Hypnotherapy - is it a legitimate method?

Amtmann

I was speaking with someone recently who underwent a hypnotherapy session and who sang its praises afterwards.

I looked up the practitioner in question and noted, firstly, that he appears not to have any qualifications from any university and, secondly, that mention is made of 'meridians' and EFT. I understand from a cursory search that both meridians and EFT fall into the category of pseudoscience.

My question is as follows:

Is hynotherapy a legitimate practice that is undertaken by qualified therapists (and by qualified, I mean people who've studied at recognized, prestigious universities), and, if it is legitimate, then where in Ireland is the best place to go to find a qualified hypnotherapist?

Noggle

I would be very careful with this i would consult widely and research the matter thouroughly . I had a quick look and apart from Holisto which is a complimentary medicine web site there is little.

You could write formally to Dr. Joe E. Keany the Director of the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy==at least he is a qualified doctor

Theirwebsite is:
http://www.hypnosiseire.com/


Bí Curamach.

JuliusCaesar

Noggle wrote: »

at least he is a qualified doctor

What's he a doctor of? What is his PhD in? Where did he get it from? (I'm assuming he's not a doctor of medicine.)

The fact that the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy is hosting an event on "Quantum Manifesting" seems a little odd if they want to emphasise their scientific credentials... I found this on a different site when I went to look up what that was:

One of the first things we hear about quantum manifesting and the Law of Attraction, is that in order to manifest our desires, we must change our thoughts. However, even before we attempt to change our thoughts, we must become aware of a few facts and consciously accept them.
First and foremost, we are creators of our own reality and destiny. This implies a great deal of responsibility. If you are ready to change your life experience, you must accept this responsibility all the way from your thoughts, to your actions and your results.

Second, realize that everything we wish for already exists on another plane or in different form.

As you know, everything is energy and as such it cannot be created nor destroyed, only modified. Thus, like a child playing with play-dough, we have an amazing opportunity to create what we want starting from what we have.

Third, atoms are made up of non-solid subatomic elements that are neither particles nor waves; however, they can behave like both.

As strange as this may sound, this allows for these bits of energy to behave according to the observer and his intention.

In other words, they are 100% malleable and from that premise we can conclude that there is only one constant in every ‘experiment’ in your life and that is YOU.

So, it is you who decides how these particles are to behave in order to create what you want in your life... when you think about it, the possibilities are truly unlimited! As soon as you internalize these concepts and make them yours, you start living from the know versus from the wish for, hope for, dream of... and once you achieve this inner knowing, then and only then will quantum manifesting become as easy as child’s play.

:rolleyes:


In fact, my eyes have spun so far that I'm actually looking in at my brain now. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:


In answer to the OP, I'd say that hypnosis is a technique which might be used by a therapist, but it isn't a therapy in itself. I guess Hotspur will have more to say on this.

kitkat.3b4t

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

What's he a doctor of? What is his PhD in? Where did he get it from? (I'm assuming he's not a doctor of medicine.)

The fact that the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy is hosting an event on "Quantum Manifesting" seems a little odd if they want to emphasise their scientific credentials...


Wow!!! I know it's pseudoscience (not evidence based) but Quantum Manifesting sounds great. I'm intrigued, I'm nearly tempted to go to the workshop. I wonder if I could manifest myself there quantumally!!! I'll let you know if it works!!!

Amtmann

Good lord is all I can say to the above-quoted nonsense.

Noggle

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

What's he a doctor of? What is his PhD in? Where did he get it from? (I'm assuming he's not a doctor of medicine.)

The fact that the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy is hosting an event on "Quantum Manifesting" seems a little odd if they want to emphasise their scientific credentials... I found this on a different site when I went to look up what that was:

:rolleyes:


In fact, my eyes have spun so far that I'm actually looking in at my brain now. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:


In answer to the OP, I'd say that hypnosis is a technique which might be used by a therapist, but it isn't a therapy in itself. I guess Hotspur will have more to say on this.

