Alternatives
Hypnotherapy: Trick or Trade?Robyn Penney
For most of us, the word “hypnosis” brings to mind a Freud-like character, dangling a pocket watch in front of his patient and muttering, “You are getting very sleepy…” But contrary to popular belief, hypnotherapy did not originate with Sigmund Freud.
Hypnotherapy’s roots can be traced to pre-classical Greek temples, where priests uttered healing incantations to their sleeping patients. Similarly, in the 18th century, Anton Mesmer popularized a therapeutic technique of intense concentration, and eventually discovered that the procedure could evoke a sleep-like state of heightened suggestibility (giving us the word “mesmerize”).
Mesmer’s ideas fell into disrepute until the late 1880s, when Jean Charcot found that his hysterical female patients experienced relief from their symptoms while in a hypnotic trance. It was through Charcot that the technique reached Freud, who would, however come to abandon it in favour of other techniques.
Today, hypnosis involves bringing a patient to a level of deep relaxation, where they become hypersensitive to sensations and suggestions. Sessions typically proceed with a therapist instructing the patient to relax and to concentrate on a specific thought, feeling or image. The therapist may also make posthypnotic suggestions – that is, commands for certain things to happen after the hypnotic state is terminated, such as the command for the patient to forget what happened during the procedure.
Hypnosis is mainly used to supplement regular cognitive behavioural therapy for weight loss, addiction management, and pain relief. It’s also been used effectively in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, persistent nausea and vomiting in pregnant women, and anticipatory nausea experienced by those undergoing chemotherapy.
The question remains: does hypnotherapy work? In 1995, after reviewing the outcomes of nearly 20 studies, Kirsch et al. found that as a supplement to regular therapy, hypnosis significantly increased the treatment benefits. The effect was most pronounced for those trying to lose weight: they were more likely than a control group to keep the weight off at 6-month and 2-year follow-ups. In fact, the average person who received hypnosis was better off than 70% of those who didn’t receive it.
Studies have also investigated the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for smoking cessation. One study found that with hypnosis training, 50% of people quit smoking, half of whom persisted at the two year follow-up. Although these results are comparable to those achieved with regular therapy, they were achieved much more efficiently – in a single session. As some sources warn, however, an assessment session is typically required before treatment can begin, so don’t expect a single visit to do the job.
As for pain relief, a controlled, randomized study by Spiegel found that women suffering from breast cancer reported no increase in pain when they were treated with hypnosis, unlike those without treatment.
Despite these promising results, some debate remains. Other studies have not been as optimistic, and some critics point to the fact the hypnotized weight loss patients still did not lose much weight overall (an average of 14 lbs). Additionally, therapists disagree as to what exactly happens during hypnosis. Some say that it’s an altered state of consciousness, while others consider it a state of readiness to change expectations and beliefs. And in some cases, it’s unclear whether the therapeutic benefit comes from hypnosis per se or from the simple act of relaxation.
Hypnotherapy is not recommended for patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar conditions, suicidal tendencies or senility. The technique is very unlikely to cure disease or enhance mental performance.
Furthermore, in the 1990s, hypnosis was widely used to uncover “repressed” memories, frequently leading to recollections of child abuse, which current evidence suggests never occurred. The heightened suggestibility of the hypnotic state made such stories easy to fabricate. But the good news is that this same element – suggestibility – makes hypnosis an effective treatment.
If you decide to try hypnotherapy, there’s no need to look for a “certified” hypnotist, as nearly any individual or organization can grant themselves that title. Rather, look for an accredited therapist experienced in treating your particular condition, who uses hypnosis as a supplement. Current evidence suggests that most everyone is moderately hypnotizable. The average treatment will require six to eight sessions, although one session may be sufficient to quit smoking.
Finally, it’s probably best to avoid the services of any therapist who suggests that you go off medication, leaves you unsupervised with a tape recording, or is providing entertainment – unless, of course, you’re just looking for a laugh.
