Questions & Answers about Clinical Hypnosis

What is clinical hypnosis? When hypnosis is used for treating a physical or psychological clinical problem, we call the process clinical hypnosis. Hypnosis can be defined as an altered state of awareness, consciousness or perception. In simple terms, hypnosis is a highly relaxed state in which the patient's conscious and unconscious mind is focused and receptive to therapeutic suggestion.

Almost everyone has experienced one form or another of hypnosis at some time in his or her life. Think of those times when you were driving on an expressway and caught yourself briefly unaware of what you were doing, or when you or your children were so engrossed in a TV program that you were unaware that someone else had entered the room. There is nothing to fear, because hypnosis is a safe procedure when used professionally. The relaxation you will experience will be pleasant and refreshing.

A Brief History of Hypnosis. Hypnosis under various names has been used for as long as records have been kept. Suggestive therapy is perhaps the oldest of the therapeutic methods. Modern clinical hypnosis is usually dated from about 1773. The term "hypnosis" was coined by James Braid, M.D., approximately 1841. The American Medical Association approved of the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic technique in 1958.

What training is required? The use of hypnosis for psychotherapeutic purposes is usually restricted to psychologists and other licensed health professionals. For instance, physicians and dentists are permitted to use it in conformance with their own training and licensing laws.

Professionals using hypnosis should have taken postgraduate (professional) courses in hypnosis, along with appropriate supervision in the uses of this technique. Many professionals receive their training through continuing education workshops. The major professional hypnosis organizations (limited to psychologists, physicians, dentists, clinical social workers, and certified professional counselors) require 20 clock hours of formal instruction for membership. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) has the following minimum requirements for certification in clinical hypnosis: 40 clock hours of formal instruction, 20 hours of individually supervised training, and 2 years of independent practice in their specialty. Ask your psychologist or other health professional about his or her training if you have any questions.

What physical or emotional problems is hypnosis typically used for? Some examples of the utilization of hypnosis, by discipline, are:

• Psychology: Smoking and weight control, phobias, depression, anxiety, sexual problems, alcoholism/addiction, speech disorders, trauma resolution, age regression therapy, chronic pain, self-esteem/ego strengthening, memory/concentration improvement, forensic work with witnesses.
• Medicine: Psychiatry, anesthesia and surgery, psychosomatic diseases, obstetrics/gynecology, control of bleeding, burn therapy, dermatology, pain control.
• Dentistry: Fear of dentistry, dental surgery, bruxism, control of bleeding, tongue biting, saliva control, orthodontia, gagging, ease of dentures, general oral hygiene.

Are there physical or emotional conditions which do not lend themselves to hypnotic treatment? The professional involved should make the decision whether or not hypnotic treatment is appropriate. He or she should take the individual's complete history in order to determine if there are physical or emotional conditions that would contraindicate the use of hypnosis. The professional will probably not utilize hypnosis with individuals who display such physical problems as severe heart disease or other physical conditions where there is danger of masking an illness. Persons with significant emotional problems, such as borderline psychosis, may not be appropriate patients for hypnotherapeutic treatment.

How long does hypnotic treatment take? Length of hypnotic treatment is like most other treatment procedures. It will vary depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Treatment may be as short as one session, to several sessions. Hypnosis is frequently used in conjunction with other forms of psychotherapy.

Can I learn to hypnotize myself? All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The professional acts as an agent or teacher to help you achieve this pleasant state. Some doctors make tapes for their patients, to be used between sessions or in place of repeated sessions. A good example is the use of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain. Tapes are frequently made for pain patients to be used by them as needed.

Misconceptions about Hypnosis

• Loss of concsciousness. One of the major myths about hypnosis is that you will lose consciousness. Hypnosis is an altered level of consciousness, but you do not become unconscious. Hypnosis is not sleep; the hypnotic EEG pattern is entirely different from the sleep EEG pattern. You will be aware of everything at all times and hear everything that the doctor is saying.
• Weakening your will. Your will is not weakened or changed in any way. You are in control and, if you wish for any reason to terminate the hypnotic state, you may do so simply by opening your eyes. You cannot be made to do anything against your will. Stage hypnotists like the audience to think that they have complete control over their subjects; professionals will make it clear that the patient has the basic control. People use hypnosis to increase their "will power."
• Spontaneous talking. Patients do not spontaneously begin talking or revealing information they wish to keep secret. You can talk while under hypnosis and you and your doctor may wish to use some talking procedure in order to assist you with your problem.

How would I find a qualified hypnotherapist? If you are looking for a qualified psychologist, medical or osteopathic doctor, or dentist who uses hypnosis, you might begin by contacting state or local professional societies. If you use the Yellow Pages, be sure to select a name where the professional lists such credentials as his or her post-graduate professional degree.

The two major professional hypnosis organizations in the United States also can provide you with appropriate names. The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis has recently begun to certify advanced hypnosis practitioners. All members of these organizations are licensed professionals:

What if I can't come out of hypnosis? In the hands of a trained professional, there is no danger in the use of hypnosis. Since the patient holds the control, there is no difficulty in terminating the hypnotic state.

I recently saw an advertisement for "past-life regression" by a "certified hypnotherapist." There is no hard scientific evidence for "past-life regression." There is considerable evidence that memory in general is subject to suggestion, and so-called memories prior to age 2 are probably inaccurate. Memories retrieved under hypnosis do not appear to be any more, or any less, accurate than those retrieved by other, non-hypnotic methods.

We believe that memory retrieval under hypnosis can be valuable if and when facilitated by an ASCH-trained psychotherapist experienced in non-suggestive methods of memory enhancement. The use of hypnosis by questionably-trained individuals, especially nonlicensed "therapists," may result in "false memories."

There are literally dozens of "hypnosis certifications," of varying degrees of legitimacy. To maximize your safety, we strongly suggest that you engage only licensed mental health professionals who have been trained and/or certified by ASCH or SCEH.

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Linda Jayne Dubrow-Marshall, Ph.D.