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Life Design senior Practitioner Leah Butler-Smith, reviews the BBC documentary investigating Hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy is the modern way to tackle obstacles that sit within the 'programming of the mind'. The treatment is fast and effective and regularly reviewed in the media. The treatments we offer are limited only by your desire to change.
Yippee - a positive look at some of the benefits of using natural treatments for physical problems - Hypnotherapy looks like a winner! The BBC show Hypnotherapy and some of its best successes.
Dr Kathy Sykes investigated Hypnotherapy for the BBC and her results were shown in a documentary last evening. The aim - to find out how effective it is as a treatment for a number of common problems and to discover if there is any basis for the belief that it can be very successful.
Initially Kathy BBC wondered what the 'unconscious' is or if it exists. She laughed at the notion of a Hypnosis CD helping women increase the size of their breasts and later said she could find no scientific research - there is research than found in 60 women, all experience an increase in bust size and only one did not go up a cup size - fairly significant I would say. The participants of this trial were taught self hypnosis and instructed to use it twice a day every day to encourage the breast tissue to stimulate and grow. It was discovered that a number of women had negative associations with larger breasts and unconsciously limited growth. As a practicing therapist of many years now, I am not at all surprised that negative beliefs can inhibit growth.
Initially I laughed when Dr Kathy Sykes from BBC TV mentioned her query over the existence of the unconscious. To me its daft nowadays for anyone not to know what the difference between their unconscious and conscious mind is but thats because I am very used to thinking in such terms.
For those who want to know this is the difference between the conscious and unconscious.
- The conscious mind is the part of the mind that is currently aware of your experiences. Right now you are aware of sitting in front of a computer, reading a journal entry on a website. Your mind will be making assessments based on your knowledge and experience of what you are reading. Judging whether it is founded or unfounded, makes sense to you or simply does not comply with your current beliefs. In order to do this - the judgements part, you need to keep accessing your 'unconscious mind'.
- Your unconscious mind is where all the information is, everything that you have ever learned or experienced is recorded here. There are programmes of experience already written in before your birth - we call that instinct. Then a hell of a lot is added as you grow, learn and mature in life. Your unconscious is also responsible for all the other tasks going on, such as breathing, heart rate, healing, energy and so on. Here is recorded the 'how we react to situations, people, emotions, triggers, stimuli, experiences and so on. This is why and how we can help people to change the other problems she seemed shocked to see listed such as; lying, anger, motivation, sports performance, and almost any other behaviour you can mention - because this is programmed in based on perception, emotion and need at the time we first learned it, subsequent experiences will further compound the strength of beleif or reaction and thats why direct access to the unconscious is the way to make change.
What is Trance?
There was some debate about 'trance state' from Kathy in the BBC study of Hypnotherapy and if it exists or not or is it just 'suggestion'. Much of the research showed that there was a difference in brain activity if the person was in an altered state (we call trance). There seemed to be significant evidence to show that it does make a difference to the individuals perception and their ability to 'imagine' really well.
Trance is a natural phenomenon. We also liken it to daydreaming and as BBC Dr Kathy Sykes highlighted when she was given an opportunity to experience it, that she was trying to control the suggestions and being 'bloody minded'. The Dr who was working with her at the time was in no way concerned that her experience was anything to do with his skills and everything to do with herresistance. This I absolutely concur with and it should help everyone reading this to know that they are always in control of their trance experience, of whether they choose to go into hypnosis or not. I would describe Dr Kathy Sykes as a 'polarity responder' in that session, meaning she would do the opposite of what was asked to prove a point - in this case, it just proved what most Hypnotherapists already know, WE CANNOT MAKE YOU DO ANYTHING YOU HAVEN'T DECIDED TO DO!
Amir Raz a Neuroscientist talked about highly focused attention which I personally agree is easier when you are aware of the difference between conscious and unconscious activity. When you get someone to access their imagination, to use it really well, use all the senses and focus on the result we aim for, this is highly focused attention and can be witnessed with both Hypnotherapy and NLP techniques when used by a skilled practitioner.
Professor Irving Kirsch, a Psychologist in Modena Italy, talked to the BBC about Highly Suggestible People. I have an opinion about this. I have found that people become more easily suggestible as they learn to trust you as a therapist/coach. They are more likely to be 'open' to suggestions once they know your intentions are good and they have worked through any of their own personal barriers.
