De–stress – to release bodily or mental tension ~Merriam – Webster Dictionary
We all experience stress at one stage or another and it can make our lives miserable. Fortunately there are many treatments and techniques that you can practice to get your stress level back under control, including hypnotherapy.
Using hypnotherapy to help people to control stress and overcome anxiety is something I’m passionate about, and so this week I’d thought I’d explain a little about hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
What is Hypnosis?
James Braid the founding father of modern hypnotism (1841) defined hypnosis as:
“Focused attention upon an expectant dominant idea or image.”
Hypnosis is not therapy, per se. It’s simply the utlisation of our natural ability to enter trance. Trance is a focused state of consciousness that facilitates change at a sub-conscious level. It’s our natural learning state and when we are in this state we are more open to new ideas and information – particularly ideas and information that we might otherwise reject.
We experience trance states many times during the course of a day. Even passing into ordinary sleep involves a kind of trance state.
People experience this trance state in slightly different ways (there is no such thing as a ‘hypnotised feeling’) and a person may recognise it as a state of relaxation and a comfortable feeling of detachment, the way you might feel at certain times of the day when your mind is not fully engaged in what is going on around you.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is using a hypnotic trance as the vehicle to more effectively treat a variety of medical and psychological problems. It was approved by the British Medical Association, in 1955, as a valid medical treatment and it's estimated that 85% of people will respond at some level to hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy:
- is something that a person chooses to experience and success requires the person's active participation in the process. The hypnotist is simply the facilitator and guide.
- enhances the effectiveness of a wide range of therapeutic techniques and approaches. The techniques and approaches I use will depend on the needs of my client and my toolbox contains techniques drawn from the fields of Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Solution Focused coaching, EFT, (the tapping technique), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Re-programming) and mindfulness.
- is natural and safe, with no harmful side effects.
- is often successful where other conventional treatments have failed and change is often faster and more deep rooted.
What problems can hypnotherapy help resolve?
Hypnotherapy is medically accepted to benefit the following problems and more:
- stress and anxiety
- unwanted habits - smoking, nail biting, bed wetting
- weight control / healthy eating
- improve work / study / sporting performance
- enhance self esteem and boost self-confidence
- phobias, compulsions, emotional problems
- sleep problems
- skin problems
- pain control
So if your problem is due to accumulated stress, habitual conditioning (habit formation) or unresolved events in your past then hypnotherapy can help you change those habit patterns and create better, more helpful patterns.
What Next?
Now you understand a little more about hypnosis and hypnotherapy perhaps you'd like to experience its de-stressing benefits for yourself?
Helping people to reduce stress and gain control over their stress level is, as you know, my passion. If you'd like to explore how I can help you de-stress, become calmer, more productive and healthier, let's have a chat. Contact me now on 021 056 8389 or email me at tony@tycoaching.nz
Until next week,
Go well
Tony
Tony helps individuals to harness the power of their mind to achieve success and well-being in life, work and business. Tony's particular area of expertise is in helping people perform under pressure and gain freedom from worry, anxiety and stress. Tony’s solution focused approach to coaching uses a range of techniques drawn from the fields of co-active coaching, hypnosis, positive psychology and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).
Contact Tony today to discuss how he can help you, or if you think Tony could help someone you know, you might like to encourage them to get in touch with him.
