School of Positive Psychology

Understanding Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis – what is it?

Hypnosis is a practice of altering our state of consciousness in such a way that conscious control of the mind is inhibited, while the subconscious mind opens up to becoming very suggestible to ideas (Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy UK).

Hypnotherapy – what is it?

Hypnotherapy is the practice of using hypnosis to make positive changes in lives.

Applications of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can be applied to many psychological, emotional and physical disorders. It has been shown to relieve pain in surgery and dentistry, reduce the need for painkillers and ease the suffering of the disabled and terminally ill. It can also help people overcome addictions such as smoking and alcoholism, phobias of all kinds and stress-related problems (Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy UK).

Three Key words in understanding Hypnosis

The Conscious Mind (CM) contains what we are explicitly aware of at this moment. It is the mind of the five senses enabling you to consciously experience the physical world, and the aspect of the mind that is able to reason (Lew, 2013).

The Subconscious (aka Unconscious) mind (UCM) contains everything that we know but are not explicitly aware at this moment. The physiological functions of our body work on the subconscious or unconscious level. e.g. heart rate, breathing, blinking. All our learned behaviors and habits, either good or bad, reside in the subconscious mind. e.g. attitudes, values, fear, beliefs (Lew, 2013).

The Critical Faculty (CF) is an invisible layer of separation and protection between the conscious and subconscious mind with the power to accept or reject suggestions from entering the subconscious mind if they are deemed as a threat to nervous system or moral values. Hypnosis is the process by which the critical faculty is bypassed and suggestions are allowed into the subconscious mind (O’Brien).
 
The human mind - an Iceberg analogy

Types of Hypnotherapy

Suggestion hypnotherapy involves giving an individual's unconscious mind a series of ‘suggestions’ that can help an individual do something they want to do (e.g. public speaking) or to stop doing something they don’t want to do (e.g. smoking) (Hypnotherapy Directory).

Analytical Hypnotherapy (also called hypnoanalysis) seeks to find the root cause of a problem, and deal with the issue (Hypnotherapy Directory).

Cognitive Hypnotherapy is influenced by a number of other validated theories, such as Positive Psychology, Neuroscience, Evolutionary Psychology and NLP and combines these in a way that fits the client's goals, values and personality (Hypnotherapy Directory).

Hypnotherapy, other techniques and medicine

Though effective on its own, hypnotherapy can be combined with other psychotherapy and counseling techniques and also used along with traditional medicine to benefit individuals (Hypnotherapy Directory).

 

Hypnosis vs. Yoga & meditation

Yoga and meditation allows one to focus, concentrate better and relax. Hypnotherapy, though similar in focusing and relaxing aspects, is more goal-orientated and works on a specific issue to make a particular change in one’s life (Stone).

 Self-Hypnosis – What is it?

This is hypnosis induced by a person on himself without the help of a hypnotist (Eimer, 2007) to reinforce the usefulness of formal sessions with the therapist (Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy UK).

People who cannot be Hypnotized

Virtually anyone can be hypnotized with the exception of infants, the mentally handicapped, and those who are senile. Hypnosis requires the ability to concentrate and focus one’s attention (Hypnotherapy of Bardstown).

"Hypno" means sleep. So who in in control?

Hypnosis was coined wrongly in relation to the practice but it has been accepted and used widely. Anyone in hypnosis is completely aware of what’s going on around him, hears everything, and can remember what he has experienced. They cannot be made to do anything against their will while in a state of hypnosis (Hypnotherapy of Bardstown).

Benefits of Hypnotherapy

1.      Natural form of therapy to treat emotional and physical disorders without need for medication or medical intrusion on the human body.

2.      No side effects since no pills and potions used.

3.      One of the safest modalities for helping people solve their problems. Hypnosis is just as natural and safe as relaxation and sleep (Hypnotherapy of Bardstown).

4.      Can be used together with traditional medical or psychological treatments.

5.      Hypnotherapy can reach into the subconscious mind, an area normal medication cannot reach.

6.      Can be practiced on any normal person.

7.      Can be used both on individuals and as group therapy.

8.      Client is still in control and fully aware during the process.

9.      Can help to change behaviors for the better.

10.  Can be used for treatments of everyday living like additions, bad habits, losing weight, stress, chronic pain, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression, all without medication.

