More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles
Hypnotherapy As an Alternative Approach
Hypnosis began with ancient civilizations. Many group rituals, such as chanting and meditation to a steady drum beat, were parts of religious ceremonies. The use of these activities for healing of the mind and body is as old as human recorded history. Today hypnosis and hypnotherapy have gained wide acceptance as an alternative approach for healthcare and personal development.
The term “hypnosis” comes from the ancient Greek god of sleep, Hypnos. However hypnosis is not sleep because the subject remains awake and aware in what is referred to as an altered state of consciousness. It is not uncommon that the client will be fully alert, can talk and move, and the brain waves differ completely from sleep.
Hypnotherapy is the utilization of normal and natural mental faculties to make changes and realize personal goals, such as the following
Habit control
Stop nail biting
Improve scholastic, athletic and career performance
Improve Interpersonal skills
Pain management and pain free child birthing
Smoking cessation
Public speaking and social confidence
Overcome fears and fearless flying
Stress reduction
Weight management
Hypnotherapists can help clients set and commit to appropriate goals, and carry them out in their lives, by combining hypnosis with relaxation techniques, affirmations, guided imagery, reframing, and goal-setting techniques. Hypnotherapy can be an extraordinarily beneficial tool that is used to facilitate personal change.
As an alternative approach, hypnotherapy is based on the premise of the mind-body connection. This means that mental activity can effect changes in the body, including enhancing ones own healing potential.
