Hypnotherapy was endorsed by the American Medical Association in 1958 as being effective and safe. It is becoming a more and more commonly used method of inciting cognitive behavioral and emotional change. Also referred to as therapeutic hypnosis, its primary purpose is to help maintain a healthy emotional, behavioral, and / or physical state of well being. Hypnotherapists are finding it to be effective in a variety of areas from quitting smoking to improving one's ability to take tests. The reason that therapeutic hypnosis works so well is that while someone is in the state of hypnosis they display uncommon human characteristics, primarily hyper-suggestibility. Meaning that someone in a hypnotic state becomes extremely susceptible to suggestions, allowing one to break a bad habit, or form a good one, simply because someone suggested that they do so.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a mental state most commonly induced by a procedure known as hypnotic induction. Usually incited by a series of instructions and suggestions, the subject falls into a sleep like state, with heightened suggestibility and tunnel vision (no peripheral awareness). While in a hypnotic state one becomes more likely to follow any suggestion that is given to them. Hence it is very useful in a therapeutic environment, because a behavioral change that may normally be very hard to achieve, can be easily attained.

How Hypnotherapy Works

The human mind functions on two basic levels, the conscious and the sub-conscious. The conscious being the basic thoughts and decisions that you can logically control, and the sub-conscious being the underlying emotional drive to everything that you do. Very often we find ourselves committing to not repeat an action, only to find ourselves doing it again and again. For some people this is over spending, for others, alcohol abuse. The list goes on ad infinitum. When this occurs it is because our conscious decision contradicts our sub-conscious beliefs. And since the sub-conscious is much stronger than the conscious mind, it usually wins out. Hypnotherapy allows a hypnotherapist to talk directly to the sub-conscious, allowing suggestion to have real depth and weight, and letting the conscious and sub-conscious to agree on a decision.

What Can Hypnotherapy Help?

Hypnotherapy has shown positive results in a wide variety of therapeutic issues. It separates itself from conventional therapy because a Hypnotherapist generally concentrates on the role of subconscious behaviors and influences on a patient's life. People are seeking therapeutic hypnosis for a range of issues from, but not limited to:

Addiction Control; Nicotine, Alcohol, Drugs, Sex, Eating Disorders / Weight Loss, Nail Biting, and Overspending

Physical Conditions; Insomnia, Pain Management, Fibromyalgia, and IBS

Facing and Releasing Phobias; Fear of Flying, Fear of Failure, Fear of Success, Fear of Public Speaking, Fear of Stage Fright, Fear of Tight Spaces, Fear of Dentists, Fear of Driving, and even Fear of Death

Performance Enhancements; Test Taking, Time Management, Motivation, Confidence Building, Self Esteem Building, Athletic Improvement, and Improved Concentration

Social Issues; Anger Management, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress, Relationship Issues, Self Deprecation, Perfectionism, Stress, Grief, Bed Wetting, and Procrastination.

Finding a Hypnotherapist