The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners.

by Roberta Swartz

Acceptance of the use of hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a complementary approach in healthcare is wonderfully tangible. I applaud the many clinical hypnotherapists across the world who have helped thousands of people experience fantastic results. Many of the improvements they witness may seem too good to be true, sometimes defying what followers of traditional medicine believe to be possible.

Fortunately, modern day validation of hypnosis through medical, scientific double blind studies has occurred since 1998, through The National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). This independent branch of the National Institute of Health, serves to prove or disprove alternative approaches to healthcare, and since it’s inception, studies involving the use of hypnosis continue to demonstrate favorable results. Following are a few examples.

* Hypnosis for clinical pain:Conclusion– “Randomized controlled studies with clinical populations indicate that hypnosis has a reliable and significant impact on acute procedural pain and chronic pain conditions.”

    The Lancet, April 29, 2000, Dr. Elvira V. Lang, Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

* Hypnosis for migraines: Conclusion– “During those last three months, the headaches occurred less often, when the headaches did appear they went away quicker, the headaches were less severe and medication use was cut in half. Hypnosis is an effective treatment for migraine headaches.”

    Patterson, D.R.; Jensen, M.P., Psychological Bulletin, July 2003, American Psychological Association

* Hypnosis for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Results– “71% initially responded to the therapy. Of these, 81% maintained their improvement or reported a further improvement over the follow-up period. Improvements were seen across all symptoms and quality of life, anxiety and depression scores.”

    www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ,Gastroenterology, 2002. Dec; 123 (6): pp.1778-85, Calvert, E.L.; Houghton, L.A.; Cooper, P.; Morris, J.; Whorwell, P.J.

How fantastic it is that for more than fifteen years, medical research has validated the benefits of hypnosis as a complementary approach in healthcare! Studies through facilities such as UCLA, Cedars Sinai and Presbyterian Hospitals now validate the use of hypnosis for stress reduction, pain control and IBS, and the list of beneficial applications continues to grow. I would like to acknowledge however, these studies involve the use of hypnosis rather than applications of analytical hypnotherapy.

It is estimated about 25-30% of our clients respond well to the use of hypnosis alone, free of any analytical work. These numbers mirror the placebo effect and they demonstrate that mental expectations are powerful enough to override physical responses. With hypnosis, mental expectations and physical responses can be respectfully influenced through the use of positive suggestion and effective guided imagery. If we consider that a 25-30% favorable response is quite remarkable by most standards, then why, despite these milestones, does hypnosis continue to be misunderstood and shrouded in mystery for most of society? Beliefs that hypnosis is either magic and a quick fix or, “it is utter nonsense” tend to be most common and few people understand how powerful their mind really is.

One inescapable influence that keeps people from experiencing their inner healing power through hypnosis is the history of hypnosis itself which is steeped in magic and ideas of mind control. Some religious perspectives instill fear of hypnosis believing it makes one vulnerable to evil. Media further eludes the masses with theatrical displays of hypnosis to attract and delight their audiences. Perhaps of greatest influence today are the big pharmaceutical companies who want people to be dependent upon ill health and the quick fix victim based mentality that supports their annual muti-billion dollar profits.

Each of these areas and more, quietly yet powerfully nudging common views of hypnosis and the profession of hypnotherapy, often creating great distance between people and the possibility of achieving the healthy benefits derived from working with their own mind-body connection. Yet, the truth about hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a mind-body science will continue to grow because it is a grassroots movement. More people will continue to seek resolution beyond the all too often ineffective results that western medicine and traditional approaches in psychotherapy have to offer, and more people will continue to experience genuine results through hypnosis and clinical hypnotherapy.

What continues to fascinate me about analytical hypnotherapy is how malleable it is. It’s applications can obtain lasting results that cross all barriers, influencing physical health, emotional health, behavioral health and spiritual well being. What other form of therapy can do this? After thirty years of working in this field, I continue to wonder, “How can we bring greater awareness to the world about the incredible benefits we provide? How can we increase medical support for integration of hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a safe, effective approach for healthcare rather than a bizarre Hollywood state of mind?” I believe the answer to this question rests mainly in the gap between the use of hypnosis and professional applications of analytical hypnotherapy.

