Benefits of Hypnosis

Hypnosis has countless uses in psychotherapy, psychiatry and various medical specialties. The use of hypnotic techniques by the helping professions has increased steadily in recent years, because hypnosis is gaining widespread acceptance as a safe, reliable, effective and comfortable alternative or adjunct to other, more traditional methods. In the modern climate of skyrocketing health care costs, hypnosis is also proving invaluable as an aid in speeding recovery from physical and mental problems.

It finally earned formal recognition as a valuable tool in health care in 1958, when the Council on Mental Health of the American Medical Association recommended that instruction in hypnosis be included in medical school curricula. Hypnosis was similarly embraced several years later by the American Psychological Association. Thousands of psychologists, dentists, and physicians in various specialties now have thorough training in hypnotic methods within their specialty areas. Professional organizations in clinical hypnosis provide extensive training and continuing education in hypnosis, and provide their members with specific ethical guidelines for the professional use of hypnosis.

WHAT HYPNOSIS CAN DO FOR YOU

There are many good reasons to seek the services of medical professionals or psychotherapists skilled in the use of hypnosis. In psychotherapy, hypnotic techniques are effective in speeding the process of therapy. Hypnosis is used effectively to facilitate patients' understanding of themselves or their problems, extinguish unfortunate habits, reduce anxiety and fears, and develop a new and more adaptive outlook.

In medicine and health psychology, hypnosis is used to effectively treat such conditions as irritable bowel syndrome, help manage and reduce pain and discomfort associated with medical procedures (e.g., dental surgery), where anesthesia cannot be used effectively.

It is also used to treat chronic pain and psychosomatic problems and counter unhealthy habits that contribute to illness, such as smoking and binge eating.

Selecting A Qualified Hypnotherapist

As in choosing any health care professional, care should be exercised in selecting a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis and the use of hypnotic therapies are not regulated in most states, and hypnotherapists are, in most cases, not state licensed.

Lay hypnotists are people who are trained in hypnosis but lack medical, psychological, dental or other professional health care training. A lay hypnotist may be certified and claim to have received 200 or more hours of training, but licensed health care professionals typically have seven to nine years of university coursework, plus additional supervised training in internship and residency programs.

Their hypnosis training is in addition to their social work, medical, psychological, or dental training. Careful questioning can help you avoid a lay hypnotist who may engage in fraudulent or unethical practices. Please note a C.ht is not a NY State approved professional license.

Ask if the person is licensed (not certified) in their field by the state. If they are not legitimately licensed, they probably lack the education required for licensure. Find out what their degree is in. If it is in hypnosis or hypnotherapy, rather than a state-recognized health care profession, the person is a lay hypnotist.

Check for membership in the American Psychotherapy Association, as well as membership in the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, the American Dental Association. Contact a state or local licensing component section to see if the person is reputable.

If you have doubts about their qualifications, keep looking.