Will
I Cluck Like a Chicken?: Myths and Misconceptions About Clinical Hypnosis
by Dr. Rick Voit
Many times I have been at a social gathering
where I am asked what I do for a living. The answer, "I'm a
psychologist," is often received with a tense smile and an "oh, geez,
I better watch what I say." I will usually respond that "my meter is
not running" and assure them they can relax. When people learn that I
specialize in hypnotherapy, they seem to experience a genuine curiosity, but I
suspect, a belief that I am, in some way, strange.
I actually have relatives
who appear to avoid the topic of my work and have hinted they believe that
hypnosis "opens a door to the devil." While I am otherwise loved,
liked and respected by these people, they seem to fear that I am involved in
something unnatural or,... well,... evil.
Myths about hypnosis that it is
deep sleep, a form of mind control, or is simply a hoax have endured
despite a long history of clinical use and a growing acceptance by medical and
scientific communities. Besides... I am pretty sure I am not evil.
An Ancient History
Actually hypnosis and trance-like phenomena have
been observed and documented for hundreds of years. It is believed that the
ancient Celts and Druids practiced hypnosis and that the ancient Egyptians
utilized "sleep temples" for curing mysterious maladies. In 1646, the
German rnathematician Kircher believed "animal magnetism" to be the
cause of various diseases and used "magneto therapeutics" as their
cure. By the late 1700's, Franz Mesmer was exciting French audiences with his own
demonstrations of "animal magnetism," claiming that such a universal
force could heal patients as he passed his hands over them. French King Louis
XVI was skeptical and decided to appoint an international commission, including
Benjamin Franklin, to investigate Mesmer's work. They concluded that such a
hypothesized magnetic field could not exist and discredited his powerful and
mystical techniques. Popular and scientific interest in "mesmerism"
faded quickly and Mesmer died in relative obscurity. While he is still
considered to be the father of modem hypnosis, perhaps his greatest legacy is an
appreciation for the powers of suggestion and their potential therapeutic
benefits.
By the mid 1800's, interest in these phenomena resurfaced. James
Braid, a Scottish scientist, was first to use the term, "hypnosis,"
from the Greek god of sleep, Hypnosis. Although he later realized that trance
was not actually sleep, the term gained popular usage. Later in the 19th
century, France again became the center of investigation into hypnotic phenomena
as Jean Martin Charcot, Josef Breuer and others debated the nature of hypnosis.
Sigmund Freud studied under both Charcot and Breuer and began practicing
hypnosis in 1887. Though he later essentially abandoned its use, it was Freud's
work in hypnosis that contributed to his belief that the unconscious is a
powerful force in human behavior.
Later this century, Milton Erickson legitimized
and popularized hypnosis and his methods are widely studied by modern
clinicians. Those who were fortunate enough to experience his charismatic genius
have themselves become teachers of "Ericksonian Hypnosis."
Yet, hypnosis remains an enigma to the general
public, evoking fear and apprehension at the thought of being "in
trance." Undoubtedly, misconceptions have been perpetuated on television
and in movies by dramatic portrayals of helpless people acting strangely and
involuntarily, sometimes regressing to past lives or blurting out frightening
secrets.
Stage hypnosis might lead one to think that one
is capable of doing practically anything while in a trance state. Comedy clubs
feature "R-rated Hypnotists" who put volunteers into a "deep
sleep" and "make" them do embarrassing behaviors before an
entertained, if not perplexed and uncomfortable, audience. I have actually been
asked by apprehensive clients if I will make them "cluck like a
chicken." I answer, "only if you really want to!" People come to
me to be helped, not embarrassed or humiliated.
Clinical Benefits
In truth clinical hypnosis has wide, beneficial
applications for health, healing and happiness. It is finally gaining greater
acceptance in the medical and psychological professions for the treatment of
pain, disease, trauma and emotional disorders. The study and use of clinical
hypnosis has been somewhat legitimized by the formation of national and
international organizations which now offer certification to qualified dental,
medical and mental health practitioners. Research and practice is global and the
results
You will not remember, experience, feel or speak anything
you consciously do not want to. Rather than doing something to you, the
clinician actually assists you to enter a trance and then makes the suggestions
that will contribute to your goals. The hypnotherapist is the conductor but you
are always the musician.
Historically, there has been some disagreement as to
exactly what hypnosis truly is. What many people don't understand is that trance
is a naturally occurring state. If you have ever driven someplace and upon
reaching your destination realized you hadn't paid much attention to getting
there, you have been in a trance. Your conscious mind was thinking about
something else, but your unconscious mind was safely making all the turns and
stops. Another good example is when you have become so engrossed in a book or a
movie that you have lost track of the time or not noticed that you are hungry.
