The fear of relinquishing free will while hypnotized is a very common misconception that couldn’t be further from the truth. Hypnosis actually helps individuals tap into powerful inner resources they never knew they had. If sessions are not in line with ones values and beliefs, clients will reject the experience out right. Not only does the hypnotist have to offer sessions of value but the phraseology and technique need to be just right for a positive connection to occur.
If someone is worried about giving up their free will a more relevant concern is the insidious manipulation of advertising. As previously mentioned, we all go into a light state of hypnotic trance everytime we stare at a television. With the conscious mind taking a break it is more likely that what we see can be subconsciously filed away, and considering the nature of advertising and the content of television programming in general, the actions we take as a result may not be in our best interest.
A.C. Nielsen says the average American watches more than 4 hours of television per day. In 65 years that adds up to 9 years of tube time. To that end, Time magazine study revealed that today’s children believe that fast food is healthier than a home cooked meal. (Time 2004)
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
The one word best describing hypnosis is mindfulness. By routinely descending into blissful hypnotic thought for the purpose of positive change, ones cognitive abilities become greatly enhanced. Individuals become much more aware of priorities and begin to clearly visualize a new path to personal success.
Most of my clients also experience unexpected freedom, clarity, and relief in areas unrelated to primary objectives. Many describe feeling more consistently centered, and focused. They communicate, listen, and are more in tune with their world, which opens doors to opportunities which may have previously gone unnoticed.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
Children are often better candidates for hypnosis than adults, says one clinical psychologist, and the process can help resolve such problems as pain, anxiety, bed wetting, and asthma.
Robert Shacter of New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine talked about children and hypnosis on The Saturday Early Show. He says children tend to respond to hypnotic suggestion better than adults because they are more in touch with their imaginations.
Children can be hypnotized as early as age 3, he says, adding, “But in my personal experience, I have found that children ages 5 or older respond best to the treatment.”
Here is part of a pre-interview with Robert Shacter:
The easiest way to hypnotize a child is to have them focus on a point, he explains. They will do that until their eyes begin to feel heavy, and they become sleepy. You now have them in a trance-like state. Once they are in this state, you begin to tell the child stories that can alleviate whatever problems they may have.
What role, if any, does the parent play during a hypnosis session? As in any therapy, it is important for parents to know what is going on. But in the actual session the parent is either not there or in the background. So they really don’t play any part in the actual therapy.
How many times does a typical child visit a hypnotist? Most children attend 4 to 8 sessions with a qualified hypnotist. During that time, the hypnotist can teach a child how to hypnotize himself.
How do I know if my child if a candidate for hypnosis? Most children are good candidates. It just depends on whether the problems they are having can be helped by hypnosis.
Here are some of the problems that might be helped by hypnosis:
- Pain. Hypnosis is very effective at alleviating the pain of children undergoing cancer treatments. What we do is help the child go somewhere else, away from the pain. By accessing the unconscious, the child creates images that forces them to focus on something other than the pain they are feeling.
For example, if you squeezed your hand very tightly to the point that it hurt and then someone asked you to focus on something else, you would not be as aware of the pain in your hand.
- Anxiety. A child who is anxious often breathes more quickly and has a higher heart rate. With hypnosis, we can teach them to breathe more slowly, lower their heart rate and take them away from whatever is making them anxious.
- Bed Wetting. Many doctors prescribe medicine for children who have a bed-wetting problem. But now more physicians are turning to hypnosis, which has very positive results. Part of the reason that it works so well is that kids play an active role in their treatment rather than just taking a pill.
- Asthma. When children with asthma feel their throats constricting, they begin to feel anxious and breathe more heavily. With hypnosis, you teach the child to calm down and bring them to another place.
How effective is hypnosis in children? In the right child, hypnotism can be very successful. Remember: There are some children who have a harder time letting go. But for those who can, the results can be very positive. Another plus of hypnosis is that unlike drugs, the risk of harm is low.
Why aren’t more doctors using hypnotism? It’s just not taught that much in schools, and some people still don’t want to recognize it as a viable alternative. However, it is becoming more popular, and many insurers will cover it.
By: Ellen Crean/CBS News
For decades hypnosis has taken a bad rap due to endless myths and misconceptions like the accusations of mind control and the chicken clucking antics of stage hypnosis. The truth is that hypnosis was researched, validated and accepted by the AMA over 50 years ago as a legitimate healthful modality.
I normalize the process to my clients by explaining hypnosis as simply goal oriented meditation. We visit the same peaceful inner stillness one experiences when meditating, but rather than simply enjoying the cathartic healthy bliss of the moment we have work to do. With the subconscious open and active we get to the business of pulling out the unwanted patterns and rooting preferred alternatives. I hope this helps you better understand hypnosis.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
Hypnosis offers such a quick disconnect effect. I see so many clients who enter the office with the weight of the world on their shoulders. The don’t know me, they have never been to my office, and most know nothing about hypnosis besides the entertainment side of the field.
My initial approach is to let them tell their story. I certainly need to gather pertinent information so I can assist them but this also helps them begin the process of separating themselves from their problems, which is crucial. The cathartic relief clients experience by simply offloading their ‘junk’ helps them to relax and the process also helps in developing rapport, they feel supported and begin to see me as someone who genuinely cares.
At the conclusion of the session I ask each client if they feel disconnected from the problems and concerns that burdened them upon arrival and most readily agree. This is a pivotal moment in their transition to success with their goal. The disconnect from their problematic past is palpable. Intellectually they recall the problems but clients no longer feel its effect. Responses to this freedom range from smiles to laughter, and on occasion, tears of joy.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
