Hypnosis
Q.
What is hypnosis?
A.
Hypnosis refers to a procedure by which an individual is
taught to engage in deep relaxation resulting in a psychological
state known as a 'trance.'
Q.
What is a trance?
A.
A trance refers to a state where an individual becomes
deeply focused on their own internal thoughts and feelings
and temporarily looses touch with the physical surroundings.
Many people can spontaneously enter a state of trance whether
or not they are being actively hypnotized.
Q.
Are their different types of trances?
A.
Yes, a trance may be 'light' or 'deep'.
In
a light trance, you will remember everything that is said
to you and you
will simply feel very relaxed and comfortable. You will
be able to talk about things that bother you without the
anxiety
or discomfort you generally experience.
If
you go into a deep trance, you will will feel so relaxed
and comfortable that you will temporarily loose track of
time and place. A few minutes under hypnosis may feel like
several hours, or vice versa. You may be able to move so
deeply into your imagination that you temporarily feel as
if you are in another place or time. For example, the hypnotist
might tell you to imagine that you are in a special place
from your childhood and you may feel as if you are really
there. You may be completely unable to feel aches and pains
that generally bother you. If you suffer from severe or chronic
pain, this is clearly a very positive thing! By practicing
hypnosis over and over again, you can learn to 'hypnotize'
yourself so that you can relax at will, even during very
stressful real life situations!
Q.
What will the therapist do when I go into a trance?
A.
The therapist will quietly talk to you to help you to relax
your body and mind. Once you are deeply relaxed, the therapist
might talk to you about how to more effectively handle difficult
situations in your life. Because, you will feel so relaxed,
you will be more open to your therapists suggestions, and
more inclined to follow them when you leave the office!
Q.
Who discovered this tool?
A.
The term 'hypnosis' was originally coined by a Scottish surgeon
named James Baird in the 1840's. He discovered that if his
patients stared at a visual point, they would eventually
become calm and impervious to pain. He named his discovery
after 'Hypno' (The Greek God of Sleep').
Q.
What is hypnotherapy?
A.
'Hypnotherapy' refers to the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic
intervention. Today hypnotherapy is used to treat a wide
variety of psychological and physiological ailments. However,
the best studied uses of hypnotherapy are for the reduction
of anxiety and pain. There have been numerous research studies
documenting how well hypnotherapy can work to relieve conditions
such as nausea, panic attacks, and acute pain reactions (especially
those that are exacerbated by anxiety such as receiving a
painful shot).
Q. How do therapists get trained to provide 'hypnotherapy'?
A.
There are many current schools of hypnotherapy as well as
a national organization that provides training and certification
in this field. In the state of North Carolina, any independently
licensed psychologist can practice hypnotherapy as long as
they have had specialized training in the form of courses,
workshops and professional supervision.
Q.
If I come to you for hypnotherapy, is that all we will
do when I see you?
A.
Hypnotherapy can be practiced in isolation, or as an adjunct
to ongoing psychotherapy. When I practice hypnotherapy, it
is nearly always in conjunction with some type of ongoing
psychotherapy.
Q.
Who should try 'hypnotherapy?'
A.
If you suffer from excessive anxiety, phobias, compulsive
or addictive behavior patterns or excessive physical pain
reactions, you may wish to explore this therapeutic option!
For further information about hypnosis, call Dr. Parks today to arrange for
a consultation to see whether this tool might work for you!
|
