What is Clinical Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a relaxed, calm but at the same time heightened state of concentration and focused attention.

We experience hypnosis phenomenon in everyday life as well. Engrossed in reading a book or watching a TV show, we often get detached from surrounding awareness. Sometimes, while driving tuned into favorite songs, we miss a turn or driving on a freeway, we don’t readily remember exactly where we are, right?

These are everyday hypnotic states to some extent, where our attention gets sharply focused as we get relaxed or engrossed.

The clinical hypnosis state also feels similarly engrossed and much more relaxed. In this state, the body and the mind are better aligned, making it possible to make (and stick) healing changes through suggestions of healing and growth.

It is a procedure that can help to change how you feel and act. E.g. Your therapist will make suggestions that encourage you to move away from unhelpful beliefs towards more helpful beliefs.

Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help treat certain mental and physical health conditions. It can also be used to change habits, addictions etc.

For some, clinical hypnosis feels like a guided meditation.

You can also perform hypnosis on yourself, which is called self-hypnosis.

Some research for individual conditions is listed on respective pages.

Here is extract of some research from Dr Yapko’s renowned book on Hypnotherapy.

Below is some evidence listed in form of research papers, articles and books.

1. Here is review of 10 studies for 2 common conditions pain and anxiety.

2. Here is link to some more research.

3. Evidence supports clinical hypnosis for anxiety/stress, menopausal hot flashes, smoking cessation, and irritable bowel syndrome.

4. There has been increasing interest in hypnosis interventions for stress and enhancing well-being (Slonena & Elkins, Citation2021).

5. The book about how hypnotic techniques can supplement science-based clinical interventions and how clinicians can use hypnosis with the assurance of a strong empirical foundation to guide their practice.

6. Evidence on the efficacy of hypnosis for mental and somatic health issues: a 20-year perspective.

If you need more evidence, just let us know or a lot is available readily on Google.

There has been substantial research to understand how Hypnotherapy works.

Primarily, it helps you to develop valuable personal resources or tap into your hidden resources, that then can be purposely directed towards achieving your therapeutic goals.

The clinician-client relation is foundation of success of Hypnotherapy.

Hypnosis shown in flims-TV and Stage hypnosis has given bad name and taste to this great scientific tool.

Films show hypnosis as a manipulative tool, instigating bizarre behavior. The stage hypnotist hypnotises many subjects and asks them to do things like dance or wave hands etc against their will or desire.

As shown in films or stage, there is no flickering lights, no black-white spirals or weird hand gestures to induce the hypnotic phenomenon in Clinical Hypnosis.

Clinical hypnosis is purely therapeutic, evidence-based and deeply personalised. Mainly, YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

The therapist will never say or will ask you to do anything that is not in line with your therapeutic interests and healing goals.
Once you experience Clinical Hypnosis, you will know and believe the difference it can make in your healing journey.

• Clinical Hypnotherapy is not about control. When you're under hypnosis, the hypnotherapist cannot control you.

• It is not possible for a hypnotherapist to force you to do anything that you don't want to do.

• One does not spill any beans or inadvertently disclose any held secrets just because they are in the Hypnotherapy.

• You cannot be hypnotized against your will. You must be open and receptive to the idea of hypnosis for it to work and be ready to let go, mainly of any doubts or skepticism.

• Hypnosis is not a game of showing your will power over the therapist. If you just wish to test whether you can be hypnotized or not, most probably you won’t be.

• If you are too skeptical or reluctant, you may not get much benefits out of Hypnotherapy.

Also read FAQ- Common myths and misconceptions about Hypnosis.

Research has shown that the following psychological conditions can be helped by hypnotherapy:

• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• depression

• anxiety

• insomnia

• eating disorders

• functional disorders (bodily symptoms and conditions such as headaches, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or backaches which may have a significant psychological component)

• improving memory for people who have experienced a brain injury

It has also been shown to help in the following medical conditions, often by reducing anxiety but also by reducing other symptoms:

• pain

• medical and surgical procedures

• cancer treatment side effects

• anaesthetic procedures

• burn wound care

• dental procedures

• childbirth

• menopausal symptoms

In addition, warts and other skin conditions can be improved by hypnotherapy. This is possible through the positive effects hypnosis has on the immune system.

