Is hypnotherapy for me?
It seems that people are increasingly turning to hypnotherapy to help themselves overcome fears, phobias, anxiety, insomnia, stress, panic attacks, addictions, pain and other problems. So a lot of people who are trying to give up smoking are looking at hypnotherapy as a possible source of help.
For starters, hypnotherapy should only be carried out by a fully trained hypnotherapist, and it is is worth bearing in mind that, at present, anyone in the UK can call themselves a hypnotherapist. So it is essential to check that your practitioner has had substantial training and is a member of a reputable professional body.
The UK Confederation of Hypnotherapy Organisations is an umbrella body for the hypnotherapy profession and lists a number of independent hypnotherapy associations, each of which has directories of members, and The General Hypnotherapy Register has also been set up by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council in an attempt to create a single register of trained hypnotherapists.
Private treatment usually starts at about £35 for a session, and hypnotherapy may be even be available on the NHS if it is available at your General Practitioner’s – it is worth checking first with your GP where hypnotherapy might be available locally, and if there are any practitioners who are particularly recommended. It is important to remember that hypnotherapists are not usually qualified to diagnose, so if you’re in doubt about any medical condition you should consult your doctor anyway.
Studies have shown that hypnosis can aid pain relief and help to ease conditions including irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, nausea and some skin problems, but research on hypnosis as an aid to giving up smoking has been conflicting – despite some of the drastic claims, it seems to work for some people and not for others.
Hypnotherapy is generally thought to be safe when practised by properly trained practitioners. However, recall of past memories while in a hypnotic state may well cause emotional or psychological distress.
Hypnotherapy is not considered to be suitable for anyone suffering from mental illness, and is also not advised for people with epilepsy.
Filed under: Treatment Options
