Medical hypnotherapy (synonym: hypnotherapy) is used as a revealing (analytical) method. In this process, repressed or suppressed memories are made conscious again. Furthermore, medical hypnotherapy is used as a supportive therapy for reprogramming and reorientation in psychotherapy.Hypnosis is a procedure for producing a trance-like state of consciousness. It is a type of wakefulness, but the sensory organs are less receptive.Only hearing is not affected, so that conversations between doctor and patient can still take place.Unlike “show hypnosis“, the patient is not without will in this treatment, and cannot be made to perform actions that he would not be willing to do even in a normal state.
Under hypnosis, images are usually perceived more intensely, similar to dreams. In this state, the so-called “subconscious” comes to the fore. At the same time, physical changes occur. The muscles relax, the heart beats a little slower and breathing becomes calmer. The body produces fewer stress hormones – it switches to “relaxation“.
Because of these processes, hypnosis is perceived by most patients as a state of deep relaxation. What is perceived under hypnosis is experienced more intensely than when awake.
Indications (areas of application)
- Anxiety
- Attention/behavioral disorders and hyperkinesia in children.
- Depression
- Births and birth preparation
- Operations and preparation for operations
- Post-traumatic disorders
- Personality disorders
- Psychoses
- Psychosomatic disorders
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Sexual disorders
- Pain
- Addiction and dependence – e.g. smoking cessation.
- Dental treatments – anxiety, pain
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Procedure of hypnosis
Hypnosis consists of three phases:
- In the induction phase, the patient is slowly and gently transferred into the trance-like state.
- During the treatment phase, the practitioner can now work with the patient using images, suggestions or questioning techniques, depending on the desired therapeutic goal. This is usually the case in the treatment of psychological problems. In hypnosis for pain elimination, no such in-depth conversations take place. Depending on the cause of the hypnosis treatment, this phase can last from a few minutes to a few hours.
- The treatment is followed by the reorientation phase, in which the patient is slowly led back to the waking state.
As a rule, hypnotherapy is performed as individual therapy. However, it can also be done in group sessions.
The session duration is usually 45 minutes.
Benefits
For healthy people, hypnosis provides deep relaxation, which gives them strength and well-being and strengthens them for everyday life.
In the case of existing psychological and psychosomatic complaints, hypnosis contributes to finding the cause and can thus help to solve problems and permanently improve the quality of life.Another advantage is the gentle elimination of pain perception, which is particularly important for patients with allergies to anesthetics or fear of injections.
