Hypnosis is understood to be a psychological condition in which an individual may be induced to exhibit apparent changes in behavior and thought. Although some individuals experience an increase in suggestibility and subjective feelings of an 'altered state of consciousness', this is not true for everyone. In fact, supposed hypnotic indicators and subjective changes can be achieved without relaxation or a lengthy induction, a fact which increases the controversy around hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy is a term to describe the use of hypnosis in a therapeutic context. Many hypnotherapists refer to their practice as "clinical work." Hypnotherapy can either be used as an addition to the work of licensed physicians or psychologists, or it can be used in a stand-alone environment where the hypnotherapist in question usually owns his or her own business. The majority of certified hypnotherapists (C.Hts in the US, Diploma. Hyp in the UK) today earn a large portion of their money through the cessation of smoking (often in a single session) and the aid of weight loss (body sculpting). Some of the so called 'incurable' diseases have shown to be treatable with the mind-body (such as cancer, diabetes, and arthritis). Some of the treatments practiced by hypnotherapists, in particular so-called regression, have been viewed with skepticism.
Hypnosis typically involves an introduction to the procedure during which the subject is told that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be presented. The hypnotic induction is an extended initial suggestion for using one's imagination, and may contain further elaborations of the introduction. A hypnotic procedure is used to encourage and evaluate responses to suggestions. When using hypnosis, one person (the subject) is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective experience, alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. Persons can also learn self-hypnosis, which is the act of administering hypnotic procedures on one's own. If the subject responds to hypnotic suggestions, it is generally inferred that hypnosis has been induced. Many believe that hypnotic responses and experiences are characteristic of a hypnotic state. While some think that it is not necessary to use the word "hypnosis" as part of the hypnotic induction, others view it as essential.
The versatility of hypnosis is unparalleled. Hypnosis occurs under dramatically different social settings: the showroom, the clinic, the classroom, and the police station. Showroom hypnotists usually work bars and clubs. Their subjects are usually people whose idea of a good time is to join dozens or hundreds of others in a place where alcohol is the main social bonding agent. The subjects of clinical hypnotists are usually people with problems who have heard that hypnotherapy works for relieving pain or overcoming an addiction or a fear, etc. Others use hypnosis to recover repressed memories of sexual abuse or of past lives. Some psychologists and hypnotherapists use hypnosis to discover truths hidden from ordinary consciousness by tapping into the unconscious mind where these truths allegedly reside. Finally, some hypnotic subjects are people who have been victims or witnesses of a crime. The police encourage them to undergo hypnosis to help them remember details from their experiences.
Many experienced hypnotists claim that they can hypnotize almost anyone. They also claim it is a myth that people with strong will power cannot be hypnotized, as they claim these generally make the best participants. This is based on the idea that those who are most intelligent are also the most creative and as such they will make strong associations with the structure of language used by the hypnotist and by the visual or auditory representations inside of their mind. On the other hand, there is a common claim that no one can really be hypnotized against his or her will . The counter-claim given by many hypnotists is that while you cannot make someone do anything against their will, you can change what it is that they wish to do.
Definitions:
ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS is a concept used by some scientists and most clinical hypnotists to imply that hypnosis produces a condition different from the waking state, the sleep state, some meditation states, etc. On the other hand, many scientists believe that the facts of hypnosis and what one can do with hypnosis can be explained without using the term 'state.'
HYPNOTIZABILITY is measured on scales or tests that rate people along a continuum of their responsiveness to suggestions. People are rated as high, medium, or low hypnotizable individuals depending on whether they respond to many or few suggestions. The ability to respond is distributed in almost a normal, bell-shaped curve. Most people are average in hypnotizability and are sufficiently responsive to use hypnosis in medical, dental, or psychological therapy. People who are low in hypnotizability often can improve in their response to suggestions with training and practice, and thereby use hypnosis to work on their problems. Many clinical uses of hypnosis do not require very high hypnotizability.
HYPNOTIZABILITY SCALES or tests measure a person's ability to respond to suggestions following a hypnotic induction. Most require a trained hypnotist to read a script consisting of a hypnotic induction, followed by a series of test suggestions that range in level of difficulty. Most people respond to some but not all of the suggestions, just as they would have correct responses to some but not all of the test items on an intelligence test.
SUGGESTIBILITY is related to hypnotizability, and is usually taken to mean the ability to respond to suggestions without a prior hypnotic induction. It is a scientific concept and does not have any connotation of a weak will. Suggestibility seems to be related to the capacity for using imagination.
SUGGESTIONS are verbal or non-verbal promptings to act or think in ways the hypnotist indicates, in an effortless and automatic or nonvoluntary manner.
Clinical Hypnosis:
Hypnosis is applied to a great range of both physical and psychological ailments, rather than being restricted to purely psychological phenomena. The society was founded by Milton Erickson, a doctor who attempted to put hypnosis on a firm therapeutic backing in the 1950s.Milton H. Erickson was opposed to non-board-licensed healthcare professionals performing therapeutic hypnotism, which has since caused difficulty for certified laymen willing to practice. In the United States, certified lay hypnotists are now said to perform "non-therapeutic issue-resolution hypnotism", rather than "hypnotherapy".
