I recently conducted a workshop on hypnosis for a community event for women.  During the workshop, I demonstrated how hypnosis works by doing a group session.  What better way to learn about hypnosis than to experience it?  Right?  There was an overflow of participants and a few had to sit on the floor.  My block of time for my talk had been shortened, so, instead of having 30 minutes to present my demonstration, I now had 20 minutes.  Life throws you a curve ball at times.

The Session

During the session, I made a suggestion that the individual’s right arm would feel so light that it would float up as if a ballon was tied to it.  I was testing to see how relaxed and focused these women were.  This test also let me know how deep they were in the hypnotic trance. I began to see several arms floating up as I looked around the room.  The session was receive with great enthusiasm from the group of women.

Post Conference

After the conference, I received a request from one of the women for a hypnosis session for depression, severe depression. Of course you know my first question: Are you seeing a psychiatrist?  Are you seeing a therapist?  Are you taking your medication as prescribed? She stated that she was and this has been a 20 year struggle.

Evidenced-Based Practice

Hypnotherapy in itself is not a cure all for every issue.  I would never tell anyone that hypnosis will cure them of their problem.  However, hypnosis is a powerful tool to be used along with other modalities for severe depression.

Hypnotherapy appears to work best when used with other forms of treatment, says Steve G. Kopp, a licensed mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist. It can help reduce a patient’s resistance to other more traditional treatments.

“It seems most effective complementing cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy,” Kopp says

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Hypnotherapy can be an effective method for coping with stress and anxiety. In particular, hypnosis can reduce stress and anxiety before a medical procedure, such as a breast biopsy.

Hypnosis has been studied for other conditions, including:

• Pain control. Hypnosis may help with pain due to burns, cancer, childbirth, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint problems, dental procedures and headaches.
• Hot flashes. Hypnosis may relieve symptoms of hot flashes associated with menopause.
• Behavior change. Hypnosis has been used with some success in the treatment of insomnia, bed-wetting, smoking, and overeating.
• Cancer treatment side effects. Hypnosis has been used to ease side effects related to chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
• Mental health conditions. Hypnosis may help treat symptoms of anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress.

There have been numerous studies conducted on hypnosis that show positive results for the clients who choose to add hypnosis to their tool bag.

Evidence-based practice definition:

Hypnosis In Action

Through hypnosis, one is given a powerful tool.  This tool helps the individual to align the conscious and subconscious minds.  Once this alignment is accomplished, the individual is able to reach a new hight in treatment.

How did my client do with hypnosis? My client was able to regress back to the first time she felt depressed.  By identifying the root cause of her depression, she will be able to work with her medical team to move forward.  The last time I heard from my client, she was making progress and feeling better.