OK its mumbo jumbo crap if that is what they're saying once you see stuff about different planes, attracting energy etc. etc. it has no basis in scientific fact. That said I am aware that some reputable therapists use hypnosis-how that works needs to be checked out,

Sid_Justice

Google suggest Dr. Joe E. Keaney PhD, BA, DHP, D. Psych., MICHP.

His BA and PHD appear to be in Clinical Hypnotherapy from American Institute of Hypnotherapy (AIH) who's degrees are not recognised by higher education institutions in the USA. I presume his Doctor of Psychology is from the same.

So no, he is neither a medical doctor, oa holder of a PhD from an internationally recognised and accredited university nor a qualified clinical psychologist.

I don't really know much about hypnosis or hypnotherapy, I would be greatly interested in an opportunity to learn more about it. I would say there is plenty of 'scientific proof' to suggest the placebo effect is very strong and some evidence to support the idea that 'positive thinking' can effect patient outcome.

So in a nut shell, if hypnotherapy involves a counselling session, some motivational interviewing and some relaxing meditation all under the guise of hypnosis it probably has a similar effect to those methods.

I'd be wary of putting too much stock in anecdotal or incidental information about anything, especially alternative medicine. A person might feel 'great', completely 'turned round' or 'brand new' after a hypnosis, acupuncture, chiropractic session but are the results long term or just a short endorphins based buzz?

Even from my own experience I often 'feel better' once I'm out of the doctor with my script for antibiotics, as if their diagnosis and prescription and has a immediate affect on my infection and immune response.

kitkat.3b4t

Tremelo wrote: »

Good lord is all I can say to the above-quoted nonsense.

I got a bit carried away there, but it was late in the evening - for me anyway. I think the attraction with hypnosis is that it offers the client a quick fix and it also takes the responsibility of changing their behaviour out of their hands, to some degree. Ive met lots of people who found hypnosis very useful when giving up smoking. However I could see hypnotherapy being very dangerous particularly when used with people who have complex emotional and/or behavioural problems. This is mainly because hypnotherapists are not required to be trained counsellors and hypnotherapy alone is not enough to deal with complex cases. Also this form of intervention does attract people who want a quick fix for their problems, which implies clients may enter into hypnotherapy with unrealistic expectations. I could see this resulting in dishonesty between therapist and client and a lot of dependency on the client's part.

Amtmann

kitkat.3b4t wrote: »

I got a bit carried away there, but it was late in the evening - for me anyway.

When I mentioned nonsense, I was referring to the quote contained in Julius Caesar's post, above yours.

I think the attraction with hypnosis is that it offers the client a quick fix and it also takes the responsibility of changing their behaviour out of their hands, to some degree. Ive met lots of people who found hypnosis very useful when giving up smoking. However I could see hypnotherapy being very dangerous particularly when used with people who have complex emotional and/or behavioural problems. This is mainly because hypnotherapists are not required to be trained counsellors and hypnotherapy alone is not enough to deal with complex cases. Also this form of intervention does attract people who want a quick fix for their problems, which implies clients may enter into hypnotherapy with unrealistic expectations. I could see this resulting in dishonesty between therapist and client and a lot of dependency on the client's part.

Agreed. I'm thinking of attending a session purely so that I can experience the ballsology first hand.

Sid_Justice

Tremelo wrote: »

When I mentioned nonsense, I was referring to the quote contained in Julius Caesar's post, above yours.



Agreed. I'm thinking of attending a session purely so that I can experience the ballsology first hand.

Well you'd really be wasting your time and money. If you want into a session with that attitude it would be impossible to be hypnotised.

daRobot

I think the attitude towards Hypnotherapy in this thread borders on Medical Snobbery, in reference to 'ballsology' etc.

First off, comparing Psychoanalysis/ Therapy to Hypnotherapy is not a fair comparison. One is done over an indefinite period, while the other is typically done in one or two sessions, and the issues tackled by each respective practitioner are wildly different in what makes up the bulk of their work.

