Hypnotherapy, commonly incorrectly referred to as hypnosis, is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) method which is used to help a range of health conditions. It offers relief to the sufferer in a natural, non-invasive way with few side effects as compared with pills, potions, prescription medications and procedures.
Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis, a method of inducing a trance-like state, in order to work on a range of health issues. It can be a way of tackling present problems or a method for healing the past and moving on more confidently into the future.
In this guide, you will discover the essentials about hypnotherapy, what it is, what conditions can be helped by it, what to expect when you attend a hypnotherapy session, how long treatment will usually last, and how to find a reliable and affordable hypnotherapist.
So let’s get started with what hypnotherapy is and how it works.
What is Hypnotherapy and How Does It Work?
Hypnotherapy uses skilled verbal communication with a patient when the patient is in a hypnotized, trance, or hyper-focused state, allowing them to concentrate on specific thoughts, tasks or goals in order to help achieve these.
It is guided relaxation, in which the patient can focus on certain thoughts without getting upset or worried, and can also make life-improving decisions such as stopping smoking or losing weight. Once s/he has come out of the hypnotized state, the patient will follow through with that has been suggested during the hypnotherapy session.
Hypnotherapy can also alter perceptions, such as the sensation of pain, so it can be used for people who have a chronic illness like arthritis and who are looking for natural pain relief.
A third use of hypnotherapy is to deal under hypnosis with issues that would be too distressing to deal with in normal waking life, such as past abuse. Hypnotherapy can be help the patient to heal the issue as best they can so they are not held back by it, and so they can move forward with their life. It is not a question of digging up buried memories, but dealing with known issues.
In some cases, the person might wish to deal with extreme anxieties and phobias (such as a fear of spiders), which the person wishes to get under control so they can lead a more healthy and balanced life.
Hypnotherapy is generally quite successful in all these areas, but there are a couple of issues to consider. One is that not everyone is an appropriate candidate for hypnotherapy, particularly anyone with an extreme mood disorder or psychosis.
Hypnotherapy is also not advisable for anyone who abuses alcohol or drugs, since their responses will be very unpredictable.
Anyone trying hypnotherapy in order to relieve pain should first be fully examined by a medical doctor to determine the precise causes of the pain, rather than try to cure the pain with hypnotherapy without being certain why it is occurring.
One other drawback is that occasionally what is termed a false memory can be planted unintentionally by the hypnotherapist – that is, make the patient think that something might have happened to them which really did not. Therefore, hypnotherapy is not a good idea for highly suggestible people, and for those with certain mental disorders in which they struggle with maintaining a firm grip on reality, such as dissociative disorder.
Most people go for hypnotherapy in order to solve a problem they have been struggling with on their own and are not making much headway with. Let’s look in the next section at some of the most common reasons people seek the assistance of a hypnotherapist.
What Conditions Can Be Helped by Hypnotherapy?
In the last section, we mentioned that many people use hypnotherapy as an aid in their struggle with a certain issue. The most common are weight loss, stopping smoking, and pain relief. All of these have both a physical and a mental component, and hypnotherapy can help with the mental part of making a decision and following through. It can also help change a person’s perceptions in order to lead a better life, free from the pain or other issue that has been holding them back from being their best self.
