It can be learnt from a book or recording but is most commonly taught by a hypnotist to someone who is in trance.

• Hypnotherapists will often teach self-hypnosis to a patient in trance to enhance the learning. They may even install a trigger to access hypnosis.

Why would a patient need self-hypnosis?

The main reason to learn self-hypnosis is to increase the amount of time that your brain is receiving the beneficial suggestion you came to therapy for. However, a voice recording on your phone could easily do that, so why go to the effort of learning self-hypnosis.

• Once learned self-hypnosis remains with you – it doesn’t get lost, wiped, dropped in the bath or become inaccessible with a software up grade.
• Once learned you can use it for other things – A recording never changes but you can adapt your self-hypnosis either to be a better fit for you or for another other topic.

Hypnotic recordings are a valid part of any intervention, but they are used when the repetition of a core suggestion is import, Self-hypnosis by contrast gives you control and speeds up your therapy.

How does it differ from meditation (Penazzi, De Pisapia 2022)

This is something of a controversial question as there are many similarities between the two:

• Both sometimes use relaxation approaches.
• Both enhance absorption on the inner experience.
• Functional magnetic resonance imagery (fMRI) scans of the two states show substantial overlaps in the areas of the brain active when in these states. Although, it should be noted that they are not a perfect match.

There are however several differences:

• Although it is widely considered that most people can access hypnosis the depth to which they then go is generally perceived to be a matter in innate talent, this is different to meditation in which skill growth through practice is assumed.
• Hypnosis commonly involves dissociation from the environment and self, whereas mediation frequently employs enhanced association with the self.

Want to do self-hypnosis for yourself?

See my blog – How do I do self-hypnosis?

Dr Matt Krouwel is a highly experienced hypnotherapist of 25+ years. he works in Birmingham UK.

References

Penazzi G, De Pisapia N. Direct comparisons between hypnosis and meditation: A mini-review. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022 Jul 15;13:958185.

The post What is self-hypnosis ? appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.

In this video I discuss the use of  6 natural phenomenon in hypnotic induction

Breath – deceptively simple but overlooked by many is combining your suggestions with someone breath. Usually this means you deliver deepening suggestions on the outbreath thus giving a physical suggestion in combination with the verbal suggestion.

Tiring – a hypnosis classic! you place the subject in a position where they will gradually become tired, for example the eyes focused on a elevated spot,  wait for a little while and then tell them that they are becoming tired. The real trick is to tell them they are becoming tired before they are consciously aware of it. By directing their attention to the pre-existent tiredness it gives the impression that suggestion has made this happen.

Ideomotor response (IMR) – Most people are not aware that most thought, especially about actions, tend to produce small unconscious movements, these are called IMR’s.  By directing a subject to have a certain thought a hypnotist may produce an IMR. As with tiring (see above) the hypnotist may be credited with producing this IMR but all the hypnotist is actually doing is focusing the subjects attention on something which is already present. By repeating and enhancing the IMR through suggestion it can be taken well beyond its naturally occurring level and produce some of the more impressive hypnotic inductions such as the Arm levitation.

Dissociation – we all have the ability to mentally separate from our immediate circumstances, we call it daydreaming, this is also a form of dissociation.  Dissociation means to separate from the here and now, usually by an act of  engaging with the internal mental world. A hypnotist will often encourage dissociation directly by inviting someone to imagine floating out of their body and floating off to a beautify place. Dissociation can be in both space (location an bodily awareness) or time.

Fractionation –  It has been observed that someone in a trance, however light, will go progressively deeper if they are asked to open their eyes and then invited to closed them again.  Although often enhanced with suggestion this interesting natural phenomenon has been used by hypnotists for many years to help people go gently deeper into hypnosis.

Confusion – far from my favourite as it is rarely appropriate to the anxious patients I tend to work with it is however a powerful hypnotic technique.  When in a state of confusion a person will often latch on to any single clear command or idea with far greater belief than if the were not confused. Hypnotists will often produce mild confusion in their subjects which they then break with a single clear command.

The author – Matt Krouwel is a hypnotherapist and post graduate researcher into hypnotherapy at University of Birmingham (UK)

The post Natural phenomenon in hypnotic induction appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.

The socio-cognitive theorists offer up three different factors which effect  a person’s hypnotisability.

• Vividness & Involvement – this is a persons ability to loose themselves into or sink into a concept. Part of this is the realism with which they experience a scene, memory of concept be that visually, physically or with any other sense. Although this can be enriched through suggestion most people have a basic level of vividness and involvement which the hypnotherapists guides. With people who display a strong level of involvement I tend to use very little deep hypnosis and favour imagery and Ericksonian approaches.
• Expectancy – as you may anticipate this is a person’s belief in hypnosis. Naturally this varies from complete acceptance in the idea to utter disbelief in phenomenon of trance or hypnotic suggests. Essentially, the stronger the belief in hypnosis the more easily someone is likely to go into it, or respond to it. This is mostly because they are going to be open, co-operative and interested in the experience. With people with a high degree of belief in hypnosis I tend to use the more traditional, often more theatrical, approaches which fit more closely many peoples expectation of hypnosis. A common expectation to this is when they have prior positive hypnotic experience and then I attempt to replicate their past experience.
• Compliance – some people are naturally more cooperative than others and respond well to being given simple clear instructions. Highly cooperative people tend to be more natural hypnotic subjects, but everyone who presents to a hypnotherapist is intending to go with the process to some degree. A compliant mind set can be nurtured with a few simple, reasonable, request such as asking the person to place their feet flat on the floor and their hands upon their lap.

