Clinical Hypnosis
What is Hypnosis?
There is no one definition that easily explains what hypnosis
is. In simplest terms, hypnosis is a trance state. “The trance
state is a form of intense focal concentration which maximizes involvement
with one sensory percept at a time” (From Trance & Treatment:
Clinical Uses of Hypnosis. Herbert Spiegel, M.D. , David Spiegel, M.D.)
The state of being in a trance, or state of hypnosis, is a naturally
occurring phenomenon which everyone experiences to some degree. In its
mildest form it may be as simple as focusing so much on your thoughts
that you can be completely unaware what is being said at a meeting or
class room setting.
Can Anyone Be Hypnotized?
Probably yes. We all seem to have a capacity to enter
a trance state. Some have a low capacity, while others have the capacity
to enter deeper states of trance. It appears to be a degree of hypnotic
capacity (perhaps genetically influenced) that determines how much we
can experience hypnotic trance rather than skill or the control of the
hypnotist. In reality, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The person who
may be acting as the therapist or hypnotist actually is only a guide
for that person to enter his or her own trance state. For example, a
stage hypnotist does not have control over volunteers, but does know
how to quickly discover who has natural high trance capacity. It may
look like the volunteer is under the stage hypnotist's control, but
actually that volunteer is accepting the suggestions and enjoying his
or her ability to experience these suggestions as an inner reality (i.e.
the person may vividly imagine the suggestion that the room is very
hot, or that there is a pesky fly buzzing around his or her head which
should be swatted away - which the volunteer will likely attempt to
do much to the amusement of the audience).
Some prefer to refer to hypnosis as a trance state, and to use the word
'hypnosis' as to the method by which that trance state is reached. If
entering the trance state is done purposely by an individual (i.e. through
meditation) or happens spontaneously, that would be called “auto
hypnosis” (self-hypnosis). If someone else is assisting the person
to access the trance state, that is called “hetero-hypnosis”.
However when most people think of hypnosis, they really are speaking
of hetero-hypnosis, i.e. a “hypnotist” directing someone
into a trance state. Therapists generally do not wish to be called “hypnotists”
but rather consider themselves as therapists who may use trance induction
as one of their treatment approaches. In fact hypnosis is more often
an adjunct to therapy in which a trance state may offer some advantages
as compared to what they would accomplish in an everyday state.
Trance Capacity
The ability to be hypnotized, like other traits, seems to vary from person to person. Though everyone has some ability to enter trance states, for some their capacity is very low and for purposes of clinical hypnosis these individuals may be classified as “non-hypnotizable.” On the other hand about 15% of people will fit into the “highly hypnotizable” category. While there is not complete agreement on this, many investigators believe that hypnotic capacity is an inborn trait which remains fairly constant during the lifetime. Children are generally better hypnotic subjects; also, there may be some drop off in hypnotic capacity after age 65. Being a high hypnotic subject or a low one has nothing to do with intelligence, it is just a trait we have.
Does Clinical Hypnosis Work for Everyone?
Clinical hypnosis appears to be most beneficial for those with high hypnotic capacity (as would be expected). However even those with low capacity may benefit to some degree especially when highly motivated. Generally, the higher the hypnotic capacity, the more likely hypnosis can be used as an adjunct to traditional treatment of a medical or psychological problem.
When is Hypnosis Beneficial?
Clinical hypnosis is especially useful for pain control whether this pain is physical or psychological in origin. It has been useful for many in weight control and smoking cessation though probably less successful than in pain control. In fact hypnosis has been used to assist in many physical conditions as an adjunctive strategy. For example, hypnotic images of relaxation and pain reduction may help in irritable bowel syndrome and migraine headaches. Hypnosis has also been shown to be beneficial in stress-related problems.
Hypnosis has proven beneficial for dissociative disorders, phobias, and conversion disorders. Hypnosis has also been used to enhance performance, i.e. for sports, performing arts, or other public performances such as giving speeches.
Qualifications for Professionals Using Hypnosis
Professionals using hypnosis should not attempt to treat a condition with hypnosis that he or she is not qualified to treat without hypnosis (e.g., a dentist trained in hypnosis would only use it for dental conditions and would not be qualified to use hypnosis for a psychological conditions). Until the late 1990s in the province of Ontario there was a Hypnosis Act limiting the use of hypnosis to physicians, dentists, and psychologists. This act is no longer in effect; however, it is recommended that anyone seeking hypnosis should do so from a trained health care professional who is using hypnosis within the guidelines of his or her own profession.
Therapists at the Ottawa Anxiety and Trauma Clinic are trained in the use of hypnosis. They are members of the Ottawa Clinical Hypnosis Society as well as the provincial organization, the Canadian Clinical Hypnosis Society, Ontario Division. These societies continue to have regular meetings and conferences to keep therapists up to date on new strategies and also to exchange clinical experiences and ideas to better help their clients/patients.
There is nothing mystical or supernatural about hypnosis. Some people naturally may have the capacity to use trance experiences which can assist in their treatments. Therapists can help such persons by teaching them known hypnosis strategies to assist in the management of many medical problems as well as stress-reducing strategies (even if no medical disorder exists).
The clinic hopes this brief note on hypnosis helps take the some of the mystery out of hypnosis. In the hands of competently trained therapists, the use of clinical hypnosis can be a valuable therapeutic strategy.
Related Sites
Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis
www.csch.org
American Society of Clinical Hypnosis
www.asch.net