Conditions that have been helped by hypnotherapy include:
Stopping smoking
Weight loss
Starting exercise
Pain management
Dealing with childbirth issues, such as:
- Fertility problems
- Getting pregnant
- Going into labor/fear of it
Chronic fatigue syndrome
A basket of symptoms which leave the person feeling drained all of the time
Chronic pain syndrome
A group of symptoms which leave the person experiencing pain all the time, usually all over the body
Arthritis pain relief
Designed to lessen the ache of bones and joints
Fibromyalgia
Related to arthritis, a musculoskeletal condition which results in pain in certain “tender spots,” plus poor sleep and a mental “fog”
Self-confidence issues
- Shyness
- Self-esteem and self-respect
- Trouble dating
Public speaking concerns
- Giving presentations
- Stage fright
- Fear of unknown social situations such as parties
Relaxation
- Stress relief
- Stress management
Sleep disorders
- Insomnia
- Early waking
- Trouble falling asleep
- Trouble staying asleep
Mood disorders
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Emotional Issues
Doing better on:
- Exams
- Driving tests
- Job interviews
Dealing with phobias, such as:
- Spiders
- Heights
- Flying
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Improving the immune system
Boosting performance, professional, or sports performance
- Fear of success
- Fear of failure
- Self-sabotage
Tinnitus, ringing in the ears
Asthma attacks
Bereavement, that is, loss of a loved one
Dealing with bad relationship break-ups
Issues and trauma from the past
- Abuse, physical or emotion
* Rape - Emotional issues as a result of that past
- Taking back one’s personal power despite the past
…and more.
As you can see, there is a wide range of areas where hypnotherapy has been used successfully. Some hypnotherapists will specialize in one area more than another – for example, smoking cessation and weight loss. For the more traumatic issues, it might be better to look for a psychotherapist who uses hypnotherapy as part of his or her overall therapy and is trained to deal with subjects like PTSD, depression or abuse. Check their credentials carefully before choosing the right person who can help with these important issues.
If you have one of the conditions or issue on the list above, and are reading this guide, chances are you might already be starting to think that hypnotherapy might be right for you, but wish to learn more. Many people get very nervous about the idea of going for their first visit, so let’s look in the next section at what you can expect from a typical hypnotherapy session.
What to Expect From a Typical Hypnotherapy Session
Your first visit to a hypnotherapist will be very much like any other visit to a professional you are seeking help from. They will review your history and determine why you are there and what you hope to accomplish. If you have more than one issue you would like to tackle, that is fine, but try to focus on one at a time. Once you have handled your smoking issue, for example, then you can start to deal with your weight loss, especially since those who quit smoking will often put on weight.
After you have reviewed your health history and explained why you are there, the hypnotherapist may explain what hypnosis is and how it works.
Once you are clear about your goals and what will happen, and start to feel comfortable with each other, the real work will begin. You will be directed through one or more relaxation techniques, using a series of mental images and suggestions intended to change behaviors and relieve symptoms.
For example, people who have trouble controlling their eating may be given the suggestion that, in the future, they will be able be more in control whenever they wish and do not have to binge.
The hypnotherapist may also teach you the basics of self-hypnosis – that is, putting yourself into a frame of mind in which you will make positive choices, such as not lighting that cigarette or eating that piece of cake.
Some hypnotherapists will also give you an audiotape to use at home so you can reinforce what you learn during the sessions. This should enable you to make more rapid progress in achieving your goals. Use these tapes in a quiet, safe place, such as at home in a comfortable bed or chair. Do NOT listen to them in the car or on public transportation.
Hypnosis is just one tool of hypnotherapy. It is not about getting sleepy and falling asleep. Hypnosis may also sound like all you are doing is going in and out of a trance, but each trance being induced is actually structured in certain ways for maximum effect.
There are several stages of hypnosis:
1. Reframing the problem or issue; that is, thinking about it differently, usually in a more positive light.
2. Becoming relaxed, then absorbed; that is, deeply engaged in the words or images presented by a hypnotherapist in relation to the issue.
3. Dissociating; that is, letting go of negative thoughts, or self-critical ones (for example, “You’re a failure because you can’t lose weight”).
4. Responding; that is, reacting to the hypnotherapist’s suggestions about the issue you are trying to deal with, such as learning how to say no to sweets.
5. Returning to usual awareness slowly; that is, coming out of the trance in a relaxed, not abrupt way.
6. Reflecting on the experience; that is, what you have learned, how you feel.
7. Action steps moving forward, such as using a tape they will give you, follow-up sessions, and so on.
How long will you have to go to a hypnotherapist to solve your issue? Let’s look at this topic in the next section.
