Hypnotherapy. Hypnosis alike relaxation and guided imagery.

What is hypnosis and what is hypnotherapy?

All Human Givens therapists are trained in hypnotherapy; this means that they may use hypnosis as part of the therapy. The word 'hypnosis' often conjures up images of unfortunate victims of stage hypnosis humiliated by doing silly task and appearing to have no control over what they are doing. Hypnotherapy is different.

In fact a hypnotherapist, makes use of the natural trance states that we all go in and out of during the day and night to varying degrees. It is not a state that is specific to hypnosis and somehow magically created by the therapist. A 'trance' state is just a state with a narrow focus of attention; it is part of our genetic heritance - a given of human nature.

Hypnotherapy

hypnosis alike relaxation and guided imagery

As you can see from the above that some trance states come about very suddenly, some gradually; the depth of the trance depends on level of involvement, either through focussing our attention or paradoxically: by relaxing.

The deepest trance state we know is the the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) state we go into when we are dreaming - imagine the REM state as the theatre and the dream as the play.

Trance is a matter of degree

You may understand immediately what I mean if you think about what happens to you when you read a good book, when you are doing a video game, when you are engaged in a sport - your focus of attention is on a very narrow area to the exclusion of all that is around you. Sounds seem to come from a distance, you are hardly aware of the temperature, pain levels are reduced, etc. - you are completely absorbed by the activity on which your attention is locked - as it is in hypnotherapy.

Trance and hypnotherapy

Other ways we go into trance naturally

recalling a memory - we have to exclude all environmental stimuli to be able to access a memory

learning something new - we have to connect new information with what is already stored in our brain

doing something creative and/or practise a skill with which we are well-versed (what psychologists call 'flow')

experiencing a high level of emotion: greed, anxiety, anger, lust

being depressed - our attention is locked on how we feel

meditating, or doing yoga or tai chi

receiving an aromatherapy massage

daydreaming - you may be oblivious of someone trying to talk to you

In hypnotherapy all the therapist does is guide your attention, purely for the purpose of therapy, in a similar way that happens naturally when you dream. In hypnotherapy you are responding to an external stimulus, rather than an internal involuntary one as when you dream.

For that reason the therapist can help you to feel in control, you can decide whether to go into trance or not and how deep you go into trance. Part of you can stay aware of what is happening - the therapist only creates the conditions in which you can choose to respond.

Once you have made that decision, your body/mind responds in a way you might recognise from dream sleep:

your major muscle groups completely relax

you become less aware of the distractions around you

you may have to make an effort to speak or not even want to

you may or may not remember much about it later

your perception of time may be distorted

The link between hypnotherapy and dreaming

How can hypnotherapy help?

A Human Givens Therapist is trained to access hypnotic trance states safely, creatively and effectively, by relaxation and guided imagery, to: .

enhance an individuals innate resources

increase awareness and use of existing skills and abilities

encourage and support a sense of general well-being

deal with any kind of problem, including stress and anxiety, depression, anger problems, addiction, sleeping problems, etc.

Resolve trauma

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PTSD

The 'flashbacks' in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome are 'post-hypnotic' trance states, whereby a sensory reminder, such as particular smells, sights or sounds can trigger of a re-experience of the original traumatic event.