11.  Can be used to address childhood issues or recover buried memories.

12.  Can enhance performance the natural way by modifying a person’s thoughts to improve their natural abilities.

13.  Client realizes the ability to have increased focus, concentration and make changes all through their own efforts.

14.  Client is able to practice self-hypnosis to continue treatment at no additional cost.

15.  Provides a very pleasant feeling of relaxation.

16.  Easy to learn, understand and practice.

 


Jayasim s/o Tharmapalan
School of Positive Psychology

References

Boring, E. G. (1929). The psychology of controversy. Harvard University. Retrieved from http://wexler.free.fr/library/files/boring (1929) the psychology of controversy.pdf

Cherry, K. (n.d.). What is hypnosis? hypnosis applications, effects and myths. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/a/hypnosis.htm

Ehrlich, S. D. (2011). Hypnotherapy. Maryland, USA: University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Retrieved from http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/hypnotherapy

Eimer, B. (2007). most frequently asked questions about hypnosis. Retrieved from http://www.hypnosishelpcenter.net/faq.htm

Hergenhahn, B. R. (2013). An introduction to the history of psychology. Cengage Learning. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.sg/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6-FchL0K_ioC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=history of james braid&ots=2hWO_43BWE&sig=Elb8izGyMl-IKNtjIT76Z7zFjBY

Hoff, L. (n.d.). Benefits of hypnotherapy. Retrieved from http://www.pathfinderhypnotherapy.com/benefits.html

Holland, G. (2011). The top ten benefits of hypnotherapy: Hypnosis in andover . Andover Hypnotherapy. Retrieved from http://connecthypnotherapy.com/10-benefits-of-hypnotherapy

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy UK. (n.d.). What is hypnosis and how does hypnotherapy work?. Retrieved from http://www.hypnosis.me.uk/pages/whatis.html

Hypnotherapy Directory (n.d). Hypnotherapy : Frequently asked questions. Hypnotherapy Directory. Retrieved from http://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/content/industryfaqs.html

Hypnotherapy of Bardstown. (n.d.). Hypnotherapy: Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://hypnotherapyofbardstown.com/questions

Jones, G. (2013). 7 important benefits with hypnotherapy. The Unity Group Healing Center. Retrieved from http://www.unitygrouphealing.com/blog/2013/01/17/7-Important-Benefits-With-Hypnotherapy.aspx

Lew, S. (2013). Diploma in hypnotherapy and counselling. School of Positive Psychology.

O'Brien, M. (n.d.). The critical factor. Retrieved from http://www.serenityhypnosis.com/The-critical-factor

Stone, K. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions about hypnotherapy. Retrieved from http://www.hypnotist.com/faq1.htm

Whorwell, P. J. (2005). Review article: the history of hypnotherapy and its role in the irritable bowel syndrome. (Vol. 22, pp. 1061-1067). Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02697.x/full

Yeates, L. B. (2013). James braid: Gentleman scientist, and hypnotist. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales. Retrieved from http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:11299/SOURCE01

 

School of Positive Psychology

Historian in Hypnotherapy – James Braid

Dr. James Braid is regarded by many as the 'Father of Hypnosis' for he was the man who coined the term "hypnosis" – because he made a mistake. (James Braid Society, 2006).

Born James Braid, to James Braid and Ann Suttie, on 19 June 1795 at Ryelaw House in Portmoak, Kinross-Shire, Scotland, Dr. James Braid was the 3^rd son and last child of the family. James Braid married Margaret Mason at the age of 18 (Yeates, 2013).

A surgeon by profession, James Braid studied at the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons and became a member there (M.R.C.S).  He was also a member of Wernerian Natural History Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, the Manchester Athenæum, and the Honorary Curator of the museum of the Manchester Natural History Society. In 1828, Dr. Braid moved from Scotland to Manchester to continue in his professional capacity specializing in the medical correction of squint, club-foot, stammer, spinal curvature, among others (Yeates, 2013).

On November 13, 1841, a date which led to changes in the history of Hypnotism, a curious Dr. James Braid attended a stage demonstration on mesmerism by Swiss demonstrator Charles Lafontaine. Intrigued, his second visit to another Lafontaine demonstration captured Braid’s attention on the experience of eye catalepsy shown by the patient in the demonstration. He was convinced that there was no animal magnetism at work and surely not something caused by a charismatic operator. By using ‘self-’ or ‘auto-hypnotism’ on himself within his own home, Braid successfully demonstrated that it only needed a subject’s ‘fixity of vision’ on an ‘object of concentration’ at a specific height and distance, to reach the state Lafontaine’s patients demonstrated (Yeates, 2013). By doing the experiment on himself, he proved that the phenomenon was not a cause of magnetism (Yeates, 2013).

