No Clucking Allowed: Hypnosis in Modern Clinical Hypnotherapy

When most people hear "hypnosis," they think of a stage performance involving swinging pocket watches and embarrassing audience participation. Clinical Hypnotherapy, however, is far removed from such theatrics. It’s an evidence-based therapeutic practice that sits at the fascinating intersection of neuroscience, psychotherapy, and wellness – treating and relieving many common sources of suffering, pain, and unhappiness.

Modern Clinical Hypnotherapy is a treatment modality that blends hypnosis and strategic psychotherapy to achieve its results. Hypnosis involves guided relaxation and focused attention to access the subconscious mind—the part of the brain that governs automatic thoughts, habits, and emotions. This is where many unhelpful behaviours are formed and maintained, often making them difficult to change with willpower and conscious thought alone. Contrary to myths of ‘mind control,’ the process is collaborative, where you are fully aware and in control throughout, working alongside a trained therapist to reframe unhelpful thought patterns, habits or beliefs.

Strategic psychotherapy complements hypnosis by taking a goal-oriented approach. Rather than delving endlessly into past traumas, it focuses on understanding your current state, identifying future goals, and addressing gaps in comprehension or skill. This future-focused, practical method equips you with tools to achieve meaningful change and build resilience. Research shows that when delivered during hypnosis, when you’re in a state of heightened suggestibility, strategic psychotherapy can invoke positive change much more effectively than when delivered as talk therapy alone.

The science supporting Clinical Hypnotherapy is compelling. Studies using functional MRI have shown its ability to alter brain activity, modulate pain perception, and manage stress and anxiety. It also promotes neuroplasticity, enabling the brain to ‘re-wire’, learning and maintaining healthier patterns. Clinical Hypnotherapy works at a hormonal level too. Studies have shown it to alleviate stress (by reducing cortisol, the stress hormone), improve mood (by generating endorphins and serotonin, the feel-good hormones), and deepen sleep (by releasing melatonin, the signal to the brain that it is time to rest). A recent research paper showed it reduced the frequency and severity of menopausal hot flushes by over 60%. How cool is that?!

If you are seeking a holistic approach to your health, Clinical Hypnotherapy is a non-invasive complement to other therapies. It supports the mind-body connection essential to overall well-being, addressing issues like anxiety, chronic pain, phobias, unhelpful habits, and sleep disorders.

In today’s high-stress world, Clinical Hypnotherapy stands out as a safe, empowering, evidence-based solution to many mind and body health issues. By integrating neuroscience and psychotherapy, it offers a professional, supportive environment to achieve lasting wellness, and nobody will make you behave like a chicken!

Clinical Hypnotherapy vs Stage Hypnosis - Busting The Myths!

When most people think of hypnosis, they imagine dramatic scenes from TV, movies and stage performances: a mesmerist swinging a pocket watch, subjects clucking like chickens, people seemingly losing control of themselves, or being controlled to act out evil deeds. It makes for good entertainment, but stage hypnosis is a world apart from Clinical Hypnotherapy, which is a professional practice rooted in therapeutic science. Let’s dive into the key differences and bust some of the myths surrounding hypnosis.

Myth #1: Hypnosis is Mind Control

One of the biggest misconceptions about hypnosis, largely fuelled by stage performances, is that it involves mind control. In Clinical Hypnotherapy, nothing could be further from the truth. Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that induces a natural, focused state of concentration to help people access their subconscious mind, where they can better explore and address personal issues. It’s essential to understand that even in a hypnotic state, the person remains in control. A hypnotherapist cannot make a client do anything against their will or moral code. Instead, the client remains aware and actively participates in the process, using their own insights and responses.

Stage hypnotists, on the other hand, rely on suggestibility and showmanship. Stage hypnosis participants are often pre-selected for their willingness to play along or demonstrate a high degree of suggestibility during the audience selection phase. Stage hypnotists are very skilled in choosing who they work with to ensure a show with maximum impact. Unlike clinical sessions, people in stage shows are generally ready to put on a performance for the audience, knowing it’s all in good fun. Despite the seemingly dramatic responses, stage hypnosis has little to do with the therapeutic application of hypnosis.

Myth #2: Hypnotherapy and Stage Hypnosis Are the Same Thing

Another common myth is that stage hypnosis and Clinical Hypnotherapy are the same or serve a similar purpose. Clinical Hypnotherapy is a valid and research-backed therapeutic practice used to address various issues, such as managing pain, reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing confidence, removing dependencies, and treating phobias. Practised by trained professionals, Clinical Hypnotherapy is safe, structured, and tailored to each individual’s needs. By accessing the subconscious mind, clients work on understanding the roots of their concerns and problems, developing effective strategies to change unhelpful behaviours or beliefs.

Stage hypnosis, meanwhile, is solely for entertainment. While it might seem that the hypnotist has a “magical” ability to make people act in bizarre ways, the reality is that stage hypnosis involves a mix of crowd psychology, suggestion, and participants’ willingness to be part of the spectacle. In a clinical setting, no hypnotherapist would ever approach hypnosis with this kind of sensationalism.

Myth #3: You Can Get “Stuck” in Hypnosis

Many people worry that they might get “stuck” in a hypnotic state, unable to wake up or return to normal consciousness. This idea is a myth. In Clinical Hypnotherapy, hypnosis is a natural state of focussed attention, similar to daydreaming or meditation. Even if a hypnotherapy session were to end abruptly, the client would naturally and safely return to full awareness within moments. The hypnotherapist acts as a guide, helping the client enter a state of relaxation and focus, but the client is always in control of their experience.

The Real Value of Clinical Hypnotherapy

While stage hypnosis can be fun and entertaining, Clinical Hypnotherapy has a powerful therapeutic purpose. It’s a tool that can empower people to address deep-seated issues, develop coping skills, and improve their quality of life. By debunking the myths and understanding the true nature of hypnotherapy, people can make informed choices about using it as a beneficial therapy.

Clinical Hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis might share the word “hypnosis,” but they couldn’t be more different in application and intention. Clinical Hypnotherapy is about healing, self-improvement, and real transformation, while stage hypnosis is simply an act designed to entertain. By separating the facts from the myths, we can better appreciate hypnotherapy as a legitimate, effective, and respectful therapeutic practice that exists at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology and wellness.