will recur, perpetuating the problem. This is precisely why when a patient or client arrives at a clinical hypnotherapist’s door he or she has often been to several psychologists over the years and more than one psychiatrist. Fortunately, while not criticizing psychotherapy and medication, there are alternatives available to us today which achieve consistently good results – one such modality is Medical Hypnoanalysis [MHA].
The facts are that MHA is a structured, dynamic, trans-cultural, short-term directed therapy that does not require one to be particularly creative or clever in order to achieve gratifying success rates. Indeed it is the very protocol of MHA rather than the proficiency of the therapist that allows success.
It emphasizes causes rather than symptoms, explanations rather than descriptions and subconscious rather than conscious forces as being the ultimate origin of the psychopathology or indeed the causative factor in many diseases. It is termed ‘medical’ hypnoanalys is simply because its framework follows a medical protocol. When a patient consults a doctor, the latter takes a history and follows this with an examination of the patient. Investigations such as blood tests or x-rays and so on are done to verify the clinical diagnosis and to suggest an appropriate treatment avenue.
MHA follows the same structured protocol of:
- A thorough History. I have yet to see a patient who previously had had a thorough history taken! Verbal and body language clues to important events are simply not recognized.
- Examination of the underlying cause by means of a standardised Word Association Test [WAT]. The significance of Bryan’s WAT cannot be over-estimated – an extremely valuable tool.
- Investigation of the subconscious where necessary to further elucidate important events and train of thought by means of Dream Analysis, the 3-Box Test, automatic writing and other hypnotic techniques
- Specific Treatment directed at the identified problem events to resolve the underlying subconscious
Any and all psychotherapeutic techniques may be used in MHA – it is not a ‘new or distinct theory’. Actually MHA has been utilized for more than 50 years and therapists happily apply what their own personal training allows within the structure of MHA. The structure is so inherent that a client/patient can actually emigrate half-way through analysis for a therapist elsewhere to simply continue from where it was left off.
Causes:
MHA provides a fundamental method of identifying and resolving the underlying subconscious causes. Nowhere else in the literature nor in practice have I found a treatment modality that provides an audited cure rate of 56 per cent with many of the balance significantly improved 6. I have published and/or presented more than 40 peer-reviewed papers indicating success in treating a wide variety of psychological disorders and physical diseases – from anxiety syndromes, depression, anorexia/bulimia, dis-social personality disorder to migraine, asthma, lupus and cancer … and more.
Conclusions
This protocol allows rapid and permanent changes in most patients/clients. One finds that patients continue to improve well after the analysis is completed. Whereas our American colleagues report that 30 or less sessions are required, our findings are that perhaps 20 are enough for many patients – sometimes far less: I had a cancer patient with secondary spread resolve all cancer in 12 sessions, the last four of which were to utilize his imagination to stimulate his immune system to do the work it should have been doing while it was blocked by guilt. Borderline Personality Disorder takes a little longer, requiring patience and empathy.
In summary, MHA provides a consistently successful short-term modality for healing at spiritual, mind and body levels.
References:
Resolving Misconceptions About Medical Hypnoanalysis by Dr Trevor Modlin