The Types of Hypnotherapy

I was researching the forms and techniques of Hypnotherapy and I decided that the best information can all be found on Wikipedia.

The following information has been summarised from Wikipedia's Hypnotherapy page.




Traditional hypnotherapy
The form most commonly practiced. Employs direct suggestion of symptom removal with some use of therapeutic relaxation.



Hypnoanalysis
“Sigmund Freud (photo below) and Joseph Bruer used hypnosis to regress clients to an earlier age in order to help them remember…repressed traumatic memories.”

Ericksonian hypnotherapy

Developed by Milton H Erikson (photo below), “one of the most influential hypnotists of the 20th century”.
"Erickson made use of a more informal conversational approach with many clients and complex language patterns, and therapeutic strategies…Erickson's work continues to be one of the most influential forces in modern hypnotherapy.”

Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), a methodology similar in some regards to hypnotism (has roots in Eriksonian Hypnotherapy).

Cognitive/behavioral hypnotherapy***

“Combined hypnotherapy with elements of cognitive and behaviour therapy. In 1974, Theodore Barber and his colleagues published an influential review of the research which argued, following the earlier social psychology of Theodore R. Sarbin, that hypnotism was better understood not as a "special state" but as the result of normal psychological variables, such as active imagination, expectation, appropriate attitudes, and motivation. Barber introduced the term "cognitive-behavioral" to describe the nonstate theory of hypnotism, and discussed its application to behavior therapy.”

“The growing application of cognitive and behavioral psychological theories and concepts to the explanation of hypnosis paved the way for a closer integration of hypnotherapy with various cognitive and behavioral therapies. However, many cognitive and behavioral therapies were themselves originally influenced by older hypnotherapy techniques, e.g., the systematic desensitisation of Joseph Wolpe, the cardinal technique of early behavior therapy, was originally called "hypnotic desensitisation" and derived from the Medical Hypnotism (1948) of Lewis Wolberg.

The traditional style of hypnotherapy can be seen as a precursor of cognitive-behavioral therapy insofar as both place emphasis upon "common sense" theoretical explanations and the use of relaxation, and rehearsal of positive ideas and imagery in therapy.

Modern cognitive therapy primarily differs from previous hypnotherapy approaches by placing much greater emphasis upon the direct Socratic disputation of negative beliefs. However, cognitive-behavioral hypnotherapists, like those mentioned in this section, have assimilated this technique alongside their use of hypnosis.”

*the closest fit that I could find to the Hypnotherapy technique that I have experienced.

New Age hypnotherapy

“Many New Age therapists employ past-life regression which usually combines belief in reincarnation with techniqes of hypnotic regression ultimately derived from Sigmund Freud.”

I highly recommend you visit Wikipedia’s Hypnotherapy page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnotherapy

Origins of Hypnotherapy

Invention of Hypnotism

"James Braid (1795 – March 25, 1860) was a Scottish neurosurgeon who coined the term and invented the procedure known as hypnotism."

"He developed the technique of relaxation and eye-fixation, known as "Braidism," which results in the hypnotic trancelike state. Braid's work led to the development of hypnosis as a medical technique."

"Braid published Neurypnology: or the Rationale of Nervous Sleep in 1843, his first and only book-length exposition of his views. In it, he coined the words "hypnotism," "hypnotize," and "hypnotist." Braid thought of hypnotism as producing a "nervous sleep" which differed from ordinary sleep."

Above Text taken from:

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/James_Braid_(physician)

Trials & Tribulations...Hypnotherapy begins

Late last year I was successful in losing another 10 kilos. I tried Pilates (will post more on Pilates later) and eating less meat.

I ate mainly raw vegetables and whole grains. I avoided bread and complicated carbohydrates. But, like most diets I have tried I failed to stick to it. I have since put 6 kilos back on.

I realised that the critical problem I face, and I am sure most large people face, is that I give in to the cravings. And I give in to the cravings because the cravings don't go away.

So how to combat this?

That's when I decided to try Hypnotherapy.

I saw an add for a Hypnotherapist in the local paper. After calling and finding out more about what she offered I decided to save up and try it.

Yesterday was my second session. She prescribed 3 sessions spaced a week apart.

The first session was weird for me. I envisioned a shiny gold watch being dangled in front of me and waking up several minutes later not knowing what had taken place. I thought that I would be completely cured of my sugar cravings and want to immediately go for a run and eat apples for dinner (or at least along those lines).

I got to say that I am disappointed due to my high hopes.

My Hypnotherapist uses lobby music to calm her patient and lulls them into a half sleep. They lie on her couch in this state as she repeatedly tells them they will not want to eat certain foods and that they will want to eat healthier foods.

The results the first week were minimal. I'm not sure if I just didn't feel like it or not, but, I didn't want to eat takeaways or eat out. I cooked healthy balanced meals almost every night. This is the second week and I haven't had any fast food cravings but I must admit I ate some for my birthday dinner.

So I am unsure if this hypnotherapist has made any changes to my psyche.

My second session focused on sugary foods. These I use to get me through hectic days at work and they have become an addiction. I usually crave a sugary treat for morning and afternoon tea.

My craving seems to have reduced significantly but it has only been 24 hours.

I still have one more session to go and I think the up coming week will give me more of an idea if my hypnotherapy has worked.

Will write more on my results and hypnotherapy later...