Following on from our blog during Mental Health Awareness Week (15th to 21st May), in this post we’re going to explore hypnotherapy.
There are many different forms of therapy available to those who are suffering with mental health difficulties and, owing to the nature of our work, we meet many clients who have benefited from various therapies, one of which being the lesser-known hypnotherapy. You may have heard of hypnosis being used for entertainment purposes, particularly with the likes of Derren Brown on TV, but it can also be used as a medical treatment. Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis to try and treat conditions or change a person’s habits. Hypnosis changes a person’s state of awareness and is said to increase relaxation and improve focus and concentration.
Being in a more relaxed state means that most people are more open to suggestions which helps with changing behaviour. This is often done by a healthcare provider using verbal repetition and mental images. The increased relaxation from being hypnotised can also be used to treat symptoms of anxiety and physical pain. However, it is important to note that during hypnosis you are still in control over your behaviour and the hypnosis can be stopped at any time.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is a form of therapy often used alongside hypnotherapy. NLP works on the theory that life experiences, from birth onwards, programme the way you see the world. NLP therapy is when a health care provider uses perceptual, behavioural and communication techniques to help people change their thoughts and actions. An example of this includes anchoring, which turns sensory experiences into triggers for certain emotional states.
This form of therapy has been applied to treating psychological disorders, phobias, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). NLP is generally used in addition to other types of therapy rather than on its own.
You can find out more about hypnotherapy here. Let us know in the comments if you’ve used hypnotherapy or NLP before and how it has helped.