Hypnosis is highly effective for pain. It has been used as the sole anaesthesia for major surgeries, and has been used prior to medical procedures since the 1800's. For more information about this, please click here

Hypnotherapy has been used to treat medical conditions for thousands of years. In a Scientific Paper published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (one of the most prestigious clinics in the world) "Hypnosis in Contemporary Medicine" James Stewart, MD reviewed 144 studies. He concludes that hypnosis has been shown to improve: obesity, smoking cessation, allergies, anaesthesia, asthma, atopic dermatitis, breast cancer survival, burns, childbirth, chemotherapy reactions, dyspepsia, fatigue, fibromyalgia, healing and recovery from surgery, headaches, haemophilia, hypertension, insomnia, impotence, incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, pain, peptic ulcer, surgical recovery, surgical scarring, tinnitus and warts. Many conditions haven’t been studied yet to examine all the benefits of Hypnosis.

In 1958, the American Medical Association (AMA) published and approved a report from a 2-year study by the Council on Mental Health. The report indicated that there can be “definite and proper uses of hypnosis in medical and dental practice” and recommended the establishment of “necessary training facilities” in the United States. The British Medical Association had issued its report on hypnosis in the British Medical Journal in 1955, with which the AMA’s Council on Mental Health indicated “essential agreement.”

A survey of psychotherapy literature by Dr. A. Barrios revealed the following recovery rates
Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions (approx 12 years!)
Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions (approx 6 months!)
Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after 6 sessions(1 ½ months)
(Source: American Health Magazine)

Hypnosis has been in use for thousands of years. There is a great deal of evidence to support the belief that Hypnosis was being used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans - for therapeutic benefit - as far back as about the fourth Century BC.

Egyptians had very popular 'sleep temples' in which people were asked to lie down and listen to somebody chanting to help cure illness and problems as far back as 1550BC. Hypnosis has been used as the sole anaesthetic for major surgeries since the 1800’s.

Hypnosis translated from Greek (Hypnos) means 'to sleep' and while in the state of hypnosis, a person is very, very relaxed.

While a person is in this more relaxed state their unconscious mind is more open to change and they find it easier to accept beneficial suggestions (e.g. "you are now a non-smoker"). Most of our behaviour is run by our un-conscious mind. This enables our cells to carry on billions of activities each second without thought. This part of our mind can also cause us to follow un-conscious negative programmes which can be responsible for obesity, phobias and even our response to pain. By altering these un-conscious programmes through hypnotherapy, we can regain control of our lives. Imagine if you could re-programme your un-conscious mind to be much calmer, eat healthy foods, enjoy exercising and feel more self-confident.

Well you can do this and much more through hypnotherapy as shown by published scientific papers in some of the most prestigious journals.

Unfortunately, there are many popular misconceptions about hypnotherapy. Most of these misconceptions originate from tricks performed by stage hypnotists.

The 5 Common Misconceptions about Hypnotherapy

1. Misconception: I will lose control if I enter a “trance” and cluck like a chicken.

Hypnotherapy is very different from stage hypnosis. A stage hypnotist is very careful to select people in the audience who generally have a hidden desire to be the centre of attention but just need a bit of an excuse to let go.

When you are hypnotized, you can’t be forced to do something against your will. Your sub-conscious mind has built in safeguards that protect you from doing or revealing more than you can handle. If during hypnosis, a suggestion is given that went against your belief system, you would automatically reject it or it would awaken you from the hypnotic state.

The state of “trance” is a very natural, normal and powerful state. We all enter this state when we are day dreaming, watching a movie or having a fantasy. When you enter this state in a therapeutic setting, you can eradicate unwanted thoughts and beliefs which are causing unwanted habits, behaviours and illnesses.

2. Misconception: I can't be hypnotized.

Reports say that 97% of the population can be hypnotized. As long as you have an ability to follow simple instructions, and a willingness to be hypnotized, you can be hypnotized.

It is a fallacy that strong minded people cannot be hypnotized. In fact, strong minded people often have some of the greatest success due to their strong desire for change.

3. Misconception: A person is totally exposed in hypnotherapy.

The subconscious mind has the built in safeguard of never revealing more than it can handle at the time. After you have been guided into your subconscious mind by the hypnotherapist, you are free to remain completely silent to what you are experiencing during the session and ask the hypnotherapist for help if you so desire.

4. Misconception: I would never allow any therapist to mess with my mind.

The hypnotherapist is only a guide and essentially works like the navigation system of your subconscious mind. You are the driver. The navigation system may tell you to go one way, but you have the ultimate power to drive yourself where you want to go.

The hypnotherapist doesn't provide answers. They guide you to access your sub-conscious mind, which can access the genius part of you that can provide inspired answers to solve most problems.

5. Misconception: Hypnotherapy is a magic bullet for all my problems and habits.

Although hypnotherapy is highly effective for many medical and mental health conditions, it can only help if you are willing. Because hypnotherapy can not force you to do anything against your will, it can not also not force you to make positive changes in your life until you are ready for them. For this reason, please do not call our office to schedule an appointment until you are ready to change your life.

For scientific studies about the efficacy of hypnotherapy, please click Hypnotherapy research.