Does
hypnotherapy work? Science says "YES!" WASHINGTON POST- April 28, 2013 -
By Paul Mountjoy, writer and a member
of the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science.
“Hypnosis
seems helpful in treating addictions and the depression and anxiety associated with them”- Psychology Today.
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy has been rooted in science with evidence based results
reported for many years. Although the American Medical Association (AMA) currently has no clear position on the effectiveness
of hypnosis and hypnotherapy, in 1958, the AMA reported hypnotherapy has a recognized place in the medical armamentarium and
is a useful technique in the treatment of certain illnesses.
Hypnotherapy is considered an effective adjunct in psychotherapy for many issues,
and more are being studied. On its own, hypnotherapy is reported to be beneficial: In 2001, the British Psychological Society
commissioned a group of expert psychologists and published a report that declared hypnosis a proven therapeutic medium and
valid for study.
The report
went on to say hypnotherapy is beneficial for a wide range of issues encountered in medicine, psychology and psychiatry with
regard to stress, anxiety, pain, and psychosomatic illnesses. Some illnesses described are insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome,
headaches and migraines, asthma and a variety of skin maladies. Weight reduction was also cited as benefiting from hypnotherapy.
A comparison study reported in 2007 by American Health Magazine
indicates some psychological issues benefit more from hypnotherapy than psychoanalysis and behavior therapy. A German
university meta-analysis of 444 studies supported this claim, concluding a 64 percent success rate with hypnotherapy for stress,
anxiety and chronic pain.
According to Sanjay Paul, A psychology instructor at several universities, hypnosis is a heightened sense
of suggestibility for accessing the subconscious mind which is responsible for up to 90 to 95 percent of our thoughts and
actions. No one can be made to do anything they do not wish to under hypnosis. That old, inaccurate reputation stems from
night club acts.
Paul goes on to say hypnosis can provide lasting change by “cleaning the
bottom of the mental fish tank” and it is the sub-conscious that helps to maintain ones self-image and record all memory
via sensor input as a 24 hour mental tape recorder.
Ohio based certified hypnotherapist
Janet Berg describes hypnosis as the state one must achieve in order to be receptive to hypnotherapy. She describes hypnosis
as a state where the sub-conscious can readily accept and act on new information and suggestions for healing, change, growth
and attainment of individual goals.
The experience, according to Paul, is the phase one enters directly before falling
asleep or upon awakening and Berg claims those under hypnosis can leave this state voluntarily at any time and those who receive
hypnotherapy describe the experience as relaxing and refreshing. More information can be obtained through her website www.janetberg.com.
where she identifies a host of issues she can help with.
The American Psychology Association (APA) website has declared most clinicians
now agree hypnotherapy can be a powerful, effective therapeutic technique for a wide variety of conditions.
Apparently, hypnotherapy is gaining ground
fast as a respected form of therapy within the corridors of the scientific community.
