Hypnosis - Show hypnosis = Hypnosis therapy?
Not only homeopathy polarizes, hypnotherapy does as well. While there are many advocates of this method, there are also many critics and opponents. Hypnosis has experienced a real boom in recent years, with the image of
therapeutic hypnosis often dominated by television reports or stage shows. In
my opinion, stage and show hypnosis are justified: many people experience
the surprising effect of hypnosis as spectators or participants. Seemingly
without a will, the participants make a fool out of themselves or accomplish
superhuman things. Show hypnosis usually does not fulfill a therapeutic
purpose though. It is different from hypnosis therapy. The focus here is on the
benefits of hypnosis for the patient. There are no spectators. It is a 1:1
interaction between the therapist on the one hand and the unconscious of the
patient on the other hand.
The solution to many problems and illnesses lies in the unconscious of the patient. In the state of hypnosis trance, these hidden parts can be individually addressed and used for the benefit of the patient. In therapeutic hypnosis, the patient is never without will: he can end the trance state at any time, remembers everything that has been said and does not have to run the risk of
divulging secrets. Everything happens in agreement in a trusting environment.
During the initial anamnesis, biographical key events, as well as previous
illnesses and therapies, will be talked about. The preliminary talk is concluded
with the patient’s real expectations, wishes and goals: e.g., liberation from
phobias, fears, addictions, coping with traumas, grief or building self-esteem.
Which diseases are treated?
My focus is on the treatment of circumscribed phobias and fears: fear of flying, fear of heights, spider phobia, etc.
In the field of hypnosis, I cooperate with coach Jasmin Ghelman, whom I greatly appreciate as a competent colleague.
Answers to your most important questions
Apart from a few exceptions, every human being is hypnotizable. You have to agree to hypnosis; nothing happens against your will. Most of the time, however, this question is aimed at whether every human being can be made to perform specific actions during hypnosis. This is especially true for show hypnosis, in which people suddenly dance like Elvis or cluck like a chicken.
Therapeutic hypnosis is for medical purposes only. Hypnosis for show purposes focuses on the fun and amusement factor.
There are different approaches to hypnosis therapy, whereby the decision for one or more hypnosis techniques is based on experience with patients and the respective task. Some hypnosis techniques are effective due to suggestions that the therapist gives during the trance state.
While some hypnosis techniques aim for a deep trance state, others stay close to the waking state to develop their full effect. The reason is that, the various problem constellations can be located at different levels of the subconscious, so that different access options are required to eliminate the cause of a problem. The purely symbolic form of hypnosis is the classic variant, while in more modern variants the patient is often actively involved in the conversation, whereby sometimes a combination of both options can be useful.
Hypnosis is a particularly fast and effective procedure so that the first significant changes already occur after the first session. The mode of action also depends on the underlying problem, which is solved with the help of hypnosis.
Hypnosis or hypnotherapy can be used to treat a variety of physical and mental problems. The traditional areas of application include the treatment of fears, phobias, and compulsions, as well as pain therapy for relief of acute and chronic pain. Hypnosis therapy has been successfully used to treat negative thoughts or depression. It is also possible to change certain behaviors with the help of hypnosis. This applies, for example, to people who want to lose weight or stop smoking.
Hypnosis treatment has long been widely used and is also very successfully applied in coaching, for example when it comes to mentally supporting personal development and motivation or dissolving obstacles to success.
In the state of hypnosis, a patient’s external control, perception, and reaction to external stimuli are limited. He becomes more open to suggestions, with the emphasis of hypnosis on inner experience. The consequence for medical hypnosis is that the therapist must be responsible and prudent regarding
to the different hypnosis phenomena. He takes great care to ensure that you as a patient are always protected and safe. The highest maxims of hypnosis treatment include the well-being and health of the patients, which is why only those suggestions are given that serve these principles. Hypnosis is only permitted if you, the patient, have given your voluntary consent.
With therapeutic hypnosis, you can still perceive what is happening around you. You will experience a gentle, relaxed wave movement that is the sum of what the therapist says and your thoughts, which sometimes travel. During hypnosis, your subconscious absorbs suggestions. Physically speaking, hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation that is perceived as very pleasant, beneficial and regenerating. In addition to the actual effects that hypnosis is supposed to have, you will also notice that physical tensions are released, and your sleeping pattern improves.
Depending on the depth of your relaxation, your consciousness will lie down asleep while your unconscious is wide awake and absorbs the suggestions made by the therapist. Your consciousness ensures that the application of hypnosis takes place in harmony with your psyche and accordance with your personal goals. It always comes back immediately if, for example, you hear a loud noise or if you are reluctant to use a specific formulation. In other words, with the emergence of an inner blockage, your consciousness returns immediately, taking on a protective function. So, you don’t need to worry about leaking secrets or being encouraged to behave undesirably. The hypnosis sessions are recorded with a video camera for your security. The images also serve to document the success of the treatment.
During hypnosis, you are in a state of suspension between sleep and wakefulness. This condition is already known to you through regular “hypnosis in everyday life,” for example when you stare out of the window thoughtlessly for a few moments or when you lose yourself in your thoughts during a car journey and time flies by without your ability to drive being endangered.
Just as you slip away from this state again, you also wake up again after hypnosis. So, nobody has to worry about getting “stuck” in this state, because your body would wake up on its own accord even without the intervention of the therapist.
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