In this
writing I would like to use comments made by Dr. Heather Good a clinical hypnotherapist.
Heather has worked for many years as a mental health therapist and has dealt
with many complex mental health difficulties including depression, anxiety,
abuse, and trauma. In an interview on a blog called Addiction Blog.org http://addictionblog.org/ she answered
most questions around this subject.
·
How
hypnotherapy is used in addiction treatment
·
What
hypnotherapy includes and what a typical session is like
·
Whether
or not hypnotherapy is best for everyone
·
How
to avoid danger or risk in seeking hypnotherapy
At the end, if you still have
questions about hypnotherapy and its safe use, please use the comments section
below. We will do our best to send you a personal and prompt answer.
What is the science behind
Hypnotherapy?
We do know
that the process of hypnosis accesses a level of the deeper mind (the
subconscious) which can initiate long-lasting change. In the trance state, the
client is highly suggestible, relaxed, and able to access the deeper mind and
more importantly the imagination; the trance state is likened to the state
between waking and sleeping. In the trance state, the conscious mind relaxes
and all the memories stored in the subconscious are accessible.
The
subconscious is like a store-house for all our experiences in the lifetime.
People are able to let go of their addiction when (the subconscious mind and
the conscious mind are on the same page). When this occurs, people are able to
transform the trauma with positive support networks, self-compassion, and
coping skills.
Time and
time again; most often people leave hypnotherapy feeling a stronger sense of
their own power and a sense of peace. Even if they don’t attain abstinence, or
if they fall short of meeting the goal they set for themselves, the process of
hypnosis helps to release stress that has been held in the body and mind and
re-connects oneself to a sense of power and purpose.
What
hypnotherapy can do – which is brilliant and needed – is to help to re-write
the life story and to release the trauma of the past. As a sense of self-worth
and empowerment arises, people begin to learn that they are resourceful and
powerful. For some people it can make a huge difference, while for others, it
can be an important aspect of their healing journey.
What is the goal of hypnotherapy in
the treatment of chemical and process addictions?
One might
view the goal of hypnosis and counselling to be abstinence (and this may be
necessary and needed). However, I view
the goal of hypnosis to be the alleviation of suffering and the strengthening
of self-love and self-compassion.
Although the
goal of hypnosis varies, what is of the upmost importance is to help the person
who is suffering to find freedom from decades or even years of pain, to feel a
sense of control and mastery over their lives. Addiction is a complex interplay
of causes and conditions which results in a set of behaviors that oftentimes
have detrimental results in a person’s life. Support systems and dedication to
the recovery process are essential for long-term success for those with serious
addiction issues.
Substance
use or addictive behaviors arise in order to meet a need. In my view, the goal
of hypnotherapy in the treatment of addictions is three-fold.
1. To begin with, the client needs to
have a clear picture of what they want their life to look like and they have to
be ready for change.
2. Secondly, helping people have greater
self-control of their lives elicits greater control within themselves.
3. Finally, through the hypnosis process
we remove the energies that are associated with what you might call the
“original trauma” so that there is more freedom and peace.
What is the cause of addiction?
As noted
earlier, there is not one single cause of addiction.
In his book, In the Realm of Hungry
Ghosts, Dr. Gabor Mate shares that addiction involves a complex interplay
between humans and their environments and that addiction is a chronic
neurobiological disease. He suggests that early stress is a potent inducer of
addiction as it impairs brain development. He shares in his research that drug
addicts show a high likelihood of being victims of early abuse and childhood
trauma.
Dr. Mate goes onto to write that
there are three main systems involved in addiction. The attachment system
involves a sense of belonging and connection with others that may have been
disrupted early in life. Secondly, because of early trauma the reward and
motivation centres of the brain are impacted. Finally, those with addictions
may have difficulty with self-regulation and calming themselves in times of
stress.
How effective is hypnotherapy in the
treatment of addiction?
Although
much more rigorous research is required in the field of hypnotherapy to fully
show the efficacy of hypnosis for addictions, based on randomized controlled
trials, there is sufficient evidence to show that both relaxation techniques
and hypnosis can effectively reduce anxiety, and help patients with chronic
pain, insomnia and panic disorders.
As we also
know, hypnosis helps people to become non-smokers. Additionally, hypnosis can
help patients with cancer control anxiety, pain, nausea and vomiting.