There are many instances of how people go in and out of
trance states without noticing or caring. It is for this reason that it is said,
"all hypnosis is self-hypnosis." This is why some experts believe that
trance is an altered state of mind, as the conscious and unconscious
"dissociate" or split. The conscious mind is occupied and absorbed in
one thing, while the unconscious mind is off doing something else. I recently
treated a young man for migraine headaches. Using hypnosis, I engaged his
conscious mind in a relaxing game of "perfect" golf, while making
suggestions to his unconscious mind to soothe and reduce his symptoms. He has
since learned to do this himself, thus "interrupting" the progress of
migraine symptoms.
Others believe that trance is more a state of heightened
suggestibility created by the hypnotic relationship; one person is trusting,
expecting and willing to be influenced by the suggestions of another. The
therapist and client enter into a shared experience where they utilize the
client's clear expectations and willingness to explore new, healthy ideas to
facilitate healing or conflict resolution.
I believe hypnosis to be both: an altered state of
consciousness that is a process rather than an outcome. I help my clients to
achieve a trance state where their expectations are to be influenced (and
helped) by my therapeutic suggestions. For example, I once worked with a woman
who happened to enjoy trance states and regularly practiced self-hypnosis at
home. However, while working through early life trauma and powerful, repressed
emotions, she began to fear that she would become overwhelmed while in trance.
Yet, she agreed to resume hypnosis, successfully reaching her desired "safe
place" without difficulty. When asked why she decided to do so, she stated,
"because I trust you." In this way, clinical hypnosis becomes a
person's state of mind and a process between clinician and client.
"So," you ask, "can I be helped with
hypnosis?" You might add, "Can I even be hypnotized?"
First of all, it is believed that roughly 80% of
us are "hypnotizable" to various degrees. Children, ages 8-12, are the
most hypnotizable, still able to absorb themselves in fantasy, not yet
"contaminated" by adult fears and cynicism. There are some adults who
are truly "hypnotically gifted," able to go into a very deep trance,
create elaborate fantasies and reach deep layers of unconscious process. I have
witnessed a patient having invasive abdominal surgery with no anesthesia, just
hypnosis to distract her mind from perceiving the pain.
While this can be important for some medical and clinical
work, such as age regression and other hypnotic phenomena, I believe nearly
everyone can experience a hypnotic depth that will be beneficial to treatment.
We must remember that deep relaxation itself is helpful for many stress-related
symptoms including anxiety, headache, sleep, habits and performance problems.
Tension and relaxation are essentially opposites; you just can't be two places
at one time. As the body lets go of tension, it works better. Beyond the
benefits of relaxation, much of what you achieve in hypnosis will be a function
of what you expect to achieve. The unconscious mind has been compared to an
"innocent child" willing and able to believe and perpetuate what
it has learned. If you have learned that a certain childhood incident should
carry shame, you might continue to unconsciously associate shame with that
memory and future, similar situations. If you have learned that smoking is a
solution for stress, you will seek to perpetuate the habit by experiencing cravings for a cigarette. If you have learned that
performance might risk
humiliation or rejection, you will possibly create feelings of anxiety as a
"warning" and likely affect that performance in a negative way.
Hypnosis often provides a way of re-educating the
unconscious to feel, to think, to solve problems in healthier ways. The part of
your brain that effortlessly and routinely mobilizes your immune system, that
heals physical or emotional wounds and allows the body to move with spontaneity
and fluidity, wants to heal. When reminded of its great potential and power, the
unconscious can usually make the adjustments to help the conscious mind do what
it strives to do.
How can you be helped with hypnosis? The following is a
list of many of the practical applications currently utilized by clinical
hypnotherapists, but the possibilities are endless.
anxiety and phobias
poor self-esteem
depression
trauma
guilt or shame
habit control
weight problems
bed-wetting
pain management
headaches
* performance anxiety
* sports/focusing
surgery/recovery
dental anxieties (used by dentists)
many medical applications
I will remind you that trance is a naturally
occurring state that does not involve any loss of control. Hypnosis, at the very
least, provides an opportunity to experience deep, safe and comfortable
relaxation and a means of managing some very bothersome symptoms. My philosophy
is not why use hypnosis, but why not. It is then up to my clients to decide
whether to use this powerful, healing tool in their pursuit of greater life
contentment.
____________________
Dr. Rick Voit is a Licensed Psychologist in private
practice with Nichols Brook Family Counseling of Danvers. He has earned his
Certification and is an Approved Consultant in clinical hypnosis through the
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Contact him at (978) 777-7188.
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