Clinical Hypnosis in Newcastle
What is clinical hypnosis?
Clinical hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and psychological treatment administered by a trained psychologist. Despite being in use from around the 1700’s in a clinical medical setting, clinical hypnosis continues to have those who mistrust it as a form of “show parlour trickery”. This misunderstanding is being addressed by recent research into the efficacy of clinical hypnosis for an increasingly broad range of disorders. This includes generalised pain relief, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), anxiety and pain reduction in specific medical conditions, as well as demonstrating effectiveness in both adults and children (Palsson et al., 2023, Lesmana et al., 2022, Silva et al., 2022 & Moreno Hernandez et al., 2022).
Clinical hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration, during which the subconscious part of the client’s mind receives agreed upon suggestions from the clinician that will assist the client with their pain, anxiety or addiction. The clinician will use a range of techniques including verbal cues, repetition and imagery in this communication, all which is agreed upon between the clinician and client prior to the commencement of the clinical hypnosis session.
Hypnosis can be considered to be a trance like state, during which the client experiences an intense level of concentration and focus as they shut out ordinary distractions that occur around them in everyday life. In this state the client’s subconscious mind is more open to the agreed upon suggestions that are made by the clinician. It is these suggestions that will be able to assist the client to make changes to their life in order to improve their health.
Clinical hypnosis is an endorsed therapy by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It has a growing evidence base in the research literature in an ever increasing range of disorders.
Benefits from clinical hypnosis can include:
Common medical uses include:
What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis (induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence):
Induction
During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your psychologist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation or focusing on a visual image.
Deepener
This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking downstairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.
Suggestions
This is the stage for actual change in experience, behaviour, or perception. Your psychologist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behaviour. Most of these suggestions are discussed and agreed upon prior to hypnosis.
For example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference, and install the changed behaviour. Under clinical hypnosis you may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.
Emergence
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your psychologist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing upstairs or counting up.
Frequently asked questions about clinical hypnosis
Can anyone be hypnotised?
Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotised. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotised.
What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
The person most likely to benefit is the person who’s highly motivated to overcome an issue. Like any other treatment, hypnosis may be helpful for certain conditions or in certain people.
Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. It might also be inappropriate for someone who uses substances or alcohol. The use of hypnosis for memory retrieval is largely unsupported by research. Caution is also advised regarding its use in managing stressful events from early life. The use of hypnosis in these situations may create false memories, especially if unintended suggestions are given, and could cause more distress and anxiety.
Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
Clinical hypnosis is a safe procedure when done by a trained psychologist. Clinical hypnosis is not mind control or brainwashing. Your psychologist cannot make you do something embarrassing or something you do not want to do.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
Yes, it’s possible to practice self-hypnosis. Deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness techniques may work similarly to aspects of hypnosis. This can be particularly useful for controlling the side effects of chemotherapy or managing recurring (repeating) health issues, such as headache pain.
Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Clinical hypnosis is usually used along with other therapies and treatments, as part of a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan. The decision to use clinical hypnosis in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy for traditional medicine is made in consultation with a qualified professional who’s trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis.
What’s the typical duration of treatment with clinical hypnosis?
There’s no typical length. Treatment varies depending on what and how severe the issue is. Clinical hypnosis may take many sessions.
What are some myths about hypnosis?
Myth: Hypnosis is not real. It’s a form of entertainment.
Hypnosis is not a stage act or some magical act. Clinical hypnosis is a type of medical therapy that is often used as part of a treatment plan that includes common medical approaches.
Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you are hypnotised.
Most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware of who you are, where you are and remember what happened during a hypnosis session.
Myth: You are under the control of your hypnotherapist when you are hypnotised.
Your psychologist guides clinical hypnosis, but hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You cannot be made to do anything against your will. You will not reveal any information that you wished to remain secret. You do not lose control over your behaviour. Clinical hypnosis makes it easier to experience suggestions but does not force you to have certain experiences.
Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.
Clinical hypnosis is not sleeping. There are some deeper forms of hypnosis that could make you appear to be asleep because your body is very still and quiet, but you are not asleep.