For example, I don't believe that people are seeking out Psychologists for quitting smoking, and I don't believe people are looking to Hypnotherapists to cure or relive acute depression. Each Practitioner preforms a different function in relation to what they treat.

Hypnotherapy is excellent for phobic conditions, and habit breaking, such as smoking etc. Sometimes the relief (note, not cure), that Hypnotherapy provides can be enough for someone to break a negative pattern and eventually they become free of it. It's more of a catalyst than a cure, in my opinion at least.

An argument that could be presented, is that in conventional therapy in relation to phobias at least, the continual reinforcement that there is a problem in the clients weekly/ bi-weekly sessions, actually may delay recovery. Whereas a fast re-framing of the problem in a Hypnotherapy session can provide excellent relief.

>Tremelo

Why not download a Hypnotherapy cd/mp3 online, and see you get on. I've listened to a few of Glenn Harrold's cd's an have (once you get over his accent- quite strong London) enjoyed them.

hotspur

The contempt of the mentioned doctorate is 100% deserved. Diploma mill stuff. The diploma mill which issued most of the "doctorates" in clinical hypnotherapy has subsequently (due to getting recognition for a later, lower course) requested that those who received it desist from claiming it as a doctorate.

Hypnosis as a method is a perfectly fine therapeutic tool. For example I watched a video by Ernest Rossi this week utilising hypnosis for arthritis. He is a clinical psychologist and an Ericsonian therapist who uses Milton Erickson's hypnosis techniques. These techniques rely a great deal on metaphor based stories in hypnosis utilising material that resonates with the client. So instead of educative CBT it is educative with metaphor.

Rossi is very much a mind-body researcher and brings that into his clinical practice. His psychosocial genomics (which has similarities to Siegel's interpersonal neurobiology) results in paying a great deal of attention to what are the things in therapy which facilitate experience dependent gene expression.

Therapy involves changing the brain. Brain plasticity appears not to be a static quality but rather a dynamic quality which contingent upon factors such as having a sense of novelty and curiosity for example. Take a look at this article by Rossi where he explains his creative process of using hypnosis in therapy which is very grounded in neuroscience:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb013/is_1_8/ai_n29172414/?tag=content;col1

Mindfullness is huge in therapy at the moment and hypnosis is very like guided minfulness meditation as described in a recent book by the clinical psychologist, Ericksonian therapist, and top hypnosis in psychotherapy trainer Michael Yapko called "Mindfulness and Hypnosis".

That focused inner attention can change your brain has been firmly established in the scientific literature and hypnosis gives people the belief and skill that they can do it. People in hypnosis can manifest physiological phenomena that they cannot manage to manifest outside of hypnosis such as directing blood flow. We all have remarkable inbuilt biological healing powers which we mostly just leave to the body on its own in some misguided cultural fallout from Cartesian dualism.

We are not separate mind-body dual creatures, and we can do a lot more to self direct our own healing, both physical and psychological, than we imagine. There is a reason why the placebo effect is the majority effect for anti-depressants, psychotherapy, and many, many complementary therapies for a range of ailments. When we have learnt how to better facilitate communication with our somatic selves through focused attention then we don't need to buy a placebo effect from some energy healer or whathaveyou. We can create our own placebo effect because it is within our capacity to do so. Learning hypnosis can help with this process.

To the best of my knowledge there is no good empirical evidence that any energy therapy works above placebo. And, given the untenability of their presumed processes of action, I would be amazed if any ever appeared. So those who engage in EFT and the like are selling placebos. But in my experience of meeting these people who offer this in addition to hypnotherapy is that they come by it honestly, they believe in it, and they use their anecdotal experiences as evidence. They tend not to have had a training in science.

I believe that "lay" hypnotherapists fill a niche. They can help with a variety of things such as smoking, phobias, weight loss, and a variety of physical ailments which are amenable to the aforementioned self-generated healing response such as warts, eczema etc. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists don't need to be consulted to help quit smoking or help with a specific phobia such as flying or spiders. A brief, positive therapist such as a minimally trained but sincere hypnotherapist who is a member of a large voluntary regulatory body will probably be a decent call.

