Hypnosis Past and Present

We will look at these in more detail to understand what changes might occur in the subject at each stage. The objective is, broadly speaking, to facilitate a trance-like state in the subject which enables easier access to the subconscious. After the therapy, there would typically be a period of reflection wherein the subject is encouraged to discuss how the therapy felt and what next steps they might take. However, for the purposes of answering the question ‘What is Hypnosis?’, we will focus primarily on the four key stages.

The purpose of this essay is to explore and illustrate how and why the building of rapport between a client and a therapist is paramount to a successful hypnosis result. It will look at how and when we can build a good rapport, considering the purpose of the notation form and explain the role of the Conscious Critical Faculty and what part it plays in successful hypnosis.

What is hypnosis? Hypnosis has amazing benefits and can enhance people lives in many ways. In modern times, it is unfortunate that Hypnosis is seen as a method of entertaining people instead of it being respected for its true aspects. In reality, hypnosis bears little resemblance to these stereotyped images, as it can improve focus and general well-being mentally and physically. It is a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist. It can also be described as a sleep like trance state or better expressed as a relaxed creative mind, focused by the individual. Despite stories about people being hypnotised out of their consent hypnosis requires voluntary participation on the part of the

The content of this essay will explore how hypnosis has been defined in both the past and the present. I will explain my understanding of hypnosis as well as exploring the history of hypnosis, its origins and how it was first practiced. I shall also detail some of the techniques used and the psychological and physical changes which occur during hypnosis. Finally I will discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy and look at some of the reasons that individuals wish to undergo hypnosis and the benefits they may experience.

He believed mesmerism to be a “nervous sleep” and coined the word hypnosis, from Greek word Hypnos, meaning sleep. He discovered that getting a patient to fixate upon something was one of the most important components of putting them into a trance.

Other than the physical aspect is the physiological aspect. The psychological aspect is the most important as it is what a hypnotist or hypnotherapist relies on in order to successfully complete a session. The psychological aspect effects every part of the induction and both pre and post hypnotic state. Actual hypnotism itself is heavily driven by the psychological aspect as any kind of hypnotism is a form of suggestion and does not take a physical action, it solely relies on convincing your subconscious of modified behaviours or changes. Understanding the difference between your conscious mind and subconscious mind is important in understanding the physiological aspect of hypnosis. “Your subconscious mind is a

When undergoing hypnosis, an induction is required to ensure that the subject is sufficiently relaxed to experience the process fully. The form which this induction takes may be dependent on the hypnotist used, or the type of hypnosis being undertaken. Some hypnotists will rely on a standard format for all inductees, whilst others advocate the use of personalised scripts tailored to each client. Whether this is a more effective method and produces better results for those undergoing hypnosis is a question open to debate.

The American Psychological Association (2014) defines hypnosis as “… a therapeutic technique in which clinicians make suggestions to individuals who have undergone a procedure designed to relax them and focus their minds.”

Hypnotism is one of the earliest methods of treatment ever used, antedating psychological study. It helped patients with sleep disorders, some forms of depression, and anxiety disorders. It also helped some patients who were addicted to painkillers to become clean and

Hypnotherapy refers to an “interaction between two people, one of whom is identified as the hypnotist, the other as the subject” (Heap and Naish) The

The history of hypnosis is a bit like a history of breathing. Like breathing, hypnosis is an inherent and universal trait, shared and experienced by all human beings since the dawn of time. It’s only in the last few decades that we’ve come to realise that hypnosis itself hasn’t changed for millennia, but our understanding of it and our ability to control it has changed quite profoundly. The history of hypnosis, then, is really the history of this change in perception (History of Hypnosis, 2012). Although through the ages many rituals and practises from all over the world resemble modern day hypnosis, hypnosis from a western medical point of view started in 18th Century

This essay will explore the difference between permissive and authoritarian approaches in hypnotherapy. Included will be history of the two approaches, background of the way they work and practical examples to show the influence they have on clients. Gathering information through various means (which will be discussed in this essay) will help the hypnotherapist create a personalized induction. The essay will explore this personalized induction and see if it will always be most effective to use a script that is modified of tailor made for the particular client.

Hypnosis explained by the psychology community as an altered state of consciousness that leaves people in a more subjective state, or more likely to listen to verbal suggestions. The term of hypnosis came from the Greek root word for sleep. There have been records of Hypnosis going back 2,500 years in ancient China and Egypt, (Gurgevich, 2011-2015, para.1). Hypnosis or also known as hypnotherapy is said to be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain, (“Test and Procedures Hypnosis,”2015, Para. 2). An example of how a hypnotherapy session might go like this; a therapist comes in while a patient was in an relaxed state and proceeds to tell the patient that they will be cured from their illness when they came out of the relaxed state and then the patient may or may not be cured.

In the twenty-first century our society has become sceptic on the controversial issue of hypnosis. Our society recognizes hypnosis as a foolish man holding a swinging stopwatch in front of people saying, "When I snap my fingers, you will feel sleepy". Our society does not recognize hypnosis as a way of therapy or treatment. Hypnosis by definition is a trancelike state that resembles sleep but is induced by a person whose suggestions are readily accepted by the subject.

Relaxation, suggestibility, heightened imagination, susceptibility. Those few words I associate with hypnosis. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, associated with greater susceptibility of mind to suggestion. Hypnosis is compared to meditation, deep relaxation and with sleeping because all of them have a similar state of mind. The tool to measure depth of hypnosis is very popular Davis- Husband Scale. Developed in early 20th century scale is used until this day. This scale is describing stages of hypnosis. There is a three main stages of hypnotic trans: Light, Medium and Deep all of them have a sub-stages. With this scale hypnotist is able to determine the hypnotic stage of his patient. Hypnosis allows people