Clinical hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and psychological treatment administered by a trained psychologist. Despite being in use from around the 1700’s in a clinical medical setting, clinical hypnosis continues to have those who mistrust it as a form of “show parlour trickery”. This misunderstanding is being addressed by recent research into the efficacy of clinical hypnosis for an increasingly broad range of disorders. This includes generalised pain relief, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD), anxiety and pain reduction in specific medical conditions, as well as demonstrating effectiveness in both adults and children (Palsson et al., 2023, Lesmana et al., 2022, Silva et al., 2022 & Moreno Hernandez et al., 2022).
Clinical hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration, during which the subconscious part of the client’s mind receives agreed upon suggestions from the clinician that will assist the client with their pain, anxiety or addiction. The clinician will use a range of techniques including verbal cues, repetition and imagery in this communication, all which is agreed upon between the clinician and client prior to the commencement of the clinical hypnosis session.
Hypnosis can be considered to be a trance like state, during which the client experiences an intense level of concentration and focus as they shut out ordinary distractions that occur around them in everyday life. In this state the client’s subconscious mind is more open to the agreed upon suggestions that are made by the clinician. It is these suggestions that will be able to assist the client to make changes to their life in order to improve their health.
Clinical hypnosis is an endorsed therapy by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It has a growing evidence base in the research literature in an ever increasing range of disorders.
Benefits from clinical hypnosis can include:
- Reduced chronic and acute pain
- Reduced anxiety and symptoms of depression
- Management of phobias or fears
- Managing addiction and substance abuse
- Improving interpersonal relationships and self-esteem
Common medical uses include:
- Insomnia
- Asthma
- Hot flashes during menopause
- Pain control, including after surgery, childbirth, cancer, fibromyalgia, burns and headaches (migraine and tension)
- Side effects of cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment, including nausea and vomiting
What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis (induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence):
Induction
During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your psychologist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation or focusing on a visual image.
Deepener
This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking downstairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.
Suggestions
This is the stage for actual change in experience, behaviour, or perception. Your psychologist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behaviour. Most of these suggestions are discussed and agreed upon prior to hypnosis.
For example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference, and install the changed behaviour. Under clinical hypnosis you may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.
Emergence
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your psychologist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing upstairs or counting up.
Frequently asked questions about clinical hypnosis
Can anyone be hypnotised?
Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotised. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotised.
What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
The person most likely to benefit is the person who’s highly motivated to overcome an issue. Like any other treatment, hypnosis may be helpful for certain conditions or in certain people.
Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. It might also be inappropriate for someone who uses substances or alcohol. The use of hypnosis for memory retrieval is largely unsupported by research. Caution is also advised regarding its use in managing stressful events from early life. The use of hypnosis in these situations may create false memories, especially if unintended suggestions are given, and could cause more distress and anxiety.
Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
Clinical hypnosis is a safe procedure when done by a trained psychologist. Clinical hypnosis is not mind control or brainwashing. Your psychologist cannot make you do something embarrassing or something you do not want to do.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
Yes, it’s possible to practice self-hypnosis. Deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation and mindfulness techniques may work similarly to aspects of hypnosis. This can be particularly useful for controlling the side effects of chemotherapy or managing recurring (repeating) health issues, such as headache pain.
Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Clinical hypnosis is usually used along with other therapies and treatments, as part of a comprehensive and holistic treatment plan. The decision to use clinical hypnosis in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy for traditional medicine is made in consultation with a qualified professional who’s trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis.
What’s the typical duration of treatment with clinical hypnosis?
There’s no typical length. Treatment varies depending on what and how severe the issue is. Clinical hypnosis may take many sessions.
What are some myths about hypnosis?
Myth: Hypnosis is not real. It’s a form of entertainment.
Hypnosis is not a stage act or some magical act. Clinical hypnosis is a type of medical therapy that is often used as part of a treatment plan that includes common medical approaches.
Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you are hypnotised.
Most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware of who you are, where you are and remember what happened during a hypnosis session.
Myth: You are under the control of your hypnotherapist when you are hypnotised.
Your psychologist guides clinical hypnosis, but hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You cannot be made to do anything against your will. You will not reveal any information that you wished to remain secret. You do not lose control over your behaviour. Clinical hypnosis makes it easier to experience suggestions but does not force you to have certain experiences.
Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.
Clinical hypnosis is not sleeping. There are some deeper forms of hypnosis that could make you appear to be asleep because your body is very still and quiet, but you are not asleep.