It does attract a section of the "angel brigade". But it also has sensible people who are closer to the field of psychotherapy than they are to anything which uses the word "quantum".

People who are members of the ICHP which Joe Keaney founded usually call themselves psychotherapists too because they learn hypnoanalysis which is exploratory "psychoanalytic" type investigation under hypnosis. I wouldn't touch such practitioners with a bargepoll because they are very minimally trained and whatever about the world needing psychoanalysts we sure as hell don't need amateur psychoanalysis under a situation of heightened suggestibility.

Also for those of us who have spent a lot of time and money training in psychotherapy it is a bit of an insult for these people with their few weekends of training to be calling themselves psychotherapists.

Although many psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists around the world use hypnosis it is quite unusual for any in Ireland to do so. And some of those psychotherapists who do would also be into EFT and the like - psychotherapy having a lot of yahoos in its field too.

Until very recently there were no genuine university courses in hypnotherapy, but there are now a couple in the UK. So almost any hypnotherapist in Ireland will have been trained in hypnotherapy by an independent training body. But that is not their fault, if there had been a college option many would have taken it because they paid good money for their training as it was.

There is no good register for well trained hypnotherapists other than the UK based Register for Evidence-Based Hypnotherapy & Psychotherapy which only has one Irish member:
http://www.rebhp.org/directorytherapists.htm

An Irish register exists but it's mostly just a subscription and you're in list:
https://www.theirishhypnotistregister.com/

So I would say that if you fancy giving hypnotherapy a try then don't be put off by the difficulty of finding a sensible hypnotherapist. A few minutes chat on the phone ought to help to orientate a sharp person to the kind of hypnotherapist they are talking to.

Either that or get some homoeopathy

krd

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

What's he a doctor of? What is his PhD in? Where did he get it from? (I'm assuming he's not a doctor of medicine.)

The fact that the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy is hosting an event on "Quantum Manifesting" seems a little odd if they want to emphasise their scientific credentials... I found this on a different site when I went to look up what that was:

It's The Secret.

Rhonda Byrne's The Secret. Multi-million selling book, film, other crap.

"Quantum Manifesting", wouldn't even be on the level of pseudoscience.

Think positive thoughts and ask the universe for whatever you wish.

It is incredible, how the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, and the many-worlds interpretation, can be mish mashed together, by some glib psychopaths and so many people lap it up like cream.


It probably doesn't need to be said. But

Third, atoms are made up of non-solid subatomic elements that are neither particles nor waves; however, they can behave like both.

As strange as this may sound, this allows for these bits of energy to behave according to the observer and his intention.

Is not really a truthful statement.

sadie9

I think mindfulness and hypnosis however are very different also.

Mindfulness seeks to bring awareness into the present moment.
Hypnosis seeks to, in some ways, keep awareness distanced in what I would call an 'away' state.

So in mindfulness, awareness of painful feelings etc would be more present, with a view to accepting their existence.

With hypnosis, isn't a key factor that the 'fixing' can be done in the safety of the hypnotic state as it were, so the person doesn't have to deal with feelings of pain, fear, etc in the present moment.
So for people who don't want to deal with unpleasant feelings, the hypnotist offers an 'offline' cure.

Noggle

sadie9 wrote: »

I think mindfulness and hypnosis however are very different also.

Mindfulness seeks to bring awareness into the present moment.
Hypnosis seeks to, in some ways, keep awareness distanced in what I would call an 'away' state.

So in mindfulness, awareness of painful feelings etc would be more present, with a view to accepting their existence.

With hypnosis, isn't a key factor that the 'fixing' can be done in the safety of the hypnotic state as it were, so the person doesn't have to deal with feelings of pain, fear, etc in the present moment.
So for people who don't want to deal with unpleasant feelings, the hypnotist offers an 'offline' cure.

