Hypnotherapy

The phenomenon of Hypnosis has been used intuitively since the times of the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs, but it is only relatively recently that the theory has been more scientifically studied and practiced.

The technique only became known as “Hypnosis” around 1841 with a succession of scientific explanations being proposed throughout the following 100 years. The name, Hypnosis was coined by James Braid and is derived from the Greek word Hypnos meaning sleep. He later realised that Hypnosis was NOT sleep, but an altered state of consciousness. Unfortunately the name had already stuck, and still feeds many of the common mis-conceptions about "being asleep" when in a Hypnotic trance state.

In 1955 the British Medical Association endorsed the practice of Hypnosis in Medical School education, and it has since become an valuable addition to conventional medical treatment.

Today it is being increasingly recognised by traditional medical practitioners as a safe and effective way of providing complementary treatments for a wide variety of problems. Hypnotherapy is increasingly being used as an effective form of anaesthesia for minor operations, dental treatment and child birth.

It is especially effective with habitual problems such as smoking, nail biting, teeth grinding etc.

The Hypnotic state of mind may be brought about either by oneself unaided (self-hypnosis) or with the help of another person. If this other person is a trained professional, who utilises the resultant state to encourage beneficial change to occur, the process is referred to as "Hypnotherapy”.

Hypno-psychotherapy is the branch of psychotherapy which uses Hypnosis. It rests on an extensive body of work and publications over the last three hundred years, leading to that of Milton Erickson and those influenced by him. It understands that we have a learned model of the world which can restrict the way we feel, what we understand, our attitudes and behaviour. The therapist can intervene to draw the individual’s attention to new possibilities, to alternative patterns of thought, emotions and behaviour. The methods and strategies used in therapy are designed to make use of the resources and capabilities that reside within all people, and do not require the individual to fit into a standardised pattern. Hypnotherapy may be invaluable for anyone seeking to resolve specific problems, or for personal development.