Can Hypnosis Relieve Pain?
Hello, I am a senior taking a sociology course and a 500 pt requirement for the course is a final research project. I have chosen to research hypnosis and if it really can relieve pain. I am very interested in this topic, and your occupation, and was wondering if I could email a few questions, as a sort of online interview, to include in my project. Sincerely,
QUESTIONS:
How does one become a hypnotherapist?
The first step in becoming a hypnotherapist is finding, enrolling in hypnosis school, and becoming certified. To become certified as a hypnotist, typically it requires 75 hours of class. Then hypnotherapy certified is an additional 75 hours, for a total of 150 hours. In some states 200 hours is now the requirement. I believe Indiana is one of those states. There is ongoing yearly curriculum to keep up on as well. Then, in order to practice, you will need to obtain a business license, which usually means that you need to rent office space, since it's not the type of business that they grant home business licenses for. And then, of course, you will need willing subjects; people to practice on, which requires some form of marketing, be it word of mouth, networking, print ads, yellow pages, the internet, etc.
How does hypnotism/hypnotherapy work?
Hypnotherapy is based on the relationship between your conscious mind (10%) and your subconscious mind (90%). Your conscious mind handles all your reason and logic, makes decisions, calculations, etc. Your subconscious mind handles a lot of tasks, your emotions, memories, all the involuntary bodily functions, and your programs. Your programs are basically what run you, cause you to make certain decisions or react certain ways. What happens in hypnosis is that the conscious mind goes into a relaxed state. This relaxed state creates more receptivity within your conscious mind to allow the suggestions to get into the subconscious level. Additionally, information can be relayed from the subconscious as well, giving you answers to questions about your issues. It works very similar to how you are watching television (which puts one into a trance-like hypnotic state) then being blasted with a commercial for a big mac. And now you have a craving for a big mac.
Is there such a thing as good and bad subjects?
I don't belive there is such a thing as good and bad.... I think that there are subjects who's behavior style in general will allow them to go into hypnosis a little more readily than other behavior styles. I believe all behavior styles are hypnosis candidates. Like in everyday life, there are some people that have a little more easy-going or carefree attitude and they are usually more easy-going when it comes to allowing themselves to become relaxed and to let go of the day. On the other hand, there are those who need to always be in control or think and analyze all the time. These subjects can be hypnotized with just a little more basic rapport and trust and can ultimately become just as good at letting go.
Can hypnotism/hypnotherapy be used to effectively control pain?
Yes, hypnosis is a great resources for pain control.
(If yes to number 5) To what degree of pain can hypnotherapy control?
The degree pain can be control depends on many factors and varies with each situation. I have found pain tends to become a very emotional issue for most people. An issue I say raises the question, which came first the chicken or the egg? given the mind/body connection. So, the first thing I like to address with my clients is if they really WANT to get rid of the pain. It may seem silly to ask this, however it is true in many cases clients receive some benefit that may not have ever occurred to them before and given the unconscious nature of that, may have never consider whether they are willing to relinquish those benefits. For example, maybe the pain is keeping one disabled from getting work and so now they are able to stay home and there is some sense of enjoyment out of being home. Now, once we get to the heart of the matter and the client does really want to give up their pain, I have found that hypnosis can be 100% effective in regulating the intermitant onset of pain. And it has been about 50% effective in reducing the overall level of pain that is always ongoing. Additionally, one other thing to mention about pain is believing that one can be free of pain and remembering how the body feels to be free of pain is another factor. Can they even believe that they can be free of it?
Is Hypnotherapy a better alternative to pain-controlling drugs?
I cannot speculate on this. As a matter of fact. A hypnotherapist can only treat pain management clients with permission from a doctor. I will say this however. Usually the goal for my clients have been to reduce or eliminate dosage of drugs through hypnotherapy. And I have experienced hypnotherapy helping to reduce the need for pain medication.
How many clients do you treat using hypnotherapy to control pain?
I don't see very many clients for this. I believe that is because it's not very well known that hypnotherapy works well for this.
Do you treat more males or females?
It seems to be about an even 50/50.
Are you always successful?
With the few patients I have worked with, I have been successful in reducing the pain to some level with each client who has chosen the therapy I recommended.
Have you or your clients had any negative experiences involving hypnotherapy? If possible, describe.
The only negative experience I have had was a woman that I met with who didn't go through with the therapy. I explained to her that she would need to practice some self-hypnosis on her own, which I would be very happy to teach her to do and provide her with tapes of her sessions to listen to between sessions. She became very upset that I suggested this and she left and never got help from me. It saddens me because sometimes people will go to hypnosis as a last resort for lots of things that they haven't been able to do for themselves and kind of except the hypnotherapist to have magical powers and take away their problem. Hypnotherapy is teamwork. The hypnotherapist can not MAKE anything happen. We can only guide the person to hopefully accept our suggestions and educate them on how to help themselves as well.
If possible, describe any positive experiences.
The most positive experience I had was with a gentleman in his early 40's I believe. And he had lupus. He came in walking with a cane. He was in constant pain, a morphene pump and other medications. After about 12 sessions with him, he was about 50% healed from his overall lifelong pain. We did some emotional healing and regression work as well and I taught him self-hypnosis. I believe the regression work largely contributed to his healing. He no longer walks with the cane. He can now get himself out of any serious pain by sitting down for 20 minutes to do his self-hypnosis.
Any comments?
I highly recommend the field of hypnotherapy for a person who is dedicated, has the compassion as well as a good head for business. Hypnosis is for the passionate, committed person who deeply desires to know, understand, and help other people, including themselves.
Thank you very much for responding to my survey. It has greatly helped my understanding of hypnotherapy and will add so much to my project. Thanks again,
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