[Rick61701]

Is hypnosis Psychotherapy? I know of at least one state where they are regulated as such. What are your thoughts?

Rick

[sunrise]

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Rick61701 said:
I am a Certified Hypnotherapist located in central Illinois.

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Can you describe the services you provide? Do you work by yourself or as part of a team? It would be easier for me to think about your question if I knew more about what you (and other hypnotherapists) do. Interesting question!

[Rick61701]

Sunrise,

I, as do all hypnotherapists that I know, work one on one with their clients. Usually in a office decortated in a relaxing way. Most of us use a lounge chair or comfortable recliner for the clients to relax in. We talk for a little bit at the begining of the session to see how are you doing and see if there is anything new that has happend since the last session. (usually a week apart) Then we move into the hypnosis part of the session where we work to achieve your goals. (Pain management, infertility, Weight Management, Stress Management, Smoking Cessation, Self Confidence, Self Esteem, Motivation, Fears, Sleep issues. Just to name a few of the common ones) Then at the end of the session we talk about what happened in that session, get the clients thoughts and schedule another session if needed.

Other then the hypnosis part (alot of psychologists, and therapists are using hypnosis) is that any different?

Rick

[sunrise]

I think hypnosis sounds like a technique that could be very useful in psychotherapy. The reason I asked about the team approach was because I was reading this book recently by Irv Yalom, psychiatrist, who provides psychotherapy to patients, and he described a case where he had a hypnotherapist come to session and work with a client while he remained there. I didn't know if this team approach was typical or not.

Probably whether a hypnotherapist is considered a psychotherapist has a lot to do with the individual licensing requirements of each state (if you are from the U.S.). In my state, there isn't an official "psychotherapist" license designation. A number of different credentials allow one to provide psychotherapy services under various monikers. For example, we have Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in my state, as well as Registered Counselor, which is less stringent. And there are several other designations as well. Probably each insurance company also has its own rules on who can bill for psychotherapy services, and these would apply to anyone who provided psychotherapy services, including hypnotherapists. For example, my insurance will not reimburse for Registered Counselors but will for LMHCs. I don't know if insurance companies tend to offer separate hypnosis benefits.

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We talk for a little bit at the begining of the session to see how are you doing and see if there is anything new that has happend since the last session. Then we move into the hypnosis part of the session where we work to achieve your goals. Then at the end of the session we talk about what happened in that session, get the clients thoughts and schedule another session if needed.
Other then the hypnosis part (alot of psychologists, and therapists are using hypnosis) is that any different?

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I can't speak for others, but what you described, even omitting the hypnosis, does not sound like my psychotherapy sessions. We usually don't talk about what is new since last session nor do we talk at the end about how the session went. But I know there is huge variation.

[Rick61701]

Sunrise,

Thanks for the response. I can see how some types of therapy can be different in many ways.

As a rule of thumb, currently I don't know of any insurance companies covering hypnosis unless it's being done by a Licensed Counciler or therapist. The other thing I've come to realize is that alot of councliers and therapists are using hypnosis- but not calling it hypnosis. From a person like me who is always trying to spread the word about how wonderful and powerful of a tool it is. I think this stinks.

I have talk to so many people on this site, in chat, PM's and Forums that have used self-hypnosis or been to a hypnotherapist with wonderful resutls. Yet alot of them seem to hide, not wanting to tell the group as a whole about the wonderful benefits.

I know that hypnosis is not the answer to every issue. And in alot of cases it is best used as complementary to traditional therapy and meds. Yet I don't quite understand with all of the research and articles writen by very reputable sources, why some people would rather suffer with their issues then use hypnosis.

I myself would use ANYTHING to heal and get better. But that is me.

Rick

[DePressMe]

I see hypnotherapy as a form of psychotherapy. I like the idea of it being regulated as such. A therapy session for me follows the same basic formula… check in about the previous week, discuss what we want to work on (I generally email this to her in advance), do the work, then spend a bit decompressing and talking about progress of therapy.

If I do get a Hypnotherapist, I will look for the same qualities in them as I do in a T. I would expect the same amount of professionalism and expertise (in their area) as I do from my T.

