When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Other Hypnotherapists

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips

When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Other Hypnotherapists
There are hypnotists and hypnotherapists in private practice who are not psychologists or medical doctors. They offer services to deal with the kinds of problems we discuss here for self-hypnosis as well as some that we might refer to psychologists.

Some psychologists don’t like these hypnotherapists much. They feel they don’t have the proper training to solve these problems or to handle someone who might freak out during the session. I have not heard of anyone freaking out, but people may get emotional during hypnotherapy.

The hypnotherapists often think the psychologists just do hypnosis as a sideline and don’t do it as well as someone whose entire practice is hypnotherapy.

Some of these non-medical hypnotherapists are pretty good. Some are very good with smoking cessastion, for instance, and you might want to try seeing one, though you should try do-it-yourself first.

Although there is no licensing requirement for hypnotherapists, there are schools, professional organizations, and certifications. Where did he get his training and how long did he study? Check out the school. Is it hands-on or correspondence? How long has the individual or his company been in practice? How long have they been in your city? Can you call some of their customers to see how they liked the treatment? How long will it take to solve your problem? It shouldn’t be a matter of years. Can you have a few sessions and then continue on your own with self-hypnosis? If not, why not? Be satisfied with the answers and have confidence in the practitioner before you give them your money.

I don’t want to be too harsh. Some of these practitioners are very good and will really help you. Maybe you should ask the same questions of the psychologist.

Beware of someone with a PhD in hypnotherapy. These often require a few months and some money. In other words, you buy the degree. People with conventional PhDs get very annoyed with this.

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When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Group Sessions

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips

When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Group Sessions
There are hypnotists who offer large group sessions, usually for smoking cessation or weight loss. You may want to try one of these if it’s not too expensive. It will cost you much more to see a psychologist or have a one-to-one session with a hypnotherapist. Be skeptical about anybody who oversells. I would be skeptical of anybody who claims 100% success rate for anything, for instance. Still, you may be curious to see one of these people in action. After reading this book, you know enough about hypnosis that you can evaluate whether somebody who calls him or herself a hypnotist or hypnotherapist knows what they are doing.

If they guarantee satisfaction and you’e not satisfied, ask for your money back right away. If you get some good ideas for your own self-hypnosis, the workshop may be worthwhile for you, even if it doesn’t live up to its advertising.

The word hypnotist implies just that someone can hypnotize other people, even just for fun. Hypnotherapist implies this is someone who can cure you of some condition or solve your problem. These labels don’t really mean anything. Always check out credentials before going to a hypnotherapist, either in a group setting or privately. If you can’t find a good one, you can always do it yourself.

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When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Psychological Problems

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips

When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Psychological Problems
Sometimes you may have psychological problems that interfere with your life. If you like the hypnosis approach and philosophy, but can’t get results that are as good as you want with self-hypnosis, or feel you need outside help with that problem, look for a psychologist who is also a hypnotist.

Ask the psychologist about his credentials and training as a hypnotist. A weekend course doesn’t make someone a great hypnotist, just because they have a degree in psychology.

Certain psychological conditions require medical care. Psychoses needs to be controlled with medication and therapy. The rather common bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression) requires medication and hypnosis is certainly not a substitute for medical treatment.

Depression is part of life. We are all depressed now and then. You can usually use self-hypnosis to cheer yourself up by concentrating on the positive aspects of your life or dealing with the cause of the depression. If depression drags on, if you don’t know its cause, or if it keeps you from your ordinary activities, it’s time to see a doctor. Serious depression can be treated with drugs and cognitive behavior therapy. Aerobic exercise also helps alleviate depression, so get out and walk if you’re feeling down.

Self-hypnosis works well for breaking bad habits, getting over many phobias, and reducing stress and anxiety. You don’t need to go into therapy for every little personality quirk. In fact, you might want to keep some of them.

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When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Medical Problems

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips

When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Medical Problems
Most of the things you will use self-hypnosis for are not strictly medical consdtions, though some may indirectly affect your health. Stress is the most notable of these.

For pain or other medical conditions, it is important that you see a medical professional who can give you an accurate diagnosis. For most acute conditions, medical intervention will be all you need. For some chronic conditions, you may choose to use self-hypnosis instead of drugs or other treatment, or if the drugs don’t work for you.

