I first learned about hypnosis over 13 years ago when I started treatment with a hypnotherapist, mostly to deal with anxiety attacks, but also because, as a therapist, I wanted to understand this technique.
I was nervous my first session. I worried that I could not be hypnotized; that my therapist would control my mind and that I might say or do something embarassing.
My hypnotherapist explained that these are common misconceptions. The hypnotist cannot make the patient do anything they don't want. Rather, she/he leads the patient into a natural capacity everyone has for concentrating the mind. This concentrated state makes it easier to take in suggestions and it enhances our inborn ability for healing by creating relaxation, increased insight and encouraging imagination. She stressed that almost everyone can be hypnotized and that I could come out of a trance anytime I wanted.
True to her word hypnosis was gentle and soothing. As she suggested calm and relaxation, my anxiety slipped away. Through the use of hypnotic ego strengthening techniques and guided imagery I felt more confident and made many changes far more quickly than I had thought possible.
Over the next few years I trained to use hypnosis in my work with clients in a whole variety of situations: to overcome anxiety and phobias, lessen depression, smoking cessation and weight management, pain management, increased self-esteem, improved memory. Eventually I began to train other healthcare professionals in hypnosis and five years ago established a hypnosis program at the Park Slope Center for Mental Health. We offer hypnosis to our patients for a whole variety of difficulties and also run a Hypnosis Institute to train healthcare professionals.
Hypnosis is not a therapy in itself but rather an adjunct to a psychotherapy process, including work with severe illnesses. In future issues of New York City Voices we will present articles showing the uses of hypnosis with a variety of different situations such as pain management, addictions, anxiety, phobias. If you have any questions phone us at 718-788-2461.