Hypnosis

What constitutes Hypnosis?

Hypnosis generally occurs when there is a heightened state of suggestibility during a state of trance. Trance is one of many states of consciousness, from coma to extreme focus. Supposedly one's brain is lead to "an altered state of consciousness" from a 'normal' waking state, through certain verbal and non-verbal behaviours by the person [who can be the self, in self-hypnosis] leading one to a trance state.

The term Hypnosis is used when one is using a trance state consciously to bring about change [hopefully for the better!] in the person who is being hypnotised.

There are many forms of trance states / altered states of consciousness: Some forms of trance, like certain types of (Eastern) meditation, do not rely on suggestions, and would probably not be classified as hypnosis, but most trance states are: prayer, group prayer or praise, meditation on a text or image (such a the Stations of the Cross in the Catholic religion), "subliminal" programming, neurolinguistic programming [NLP], tribal dance and the many forms of ritual dance with non-verbal symbolism, "hearing" TV, music or radio broadcasts while drifting in and out of sleep, or while focussing attention on one event/stimulus [like winning a race], etc.

Researchers believe we drift in and out of "hypnosis" about one hundred times each day! So whether you're focussing exclusively on negative thoughts like "I can't make it" or positive ones like "This is an exciting challenge", the outcome is likely to support the thought, because the trance state promotes suggestibility.

The Unconscious [ucs] vs the Conscious [cs]

Consciousness seems to be integrated with some form of language functioning. When we name, address, interpret our inner or outer world, that is cs. When we are unaware of it (for instance how you just took that breath), it is not conscious, or ucs. Neuroscientists believe that 99% of our actions (incl thinking) and motivation to act is unconscious!

The main difference is that the ucs appears to function at a primitive level:

[1] it interprets suggestion and information literally, compared to the cs mind that can acquire some ability to think and understand abstractions. If I tell you in waking state "you are a duck" [in a play], you may choose to quack and walk like a duck, but know you are a human being, acting duck-like; if you are told in trance "you are a duck" you may believe you area duck.

[2] The ucs tends to accept indiscriminately/uncritically suggestions and act according to those "beliefs", whether positive or negative: Thus, repeating to yourself "I'm too busy", "I'm a lousy cook" or "I'm God's gift to womankind!" can and will dramatically alter your behaviour accordingly over time, because you will often be in trance during such statements "in the back" of your mind! This acceptance is so indiscriminate - similar to during dreaming - that we even create a special trance logic to accommodate illogical statements or images. So, we can believe we are "floating gently down a stream" when in fact we are sitting in a chair in an office! Conversely, when we imagine [note that means 'to create an image'!] that we are going to be in trouble in a relationship or at work, we will probably behave subtly in ways to support the suggested situation, Elevator Shoes For Women and people will react unpleasantly towards us… And then we repeat the trauma by suggesting to ourselves things like "I am unlovable" or "I can never get it right" etc.!

[3] The ucs is "unlimited" in its power (Robbins); whereas the cs is limited by "reality" that it is continually evaluating. The ucs has memory where it is directed and can be controlled to "forget" episodes as well as surrounding stimuli, whereas the cs appears to assess and incorporate what it interprets as pertinent or real into its reality assessment and judgement calls.

There are also theories about a Preconscious [pcs], but the term tends to be used to refer to the imminent recovery of specific memory that has been too scary for the cs and thus "repressed".

Can hypnosis be dangerous?

Yes. That's why practitioners of hypnosis have to be licensed. Even stage hypnotists are very carefully trained, and have to limit their activities to those approved by the licensing board.

Benefits of hypnosis

As an adjunct to psychotherapy hypnosis can help us to achieve immense, lasting and positive changes to our state of mental and physical well-being. Early in the 20th-century already it was found that, for instance, terminally ill patients in a clinic setting would experience vast benefits, ranging from a marked decrease in pain, absence of pain, decrease in side-effects of treatment like chemotherapy, increased cell repair and immune functioning, peacefulness, and often complete remission from the illness, as well as essential psychological effects for healing, like the removal of negative beliefs such as helplessness & hopelessness,. The conclusion still is that both life expectancy and quality of life can be greatly improved by the regular practice of hypnosis and other forms of trance.

There are many terms that various people use to describe the state of hypnosis: visualisation, right brain visualisation, autogenic training, imaging, directed day dreaming, trance journeys, focus exercises, etc. As we know from the field of Sports Psychology, changing one's self talk that occurs repeatedly in one's waking hours, from negative suggestions such as "I can't do this" to positive suggestions such as "I'm a champion" is the difference between winning or losing at local or international level. When we add the positive suggestions during hypnotic trance, the influence on the mind and body is phenomenal.

Some people in fact, respond so well to hypnotic suggestion, that they can undergo surgery without anaesthetic other than the hypnotic suggestions. This facility is often used, for instance for Caesarian birth deliveries... provided, of course, that the hypnotist does not faint when s/he sees the mother's belly being cut open!

The same powerful effects can be noticed when hypnosis is applied to psychological healing. Most forms of even severe mental illness, such as severe depression, can be improved dramatically when hypnosis is added to the treatment. That is why I often use the term "acceleration technique" to describe psychotherapy techniques like Hypnosis or EMDR.

