THE USE OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS IN COUNSELING

When defining clinical hypnosis, it is useful to begin with what it is not. Clinical Hypnosis is not what you see on television, stage shows, or at local motels to stop smoking or lose weight in one group session for $39.00. In these settings you have a so-called master hypnotist, or world’s greatest hypnotist hypnotizing a group of people seated on folding chairs. The hypnotist then uses a number of authoritative suggestions, directing those hypnotized to do what they are told. It appears that the participants don’t have a choice--that they are under the power of the hypnotist. While it appears workable on stage for a comedy show, the treatment of smoking, overweight and other problems are more complex.

Much debate exists about the dynamics of these events and the phenomena that takes place. This is not how you will be utilizing clinical hypnosis at GPA.

Hypnosis is best understood as an altered state of consciousness. This means that it is simply a different state than you would have when you are not using hypnosis, but it is not a state of unconsciousness. It is not a state of giving up control of your mind to another person. The old mind control techniques of the NAZI War camps certainly employ different phenomena than hypnosis. Clinical hypnosis is a tool that is sometimes very effective in helping people achieve therapeutic goals.

Typically, during a hypnotic trance, an electroencephalogram (EEG) will reveal a decrease in beta brain waves and an increase in alpha and theta brain waves. Alpha and theta brain waves are slower brain wave patterns and have been linked to relaxed states. It is believed that the subconscious mind becomes more active during these states. These are the states normally associated with imagination, intuition and creativity.

Think of the use of hypnosis like putting a magnifying glass on something. It increases its intensity and makes it several times stronger. That’s what makes hypnosis such a strong motivational tool. When motivation is a problem, we usually recommend self-hypnosis. That is a tool you can take with you and it improves with time.

Clinical Hypnosis, when using four or more sessions, has remained the mainstay of treatment to stop smoking and lose weight, while many fad programs, diets and medications have come and gone. We use it for these two programs, but also find hypnosis helpful in solving a variety of therapeutic mysteries.

At GPA we take the complexities out of hypnosis and give you another therapeutic tool to help you achieve your goals.