How Often and How Long Will You Need Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy will involve a time commitment, but it can be time well spent if you are able to make a breakthrough in relation to the condition/s you wish to deal with. The frequency with which you will have to go will depend on the typical length of the sessions conducted by the hypnotherapist.
Most of them will be an hour long, though you may find some that are 1.5 hours long. In some cases, your initial visit might be longer because of all the paperwork and the process of getting to know each other. Then you would have shorter sessions thereafter.
Everyone is different in terms of what goals they are trying to accomplish and how detailed and deep the issue might be, but most people will start to see results from hypnotherapy within four to ten sessions. Those sessions might be once or twice a week. They might also include “homework” in the form of exercises to do or tapes to listen to.
Some people are easier to hypnotize than others. Around 75% of people can be hypnotized successfully. Those who can’t are not tougher, smarter, or have stronger personalities. They just have a different brain structure, as detailed studies have shown.
Another factor that will determine how rapidly you progress is whether or not you do the homework set in a consistent way, and follow through with all the follow-up activities laid out by the hypnotherapist. Those who only do the work in the hypnotherapist’s office will probably need more sessions.
You and your hypnotherapist will monitor and evaluate your progress over time. At the end of each session, you should discuss action steps for the future, if any. There is no point in going back for weeks, months or even years if you both feel it is not really helping.
Another consideration as to how often to go, and for how long, will be impacted by your relationship with the hypnotherapist and costs involved. Let’s look at this topic in the next section.
How to Find a Reliable Hypnotherapist and What Costs Will Be Involved
Once you have decided to try hypnotherapy to tackle your health issue, it will be time to look for a certified hypnotherapist. There are a number of certification programs available, so you should check their qualifications before committing to working with them.
Certification involves credentialing in clinical hypnosis as a result of education and qualification for being able to successfully practice clinical hypnosis on a range of clients. A certified practitioner offers an extra level of professionalism and in some cases might also be required if a third party will be paying for the services.
Many insurance companies are now allowing the members to use more CAM than ever before. Certification will often be a requirement for CAM coverage, including hypnotherapy.
Fees will usually depend on certification and on level of experience. A more credentialed hypnotherapist with an established practice will likely charge more as compared with a new hypnotherapist just starting out. A more credentialed one, however, will also be more likely to be covered by CAM provisions with your insurance carrier, in which case you might just have to pay a small co-pay.
In other cases, the fee may range from $75 to $125 per hours, with special package rates in some instances. For example, weight loss and smoking are two of the most popular problems people consult hypnotherapists about, so there is often a single-fee price for X number of visits. It might cost between $300 and $400, for instance, for ten one-hour sessions and support materials that will help you accomplish your goals. When comparing options, be certain you understand exactly what is being offered, and under what terms.
The following societies should have listings for hypnotherapists near you:
- The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
- The American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists
Use their directories as a starting point to determine all of your options. They should list the hypnotherapist’s degrees and in some cases their specialties. For example, if we search on http://www.asch.net/Public/MemberReferralSearch.aspx using a local zip code, we will get three results:
Hypnotherapist 1, PhD
Hypnotherapist 2, LCSW
Hypnotherapist 3, MD, ABMH
Clicking on each listing, we would then discover their specialty/s. Use the drop down menus on the search page http://www.asch.net/Public/MemberReferralSearch.aspx to determine what the abbreviations mean.
For example, Hypnotherapist 1 has a PhD, that is, a doctorate. If we click on their listing we will see the following abbreviations: PSY, FMP. Using the drop down list, we can see these mean that the person specializes in Psychiatry and Family and Marriage Practice.
Hypnotherapist 2, is a licensed clinical social worker and their specialties are LCSW, PTSD, ANX – that is, social work, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety issues.
Hypnotherapist 3 has a medical degree plus certification from the American Board of Medical Hypnosis (ABMH) and their specialties are left blank, which means they treat all patients. In this case, Hypnotist 3 is the best qualified, and Hypnotherapist 2 the least qualified, but they might be a better fit depending on what health issue you wish to tackle.
