5/23/2008 10:12:00 PM
You are getting sleepy, very sleepy...
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The Daily Courier/Jo. L. Keener
Caere L. Dunn, PhD., works with a patient Friday morning using hypnotherapy.
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By T.M. Shultz
The Daily Courier
Ever try to get the attention of a young person watching their favorite television show?
It's hard to do.
That's because they're most likely in a kind of a trance or self-induced hypnotic state.
Hypnosis is nothing more than a trance-like state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination, according to www.howstuffworks.com.
People use hypnotism nowadays for everything from quitting smoking to losing weight.
"There's an infinite range (of uses)," says certified hypnotherapist Caere Dunn of Prescott.
Dunn says hypnosis is a self-help technique that reduces stress so people can solve some of their life problems.
"I work to guide people to find their own answers," she said.
Dunn begins by answering any questions her client might have. She works with a recliner, which a client can use or not, depending on their preferences.
"It's nice to have people in a position where they don't have to (physically) support themselves," Dunn said.
She begins talking to the client, suggesting that they give themselves "permission" to relax and be comfortable.
Initially she tries to match her energy and tone of voice with theirs. Then she begins slowing her words and pace down.
She gets the client to focus on their breathing, suggesting they feel the sensation of coolness on their nose as they breathe in and warmness as they breathe out.
"It begins to help them focus on an interior experience rather than what's going on around them," Dunn said.
She continues with a form of progressive relaxation, asking the client to move their attention throughout their body from their head to their toes, continuously inviting them to relax.
By then, she says, the client is usually very comfortable. That's when Dunn begins to count down from five to one, including a different suggestion for relaxation with each number.
By the time she's done counting, the person should be hypnotized and from there they can work on whatever the person's problem is.
Hypnotism allows people to feel uninhibited and relaxed because they've tuned out most of the worries and doubts that normally keep their actions in check, the experts say, although their sense of right and wrong stays firmly in place.
However, they are not "asleep." In fact, they are hyper-aware - but extremely focused.
The deep relaxation state a person enters calms their conscious mind into taking a less active role and makes the person's subconscious mind more suggestible.
"It works for many people," Dunn said. "It doesn't work for everybody. If you're sure it's not going to work, you've already hypnotized yourself."
Contact the reporter at tshultz@prescottaz.com
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Posted: Sunday, May 25, 2008
Article comment by:
Richard L Erickson PhD HHCP LPHt
In today’s ever increasing stressful socioeconomic environment emphasis should be focused on the advantages of Medical hypnosis. Unfortunately, inadequate training and state licensure plus myths, half-truths, and suspicions surrounding Medical hypnotherapy have most physicians prescribing medications rather than hypnotherapy for certain problems like weight gain, smoking, nail biting, bed wetting, thumb sucking, test-taking, sports enhancement, certain addictions, pain issues, phobias, and disorders. These medications often have multiple contraindications that are excessive and even potentially fatal while concentrating mainly on the "effects” not the “causations.” By contrast, through therapy, Medical hypnosis assaults the "cause" of the problem, It, therefore, is important to understand that one is not treated with hypnosis but rather through hypnosis by redirecting or even eliminating Negative habits, emotions, and perceptions; plus helping pain threshold, self-esteem, and confidence. When the ‘want’ is eliminated the ‘need’ is eliminated Although, over-the-counter books on hypnosis may be somewhat informative as to the scientific nature of the hypnotic phenomenon, because you read while in your conscious state, are not effective tools for hypnosis. Store bought CD's are to some extent effective, but many still use theatrical tactics like aversion therapy, are usually too general in nature, and establishes little rapport between the hypnotherapist and the patients. Choosing the right qualified hypnotherapist with credentials, rapport, and past efficacy is therefore very important. One-on-one sessions are most desirable over groups, in correcting conditioned habitual responses, as each patient has different and sometime multiple past and present sensitizing events.
As increased scientific study confirms the validity of medical hypnosis our stressful society will benefit.
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