Hypnotherapy

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy conducted through hypnosis. In the medical community, hypnotherapy is recognized as a form of psychotherapy. The British Medical Association recognized hypnotherapy as a form of psychotherapy in 1953, and the American Medical Association did so in 1958. In Turkey as well, practices utilizing hypnosis techniques are implemented as a treatment method with the approval of the Ministry of Health.

Are Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy the Same Thing?

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are different things. Hypnosis is the temporary influence exerted on an individual or a group through words, eye contact, suggestion, and similar means. In this process, the person’s attention is focused on specific points, and his subconscious is activated. We sometimes experience a hypnotic state during the day without even realizing it. Examples include moments when he’s driving and becomes so absorbed that he doesn’t realize how the trip passed or can’t remember it. If he calls out to a child who is deeply engrossed in playing with toys and the child doesn’t hear him, the child is in a hypnotic state. Hypnotherapy, on the other hand, is a method applied for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of illnesses. It is most commonly used for psychiatric and mental health conditions.

Can Anyone Be Hypnotized?

Throughout the day, we sometimes experience a hypnotic state without even realizing it. We come under a hypnotic influence while watching TV commercials, listening to a political leader, or watching a movie. Moments when you’re so engrossed in driving that you don’t realize how the trip went by—or can’t even remember it—are examples of this. If you call out to a child who is deeply engrossed in playing with toys and he doesn’t hear you, he is in a hypnotic state. Shutting ourselves off from the outside world and focusing solely on the task at hand is just like focusing on the suggestions given during hypnosis. We all experience countless hypnotic experiences as a natural part of our lives—including those who say, “I can’t be hypnotized.” Therefore, when hypnosis—as a natural part of our lives—is re-experienced in a hypnotherapy setting with the help of a hypnotherapist, this familiarity becomes easier to understand.

Is hypnotherapy a state of sleep?

We cannot define hypnotherapy as a state of sleep. In fact, in conscious hypnosis, the person remains fully conscious. In hypnotherapy, a trance state occurs when the person’s attention is intensely focused. He becomes receptive to suggestions. How each person responds to hypnotherapy can vary; it may depend on the methods used. At the mildest stage of the hypnotic state, the person experiences relaxation. He remembers what is said to him. However, in situations where the hypnotic effect is deep, his consciousness is suspended. His subconscious shifts from a passive to an active state. He cannot recall the conversation or suggestions from the session afterward. Whether the hypnotic state is light or deep, in both cases, the words and suggestions spoken by the hypnotherapist are carried out by the client.

Is it possible to get stuck in hypnosis?

There is no such thing as a person being unable to come out of hypnosis or wake up. Even if the hypnotherapist leaves before ending the session, the person will eventually end the session on his own, get up, and resume his daily life.

How is the brain affected while under hypnosis?

A conscious mind is more critical and tends to analyze more when solving problems. It may show resistance. This can lead to indecision and difficulty taking action. Under hypnosis, however, the unconscious mind—freed from the conscious mind’s analytical capacity—becomes more receptive to suggestions, and therapy takes place. The person undergoing hypnotherapy feels the hypnotherapist’s support and guidance throughout this process. He accepts the suggestions given in accordance with the hypnotherapist’s guidance. In this way, the hypnotherapist can help the person achieve many things.

Will I lose control during hypnosis and do things I don’t want to do, or reveal my secrets without meaning to?

Another important point to note is that the hypnotherapist’s power is not unlimited. A person under hypnosis will not engage in behavior he does not want to do, nor will he say anything he does not want to say. Any suggestion that contradicts the person’s beliefs, moral values, or judgment will be rejected, even under the deepest hypnosis. The scenes you see in the media labeled as “hypnosis,” where people exhibit strange, uncontrolled behaviors, have absolutely no connection to medical hypnotherapy. These are stage performances staged by individuals with no psychological background or training, solely for the purpose of attracting attention.

Are there any dangers or risks associated with hypnosis?

There is no danger whatsoever, either during or after a session. The individual’s vital functions—such as blood pressure, blood sugar, circulation, and respiration—are not adversely affected biologically during or after the session. Hypnotherapy is the safest and least risky treatment method compared to medications and other therapeutic approaches.

Is the effect of hypnosis permanent?

Since hypnosis acts on the brain, its effects are lasting. For example, when it comes to weight loss, words like “diet” and “regimen” are very unappealing to the subconscious mind. You are forced to give up foods you actually enjoy. For this reason, most diets result in gaining even more weight. However, the causes of uncontrolled eating are hidden in the brain, in the subconscious. Underlying uncontrolled eating are actually our emotional and psychological needs. It is well known that negative emotions such as stress, tension, anxiety, guilt, and anger lead to overeating.

How many sessions does hypnotherapy typically take?

The number of hypnotherapy sessions required depends on the following factors. The more favorable these factors are, the shorter the sessions are expected to be.

• The issue you want to resolve,
• The characteristics of your living environment and surroundings,
• The suggestions and therapeutic approach used by the hypnotherapist,
• The safe and positive relationship you establish with the hypnotherapist,
• Your personality traits,

In particular, the interval between the first few sessions should not be too long. It is important to start with 2–3 sessions per week and gradually increase the interval between sessions as therapy progresses to ensure the hypnotherapy is more effective.

Conditions for which hypnotherapy may be recommended for psychological issues:

• Mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder),
• Anxiety disorders (uncontrollable anxiety, fear, panic, tension, distress),
• Somatoform (body-related) disorders,
• Eating disorders,
• Obesity,
• Sleep disorders,
• Sexual disorders,
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD),
• Psychosis (provided the patient is in remission),
• Tics,
• Stuttering,
• Nocturnal enuresis,
• Addictions (such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, gambling, the internet, etc.),
• Phobias (various excessive fears),
• Traumas,
• Performance anxiety (test anxiety, stage fright),
• Performance enhancement in sports,
• Improving academic performance (reluctance to study, inability to sustain attention, getting bored easily, memory, learning, recall),

Personal development: In the process of personal development, we all have different goals, dreams, and priorities, and consequently, we have different thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes. As we move forward in this process, we also discover our strengths and weaknesses. To achieve his goals, he always has the opportunity to use his strengths while simultaneously strengthening his weaknesses. Hypnotherapy emerges as a highly effective method in this regard. By strengthening his weaknesses through hypnotherapy, it becomes easier for him to lead a healthy, happy, and successful life. The most common negative traits he encounters can be listed as follows:

• Lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem,
• Excessive anxiety and fear in social situations,
• Inability to speak in front of a group,
• Inability to make eye contact, the thought that “everyone is looking at me,”
• Problems in relationships with the opposite sex,
• Inability to control himself,
• Exhibiting excessive emotional and physical reactions,
• Anger management,
• Inability to express feelings and thoughts,
• Trembling, sweating, stuttering, blushing,

Hypnotherapy Services at Our Hospital:

Hypnotherapy sessions are actively ongoing at our hospital. Hypnotherapy is administered to clients who visit our psychotherapy clinic by our specialists, who are trained and experienced in this field. During the initial consultation, detailed information is gathered and evaluated regarding the client, his reasons for seeking treatment, and the issues he is experiencing; if deemed appropriate, the hypnotherapy process begins starting with the next session. Before the first hypnotherapy session, the client receiving hypnotherapy is provided with detailed information about the session.