The listing will provide the address and other contact information. They might also list a website. In that case you could go to the site to learn more. Be sure to also read reviews online (do a search on Google and/or Yelp) and check Zocdoc as well to see if they are listed.
Once you have an idea of which hypnotherapist might best match your needs, check with your insurance carrier to see if their will cover their services. They will have a list of approved CAM carriers. If they are not on the list, ask if it is possible to go “out of network.” Also call the hypnotherapist’s office to ask if they accept insurance payments, and if so, from which carriers, because sometimes they will stop taking insurance from certain companies if they are getting poor reimbursement.
If you do not get coverage for hypnotherapy from your carrier, consider using your Heath Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for the fees. They will be taken out of your balance. Remember, you can also submit the co-pay receipts for reimbursement even if you have insurance.
As we have said, no honest hypnotherapist will have you coming back over and over again unless there is some definite progress. For example, if you were smoking sixty cigarettes a day and at the end of two months you are only smoking five, this would be a clear sign that something is working well. If you are now up to 100 per day, that is a clear sign that something is not going well.
Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous practitioners in the world of hypnotherapy, so let’s look in the next section at how to stay safe.
Working with a Hypnotherapist – How to Stay Safe
There are two main steps for staying safe when dealing with a new therapist. The first is in relation to your initial contact and the second are general steps as you go forward. The patient-therapist relationship can be a very close one, sometimes inappropriately so, if you are not clear about the best ways to work with each other, and professional and personal boundaries.
Recommendations
Here are recommendations for what to do when you meet a therapist for the first time.
- Ask to see their qualifications and experience.
- Check to see if they have public liability insurance.
- Ask to see evidence of which professional association(s) they belong to, which will mean they need to follow a professional Code of Ethics.
- Be clear about your goal.
- Be clear about exactly what each therapy session will involve.
- Go with your gut – if they feel like a person you would look forward to working with, fine. If not, back away.
- Once you have discussed your goal, the hypnotherapist should create a care plan and agreement which will state clearly what should happen next. There will be detailed information about the time and duration of each session, frequency, proposed length of treatment, and so on.
- Payment terms should be clearly stated.
- If the hypnotherapist feels they can’t help you, they might refer you to someone else they feel will help you more.
- Touch can be used in some hypnotherapy – they should ask first. If you do not feel comfortable with being touched, you must say so and the therapist will use a different approach.
General Safety Measures
For the first meeting:
- Let someone know who you are meeting, when and where.
- Ask a friend to come with you and wait in the waiting room or the nearest coffee shop until your appointment is over.
- Let someone know (by phone, email or text) that you are about to go in to see a therapist, and then that you are leaving after the session.
- The therapist should see you in a safe and comfortable environment with privacy. If the setting looks sleazy, don’t stay.
- Decide whether or not you would feel comfortable with a hypnotherapist who practices out of their own home. If not, don’t go.
Ongoing Safety and Privacy Issues
- Your therapist should explain about “professional boundaries” that are there to safeguard both clients and therapists. Be sure to stick to them.
- Be aware of privacy and boundaries around social media – don’t friend them and so on, or vice versa.
- Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Hypnotherapy is an effective complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) method for a range of physical and emotional issues that can help you move towards becoming your best self, body, mind and spirit.
It is non-invasive, with few side effects compared with prescription medicines. It can help you recover from past issues, end self-sabotaging behavior, and/or support you in achieving your most important goals such as quitting smoking or losing weight.
It won’t “cure” everyone, but it can be a supportive method that will help you transform your life in a positive way provided you are willing to put in the time and effort. It can be used on its own, or in addition to other efforts (such as calorie counting and exercise), without the need to worry about any interactions between methods.
In most cases, there will be several qualified hypnotherapists available near you who can support you in your goals in an effective manner. In many cases, your hypnotherapy will even be covered by insurance.
If you’ve been feeling “stuck” in your life, consider hypnotherapy and move on more confidently into the future to live your best life.
RESOURCES
WebMD – Mental Health and Hypnosis
