What Is Clinical Hypnosis?

 
Clinical Hypnosis is a therapeutic tool used by Psychologists to bring about deep and lasting change in a person’s wellbeing. It is a safe, comfortable, and beneficial form of therapy that uses a person’s natural trance state to aid therapeutic change.  Clinical Hypnosis has been approved as a therapeutic practice by the British Medical Association and the American Medical Association.  The Australian Medical Association has approved hypnosis training through the College of Medical Hypnosis.  I have a Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis awarded by the College of Medical Hypnosis.

What is the difference between Clinical Hypnosis and hypnotherapy?

There is not a lot of difference and the terms are often interchangeable.  Anyone who has training in hypnosis, even as little as a weekend course, can call themselves a hypnotherapist.  I use the term “Clinical Hypnosis” because I practice as a Psychologist in a clinical environment.  When searching for a therapist it is wise to find out if their training is endorsed by the Australian Medical Association or the Australian Psychological Society.

Can anyone benefit from Clinical Hypnosis?

Yes, anyone can benefit from Clinical Hypnosis, as long as the reason for using Clinical Hypnosis is safe and realistic. From a practical perspective the depth of trance achieved varies with each person, but everyone can benefit.  The good news is that going into a trance is completely normal and happens naturally during the day anyway.   Each time we stare into space, or just feel your mind pausing for a moment, we are letting ourselves go into a trance. In Clinical Hypnosis we use that natural trance state for therapy, but we can also train ourselves to use our own natural trance moments for Self Hypnosis.  Self Hypnosis is a great way to train your own mind to achieve greater clarity or more confidence or more focus with anything that is important to you. It is also very effective when we need that little extra help with smoking cessation or weight normalisation or fears and phobias.

Is Clinical Hypnosis dangerous in any way?

No, it’s a myth that we can be forced to do something we don’t want to do.  Of course all Psychologists and Medical and Health Professionals have strong personal and professional ethics that prevent any unwanted results. Obviously if you practice Self Hypnosis in the car while driving with your eyes shut, then you might have a problem.  Actually it is never a good idea at all to listen to any Hypnosis recordings while driving.  

What does it feel like?

All of my clients say that being in a trance is so very relaxing, and they look forward to those times when we need to use it.  Each client has a unique experience, and most talk about the profound mental rest they feel. You just feel as if you are relaxing in a very contented space with your eyes closed. You can pay attention to external noises if you want to, such as the sounds outside the building, or a car going down the street outside, but most people enjoy the relaxation and don’t take any notice them.  You have full awareness the whole time, conscious of everything going on around you as well as what your sub-conscious is revealing to you.  If you feel completely comfortable in a trance state, you can go very deep into a trance and be completely unaware of those external sounds and even your own thoughts.  Clients who have this experience find the experience very rewarding.  

What if I don’t wake up?

The trance state is a completely ordinary and normal state and it cannot hold you against your will.  If you were to go so deep as to enter a truly deep trance state, you would basically go into natural sleep and wake up when you were ready to do so.  It is not possible for anyone to be “left” or “stuck” in hypnosis. During your practice time, if there were an emergency or something that needed your attention, you could easily awaken yourself at any time and simply open your eyes.

How does Clinical Hypnosis differ from meditation?

In meditation you do enter a trance; but the aim is usually to focus on something like your breath or a sound or a thought.  Clinical Hypnosis manipulates this trance state to your own advantage. You get to choose how deep you want to go and what you want to achieve while you are there.  With Clinical Hypnosis the process is more guided and with a therapeutic goal in mind.

How will I know that I have been in trance?

If you have ever watched a person go into a daydream, it’s easy to see the changes.  Their eyes are unfocussed, their body relaxes, and they won’t hear anyone who speaks to them.  I always like my clients eyes to be closed when doing Clinical Hypnosis, but it’s easy to feel your body and mind relaxing.  Often at the beginning of our sessions you won’t feel any changes when you are in a light trance.  However there are physiological changes within the trance state, and some are easy to feel and some are not.  For example, your breathing and heart rate slows as you relax, and your mouth may become drier too.  One of the clear signs of being in a trance that I always see in my clients, is that my client’s eyes become quite dilated.  Of course I only see this when my client wakes, but it’s a good indication of the depth of the trance that they achieved. This eye dilation, and other physiological changes, normalises very quickly as the trance fades upon waking, just as the physiological differences between waking and sleeping fade naturally.

How long does it take to get results?

This is a very common and valid question.  Everyone wants their problem to be fixed as soon as possible.  I use Clinical Hypnosis to make the therapeutic change more effective, deep, and lasting.  Clinical Hypnosis may speed some aspects of the process; however, all psychological healing takes time and effort to bring about the therapeutic change that will bring lasting results.

I like the idea of Self Hypnosis.  When should I practice, and can I get lasting change on my own?

After my clients have experienced the trance state for some sessions, they often want to try it at home for themselves.  I often suggest ways and reasons to use Self Hypnosis that are unique and relevant to each client. I always suggest that beginners use Self Hypnosis as a way to practice true mental relaxation by slowly allowing all critical thoughts to gradually leave safely, comfortably, and respectfully.  This is not as easy as it sounds, as it’s very common to have mean and critical thoughts about oneself.  I often use Self Hypnosis to help to focus on clarity, motivation, and relaxation within my own daily life.  I practice at any time that’s convenient; a set time each day doesn’t work for me, but it may for you.  Keep in mind that time spent committed to self-hypnosis is time invested in yourself to make constructive self-change, so practice positively and frequently. Also, as you become more experienced you may find that you need a lesser amount of time.