Existential therapy and Hypnotherapy

People unfamiliar with therapeutic hypnosis are sometimes confused as to the difference between hypnosis and Mesmerism. Franz Mesmer (1734-1815) believed he had discovered a special substance in the human body that he could exert power over by waving his hands over an individual. Witnesses of Mesmer at work would report that his subjects would become hysterical and appeared to be under his control. Mesmer was eventually proved wrong by an investigating committee who concluded that the substance he 'discovered' did not exist and his subjects' actions were attributed to imagination. Although discredited, the idea of Mesmerism caught the imagination and in 1894 was made ever more popular by George Du Maurier's best-selling novel Trilby. The novel tells the story a tone-deaf girl, Trilby, mesmerized and manipulated by the evil Svengali. Under his power, Trilby becomes a world-renowned opera singer. Svengali not only gets rich off the girl but forces her to marry him, ignore her friends and convinces her that without him she will wither away and die.

Stage hypnotists appear to use hypnosis to make people act in strange ways and believe strange things to be true. Such as act like chickens or believe they are glued to their chairs. However these hypnotists achieve their effects, what they are demonstrating is much closer to (discredited and fictional) mesmerism than hypnotherapy.

A hypnotherapist will not exert some kind of power over you that makes your problems go away. He or she will use a scientifically tested and accepted technique known to help people get over certain problems.

The British Psychological Society BPS

In 2001 the BPS published a report entitled The Nature of Hypnosis. It is available on the internet and you click here read the PDF. What is immediately notable is that the report opens with: Hypnosis is a valid subject for scientific study and research a proven therapeutic medium.

Some interesting quotes from the report include:

"There is convincing evidence that hypnotic procedures are effective in the management and relief of both acute and
chronic pain and in assisting in the alleviation of pain, discomfort and distress due to medical and dental procedures."

"Hypnosis and the practice of self-hypnosis may significantly reduce general anxiety, tension and stress in a manner similar to other relaxation and self-regulation procedures (Schoenberger, 2000). Likewise, hypnotic treatment may assist in insomnia in the same way as other relaxation methods (Anderson, Dalton & Basker, 1979; Stanton, 1989)."

"There is encouraging evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of hypnotherapeutic procedures in alleviating the symptoms of a range of complaints that fall under the heading ‘psychosomatic illness’. These include tension headaches and migraine (Alladin, 1988; Holroyd & Penzien, 1990; ter Kuile et al., 1994); asthma (see review of clinical studies by Hackman, Stern & Gershwin, 2000); gastro-intestinal complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome (Galovski & Blanchard,1998; Harvey et al., 1989; Whorwell, Prior, & Colgan, 1987; Whorwell, Prior & Faragher, 1984); warts (DuBreuil & Spanos,1993); and possibly other skin complaints such as eczema, psoriasis and urticaria (Shertzer & Lookingbill, 1987; Stewart & Thomas, 1995; Zachariae et al., 1996)."

"Hypnosis is probably at least as effective as other common methods of helping people to stop smoking (see review by
Green & Lynn, 2000)."

(Words in Bold are my emphasis)

Your first hypnotherapy session is free

Hypnotherapy can and does help a lot of people but it may not be for everyone. For this reason your first hypnosis session with me is free. If you have a problem that you think can be helped with hypnosis email me for more information and details on how to set up a free introductory session.

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