How Hypnosis Works
The Mayo Clinic recognizes three main forms of hypnotherapy. In the first form, the therapist begins speaking in a soft tone of voice to make the patient relax and develop a sense of safety. Once in this state, the patient is given suggestions for reaching specific goals, ranging from quitting smoking to weight loss. The second form of hypnosis deals with the patient delving into his or her imagination. The hypnotherapist suggests powerful and vivid mental images for the patient to visualize. This technique helps the person to see clearly what they want to accomplish and, hopefully, promotes the motivation to achieve that. For those who would prefer to take matters into their own hands, self-hypnosis is an excellent third option. This way, patients can learn to perform hypnotism on their own and do it whenever they feel the need.
When working with an authentic practitioner, there is generally a fixed protocol for the hypnosis session. The Institute for the Study of Healthcare Organizations and Transactions states that the induction procedure usually begins with the patient concentrating on the voice of the hypnotist, relaxing, and focusing his or her eyes on a fixation point. Though most participants are asked to relax during the session, many people respond more acutely while performing some form of physical activity. Then, the hypnotist induces further relaxation with more softly vocalized suggestions. Once in the state of complete openness and relaxation, the patient is then given imaginative experiences to visualize such as pushing objects away from themselves or to imagine being weighed down by the surrounding air. It is during this fragment of the session that the hypnotist begins giving suggestions to alter the current state of behavior or being. Typically, the person is asked to visualize him or herself achieving the current goal or task. Once the suggestions have ceased, the patient is then given instructions on how to awaken.
Though most hypnosis research has been centered on scoring pen and paper tests and documenting the real-life experiences of participants, the biological response of the brain has also been a topic of interest. Typically, the brain is viewed as divided between the right and left hemispheres, each with its own specialized tasks. The left hemisphere controls analytical thought, while the right governs non-analytical tasks, such as physical activity. Once again, The Institute for the Study of Healthcare Organizations and Transactions has found that in those individuals who are highly hypnotizable, there seems to be an increased amount of flexibility in the processing of tasks between the brain hemispheres.
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More Hypnosis Resources and Information :
Understanding Hypnosis
A Hypnosis History Lesson
How Hypnosis Works
Hypnosis Myths
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