For instance, arthritis causes chronic pain which is often treated with drugs. Pain relief is one of the major uses for hypnosis, going back many years. So someone with arthritis could use self-hypnosis, either with or without drugs, to relieve the pain. The important thing is to see the doctor first to get a diagnosis so you know the real cause of the pain and if it requires intervention other than hypnosis.

One of the very few dangers of self-hypnosis would be in self-diagnosing pain or other symptoms, and deciding to use self-hypnosis instead of medical care. This could result in not getting treatment for a treatable disease, and that could be dangerous.

So if you’re feeling poorly, go to the doc. Get the physical therapy, take the antibiotics, or give up your appendix if necessary. But if they can’t fix what’s ailing you, talk to your doctor about you relieving some symptoms with self-hypnosis.

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When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Credentials

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips

When to See a Professional Hypnotist Tips: Credentials
Self-hypnosis is a great technique that you will be able to use successfully for many purposes. Still, there are times when you should consult a professional.

The professionals involved, depending on the problem, would be a medical doctor, a psychologist, or a hypnotist or hypnotherapist who is neither a doctor nor a psychologist.

For some goals you also need to go to a teacher of some sort, such as a golf pro or guitar teacher if your goal has to do with sports or music. There are a number of specialists in sports hypnosis, and a few specializing in working with musicians. In most cases, for this sort of goal you should be seeing a teacher along with doing self-hypnosis or seeing a hypnosis specialist.

Let’s skip over the teachers and look at hypnotists and hypnotherapists.

In most places, you can just call yourself a hypnotherapist. There are no qualifications or licensing required. So you really need to check on a person’s qualifications.

We don’t expect a doctor to be a hypnotist. That’s not why we go to see him. We don’t expect a dentist to be a hypnotist either, but she may be. Hypnotism has been successful in dentistry, but you would have to look for a dentist who uses it. A psychologist may be trained as a hypnotist. Some hypnotists who are not psychologists are well qualified and some aren’t. We discuss that later in this section.

A stage hypnotist may be great at hypnotizing people, but that doesn’t make her a good therapist. The same is true of your brother-in-law who’s a hit at parties with his hypnotism routine.

Do some investigation before choosing a professional hypnotist.

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What Is Hypnosis Tips: Your Mind as a Computer

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> What Is Hypnosis Tips

What Is Hypnosis Tips: Your Mind as a Computer
The idea of the mind as a computer is intriguing. Norbert Wiener is credited with being the first to postulate that the subconscious works like a mechanical computer, though it is much more complex. The psychologist Leslie LeCron questions if this would mean there is no free will.

Maxwell Maltz, in his classic, Psycho-Cybernetics, emphasizes the importance of self-image. Positive thinking only works when it is consistent with one’s self-image. Cybernetics is the science of communication and control theory, especially automatic control systems. Maltz sees the mind as a goal-seeking machine, although he emphasizes that we are not machines, we use machines.

Maltz gives a baseball analogy. The batter hits a fly ball to center field. The center fielder must instantly calculate the ball’s speed, velocity, curvature path, wind direction, and more. He then compares the calculations with stored data and gets to the right place to make the catch, all subconsciously. He doesn’t think about his brain operating like a computer, though it does.

The computer needs an operator. It can do a lot, but it can’t set its own goals. With self-hypnosis you can program your own mind. You can accept the theory of the mind as a computer or not. Self-hypnosis works anyway.

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What Is Hypnosis Tips: Talking to Yourself

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> What Is Hypnosis Tips

What Is Hypnosis Tips: Talking to Yourself
A professional (or amateur) hypnotist helps you get through to your subconscious mind. In a way, he or she is a go-between.

In self-hypnosis, you get through to your own subconscious. In effect, you talk to yourself.

You have the ability to manipulate your mind and change fixed ideas in your subconscious that keep you from reaching your goals.

Self-hypnosis is a procedure that helps you change your mind. Will power doesn’t do it. Trying to use will power can end up reinforcing the attitudes that are standing in your way. When there’s no deep-seated block in the way of trying something new, often you can “just do it” with will power. Even then, relaxing will let you slide through and do it more easily.

Some sort of self-hypnosis, even relaxation, is necessary for you to talk to yourself and make real change.