I understand what you are saying and urge people to incorporate a mindfulness practice as part of their daily routine if possible. But in a case I am aware of a person has become so frozen by phobia that they will not go outside the door anymore. This happened in a relatively short space of time-at the end of the summer they could go out, go to work etc. with a struggle but in the last couple of months the panic attacks have become so severe as to be entirely debilitating and prevent the person from leaving home at all. The only solution the GP has to offer is medication e.g. Xanax or Prozac. The person therapist is almost coming around to this point of view having originally described such medication as a chemical straitjacket and a cul de sac. So maybe the hypnotherapy might be helpful in solving the immediate crisis –that’s the hope anyway.

Noggle

Tremelo wrote: »

I was speaking with someone recently who underwent a hypnotherapy session and who sang its praises afterwards.

Wh was the hypnotherapist? What did they go for?

Amtmann

Noggle wrote: »

[

Who was the hypnotherapist? What did they go for?

I am reluctant to name the practitioner publicly. The session in early October was in relation to smoking. The patient hasn't smoked since then.

I started this thread because I want to know if hypnosis is real. We've all seen people allegedly hypnotized on TV to the point where they do outrageous things. Is this a genuine spectacle or a con?

If it is a genuine spectacle, then what is the underlying science? Moreover, if it is genuine, then surely it can be made to work to cure all manner of behaviors. However, looking at various hypnotherapists' websites, the lack of qualifications and the mention of meridians and EFQ make me conclude that what these people do is scientifically baseless, and therefore pseudoscience, AKA ballsology.

Amtmann

Sid_Justice wrote: »

Well you'd really be wasting your time and money. If you want into a session with that attitude it would be impossible to be hypnotised.

Well, if I believed that the method is scientifically valid then my skepticism would immediately evaporate.

Would it be impossible for me to be hypnotized because of my own attitude, or because the practitioner is a charlatan?

I am open-minded about this, but not to the point where I accept pseudoscience, and certainly not to the point where I accept that someone holds genuine qualifications when in fact they don't.

Noggle

Tremelo wrote: »

I am reluctant to name the practitioner publicly. The session in early October was in relation to smoking. The patient hasn't smoked since then.

I started this thread because I want to know if hypnosis is real. We've all seen people allegedly hypnotized on TV to the point where they do outrageous things. Is this a genuine spectacle or a con?

If it is a genuine spectacle, then what is the underlying science? Moreover, if it is genuine, then surely it can be made to work to cure all manner of behaviors. However, looking at various hypnotherapists' websites, the lack of qualifications and the mention of meridians and EFQ make me conclude that what these people do is scientifically baseless, and therefore pseudoscience, AKA ballsology.

Well I'd take my lead from the excellent article above by Hotspur.

There are people who go to hypnotherapy for habit breaking and if they go and it fails there is probably only a little damage done in terms of reinforcing their belief that they just cannot break the habit.

However when it moves on to more serious challenges one needs to try and get the best help from the most reputable source.
A phone call is often instructive if the therapist starts going on about energies, cosmic laws of attraction, deep quantum healing levels, angels, crystals, chiropractic, homeopathy, meridians ,EFQ or streaming you know you are at best dealing with a faith based enthusiast or at worst a thieving charlatan.

How about emailing the one Hypnotherapist in Ireland who seems to have a valid Qualification from the Register of Evidence Based Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy??

Amtmann

Noggle wrote: »

How about emailing the one Hypnotherapist in Ireland who seems to have a valid Qualification from the Register of Evidence Based Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy??

If the email address were provided, I might

Noggle

Tremelo wrote: »

If the email address were provided, I might

Let's know how you get on.

Sid_Justice

Tremelo wrote: »

Well, if I believed that the method is scientifically valid then my skepticism would immediately evaporate.

Would it be impossible for me to be hypnotized because of my own attitude, or because the practitioner is a charlatan?

I am open-minded about this, but not to the point where I accept pseudoscience, and certainly not to the point where I accept that someone holds genuine qualifications when in fact they don't.

