Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy

Johnny Bitte

Hi all,
I'm a long time sufferer of panic attacks and anxiety.

I've had short term relief with hypnotherapy but as there was under lying problem they returned.

So started psychotherapy last year with great success but still can feel very bad some days and recently had 2 panic attacks.

I discussed having more hypnotherapy sessions to help with the pain that comes with panic attacks while working on the long term with him.

But, he says that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to attend both at the same time.

I just want to get others opinion on this as I was sure there would be no problem with this as one would help the under lying issue's while the other would help with the current one's.

As I've said the psychotherapy has had great results, I just want relief from the pain asap.

Thanks for any help.

hotspur

If your current psychotherapy is not "helping with the current issue" then maybe you should wonder why that is the case. There are evidence-based psychotherapies for disorders such as panic disorder or other anxiety disorders which may involve panic attacks which certainly do help with the current problem.

I would suggest talking further to your therapist about your desire for hypnotherapy. No-one here can advise you one way or the other because we know nothing about you, your difficulties, or the types of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy you have received.

Johnny Bitte

hotspur wrote: »

If your current psychotherapy is not "helping with the current issue" then maybe you should wonder why that is the case. There are evidence-based psychotherapies for disorders such as panic disorder or other anxiety disorders which may involve panic attacks which certainly do help with the current problem.

I would suggest talking further to your therapist about your desire for hypnotherapy. No-one here can advise you one way or the other because we know nothing about you, your difficulties, or the types of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy you have received.

Thanks, I know that people here cannot help me.

I am asking only for their opinion on using 2 kinds of therapy at the same time.

hotspur

Well it really does depend on what the therapies are, what the therapists are doing, and what the issues are.

If you were getting essentially self-hypnosis relaxation skills from a hypnotherapist then it may not be an issue, or it may - if used as a safety behaviour. On the other hand if the hypnotherapist were of a psychodynamic persuasion engaging in hypnoanalysis and the like then it may conflict with your psychotherapy.

Then there's the issue of whether one ought to be attending a hypnotherapist at all for clinically significant anxiety problems.

There is no simple yes or no answer to whether psychotherapy and hypnotherapy are compatible, or any 2 therapeutic modalities for that matter.

If you were to go ahead then any hypnotherapist who isn't a yahoo ought to be ethically obliged to consult with your psychotherapist about the suitability of working with you, and in what manner.

If you strongly feel that you would benefit then bring it back to your therapist and discuss it further maybe. Also please ensure that the hypnotherapist is someone who knows what they are doing, most just don't understand the first thing about anxiety disorders as they are not trained in that area.