Hypnotherapy for trauma has also shown efficacy. Since hypnotherapy is regularly
suggested and is used in many group scenarios for healing there is a need for
large trials to establish its efficacy, specifically related to addiction.
In the International Journal of
Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (2000), Lynn et al., suggests that rarely,
if ever, is hypnosis the sole form of treatment with a patient. In fact, the
position of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis is that hypnosis
cannot and should not stand alone as the sole medical or psychological
intervention for any disorder. Instead, hypnosis is used in addition to some
recognized medical or psychological treatment protocol.
For years
now, hypnosis has been recognized as a legitimate component of medical
treatment by the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric
Association. This being said, I have had experiences where a single session of
hypnosis has made a significantly positive impact on the people that I have
seen
.
Can you describe a typical
hypnotherapy session step-by-step? What is the expected outcome?
Hypnotherapy
can be an amazingly powerful component of a treatment program but one thing is
for certain – the person seeking the change has to be 100 % on board with the
goal and they need to be ready for change.
When I first
talk to people about hypnosis, I find out their goals and I explain how
hypnosis works. I then use my voice and deepening techniques to help the client
to relax. This is very similar to a guided relaxation process. The client is
aware that they can speak to me the whole time, that they will remember
everything, and that they are in control. The client will not say anything they
don’t want to say and they are completely in control.
Once the
client is in a relaxed state then we journey back to clear all the things that they
experienced with a negative association in their lifetime. People imagine
letting go of these experiences so that when they think about them from this
point onwards they do so in a neutral manner. Letting go of what has caused pain and sadness results in a release
of fear, anxiety, insecurity and self-doubt. The end result is that the
person feels more connected to their true essence and power and feels more
accepting of themselves. We integrate in their goals and they determine their
action steps for change and we solidify these through anchoring and future
visioning.
I believe
that strong self-criticism lies at the base of every addictive behavior. Most
people I see with addictions are very hard on themselves. As people learn to
love themselves more they can choose behaviors that are more in line with
self-care and self-nurturing.
What co-occurring conditions do you
avoid treating as a hypnotherapist? In other words, who SHOULD NOT seek
treatment via hypnotherapy?
I would also
never treat anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol and if
someone is in the detoxification or withdrawal state – which can also be
accompanied by symptoms of psychosis – I would also not provide hypnosis until
the person has stabilized.
What are the risks of hypnotherapy
(in general) and how can someone in addiction recovery mitigate these risks?
There are no negative risks associated with
hypnotherapy. That being said, hypnosis for healing and with this intention in mind
is very powerful and helpful.
Hypnosis is
often experienced as a relaxing and pleasant experience. Finding a
hypnotherapist, psychiatrist, or counsellor that you trust that uses hypnosis
or another type of therapy that is very good for trauma called Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing (EMDR) can help with deep healing. Other promising therapies include
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP).
If you struggle with addictions then having a plan and treatment team to
help you will support your healing journey is necessary.
How often is hypnotherapy used for
addiction treatment as part of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? What
kinds of overlap exist?
Cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with hypnotherapy can be a part of healing
for a wide arrangement of difficulties, including addictions. Although there is
very little empirical data related to CBT and hypnotherapy, especially as it
relates to addictions, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Montgomery et al.
(2014) determined that the results support Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and
Hypnosis (CBTH) as an evidence-based intervention to control fatigue in
patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.
CBTH is
non-invasive, has no adverse effects, and its’ beneficial effects persist long
after the last intervention session. Furthermore, Kirsch et al. (1995)
conducted a more broad-spectrum meta-analysis of empirical studies that had
compared the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatments (CBT) with and
without hypnosis across a number of disorders (e.g., obesity, insomnia,
anxiety, pain, and hypertension). Patients receiving CBT with hypnosis showed
greater improvement than at least 70% of patients who received standard CBT.
Second, relaxation did not appear to be the mechanism. Third, there was a hint
that the advantages of adding hypnosis to CBT might increase over time, though
this was not definitive. Schoenberger’s review (2000) provides further evidence
that hypnosis combined with cognitive behavioral methods, generally produce
outcomes superior to wait-list and no treatment control conditions.
As you will notice when looking at the Out Patient Drug Rehabilitation Program we use not only CBT but also Transnational Analysis ( PAC) and Mindfulness training in conjunction with
I enjoyed reading this post. Well done.
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