How does hypnotherapy works?

The therapist places the client in a state of deep relaxation. This does not necessarily involve a swinging pendulum or the need to look deeply into the eyes of the therapist. Quite often it will just involve the client closing his or her eyes and being guided through a sequence of relaxation exercises.

Once the body is deeply relaxed, the brain shifts from it's normal Beta state to Alpha, the state in which the hypnotherapist can work with the client in a creative way.

There are four states of consciousness that have been identified in the human brain:

Beta
The normal wakeful state where one is bound by time and space and the 'now'.

Alpha
The relaxed and creative state, used in meditation and by creative artists. It is this level that the hypnotherapist will work with to change destructive behaviour patterns.

Theta
The deeper state than Alpha in which a person can control the automatic functioning of the body, for example to control pain. A hypnotherapist can take a patient to this stage, and surgery can be performed. This is called hypno-aenesthesia.

Delta
This is the level of the spiritual plane, where all thought is left behind. It is a timeless zone.

The hypnotherapist works to bring the client to the Alpha brain wave level. At this stage of alert restfulness, the therapist can work with the client to remove destructive illusions, mind patterns or habits that may be creating problems and difficulties in a client's life.

Quite often this is done through a process known as 'creative visualisation', in which the therapist helps the client to create a mind picture of a more positive way of life. For example, if a client came with a phobia such as fear of flying, the therapist would take such a client through a series of guided visualizations in which they could see themselves going to an airport, boarding a plane and arriving safely at their destination.

If a client has a weight problem, the hypnotherapist does not attempt to 'brainwash' them into a diet plan. Rather the therapist would look at the reason why the client might need to carry excess weight. Usually this is a form of protection. Once the client is made to feel safe with their sexuality and feel that it is safe to love themselves, they begin to normalize their weight.

Hypnotherapy can also be used to good effect for pain control with a problem like migraine. The therapist can teach the client a technique with which to 'switch off' the pain. In fact, 'autogenic training' or self-hypnosis is commonly taught at pain clinics in America as part of the non-drug approach to pain management. We do likewise in Singapore too! (note: pain management usually requires doctor's referrals)

A good hypnotherapist will be happy to teach a client techniques of self-hypnosis, or to supply them with CDs/MP3 that they can use to continue the process of self-healing on their own.