Facts about hypnotherapy

When was Hypnotherapy first used?
Hypnosis has very ancient roots in Europe and other parts of the world. Records of hypnotism, the study and practice of hypnosis, go back at least 3,000 years.

Does it work?
Hypnotherapy provides a most powerful method to understand and heal the roots of psychological problems and create changes in mental processes and behaviours. Hypnosis, in skilled hands, enables an individual to tap into the mind's remarkable ability to promote healing changes in the body. It can be used for performance enhancement in virtually any field of human activity. It has been described as the most effective method known to mankind to uncover and use the vast potential of the mind for therapeutic change and for personal development. There is an abundance of clinical and experimental results that attests to the efficacy of hypnotic procedures. The effectiveness of this ancient art is amply supported by many kinds of evidence over a long period of time including documented Western medical and psychological case studies. Hypnotherapy is increasingly being seen by the general public and professionals alike as a highly effective therapy for a wide variety of psychological, behavioral and psychosomatic problems. It is in high demand in such areas as stress management, personal development and performance enhancement in a wide variety of fields, including sports, education and business. Many great achievers in human history have attributed their successes to their ability to tap into their subconscious resources by hypnosis and hypnotic-like procedures.

Is it safe?
Hypnosis is a natural state and as such is essentially safe and compared to many clinical methods is remarkably risk-free. Assessment of the risks of hypnosis by medical and psychological committees have concluded that hypnosis is essentially a safe and beneficial procedure and carries no greater risks than those associated with other psychological therapy methods.

How does it work?
Understanding of hypnosis has increased in the last 150 years in the West and knowledge of the dynamics and effects of subconscious processes and the means by which they may be influenced by hypnosis has advanced considerably. Scientific studies have now begun to provide some insights into the mechanisms by which hypnosis can produce its remarkable effects. Aspects of hypnosis remain unknown but this is not surprising given our incomplete understanding of the nervous system and of human psychological processes. Results that have long been seen by effective hypnotherapists are now being confirmed by sophisticated neurological research methods – that powerful changes occur in the nervous system when attitudes and beliefs are changed in human beings, and a trance state is one of the most effective methods of bringing about that change.

How many practising Hypnotherapists?
Virtually impossible to say for sure. Probably 10,000 - 20,000 actually practicing. Many don’t survive long in practice mainly due to being poorly trained; many others see very few clients mostly for the same reason.