Clinical hypnotherapy is a psychotherapy counselling technique conducted by a psychologist that combines hypnosis with therapeutic intervention. During hypnosis the body and conscious mind are in a relaxed state, while the subconscious mind remains alert and receptive to suggestion. In this state, an individual suspends critical judgement and exercises selective thinking. The word “trance” is used to describe this deeply relaxed state of heightened suggestibility, however, it is a state from which you can rouse yourself if you wish, and suggestions which do not accord with changes that you yourself want to make will have no effect.
The psychotherapy approach of using hypnotherapy is useful when an individual wants to think and behave differently in a situation where they have an unhelpful automatic response or in which they currently feel uncomfortable or out of control. It allows them to practice new ways of thinking and behaving in the situation while experiencing it in imagination rather than reality. This imaginal rehearsal allows the brain to form new neural pathways so it becomes easier for a new response to occur and is particularly powerful when it takes place in the state of deep relaxation which hypnosis supports and enhances.
Clinical hypnotherapy can be applied to a wide range of conditions including obesity, substance abuse, pain, amnesia, anxiety, stress, phobias, and decreased motivation and performance. Please note, that when negative patterns have been long entrenched it takes time, repetition and reinforcement to see the best results.