[DePressMe]

I just finished my masters degree in somatics and I think many “alternative” practitioners feel somewhat the way you do Rick. BTW, when I use the phrase alternative it is meant in a positive manner—I do not imply your practice is not in the same league as “regular” therapists and such. I have been fortunate that my grad studies have exposed me to numerous wonderful therapies—Feldenkrais and such. One of the most healing therapies for me—of course not paid for by insurance—was a movement therapy that helped me over come struggles with childhood abuse. I made more progress in a month than I had in a couple years of “regular” therapy. I am a huge fan of alternates to “traditional” insurance bound therapies. Now, how do we tell the world about this?

As a side note, my university just shut down our somatics program due to budget cuts.

[sunrise]

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Yet I don't quite understand with all of the research and articles writen by very reputable sources, why some people would rather suffer with their issues then use hypnosis.

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Maybe hypnosis never occurs to a lot of people as a solution to their problems. They just don't know all the ways it can be helpful. Rick, I am not biased against hypnosis, but it actually never occurred to me to seek it out as a healing tool. I have been very open to the therapeutic tools my therapist employs. If he thinks something would be useful to me and I agree after his explanation, I would be willing to try it. (For example, he suggested EMDR to me and we did that several times with good results.) So if hypnosis was part of my T's tool set and he thought it would help me, I probably would try it.

Anyway, maybe a main issue is that people just don't know much about hypnosis and so don't think to seek it out. It probably doesn't help, when as you said, people who have been helped by it are shy about promoting it. (I'm certainly not shy about promoting EMDR, as the folks here can probably tell you. )

We have talked briefly in PM and some here know that I began with a psychologist who uses hypnosis as therapy and particularly for trauma work. It was covered by my insurance because she is a licensed psychologist and one of the doctors in the insurance company's network.

I do think hypnotherapy can be effective for some things. I think it definitely helped my anxiety, and I also purchased relaxation and guided imagery and autogenics CD's to use at home and I still use them fairly regularly and that helps too.

It was explained to me that hypnosis is bypassing the conscious and working directly with the unconscious ( in fact some of the script included the wording that "I" didn't have to do a thing). It was pleasant and interesting to do and I really did enjoy it. As far as therapy though, I prefer talking with someone and there wasn't much of that going on and what talking there was, just wasn't very satisfying to me.

It didn't help too much that she called it guided imagery for relaxation, then abruptly told me that it would 'become hypnotherapy', rather than being straight up with that information.

In spite of my not wanting hypnotherapy at this time, I would very much like to return for hypnosis for self-improvement at some point in the future since I saw how it helped some of my anxiety issues and because it just feels good!

Do I think it is therapy. That would depend on the goal(s) of the therapy in my opinion.

i was sexually abused from 8 - 15 by a hypnotist sorry to pee on everyones fireworks.

jin

[Rick61701]

jinnyann,

As with anyone who has been sexually abused, this is very sad.

I'm very sorry you were abused by someone who was supposed to be helping you.

Rick

he wasn't helping me he was my mothers lover who hypnotised my mum for smoking when my dad was in germany then came to my room and abused me. i'm sorry i am so negative about hypnosis, i'm sure it works with some people. it triggers me.

jin

[Rick61701]

Sunrise,

Passing on the wonderful benefits of hypnosis is the reason I am here. If everyone knew what it truely is and how it works it would be wonderful.

With alot of people using terms like; guilded imagery, visualizations, Guilded visualizations, guilded meditation, relaxation techniques and others, in place of using the true description of HYPNOSIS, doesn't give hypnosis the credit it should have.

I am here on this forum, and other forums, with the goal of letting everyone know what it truly is and how it works. If you have any questions or thoughts, please don't hesistate to PM me. I am here to help.

I became a certified hypnotherapist to help people.

Rick

[Rick61701]

jinnyann,

Well I can understand why you are negative about him.

It's just unfortunate that he was a hypnotist. (but I'm sure it would be the same no matter what his profession was)

Sorry, Rick

yeah he was a psychologist too. i'm not having a go at you i'm sorry.

just having a very bad day. i'm sure you do help a lot of people. but i just want to warn people what happened to me and to be careful. as in every walk of lifem there are good and bad proffessionals. i wish you luck rick, please dont think i'm having a go at you

jin

[seeker1950]

Rick...I too am glad you are here!
I know that I am and have always been suggestible as a good subject for hypnosis! ( I didn't follow thru on the "stop smoking" hypnosis tapes, btw, and am still addicted.)
I have a few cd's which are designed to help with relaxation and when I use them, they do work!
Patty

[Rick61701]

jin,

I understand where you are coming from. Don't apologize to me.