Types of hypnosis

In South Africa four types of hypnosis are specified by SASCH (the South African Society for Clinical Hypnosis): • Traditional Hypnosis comprises many of hypnotic techniques we can observe in movies or in stage hypnosis. It forms the basis for other types of hypnosis. It is directive and suggestions are generally uncamouflaged and direct, for instance, when the client is told, "The next time you light a cigarette, you will experience the most horrible foul taste in your mouth, the worst taste you have ever experienced in your life..."

• Medical Hypno-Analysis is often used for the process known as Regression. This means that the client is taken back in time to earlier stages in his/her life during hypnosis, so that incidents in the past that have affected the client's well-being, can be revisited and re-processed so that they no longer have a negative influence on him/her. It is common to regress the client even to pre-birth and allow him/her to re-experience the birth process in a more positive manner (called re-birthing).

• Ericksonian Hypnosis is based on the work of Milton Erickson (the basis for the development later of a specific school of influence techniques called NLP) and the hypnotist will use permissive language, metaphors, stories, confusion techniques, and elements of language (like rhyme, assonance, etc.), rather than direct suggestions, to induce trance and create change. Dramatic changes in personal, marital, work, social, and situational functioning can be achieved in a very short time. Without a client even closing his/her eyes or explicitly going "into hypnosis", he or she can experience profound improvement of states of depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and even physical health.

• Ego State Hypnosis conceptualises the personality of comprising various Ego States that are formed at different times in our lives, for instance when we acquire a new skill, or experience trauma, or start behaving in a similar manner as someone who has a lot of influence on our lives. In Ego State hypnosis the various ego states in a personality are invited to communicate with the therapist and with each other in order to achieve better unity of the personality and to change negative or destructive habits.

Many hypnotherapists use more than one type of hypnosis and often integrate hypnosis with other forms of psychotherapy such as Gestalt, cognitive-behavioural, or even psychoanalytic therapy. Similarly, psychotherapists working predominantly in other types of psychotherapy may use hypnosis from time to time to achieve specific results.

Applications of hypnosis in medicine and in psychotherapy

Because our capacity to tell stories and create new ideas is unlimited, because our ability these days to access information about which techniques have been designed and have worked in all the other parts of the world, the application of hypnosis is virtually unlimited.

When a new client asks me, "Can hypnosis help for X?" my answer usually is "Yes, of course" -- although I may further qualify that by describing the length of time it might take, or by suggesting another method (like EMDR).

In South Africa, clinical training in hypnosis is done through organisations like SASCH (the South African Society for Clinical Hypnosis) or MEISA (Milton Erickson Institute of South Africa) and candidates for such training have to be pre-registered with organisations such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). You have the right to ask anyone who claims to be a hypnotist who can solve your psychological or medical problems for his/her credentials or registration number.

Who can be hypnotised?

Virtually every one can be hypnotised (unless for instance, there is severe brain damage). We all drift in and out of hypnotic trance many times a day. It is the task of the hypnotist to access the best path to contact and utilise this ability for specific goals that the client has. Most people respond well to variety of standard techniques but some people may have resistance to these techniques or to being hypnotised -- even if their conscious mind appears to want to go into hypnosis; but even they can be hypnotised: it might just take a little bit longer to find the right technique – for instance an Ericksonian “confusional” technique.

What is it like to be hypnotised?

While experiences in hypnosis differ, the best answer is similar to what stage hypnotist Max Caan says at the beginning of each of his television shows: At no time you feel any different to what you of feeling right now; you will just feel "a pleasant sensation of deep relaxation". Of course, after this state of relaxation, or hypnosis, is induced, you can be lead to feel many different emotions and sensations or alterations of sensations, alterations of beliefs and convictions, etc. But people in hypnosis generally do not feel that they are hypnotised, rather that they are fully in the moment that they are busy accessing. Usually, memories are thus re-lived rather than re-called.

Hypnotists generally describe different levels of trance. The lay person often assumes that you have to be un-conscious during the process of hypnosis, unaware of what is happening and completely under the control of the hypnotist. It is generally thought that only one of ten people can access a so-called somnambulistic (or sleep-walking trance); while I believe this is an under-estimation, the fact is that a somnambulistic trance is not essential for virtually all medical psychological work to be done in hypnosis. All you need to access is a light to medium trance for profound changes to occur. The more you practise the better you relax.

AUTOGENIC TRAINING

[A fancy term for self-hypnosis…which should only be attempted after a professional hypnotist has given you Priming and Protective suggestions in trance!]

Typical exercises:

1. Five senses focus; Three senses focus…

2. Going into a warm pool of water

3. Healing light or other symbol infusion

4. Stories {e.g. Chicken Soup selections or some fairy tales)

5. Garden / forest journeys

6. Third eye infusion

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PREPARED BY:

Reinette Steyn (M.A.; M.A.Clin.Psych.)

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST / KLINIESE SIELKUNDIGE

PS 0068349 / PR No 086 000 0000 469

Selfgrow Life Skills Development Group

11 Corsair Rd, Sanddrift, MILNERTON, 7441

Tel. +27 (0)21 555 4248