It is important to understand that all hypnosis is ?self-hypnosis?, since the patient is using the power of their mind to make changes. Remember the therapist only acts as a guide to help the patient achieve goals. The difference between use of self-hypnosis versus practitioner induced hypnosis is often a matter of determining how difficult the task may be to accomplish.



The concept of hypnosis is based on the connection between the mind and the body, and the link to the subconscious where much of your conditioned responses reside. When a therapist suggests to that your body will not feel the pain of arthritis, the subconscious is able to hear and process that suggestion directly without interference from the conscious mind.

The practice is hypnosis has been with us since the first written records emerged. In its clinical form, it dates back as far as the 1700s. The roots of modern medical hypnosis date back to Franz Anton Mesmer, who first used hypnosis for this purpose during the eighteenth century. In 1958, the American Medical Association recognized hypnosis as a valid medical technique.

Contrary to old ideas that hypnosis takes away the subject's control, hypnosis is instead a form of focused attention that enables a person to accept guidance from a therapist in a state of ?receptive concentration?. As such, this technique can be used for immediate issues, like pain management and can provide an alternative to anesthesia or sedation during medical procedures.

The actual process of hypnosis involves a contract between the practitioner or practitioner and the patient. The person must agree to the hypnosis. The hypnotic state involves concentration, and a state of complete relaxation. This is followed by a ?suggestion? offered by the practitioner to provide the patient with instructions on how they will perceive their environment, their bodies or other people.

Some people resist the hypnotic process because they believe that the therapist will have control over them. Many practitioners say they can hypnotize ANYONE and that people with a strong will are not immune to hypnosis. Since no one can be hypnotized against their will, the real question is whether a person wants to be hypnotized rather than whether they CAN BE hypnotized.

Hypnosis that is designed to address a habit like smoking or eating is often delivered in group sessions held over a number of hours, and it can also be administered by CDs and tapes in the privacy of your home. Keep mind that this ?mass? approach is less effective because it is generic in nature and not tailored to a particular patient.