Hold on, your talking about two completely different things. Do you not believe in hypnosis? Or don't believe in hypnotherapy? Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination." it's not just a parlour trick, if you don't wish to be put under hypnosis it is very difficult to be rendered so. You wouldn't be able to be hypnotized due to your attitude.

Amtmann

Sid_Justice wrote: »

Hold on, your talking about two completely different things. Do you not believe in hypnosis? Or don't believe in hypnotherapy?

That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's the difference between them, or, more interestingly for me, what is the similarity between hypnosis and hypnotherapy (since I assume that there is *some* similarity). I want to know if hypnosis is genuine, how it works, what its limits are, and if a person can be hypnotised into changing their habits. Furthermore, I want to know if any of these people who purport to use meridians and EFQs are likely to be actually capable of hypnotising someone to the point where they can cure addictions or certain behaviours.

Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination." it's not just a parlour trick, if you don't wish to be put under hypnosis it is very difficult to be rendered so. You wouldn't be able to be hypnotized due to your attitude.

If it's not a parlour trick, then what exactly is it? Genuine question. What's happening in the mind of a hypnotized person, and can people be hypnotized in one session so that they are cured of particular vices? That's what I want to know.

hotspur

Tremelo wrote: »

I am reluctant to name the practitioner publicly. The session in early October was in relation to smoking. The patient hasn't smoked since then.

It isn't very impressive that they haven't smoked since. This length of time to be smoke-free is quite expectable from pretty much any method.

There are some smokers who would arrive in a clinic in such a readiness to change state that performing a shamanistic rain dance or patting them on the back for their intention would be sufficient. I have seen research which suggests that 5% of people will quit merely based on a GP suggesting that their health would benefit if they did (though I cannot recall the length of time of follow ups in the study).

I have read an enormous amount of research on hypnosis treatment for smoking cessation, and I have little doubt that it is as efficacious as any single modality treatment for it. It does bother me that hypnotherapists spout such nonsense statistics about it though in their marketing literature, such as 95% of their clients quit!

Who cares how many give up for a week or a month, how many are still smoke free 6 months and 12 months later? This is what people come for, not to quit for a few weeks which every other smoker does anyway. The average number of quit attempts for a smoker is 7. So relapse is the rule rather than the exception.

Doing a single session of hypnosis to enhance motivation / self-efficacy is fine but could be so much more. A few sessions could incorporate aspects of motivational enhancement therapy to help increase motivation, increase self-efficacy, resolve ambivalence, teach alternative stress managing techniques, teach contingency management, changing behaviours in relation to associated stimuli which cue smoking due to classical conditioning, teaching cognitive therapy techniques which pertain to addiction, handling craves and urges, preventing relapse with techniques from the likes of Marlatt.

It is interesting to note that the acceptance and commitment therapy people offer smoking cessation workshops.

Tremelo wrote: »

That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's the difference between them, or, more interestingly for me, what is the similarity between hypnosis and hypnotherapy (since I assume that there is *some* similarity). I want to know if hypnosis is genuine, how it works, what its limits are, and if a person can be hypnotised into changing their habits.

I'm not sure what your background is so I'm not going to recommend a load of academic books and papers on the topic. Starting off I recommend watching the following interesting talk by David Spiegel on mind-body interactions with a heavy focus on hypnosis. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in Stanford and a serious guy who also happens to be interested in hypnosis as his father Herbert was an important guy in the field:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlFaIxTv1_w

If you like watching videos here is a site with interviews from a great many of the top people in the world on hypnosis (look under videos):
http://www.ewillmarth.com/index.html

If you need to have a definition of hypnosis then this is the American Psychological Society's one (it isn't very illuminating):
http://psychologicalhypnosis.com/info/the-official-division-30-definition-and-description-of-hypnosis/

And here is the leading academic journal in the field:
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/nhyp20/current

This is what I regard as the best and most informative text on it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Clinical-Hypnosis-Steven-Lynn/dp/1433805685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321920849&sr=8-1

Sid_Justice

Tremelo wrote: »

That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's the difference between them, or, more interestingly for me, what is the similarity between hypnosis and hypnotherapy (since I assume that there is *some* similarity). I want to know if hypnosis is genuine, how it works, what its limits are, and if a person can be hypnotised into changing their habits. Furthermore, I want to know if any of these people who purport to use meridians and EFQs are likely to be actually capable of hypnotising someone to the point where they can cure addictions or certain behaviours.