As per Cleveland Clinic Hospitals, Hypnosis can help you manage a wide range of conditions.

Some people use it to treat mental health conditions like:

• Depression

• Panic attacks

• Phobias

• PTSD

• Stress or anxiety (especially if you’re anxious before medical or dental appointments)

It can also help relieve symptoms of chronic conditions, including:

• Asthma

• Chronic pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Insomnia

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Migraine headaches

Other uses include:

• Encouraging weight loss to manage obesity and overweight

• Managing side effects from other treatments (like nausea and vomiting from cancer treatments)

• Quitting smoking

• Relieving hot flashes and other menopause symptoms

If you have any questions, start by booking a discovery call.
Otherwise, starting point is to book an Initial Consultation.

Though Discovery Call gives us some information of what you are coming for, first consultation is often a detailed discussion about where you are at, your goals and challenges and, then formulate a Therapy Plan.

We will also answer any further questions you my have and discuss ‘How Hypnosis can help you to overcome challenges and achieve your goals’.

Evidence suggests that the client’s and therapist’s understanding of each other is one of the key factors in the success of (any) therapy. Therefore, there is a possibility that delivering Hypnotherapy in the very first appointment can be less effective compared to when delivered in the next appointment.

However, occasionally, actual Hypnotherapy can be started in the first consult with mutual discussion and with your consent.

The first/initial consultation is often a detailed discussion about where you are at, your goals and challenges you are facing.
In this session we may also assess your hypnotic ability, to see if Hypnosis will be effective for you. Once this is all done, we can then formulate a Therapy Plan in this Initial Consultation.

We will also answer any further questions you my have.

Hypnosis is not a therapy which you can start on anyone walking in the office, without knowing them at first.

Evidence suggests that the client’s and therapist’s understanding of each other is one of the key factors in the success of (any) therapy. Therefore, there is a possibility that delivering Hypnotherapy in the very first appointment can be less effective compared to when delivered in the next appointment.

Therefore we recommend Initial Consultation for all first-time visitors.

To make it even better from your perspective, we have kept it at half the cost of a Hypnotherapy session.

Number of sessions required vary depending upon some key factors:

1. Your openness to the process, motivation to change and belief in treatment- evidence points that this is one of the key factors in success of Hypnotherapy.

2. History, severity and duration of the condition

3. Any other therapies undertaken or undergoing

4. Stage of healing you are at- especially applicable to trauma and abuse survivors

One can feel a massive difference even in one session, but usually 3-5 sessions are recommended, each building upon the next.

Hypnosis session usually last around an hour.

Hypnotherapy sessions usually involve sitting or lying down comfortably and listening to a therapist for between 10 and 90 minutes.

A typical hypnotherapy session begins with something called an induction procedure. The therapist will make suggestions, something similar to guided meditation, that help you to focus your attention and relax.

When the therapist decides you are in a enough hypnotic state, they will begin to make therapeutic suggestions. These suggestions will be things that help your healing process or recovery or therapy goals or a combination of these.

It is important to remember that you are in control when under hypnosis and nothing will be said and done that will be against your therapeutic interests.

It works with most of the people, especially those are willing to change, are open to the process and motivated for healing and growth.

The ability to respond to suggestions may vary between individuals. There are some Questionnaires such as the ‘Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility’ which can help to work out how well someone might respond to hypnosis. However, even for those with a low score, hypnosis still works and can be helpful.and useful.

There are many reasons why Hypnotherapy works.

One reason is that it is a neuropsycobiological phenomenon. Means it involves brain and mind and can effect changes on physiology or biology.

The relationship between mind and body is fascinating and modern medicine has recently started to understand it’s potential.

Mind has enormous control over the body. One of the area where it’s evidence is now visible is sports, where athletes perform feats going beyond normally recognised limitations of body. Just ask any marathon runner or Ultra athlete and they will tell that after a certain stage in the race, its all about mind over body. Mind conditioning as an essential part of training of most of Olympians.

We hear some examples where people have reversed serious health conditions using mind powers.

Hypnotherapy works on tapping into this mind-body connection, by creating a state of consciousness where it becomes possible to use this mind-body alignment and use the mind’s untapped potential over the body to create desired changes to a certain extent.

You can safely continue any other therapies you re having. We never advise you to stop any other treatments.

