Therapy is currently one of the main treatment methods for those with mental disorders or psychological issues. Through therapy, patients can achieve a better quality of life, learning to manage and cope with life’s challenges.

To enhance psychological treatments, professionals use hypnosis as an auxiliary tool. This is due to the positive results the tool has shown in cases such as sleep disorders, for example.

A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that hypnosis can be used to help people suffering from insomnia to sleep.

To better understand the benefits of hypnosis and its relationship with psychotherapy, read to the end.

What is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy is a term used to define a space where different existing techniques are used to alleviate human suffering.

It can be said that psychotherapy is a more conventional or traditional way of providing patient care. But its results depend on the patient’s willingness to allow themselves into the process.

Psychotherapy currently encompasses many practices; however, it is one of the largest areas of practice for psychology professionals. This means that although psychotherapy is not an exclusive space for psychologists, it is commonly part of this category’s professional practice.

In this sense, psychology has some theoretical lines that encompass knowledge and explanations of the psyche and human behavior, such as:

• Behavior Analysis or Behaviorism;
• Phenomenology;
• Gestalt Therapy;
• Humanistic;
• Jungian or Analytical Psychology;
• Psychoanalysis;
• Transpersonal.

Now let’s understand what hypnosis is and how it can assist the psychotherapist. Check it out!

How does psychotherapy use hypnosis?

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), with some considerations from the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis (SBH), hypnosis can be defined as an [intentionally induced] state of consciousness that involves focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness, characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. In this state, the subject is led to experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior [goal-oriented].

In this context, hypnosis comes as an auxiliary tool for the therapist working with psychotherapy.

Research already shows the use of hypnosis to help patients have more concentration, help combat insomnia, and also to treat chronic pain.

But how does this work in therapy sessions with hypnosis? See the answer below.

How do therapy sessions with hypnosis work?

Initially, the therapist conducts an anamnesis. It is the “interview” the professional conducts before starting the process. It is when they will understand:

• What exactly you seek with hypnotherapy;
• What are your biggest challenges;
• What is the complexity of the challenge you seek to resolve;
• What are the possible causes of this problem;
• Among other questions to get to know you better;

Therefore, the patient needs to be 100% honest with themselves and the therapist, always remembering that they are not there to make any judgments but to guide the patient in a therapeutic process. 

After that, the professional has a preliminary conversation to clear up all the patient’s doubts regarding the process. It is in this conversation that myths such as “can hypnosis leave you stuck against your will?” are debunked. Only with the demonstration of patient safety does the therapist proceed with hypnosis.

From there, the therapist can lead the patient to physical and mental relaxation so that they enter a trance state and can be more susceptible to suggestions, questions, and even access some of the patient’s memories if necessary to help them overcome their problems. There are also self-hypnosis techniques that the patient can learn from their therapist.

Self-hypnosis is an alternative for the patient to apply the benefits of hypnosis and maintain a calm state of mind and body without needing to be in a consultation with the therapist. In other words, this allows the instructed patient to have more autonomy over themselves and their problems.

Even though hypnosis may still have some prejudice or resistance from the patient, it is important to welcome them to explain that hypnosis is a scientifically based complement. It is worth even demonstrating that the Federal Council of Psychology accepts hypnosis as a complementary way to help patients achieve a better quality of life.

Therefore, hypnosis and psychotherapy can offer various benefits for patients’ mental health. The patient just needs to be open to using hypnosis and without fears for its benefits to appear in their life.

If you want to learn more about hypnosis and how it can help your patients, download our free e-books.

Originally posted 2021-07-09 13:38:16.