The author – Matt Krouwel is a hypnotherapist and post graduate researcher into hypnotherapy at University of Birmingham (UK)

The post Factors which effect hypnotisability appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state in which the hypnotic subject is focused on an idea, thought or physical space. This focus is sufficient that they have a reduced awareness and become more open to suggestion. There are three main uses for hypnosis.

1. Hypnosis is used for entertainment, as with stage hypnosis. In stage hypnosis usually only the most responsive subjects are used. This shows off the power of hypnosis to its full extent. However, it is not innately beneficial to the subject.
2. Hypnosis is also used to recover memory in legal cases. this practice is called Forensic hypnosis.  The quality of the memories recovered are treated with great suspicion by the legal world. The reason for this suspicion is that memory can easily be altered, even by accident. This creates what is known as a false memory.
3. For therapeutic benefit, also known as hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy

hypnotherapy is the use of the powerful state of hypnosis to create beneficial change. Typically, this may involve suggestions or imagery which will help the subject to achieve their desired change. Hypnotherapy is used around the world to help people ;

• Break habits and change behaviours.
• Reduce nerves anxiety.
• Cope with physical and emotional pain.
• Improve their performance.
• Many other issues and problems.

The important thing to remember is that hypnotherapy is used specifically with the intention of helping the subject in some way.

Author – Matt Krouwel is a  hypnotherapist in Birmingham (UK). He has taught hypnotherapy in both the UK and internationally and specialises in anxiety, erectile disorder and researches hypnotherapy for IBS at the University of Birmingham

The post What is the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy? appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.

In this Vlog / blog we look at several factors which can effect the outcome of a hypnotic induction.  let’s first define what an induction is;

A hypnotic induction is a way of getting someone to close their eyes. It generally includes some degree of deepening but ultimately it is about taking someone from having their eyes open to having their eyes closed. This means that the simplest form of hypnotic induction is the ‘simple eye closure’ where you just ask someone to close their eyes, even this cuts out a substantial amount of the information which is coming into the brain (approximately 40% I am told) allowing for greater focus on the internal world. However most inductions are more elaborate than this and start to produce hypnotic states in advance of eye closure.

Pre-induction factors which affect hypnotic induction – preparation

There are a number of basics which can make quite a difference, these include;

Comfort & physical stabilisation – Are they physically comfortable? Is the chair you use strong, stable and comfy for a semi-conscious person. Is the room warm / cool enough for a semi-conscious person, and have they been to the toilet recently enough (don’t ask about this immediately before induction). In addition I always invite my patients to place their feet flat on the floor and their hands on their laps as this create more physical stability.

Understanding – Studies (by me!) suggest that most people have a balanced view of hypnosis and hypnotherapy and many of the old myths about control and domination are dying out, however they are not yet gone, so a good explanation of what hypnosis is, what it might be like and what it is not is a good idea. In addition you should offer the client the chance to aske any questions they may wish.

Consent – Although it would be possible to argue that the act of presenting to a hypnotherapists for therapy gives implied consent for hypnosis, explicit consent is much more respectful. So always stop to ask if a client is ready to enter hypnosis before you initiate induction.

Co-operative mind set – by enhancing co-operation prior to induction they are far more likely to co-operate in trance. Co-operation is enhanced by building rapport, but also by demonstrating co-operation and techniques like the ‘yes set’ which will be discussed in other videos.

The author – Matt Krouwel is a hypnotherapist and post graduate researcher into hypnotherapy at University of Birmingham (UK)

The post Pre-inductions factors that affect hypnotic induction appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.

Permissive and authoritarian hypnosis – the authoritarian

The authoritarian is more traditional and is characterised by directness. Authoritarian suggestions are commonly clear, short and to the point. These will be delivered in a confident tone, which may border on commanding at times. Often authoritarian suggestions will be delivered in a clipped manner with significant pauses between them to allow the suggestion to sink in.  By tradition sleep suggestions are associated with the authoritarian approach, most well know of which is “deep sleep”, but also “drowsy” ,”tired” and “sleepy”. Some authoritarian inductions use a degree of physical discomfort, and the subsequent relief of that discomfort, as a physical suggestion.

Authoritarian inductions are believed to be more appropriate for people who are used to giving and receiving orders, although they should rarely be given in such a strong manner. In addition, these are often suggested as good techniques with analytically minded people who prefer clear direction.

Permissive and authoritarian hypnosis – The permissive

The permissive by comparison is a gentler approach, being generally slower than the authoritarian. Permissive approaches give the subject choice, or rather the perception of choice. The subject may be “invited” to relax, asked which type of relaxation do they think they will experience first “mental or physical?” , questions and invitations are common indicators of a permissive approaches. Typical suggestions used in permissive approaches include “you may…” “perhaps..” “some people…” and “relax”. Permissive inductions allow the subject the sense of retaining control over their depth of experience by allowing them these choices and not forcing them to go deeper.  Evidence suggests that most people are more comfortable with permissive approaches. (Spinhoven, Baak, Dyck & Vermeulen 1988)

The author – Matt Krouwel is a hypnotherapist and post graduate researcher into hypnotherapy at University of Birmingham (UK)

References

Spinhoven, P., Baak, D., Dyck, R. V., & Vermeulen, P. (1988). The effectiveness of an authoritative versus permissive style of hypnotic communication. International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis, 36(3), 182-191.

The post Permissive and Authoritarian hypnosis appeared first on Matthew Krouwel Hypnotherapist.