You are right tho... there is good and bad in every profession.

Maybe you could use a hypnosis CD to help you with your issues. Or perhaps you could PM me and I will teach you self-hypnosis.

Rick

[Rick61701]

Seeker,

Thank you for making me feel welcome and passing along your wonderful experiances.

If more people come forward with their wonderful experiances, I think more people might look into complementary methods to use.

Complementary is different the alternative. Complementary means in addition too current or standard medical.
Alternative means instead of current or standard medical.

Rick

[tranquility]

Hey Rick,

As you know I am a proponent of complimentary medicine. I think part of the problem is cost for people. I'm lucky that the person I am going to is also a social worker, so my hypnotherapy is covered by insurance and I have a co-pay.

I know I wanted to also try acupuncture but can't afford it right now. Funny I was just figuring out my monthly medical co-pays today and it's almost $450.00! I include in that chiropractic, massage, and hypnotherapy.

It's tough. It would be nice if insurance companies could cover these types of treatments. I work for a health insurer and it's hard today to add benefits when the rates keep going up and up and no one can afford insurance. It's such a conundrum that alternative treatment could reduce claims cost in the future but to initially add it in would raise rates.

Tranquility

((((( jinnyann )))))

Thank you for your willingness to share that.

[(JD)]

Oh it absolutely works! I have medicinal allergies. In the 70s my dentist used hypnosis so he could work on my teeth and I was fine! I also used it originally for personal pain events like hitting my thumb with a hammer and getting stuck with thorns.

[MissCharlotte]

Rick,

I wanted to answer your original question, "Is hypnosis psychotherapy"

I would have to say no. To me, psychotherapy is based on a close relationship between two people, one of whom is a client/patient and the other is a psychotherapist. I think that hypnosis can be used as a tool by some psychotherapists but hypnosis itself is not psychotherapy. The psychotherapeutic relationship is the basis for change in a person's life. It takes a long time to build the relationship to a point where you trust enough to willingly and calmly reveal yourself. Hypnosis seems to be much more direct-goal oriented and short term in nature.

Now, if a person wants to use hypnosis to alleviate suffering or to help with some kind of desired change, I think that's great. But it's a different path toward change than psychotherapy.

I was hypnotized once to quite smoking and while I found the experience very stimulating and exciting, I went back to smoking the next day. I think it didn't work for me because I was too weirded out by the fact that someone could have that kind of power over my subconscious. So, I had to prove him wrong! (That's just me.) And that's why good old fashioned talk therapy is the best path for me.

I'm glad you are able to help alleviate suffering for some people. That is a gift!

[Rick61701]

Sister,

Thank you very much for your post !!!

I know of one state that hypnotherapists are considered psychotherapists and are made to care ID to that effect. The state I am in is not that way. The association I belong to strives very hard to make a place for us at the professional table as a stand alone profession. We have come a long way, but have a long way to go.

For the most part the clients that use hypnotherapy do so for a rather short period of time compared to "Talk" therapy. Most of the time the clients won't have more then 6-10 sessions a week apart. For the most part we are able to achieve their goal in that period of time.

The hypnotist you worked with must not have given you a good explanation of what hypnosis is or how it works for you to be weirded out by it. He has NO control over you. And your right, I didn't work becuase you were going to prove him wrong !!!! But that is for a different discussion.

Again, thank you for your post - it was very informative as to your position and beliefs.

Rick

[Rick61701]

Tranquility,

I talked to a health insurance company that is fairly local a few months ago. They seemed to think with all of the research coming out showing cost savings and health benefits, that they would be covering hypnosis within the next few years.

Blue Cross of California did a study on using hypnosis for anesthesia during surgery instead of the normal anesthesia. They showed a $2000 savings per patient that used hypnosis. As well as having the benefits of no side effects and a faster recovery time (which also saves money).

I don't think it will be too long with studies like.

Rick

Rick, my psychologist was open to my continuing to see her as well as the therapist I was beginning with, but I can't afford both.

It's interesting thinking of doing both though and I wish I could. I'm wondering how would that work? I mean, would you have input from the therapist or would it be a separate treatment for separate issues...?

Thanks for being here and making us more curious!