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What is Hypnotherapy?Hypnotherapy/Psychotherapy is an umbrella term for an eclectic therapy comprising Analytical Hypnotherapy and Suggestion Therapy used in conjunction with Psychotherapeutic intervention.
In essence, Hypnotherapy is a two-pronged sure- fire approach. First comes the Hypnosis; not a treatment in itself, rather a way of clearing away distractions that cause delay. This is combined with effective Psychotherapy methods to elucidate and treat the problem. Why Hypnosis? When there is full focus on the matter in hand, therapy can proceed rapidly. Why Psychotherapy? The unconscious mind has the ability to bury conflicting or traumatic events which can then resurface later as unwanted emotional or physical symptoms. Even with a habit like smoking, for instance, there can often be a deeper reason why the smoker began smoking, why it has helped them and until this is resolved, all the will-power in the world won't work and Suggestion therapy will only have limited use. We've all experienced occasional flashes of inspiration or sudden 'ah-ha' moments which are from the unconscious mind, and hypnosis can harness this phemenon. By using hypnosis to access the unconscious mind lasting changes can be made in attitude, behaviours and body function and new learning can be assimilated by using various Psychotherapeutic techniques. What is Suggestion Therapy? During the relaxed Alpha brain wave state the mind is more receptive to taking in beneficial information. People share information in this way all the time. "Have you tried the latest restaurant/car accessory/shampoo?" This is how advertising works....
A Combined Approach
Hypnosis relaxes the client to allow full attention and focus on the process in hand so that therapy is brief and to the point. Doing what it says on the tin, so to speak! Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; CBT is a flexible research-supported approach in changing maladaptive or rigid ways of thinking, behaving or feeling. Negative/anxious thought patterns build over time and become a whole belief system. By working with the client, collaboratively, the therapist can effect change in their thinking patterns, behaviour and coping skills. Having learnt new to access new viewpoints, more control is gained, increasing self-esteem and confidence. Everyone has the ability to change the way they deal with emotional issues, by focusing on the way they use their thoughts,images beliefs and attitudes. The client is encouraged to participate in their own therapy regime, exploring relevant ways for the individual to overcome their difficulties. CBT is effective in anxiety states, panic attacks mild depression,relationship breakdown, insomnia , relationship issues, sexual dysfunction & phobias. Gestalt;facilitates the client in completing those experiences which have left lingering sequalae. Psychotherapeutic Counselling; involves attention to the clients belief system; dealing with the underlying cause of their symptom. Parts Therapy; a way of identifying and objectifying conflicting thoughts and desires. EMDR is short for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and is treatment of choice in certain cases. It is a method of releasing negative limiting belief systems and traumatic stress flashback. The beauty of it is that it mimics the effects of REM sleep, allowing the client to process trauma unconsciously in a gentle, respectful way. The client is totally aware and in control, and finds the process interesting and relaxing. It is also one of the quickest ways to restore good, solid sleeping habits, vital in the resolution of Depression. According to J. Allen Hobson, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, "The function of sleep may not be so much to rest the brain as to reorganise its information...during sleep recently acquired data is reviewed and reorganised, and anxiety is processed through dreaming." Why EMDR? When someone has experienced a traumatic event there is an overload of sensory information which creates a barrier between two brain areas, the Amygdala or emotional brain, and the Hippocampus/Cortical region,where memory is processed into a narrative file. Like the server on a computer network, this latter area integrates visual information coming from the cortex with input from the other senses and stored memories, too. When normal REM or Rapid Eye Movement sleep is disrupted, as happens post trauma, this process is stalled. Traumatic memories are trapped in the Amygdala and are experienced as flashbacks and panic attacks with full force physical symptoms and also nightmares and insomnia. These intense feelings of fear can be triggered at any time, in their full raw intensity, by certain sights, sounds or smells,as the Amygdala reacts immediately to a first crude impression of the trigger, even before the visual area confirms what exactly has been seen or heard. The therapist facilitates swift and permanent reprocessing of these memories by using finger-eye movements to induce the Alpha brainwave activity of REM sleep, coupled with appropriate cognitive interweave.Right/left brain information is integrated to allow completion of the memory encoding process, allowing rapid resolution of the symptoms without any conscious effort of the client. (Shapiro 1995, psychiatrist).
Mind/Body Connection
When physical illness cannot be explained or cured by conventional medical or surgical means it is useful to consider that the symptoms may in fact be manifesting a psychosomatic disorder which will respond easily to Hypnotherapeutic intervention. "Psychosomatic" refers to the conversion of a psychological or emotional problem into a physical symptom, which is of course, perfectly real and distressing. How long does treatment take? Most problems are treated within 2-5 sessions of therapy, however, some deeper rooted problems can take up to 6-12 sessions, while habits can be altered immediately, or in as few as 2 - 3 sessions.
Frequently asked questions: Q. Can anyone be hypnotised?
Q. Is hypnosis safe? |
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Helena Tubridy - Hypnotherapist & life Coaching - Athboy & Navan, Co Meath Ireland - |
It is a safe effective and natural treatment process accessing the unconscious mind where beliefs and behaviour patterns are stored, so that effective therapy can be implemented. This is why treatment is so rapid and results permanent. This is a modern, research-based modality with proven results.
Analytical hypnotherapy seeks to unravel the clients' distress, trauma and illness and to utilise the capabilities and potential of the unconscious mind bringing about self-development and freedom from unwanted symptoms. The client takes an active part in this process which utilizes tailored elements of the following modalities for rapid change:
Have you ever developed a cold or headache out of the blue before an important exam, interview or performance?