Many therapists use hypnotherapy as an adjunct therapy or to make other therapies like CBT more effective.

Hypnotherapy can also be used alongside medications like antidepressants.

Hypnosis has actually been around since antiquity.

From the Sumerian and Persian to the Chinese, Indian, Egyptian and Greek, nearly all ancient cultures used hypnosis as a healing practice. In fact, some of the earliest evidence of hypnosis for healing dates back to 1500 BC – from the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus.

Fast forward a few thousand years to the mid-1800s, hypnotherapy was recognised by influential psychologists like Sigmund Freud, Pierre Janet and Alfred Binet and was used to treat PTSD in WWII soldiers.

Over time, more psychologists took interest, adding to a growing body of research on the hypnosis phenomenon.

Hypnotherapy might not be suitable for people

1. experiencing psychosis, as it could make this worse.

2. are pregnant or planning pregnancy- Whilst Hypnotherapy is useful in delivery, we do not offer it to pregnant patients for safety reasons.

3. who are going to be a witness in a trial. The mental health charity Mind have information about this on their website.

Always feel free to discuss with your GP or Specialist if Hypnosis is suitable for you.

As like in a Talk Therapy, Hypnotherapy has some, if any, side effects e.g. one might experience drowsiness immediately after the therapy; or sometimes one may experience mild headache after the session.

Occasionally it may trigger deep and sometimes upsetting emotions, which many need to be managed as part of the therapy.

Therapists performing hypnotherapy should always evaluate how well a treatment is working and identify any side-effects. If hypnotherapy is not working well, your therapist might decide to make changes to your treatment or recommend alternative treatments.

As with any therapy, the goal of Hypnotherapy is to help you to work towards a point where you can cope on your own and need not become dependent upon Hypnotherapy.

For some people, hypnosis seems more at home at a Victorian side show than in contemporary clinical practice. This is typical because a lot of us have misconceptions about what hypnosis is, how it is practised and what it can achieve for us. For that reason, it is important to challenge some myths around hypnosis to clarify better the way that it functions during alcoholism treatment.

Some common myths include:

• The hypnotist has a magical power over the subject

• The subject fully loses control during hypnosis

• Hypnosis happens in a ‘special state’, and therefore, the treatment is not applicable when the subject is fully conscious

• Some people can be hypnotised; some people can’t

• Responding to suggestions in hypnosis suggests the patient is faking

• One becomes dependent on hypnosis or can get ‘stuck’ in it.

• Being hypnotised can be hazardous to your health.

All these myths are scientifically proven to be false and inaccurate.

Also read FAQ-What Hypnosis is NOT?

1. Cost per session:

   The average per session fees range between 150-250 in Newcastle and Sydney area.
   In order to make Hypnotherapy more accessible, we have kept the fees at $175 per 60-90 minute session.

   However, please note that the essence of Hypnotherapy session is depth and quality and, not Time.

   The Time range is given as indicative as some sessions may go longer and some may get results in shorter duration.

   At SafeSpace, our focus is on YOU, not on the clock.

2. Total thepary cost:

   The total cost of Hypnotherapy varies with number of sessions required.

   We work with a result-oriented approach with aim to ‘get you going’ i.e. empower you as soon as practicable. Therefore, we do not prescribe more sessions if they are not necessary.

   Some may get results in 1-2 sessions, while some chronic, long-standing issues require 4-6 session. It all depends on individual circumstances.

3. Do you offer any discounts?

   We focus on quality; each subsequent sessions may involve more work for Therapist as the layers are unfolded.
   Therefore, we do not believe in discounts based on number of sessions.

4. Why Hypnotherapy for trauma costs less per session at Safe Space?

   We have kept Trauma sessions at $150 per session. People with significant , deep trauma often need more sessions. To make Hypnotherapy more accessible to them so they can heal, we decided to keep overall costs down for them.

At Safe Space, our therapeutic approach is congruent to Yoga philosophy which believes there is a reason why we don’t have memories of past life. So as a therapist, we do not cross those reason-boundaries.

The practical reason is- one is already suffering with their lot in this life. Why would they want to be burdened with the lot in past life?

Rather, it’s better to invest your energy, Time and money where it matters more. That’s why we focus on how to use this present life to get over the various issues- known and possibly hidden-so you can live this life more fully and more in own control.