In the ‘90s, magic acts or reality shows on TV that used hypnosis were popular. Talking about hypnosis, it is often associated with mind control or brainwashing. That’s why it is often associated with negative things.
Actually, the practice of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes is not new and it has often been done even since ancient times. A hypnotist usually uses their ability to influence the one that they hypnotize through their subconscious, so that one can do something or change their mind about something. The name of the therapy that uses hypnosis is called hypnotherapy.
For those who are interested in hypnotherapy, you can find brief information about it below. Everything written here was taken from Kampus Psikologi.
Hypnotherapy in Psychotherapy
Hypnotherapy refers to the kind of psychological therapy that uses hypnosis. This one is used to make clients feel relaxed, while they are guided by the therapist to focus and think about the events that they have experienced to change the way they think and behave. A thing known as hypnotherapy is usually used in the practice of transpersonal psychology therapy.
A few centuries ago in France, hypnosis was used by a transpersonal psychologist named Jose Custodio de Faria to find out about mind-body relationships. According to him, the connection between mind and body is caused by a spiritual connection called animal magnetism. With this kind of connection, people are allowed to do great things which would be unlikely if they were conscious. Basically, subconscious experiences that occur when someone is under the influence of hypnosis are caused by alternative consciousness or altered consciousness. However, according to a number of recent studies, it is also possible for one to experience the phenomenon of hypnosis without any altered consciousness.
Relationship with Psychoanalysis
Hypnotherapy in practice is often used by a psychologist, who is also known as a pioneer of psychoanalysis named Sigmund Freud, especially for clients who suffer from hysteria disorders. According to this psychologist, giving suggestions in hypnosis can cause some different kinds of psychological symptoms that are not seen in the client. However, it should be noted that the success of hypnotherapy is also influenced by the trust in the therapist.
Aside from Sigmund Freud, hypnotherapy is also used by Carl Jung. In case you are not familiar with him, he is the one who also adheres to the flow of psychoanalysis. He uses hypnotherapy to explore the collective unconscious. However, both Freud and Jung are not always on the same path. While Freud thought that the human unconscious was derived from sexual impulses, Jung argued that the collective unconscious is the place where human experiences in the past are stored, along with mythologies and ancestral traditions. The behavior of someone can be influenced by these components of the collective unconscious.
Cognitive-Behavioral Hypnotherapy Benefits
Hypnotherapy is commonly done by psychoanalysis to explore and influence the subconscious of someone through suggestions. Then, what about the practice of hypnotherapy in terms of cognitive-behavior? Keep in mind that not every hypnotherapy is rooted in psychoanalysis and transpersonality. In the cognitive-behavioral approach, the term hypnotherapy refers to the use of hypnotic induction in order to increase the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions. According to recent research, the practice of hypnotherapy is also used in a cognitive-behavioral approach to treat those with dissociative disorders triggered by post-traumatic memories. Furthermore, hypnotherapy from the cognitive-behavior approach is used to treat behavioral disorders, such as:
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- Phobias
- Drug addiction
- Cigarette addiction
- Relationship/family/work conflicts
- Sleep disorders
- Anxiety
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Grief and loss of a loved one
- Weight loss
Based on recent research, it is stated that hypnotherapy is one of the most important things in the practice of CBT for clients with depressive symptoms. According to a study by Vos and Louw (2009), in non-clinical settings, hypnotherapy can also be used to increase self-concept in adolescents in mental training programs, so that adolescents can increase both their confidence and academic performance.
Hypnotherapy in Mindfulness Intervention
Not only dealing with clients who need help related to psychological disorders, it is also possible for hypnotherapy to be applied in mindfulness-based interventions in everyday life. Mindfulness has the function to align the mind and return it to the present state. According to psychologist and mindfulness practitioner named Gary Elkins, Ph. D. as reported by Science Daily, the combination of the technique of mindfulness meditation and hypnotherapy can be an effective intervention for dealing with stress and anxiety. There is an experimental study about the effectiveness of this intervention by Olendzki, Slonena, and Elkins (2020). According to this study, hypnotherapy and mindfulness led to significant reduction in feelings of depression. Overall, the outcomes of the study show that the intervention went well, as indicated by participant satisfaction, medication adherence of 84%, and a low side effect rate of 4.5%.
Besides, there is no need for hypnotherapy that is combined with mindfulness to have to be done together with the client. It means it can also be done alone. A study by Olendzki, Slonena, and Elkins proved that mindful hypnotherapy which was carried out using the self-hypnosis method by listening to audio recordings for 8 consecutive weeks succeeded in reducing stress levels and increasing mindfulness. For those who want to try, here is a step by step to follow to use in the practice of self-hypnosis:
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- Firstly, find a comfortable place to be quiet.
- After finding a comfortable spot, sit down and relax. Make sure that both your hands and legs are also comfortable.
- Then, take a deep breath while lifting your head. After that, whisper to yourself softly: “My eyes are tired and I want to sleep right now.”
- Just let your body relax. Then, count from zero to five while you catch your breath. In order to make yourself relax, do not stop whispering suggestions to yourself.
- When everything is done, do it again until your body and mind feel light.
- Once both your body and mind feel completely calm and light, it is time for you to slowly open your eyes and focus on the real world. Besides, you can also relax your body and limbs.
Bottom Line
Hypnotherapy proves that hypnosis is not totally trivial or bad. In fact, it also has some benefits for mental health. For anyone who is interested in practicing hypnotherapy, it is a must for you to hold a special certificate from the authorized institution. Some institutions that can be considered include the Indonesian Hypnosis Association (IHA), the Indonesian Board of Hypnotherapy (IBH), the Indonesian Clinical Hypnotherapy Association (AHKI), the Indonesian Hypnotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association (IMHA), and the International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT) Indonesia. Take note that it is important for you to have a certificate as a practitioner so that your scientific foundations can be accounted for.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
