Hypnosis is a great tool supporting sobriety and healthy living. I help clients tap into the euphoric bliss of naturally occurring endorphin flow. Once individuals experience such profound relaxation, and incorporate it into their daily routine, most find it comfortably easy to maintain a substance-free lifestyle.
In addition to the feel good serenity of deep trance hypnosis, sessions include specific suggestions and imagery supporting healthy success. The subconscious then pulls in this new information and starts to piece together a new operating system of change. Listening to sessions routinely for a period of 2-3 months forms a foundation of healthy change.
We are creatures of habit, whatever we repeat, good or bad, becomes rooted in the hard drive, the subconscious mind. Hypnosis helps individuals to release unwanted patterns and plants new preferred alternatives. The transition to sobriety experienced with hypnosis is usually comfortable.
The process helps individuals feel as though they are ‘trading up’ to something better.If the individual has a legitimate desire to create healthy change; is open to be guided into hypnosis; and is consistent listening to sessions on their own; success is hard to avoid.
Most excessive drinkers initially have goals of moderation, being able to drink socially but that usually changes at some point through the process. Whatever they thought they got from alcoholis healthfully replaced by the meditative qualities of hypnosis. Clients like the way they feel, they sleep better, have more energy and are happier. [more]
I do a lot of work with individuals having difficulty with alcohol. There’s a common thread with these people; they talk about once being able to drink socially; having control; and how drinking was never a problem. After a few years, they realize that alcohol is running the show.
Most talk about how alcohol becomes ever present in their day-to-day lives, and how it’s beginning to affect the quality of their life.
One of the unique qualities of hypnosis is how it can become a healthier alternative to drinking. In general the process of hypnosis is quite euphoric. It creates a sense of cathartic relief and profound relaxation. In sessions geared for excessive drinkers the euphoric factor is significantly increased.
My clients learn that hypnosis offers a more enjoyable, healthier high than alcohol. So rather than trying to find the strength to push themselves away from drinking, they are presented with the opportunity to trade up to something better.
Clients make this important connection on the first office visit, and then they learn to take the same approach to the solution as they once used to create the problem, repetition. By repeating the hypnosis process on a daily basis the mind and body make a powerful connection, and new patterns supporting lasting healthy relief are formed.
There’s nothing difficult about hypnosis at all. Even though most first visit clients have never experienced hypnosis before, the overwhelming majority do extremely well. The euphoric soaked relaxation gets their attention right away, and most leave the office quite eager to repeat the session was they get home.
I see my alcohol clients for a series of four sessions. In between office visits they listen to sessions at home at least once a day. Hypnosis creates a positive new thinking style.
It helps individuals reframe their life view. Instead of always focusing on the problem, they are guided in hypnosis to envision freedom and relief. Not only do they quickly become free of past burdens but with hypnosis they become excited about moving forward into a new healthier lifestyle.
Sharon was a 38 year old woman who came to me for alcohol abuse. She got married a few years ago and was trying to have a baby. After many years of being the ‘party girl’ she realized she had a drinking problem.
She had no previous hypnosis experience but she quickly got into it because of how relaxing it was. When she came back for her 2nd session, she reported listening to session 1 everyday at home and reduced her drinking by 50%.
When she came back for session 3 she reported only drinking once all week. She went out with work mates Friday night to a pub and over indulged. She spoke at length about how badly she felt all day Saturday. It wasn’t the hangover that bothered her but rather the anger and guilt that plagued her all day long. I asked if this was a usual ‘day after’ reflection to which she said no. She had never encountered this before.
Then she said she had a social event on Sunday where alcohol was involved. She explained how great a time she had not drinking. She was more engaged with her friends and remembered all the details of the event on Monday.
Tuesday she had an epiphany. Sharon always thought alcohol added to her life. While driving home from work that day she realized the opposite was more case. In just a couple of weeks of ‘brain training’ with hypnosis she re-framed her view of drinking and decided to trade-up to an alcohol-free life.
Hypnosis can quickly offer clarity of thought and an enhanced mindful life-perspective. Challenges once thought difficult or impossible to overcome can easily be accomplished. Sharon finished the 4 session program and checked in several months after her last office visit. She was still not drinking, she lost weight and was enjoying life more than she had in a long time.
Paul specializes in helping people live a substance free life. [info]
Paul Gustafson RN CH
A Boston area Hypnotherapist, with 10 years of medical experience as an RN, Paul has been helping clients since 2001 to overcome everyday challenges. Read more
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Paul’s Book
Healthy Hypnosis: The Simple Truth and Practical Use Paul explains the A-B-C’s of clinical hypnosis and offers case studies and examples of actual client sessions. This is a must read for anyone interested in this fascinating technique.
