5 Types of Hypnosis and How They Work 

Psychological issues like anxiety and stress can interfere with your mental health and quality of life. You can also develop negative behaviors which contribute to chronic conditions. Hypnosis from a professional hypnotist is a great technique to help you solve such problems. 

Hypnosis or hypnotherapy relieves stress and anxiety by keeping the mind calm and attentive. Your mind’s ability to concentrate may help reduce the pain from conditions like cancer, dental problems, or rheumatoid arthritis. A calm mind can also help you easily control your thoughts and behaviors. Visit a professional hypnotherapist if you also have dementia, warts, irritable bowel syndrome, or psoriasis.

For quality hypnosis and long-lasting results, choose a qualified hypnotist. If you are planning to schedule an appointment with a hypnotherapist here are five techniques they may use:

1. Regression Hypnotherapy

Regression hypnotherapy is talk therapy to help you remember what caused your trauma. The talk sessions during regression hypnotherapy can help you easily access negative emotions like phobias or depression. Once you access such emotions, you talk about them, helping your body and mind to heal. Releasing difficult emotions may relieve you from anxiety and headaches and improve your sleep quality. Regression hypnotherapists use relaxing techniques like visualization, closing of eyes, imagery, or storytelling.

You can choose age regression hypnotherapy or past-life regression hypnotherapy. Age regression hypnotherapy uses closed-ended questions or breathing techniques to take your mind back to childhood. Past-life regression hypnotherapy can help your mind remember what happened before you were born.

2. Self-hypnosis

You have the option to induce yourself into a hypnotic situation. That type of hypnosis (self-hypnosis) is suitable because of its flexibility. Before you try self-hypnosis, visit a professional hypnotist to learn the best techniques. One of the things to do before trying self-hypnosis is to set a goal. You can aim to manage your stress and pain or boost your self-esteem from self-hypnosis. Finding a quiet, comfortable room can also help you get the most from self-hypnosis. 

3. Ericksonian Hypnotherapy

Ericksonian hypnotherapy uses storytelling techniques, making it almost similar to regression hypnotherapy. The difference between the two is that Ericksonian hypnotherapy doesn’t use questions but suggestions and metaphors. Hypnotherapists consider indirect suggestions more polite and better ways of fostering positivity in clients. Direct suggestions involve the use of command or authority, which encourages resistance.

Some hypnotherapists also use confusion techniques during Ericksonian hypnotherapy. The confusion technique will require you to accurately read sentences with complex structures. You will concentrate and become hyperaware as you read the sentences to avoid possible mistakes. 

4. Suggestion or Clinical Hypnosis

Your mind can easily receive and understand new suggestions once you enter a hypnotic state. During suggestion hypnosis, hypnotherapists give new ideas/suggestions to positively influence their clients’ thoughts and behaviors. The hypnotherapist can suggest to your mind that cigarettes have a bad taste to help you quit smoking. Suggestion hypnosis is also a good option if you want to cut some weight.

Suggestion hypnosis can be in the form of verbal, non-verbal, intraverbal, or extraverbal communication. During hypnotic verbal suggestions, the hypnotherapist will use words and sounds to communicate with you. Non-verbal suggestions involve gestures, while intraverbal suggestions use voice modulations. Extraverbal hypnotic suggestions use phrases to influence one’s subconsciousness.

5. Solution-focused Hypnotherapy

Solution-focused hypnotherapy aims to solve problems, not bring back past trauma. You and the hypnotherapist must agree on the best methods to address your issues. The cooperative nature between clients and hypnotherapists makes solution-focused hypnotherapy effective and reliable. 

Solution-focused hypnotherapy involves direct questions — scaling, exception, presupposing change, and coping questions. Scaling questions can help you analyze and rate the change you want to achieve through hypnosis. Exception questions can help the hypnotherapist identify times when you were better or worse. Presupposing change questions can help you better understand the changes that come with hypnosis. Coping questions help the hypnotherapist understand how you continue with life despite your current problems.

Visit a Hypnotist Today

Consulting a hypnotist beforehand can enlighten you on how to prepare for your hypnosis session. Emulating honesty and being open to changes are some tips you can get from hypnotherapists. The specialist you choose must have adequate experience and knowledge of hypnosis. Try this unique form of therapy today.