If it's not a parlour trick, then what exactly is it? Genuine question. What's happening in the mind of a hypnotized person, and can people be hypnotized in one session so that they are cured of particular vices? That's what I want to know.

buy a book, look it up on the internet. You've no business asking these questions in this thread when you haven't the faintest idea what anyone is talking about. You're not a sceptic you're just plain ignorant.

Amtmann

hotspur wrote: »

It isn't very impressive that they haven't smoked since. This length of time to be smoke-free is quite expectable from pretty much any method.

There are some smokers who would arrive in a clinic in such a readiness to change state that performing a shamanistic rain dance or patting them on the back for their intention would be sufficient. I have seen research which suggests that 5% of people will quit merely based on a GP suggesting that their health would benefit if they did (though I cannot recall the length of time of follow ups in the study).

I have read an enormous amount of research on hypnosis treatment for smoking cessation, and I have little doubt that it is as efficacious as any single modality treatment for it. It does bother me that hypnotherapists spout such nonsense statistics about it though in their marketing literature, such as 95% of their clients quit!

Who cares how many give up for a week or a month, how many are still smoke free 6 months and 12 months later? This is what people come for, not to quit for a few weeks which every other smoker does anyway. The average number of quit attempts for a smoker is 7. So relapse is the rule rather than the exception.

Doing a single session of hypnosis to enhance motivation / self-efficacy is fine but could be so much more. A few sessions could incorporate aspects of motivational enhancement therapy to help increase motivation, increase self-efficacy, resolve ambivalence, teach alternative stress managing techniques, teach contingency management, changing behaviours in relation to associated stimuli which cue smoking due to classical conditioning, teaching cognitive therapy techniques which pertain to addiction, handling craves and urges, preventing relapse with techniques from the likes of Marlatt.

It is interesting to note that the acceptance and commitment therapy people offer smoking cessation workshops.



I'm not sure what your background is so I'm not going to recommend a load of academic books and papers on the topic. Starting off I recommend watching the following interesting talk by David Spiegel on mind-body interactions with a heavy focus on hypnosis. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in Stanford and a serious guy who also happens to be interested in hypnosis as his father Herbert was an important guy in the field:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlFaIxTv1_w

If you like watching videos here is a site with interviews from a great many of the top people in the world on hypnosis (look under videos):
http://www.ewillmarth.com/index.html

If you need to have a definition of hypnosis then this is the American Psychological Society's one (it isn't very illuminating):
http://psychologicalhypnosis.com/info/the-official-division-30-definition-and-description-of-hypnosis/

And here is the leading academic journal in the field:
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/nhyp20/current

This is what I regard as the best and most informative text on it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Handbook-Clinical-Hypnosis-Steven-Lynn/dp/1433805685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321920849&sr=8-1

Thanks for your very helpful post, hotspur.

Odysseus

A poster has reported this thread, until I have had the time to look at it fully; I'm locking it.

JuliusCaesar

Sid_Justice wrote: »

buy a book, look it up on the internet. ...

Warning given.

JC

I've reopened the thread which was very interesting. Keep it polite, lads.

Sid_Justice

This is laughable stuff.

The original poster (Tremelo) has no medical, psychological or counselling training, but is sceptical about the role of hypnotherapy in behavioural therapy. He is dismissive and belittles a particular organisation -

Tremelo wrote:

Agreed. I'm thinking of attending a session purely so that I can experience the ballsology first hand.

A moderator (JuliusCaesar) who does have psychological training agrees with the sentiments of Tremolo and endorses his behaviour and engages in it also

JC wrote:

In fact, my eyes have spun so far that I'm actually looking in at my brain now.