After replicating the experiment successfully with the same results on his friend Mr Walker, his wife and his servant, Braid concluded that the induction state of trance or ‘sleep’, caused by “fixation of the subject’s vision upon a task”, was a result of “exhaustion of the nervous system” and a “natural reflex of an entirely normal human physiological system (Yeates, 2013). His theory that this state can be achieved by any operator, challenged the dominant theories of animal magnetism and mesmerism at that time.

On 27 November 1841, Braid held his first public lecture cum demonstration to dispel the theory of animal magnetism in Lafontaine’s demonstration.  Over the course of the next few months, James Braid conducted many more lectures and demonstrations to packed audiences, displaying the effectiveness of hypnotism and its therapeutic effects. Constantly challenged, he answered his critics through tact, facts and real-life demonstrations.

Braid’s biggest challenge came in the form of Rev Hugh Boyd M’Neile, an influential Anglican cleric, who associated Braid’s practice to Satanic methods and through objectionary sermons and publications, condemned his important therapeutic work as having no efficacy (Yeates, 2013). All efforts by Braid to provide accounts and demonstrations to the opposite, failed to satisfy M’Neile. Braid defended himself as not promoting neurohypnotism as a “universal remedy” but when applied correctly and appropriately it had the means of curing many ailments where other known remedies failed (Yeates, 2013).

It should be noted that by this time, having associated the phenomenon of trance to a form of sleep, Braid named the phenomena after Hypnos, the Greek God of sleep and master of dreams (James Braid Society, 2006). Since then, the terms Hypnosis and Hypnotism have gained fame.

On June 22 1842, Braid wrote to the British Association for the Advancement of Science (B.A.A.S) detailing his proposal to present his paper on “Neurohypnology as a curative agency” (Yeates, 2013) with physical evidence of people he had treated. Amid conspiracy theories of professional jealousy, his proposal was deemed “unsuitable” by the B.A.A.S. Undaunted, on 29 June 1842, Braid still went ahead on his own to present a conversazione on the same topic to a packed full-house (Yeates, 2013).

In 1842, he published "Neurypnology or The Rationale of Nervous Sleep Considered in Relation With Animal Magnetism." (James Braid Society, 2006).  With descriptions of 25 cases where a variety of conditions were treated, this book provided an extensive account of Braid’s work on the domain of Hypnotism, his views and defense of his theories and work (Yeates, 2013). He sold nearly 800 copies of his work

By 1847, Braid started to realize the phenomena of catalepsy, anaesthesia and amnesia could be induced without sleep. Realising his choice of using the term hypnosis was not in line with the practice, Braid tried to change the name to monoideism (concentration on a single idea or object) but he was too late as the terms “hypnosis” and “hypnotism” had already been widely adopted in many European languages (James Braid Society, 2006).

Known for his kindness, generosity, sympathy, and concern for his patients, despite his deep interest and extensive work in hypnotism, Braid continued to work as a surgeon until his death (Yeates, 2013).

Dr. James Braid died suddenly of a heart attack on Sunday, 25 March 1860.

Jayasim s/o Tharmapalan
School of Positive Psychology

References

Braid, J. (1843). Neurypnology; or, the rationale of nervous sleep, considered in relation with animal magnetism. Retrieved from http://bscw.rediris.es/pub/bscw.cgi/d4523401/Braid-Neurypnology.pdf

The James Braid Society. (2006). James braid (1796 - 1860). London: James Braid Society. Retrieved from http://www.jamesbraidsociety.com/jamesbraid.htm

Whorwell, P. J. (2005). Review article: the history of hypnotherapy and its role in the irritable bowel syndrome. (Vol. 22, pp. 1061-1067). Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02697.x/full

Wikipedia. James braid (surgeon). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Braid_(surgeon)

Yeates, L. B. (2013). James braid: Surgeon, gentleman scientist, and hypnotist. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales. Retrieved from http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:11299/SOURCE01