Richard, a police officer was also a heavy smoker. Richard like many wanted to stop smoking and was chosen by the BBC to highlight Hypnotherapy and Stop Smoking - was spoken to by BBC producers afer 3 months following a session of hypnosis. Dr Kathy Sykes was not sure of the success - hmmm, as an ex-smoker myself I know that being able to actually STOP is the most difficult thing you are aiming to do. This he did and reported not wanting a cigarette. He smoked 3 weeks later when out socialising - I have found that this type of trigger usually suggests the individual has a strong association with fitting in (which is important) and smoking, and unconsciously desire that not the cigarette. I was slightly stunned that Dr Kathy did not consider this as successful as I did and clearly Richard. He was effectively 'in control' of the addiction and that is after all what we all want - isnt it!? Our treatment for Stop Smoking using Hypnotherapy is in Essex and London but we incorporate much more than the therapist shown - we start with a comprehensive questionnaire to ensure you can deal with any unconscious triggers.
The same result occured with Nicola who had reported being addicted to chocolate, again the BBC filmed the original hypnosis and later the outcome. Being addicted meant she wasn't in control of eating chocolate and would overeat or binge and eat chocolate far too often. Following her treatment for chocolate addiction (brief technique using some NLP combined with some Hypnosis) she had no desire to eat any chocolate for some time. Now she was sitting in front of a chocolate cake saying it had too much chocolate on to eat. So she could now CHOOSE! These types of techniques will not stop you from eating or doing whatever you were once addicted to - just give you control of the behavior. Of course 4 months later she didn't still think of 'corned beef' (which was the undesirable food the therapist associated chocolate with to collapse the craving).
These are examples of what we aim for; people to be more in control, not necessarily have a permanent aversion.
Two of the most striking conditions helped by Hypnotherapy featured by BBC included Hypnotherapy for IBS. Where all other conventional treatments have failed Hypnotherapy is offered by NHS practitioners. It is something our clients frequently request help with and its very successful. We use the same types of treatment featured in the programme, eg Tactile and Visualization (or Hypnohealing) Hypnotherapy. We offer Hypnotherapy for a treatment for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) in Essex and London that is far more advanced than was shown on this programme. Over the years we have worked with young people who are afraid to leave the house for fear of 'losing control' of their bowel function and older people who have just plain given up, assuming their condition is incurable. We like to re-frame that statement so that if you are told something is 'incurable' - you simply go 'within' to find that cure!
The other treatment that shocked Dr Kathy so much she had to stop herself from fainting - is the use of Hypnosis to combat or eliminate PAIN. Hypnotherapy is highly effective treatment for the management of pain - well, whyjust manageit if you can get rid of it altogether! There is in fact tonnes of research out there and some hospitals use Hypnotherapy for Pain and before and after operations, regularly in favor of lots of chemicals and drugs. We are a little behind in the UK on this subject. Again, thanks to the BBC for giving Hypnotherapy a shout out for dental treatment - the lady in question had two teeth removed, two pegs drilled into the bone and two new teeth added! WITHOUT ANY ANESTHETIC!!! She controlled the pain using her mind with the help of her well trained dentist who used Hypnosis to help his patients. She had previously had sessions before hand to create a successful anchor for relaxation and feeling in control. Her blood pressure did not change at all, in fact it shot up when she opened her eyes to find the tv crew surrounding her. Dr Kathy however, was a different matter! She could have done with some self hypnosis methinks! We help many people with Pain and other physical conditions at our Chelmsford and London Practices.
Whacky is a word that is used frequently by medical practitioners and others whose only knowledge of Hypnotherapy or Hypnotherapists is limited to an unfortunate few who perhaps are a little off the norm. Our single most frustrating experience in society is the general lack of knowledge or understanding surrounding our techniques - why we do what we do and how it works. I can assure you - I am not whacky, I dont hug trees or bang drums and we dont even have any gizmos - just us!
I am grateful to the BBC for giving it a go and highlighting this subject. It would be worth seeking out therapists who in fact do use a number of techniques. Dr Kathy Sykes did focus on the studies that showed those therapist who use Hypnotherapy in conjunction with other Psychological treatments, showed greater success - THATS US THEN!
I would also like to concur here, that if you want the best treatment for your problem, find a therapist who has more skills than just Hypnotherapy - they may only use Suggestion therapy (that's only ever 45% successful) and if you ever encounter a therapist who only uses Scripts! -RUN A MILE!