I highlight the fact the original poster doesn't know anything about hypnosis nor hypnotherapy and make the case that his dismissive attitude is unwarranted because he is speaking from a position of complete ignorance. For people that don't understand what the word ignorant means here is a definition:

ig·no·rant adjective
1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.
4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

The original poster is upset that I've taken exception to his free reign of ignorance and complains to his buddy the moderator JC who backs him up warns me.

This is a 'factual' statement. This is not after hours, nor is this the ranting and raving forum. The original poster is ignorant. If the poster wants to comment on the efficacy of hypnosis/hypnotherapy he should at least make some effort to educate himself on the literature on the subject.

The moderator claims the thread is interesting because he is enjoying taking pot shots at a rival branch of pseudoscience along with the original poster.

Odysseus

Sid Justice you already recieved a warning off another mod, they are issued for a reason. The original poster has every right to ask the questions they have asked, your responses have not being helpful and I find your posts abusive, attack the post not the poster. Of course the op lack knowledge around the topic, if he didn't they would ask a question. You are not a new member of boards, so you know better than to question a mods moderation in a thread.

Banned for a week.

Odysseus

Tremelo wrote: »

That's what I'm trying to figure out. What's the difference between them, or, more interestingly for me, what is the similarity between hypnosis and hypnotherapy (since I assume that there is *some* similarity). I want to know if hypnosis is genuine, how it works, what its limits are, and if a person can be hypnotised into changing their habits. Furthermore, I want to know if any of these people who purport to use meridians and EFQs are likely to be actually capable of hypnotising someone to the point where they can cure addictions or certain behaviours.

Short answer around addictions is no. Most of my work is with addicts, I also lecture in the area. This is one aspect that really p!sses me off, I have seen a lot of clients damaged by people with basic qualifications thinking they can cure addictions.

Whilst I acknowledge that it may be helpful in changing some habits, dealing with addictions is a complex area. I often see people stating that addictions can be cure in x amount of sessions. Whereas I have people in ongoing treatment for months or even years.

I say this most time this topic comes up, but I won't refer a client to anyone using this method. I don't believe the quality of education/training is enough to treat serious conditions. The highest level you can train in Ireland is Dip level, and IMO this just isn't good enough for serious disorders.

Maybe as Hotspur stated when combined with other modalities such as CBT/RP it may be helpful.

Amtmann

Odysseus wrote: »

Short answer around addictions is no. Most of my work is with addicts, I also lecture in the area. This is one aspect that really p!sses me off, I have seen a lot of clients damaged by people with basic qualifications thinking they can cure addictions.

Whilst I acknowledge that it may be helpful in changing some habits, dealing with addictions is a complex area. I often see people stating that addictions can be cure in x amount of sessions. Whereas I have people in ongoing treatment for months or even years.

I say this most time this topic comes up, but I won't refer a client to anyone using this method. I don't believe the quality of education/training is enough to treat serious conditions. The highest level you can train in Ireland is Dip level, and IMO this just isn't good enough for serious disorders.

Maybe as Hotspur stated when combined with other modalities such as CBT/RP it may be helpful.

Interesting. Could you tell me, in your professional opinion, is what hypnotists do to people on TV (for entertainment) explicable by psychology? And are people only malleable while they are in the hypnotic state? How long does the hypnotic state last for?

Odysseus

Tremelo wrote: »

Interesting. Could you tell me, in your professional opinion, is what hypnotists do to people on TV (for entertainment) explicable by psychology? And are people only malleable while they are in the hypnotic state? How long does the hypnotic state last for?

I couldn't to be honest, well not to a academic standard; Hotspur would be the man I would ask. In my opinion, and it really is just an opinion. Yes, psychologically it can be expalained, and I would need to re-read some papers but it can be explained psychoanalytically. My main understanding of it, would come from psychoanalysis as Freud initally used hypnosis to facilitate treatment.

Freud initally thought that hypnosis was a useful tool, but then he realised a few things. Firstly that he was not the best at the procedure and more importantly that the results he was seeing did not last.