Hypnosis verses Analytical Hypnotherapy
Although some people do know the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy, these terms are often used interchangeably and few people realize that analytical hypnotherapy exists as a separate therapeutic approach to wellness. Most clients are quite surprised and interested in experiencing hypnotherapy once they learn what can be accomplished through its process, relieved in knowing they have finally found what they’ve been looking for. With all due respect, if we want successful results that go beyond the 25-30%, if we want to help our clients obtain permanent resolution, then we must go beyond hypnosis and apply principles of analytical hypnotherapy whenever appropriate.

It has been well documented within the field of clinical hypnotherapy, that analytical hypnotherapy includes many aspects of mental transformation which can then influence physical, emotional and behavioral health. When we induce the proper depth of hypnotic trance and we skillfully guide our clients through analytical hypnotherapy, their inner work is highly effective, efficient and powerfully transforming. Unfortunately, this gap between applications of hypnosis and those of analytical hypnotherapy often affect the very people who work within the profession of clinical hypnotherapy.

I realize psychological constructs can seem ominous or out of reach for many hypnotherapists, however there are unlimited creative approaches for helping our clients to acquire full resolution as we incorporate the logical, psychological principles of ego mind into our work. The field of psychotherapy cannot possibly own the rights to work with the ego mind for it is a part of human nature; it is a part of life. It is here in this arena of ego mind, complete with its beliefs, mental expectations and feelings, where applications of clinical hypnotherapy genuinely shine.

Working with The Ego Mind
If we look more carefully behind the scenes, supporting each client’s storyline we’ll find the ego mind. This self-serving inner aspect gives us our personality; it is our likes and our dis-likes. Ego mind basically runs the show in life. This seemingly intangible, subconscious part of human nature can be easily accessed via hypnosis, allowing for true therapeutic transformation to occur. The goal of all therapy including hypnotherapy is to assist the ego mind to work in harmony.

Most people consider working with the ego states as a part of the mental health profession, unaware that physical health is intricately woven together through subconscious aspects of mind. Perhaps you are aware that back in the mid to late1800’s in Europe, hypnosis was gaining great attention. Hopefully you have learned about Josef Breuer, an Austrian physician who was dabbling with hypnosis during this time. Sigmund Freud was his student and together they worked with a young woman who has since become famously known as Anna O. Their work demonstrated that although Anna had multiple hysterical physical maladies, once recalled in hypnosis these manifested problems seemed to miraculously disappear. Freud understood that creating a working balance between the three ego states was necessary not only for mental health but also for physical health. Although he later debunked the use of hypnosis due to his own inadequacies, his theories of the three ego states are brilliant and they are still the foundation of all psychotherapy today.

In truth, the psychological aspects of ego mind can be greatly influenced through analytical hypnotherapy. Age regression serves as the client’s storyline and Gestalt work then provides incredible avenues for transformation. This work brings understanding and clarity through subconscious sensory awareness and creative aspects of mind, as we explore secondary benefits, collapsing old ideas and re-educating the subconscious mind with new information that is appropriate and more accurate. After working with the ego mind for creating acceptance, understanding and harmony, then strengthening the ego with its new understandings and behaviors can bring the process to completion through full integration. When this is done effectively, the results tend to be profound and often permanent. It is here in this subconscious arena of ego awareness and transformation that we can most effectively help our clients to create lasting results.

An added benefit to those who work as a professional hypnotherapist, is that when you acquire efficient skills in analytical hypnotherapy you’ll feel more confident in helping your clients to obtain their goals. This makes your work far more rewarding and your clients will happily share their successful results with others. Clients who are pleased with their results will always be your best marketing tool.

Roberta Swartz  has been helping people lead healthier, more productive lives since 1984 through professional presentations, interactive workshops, classes and private hypnotherapy sessions. http://hypnosis4yourlife.com