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What Is Hypnosis Tips: Myths About Hypnosis

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> What Is Hypnosis Tips

What Is Hypnosis Tips: Myths About Hypnosis
My hypnosis teacher, Gil Boyne, used to say there were two common reasons people gave for being afraid of hypnosis. They are: “I won’t wake up,” and “I will tell all my secrets.”

Nobody goes so deep into hypnosis that they can’t come back out. Do you know of anyone who disappeared because they didn’t come out of hypnosis? If there were a lot of people like this, wouldn’t somebody notice?

You won’t tell your secrets, because you remain in control. You won’t lose your inhibitions and make a fool of yourself either, if you don’t want to.

A persistent myth is that a hypnotist can gain control over your mind–sort of a Manchurian Candidate effect. This isn’t true. A hypnotist can never make you do anything against your principles. Here’s an example. A stage hypnotist convinces his subject that a glass of water is really wine. But he can’t get her to drink it, because she doesn’t believe in drinking alcohol.

Another myth is that only people who have a weak will or low intellect can be hypnotized. Actually, many hypnotists believe that more intelligent people are the best subjects, because of their ability to focus.

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What Is Hypnosis Tips: Hypnotizability

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> What Is Hypnosis Tips

What Is Hypnosis Tips: Hypnotizability
The notion of hypnotizability is based on the theory that not everyone can be hypnotized. Estimates range from as low as 20% of the population to almost everyone. For those of us who deal in self-hypnosis, a natural state, it is clear that anyone with a normal ability to concentrate can be hypnotized if they want to be. Even children can be hypnotized.

You may have seen a stage hypnotist at work and thought you would never do what his subjects were doing. Remember, these are volunteers who want to be hypnotized, and the hypnotist knows how to choose the best potential subjects. Also, the subjects may have been drinking a bit, which lowers inhibitions. This is ok if you want to quack like a duck but not if you want to learn to be less nervous when taking exams. Do self-hypnosis when you’re sober and not too tired.

Try this. Sitting or standing, extend your arms in front of you, parallel to the floor. Turn your right palm up and your left palm down. Close your eyes and imagine a pail full of sand in your right hand, so the handle is in your palm and the pail hangs down. Look at the pail and imagine its shape and color. Now imagine there is a string attached to your left wrist, and on the other end is a big red helium-filled balloon. Concentrate on the pail as it gets heavier and heavier, and on your left arm being lifted by the bright red balloon. Do not deliberately move your hands.

After a few minutes, open your eyes and see where your hands are. Typically, you will see your right hand has dropped and your left hand lifted. A big gap shows your imagination is working well. If your hands haven’t moved, you are puttting up some resistance and should spend more time with the relaxation exercise you will learn. In either case, you’re hypnotizable.

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What Is Hypnosis Tips:History of Hypnosis

November 3rd, 2008 Shaka

Hypnosis Tips >> What Is Hypnosis Tips

What Is Hypnosis Tips:History of Hypnosis
Although the phenomenon of hypnosis goes back to ancient, perhaps prehistoric times, modern hypnosis starts with Franz Anton Mesmer.

Mesmer was born in Germany and studied medicine in Vienna. He began practicing his theories, eventually called Mesmerism, in Vienna but moved on to Paris where his work became fashionable. He used the term “animal magnetism” for a fluid or force within his body that would let him connect with and cure his patients. The king finally sent a commission to investigate Mesmer, and they determined there was no physical force but any results were due to imagination, or placebo, as we would say. The commission members were the great chemist Lavoisier, the astronomer Jean Sylvain Bailly, the physician and inventor M. Guillotine, and the American ambassador Benjamin Franklin.

Mesmer did awaken an interest in the power of the mind, and various people studied his theories. An English physician, James Braid, decided the cures were due not to animal magnetism but to suggestion. He called his relaxation technique “hypnosis.”

Notable among other practitioners was a surgeon, James Esdaille, who performed 2000 operations using only hypnosis as anesthetic–with no pain for the patients.

In the 20th century, the psychologist Milton Erickson used both verbal and nonverbal techniques to bypass the conscious mind. His work with indirect suggestion changed the face of contemporary hypnotism.

The evolution of self-hypnosis is not recorded, but we can assume that some people used it naturally and others saw what was evolving in medicine, and said, “I can do that myself.”

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