Life coaching principles and practice

Life Coaching

ILLUSION OR REALITY?

The Trouble with Hypnosis

What is Real and What Isn't in Hypnosis and Altered States

Hypnosis is that technique, which is believed to bring about a special state of consciousness wherein seemingly miraculous works are done without the use of pain-killers (Harary, 1992). It began with the elemental theory of animal magnetism by Franz Anton Mesmer about two centuries ago. In that long span of time, it was laughed off as a quackery until in recent decades when it was found to be quite useful. It came into widespread clinical use in both medical and psychological purposes, particularly in boring into the unconscious to eliminate buried memories or surviving responses to experience. It has demonstrated usefulness in tackling childbirth pain, wart removal, smoking cessation, weight management and the elimination of phobias (Harary).

For the lack of a standard procedure in its use, it has remained a mysterious approach (Harary, 1992). It does not involve drugs and the effects cannot be evaluated just like medicines. There is only an interaction between the hypnotist and the person subjecting himself to the procedure. The hypnotist suggests something to relax the person or patient who coioperates with him and implements the suggestion. The fact is that the hypnotist simply helps the patient achieve an intensely focused state of wellness or dissociation from an unwanted or unhealthy state. The hypnotist skillfully suggests that the patient is able to feel or do something he is unable to and something within him makes him do it. For example, the hypnotist says:" you will be able to break the smoking habit easily." The patient opens himself to the suggestion and accepts it (Harary).

Is it Real?

Current statistics say that about 15% of the population is strongly susceptible to hypnotism as against 25% who are not vulnerable (Harary, 1992). Susceptibility to hypnotism has been measured as equivalent to a patient's expectations and attitudes towards the procedure or willingness to comply. They are not cheating themselves but are actually inclined to suspend or give up their disbelief, which they can, in truth, do without any change of consciousness with the help of a hypnotist. Therefore, those who are most vulnerable are the most willing to comply with the hypnotist's suggestion. They are, thus, able to achieve the results they wish. In other words, their elimination of pain, smoking, phobias or wart is real. What skeptics call merely experimental or quack does not affect the patient who is released from his long-standing illness. Neither will he care about their skepticism (Harary).

Some skeptics offer to explain the positive effects of hypnotism as a specific state of mind, which results from a complex combination of social and psychological factors (Harary, 1992). Among these are role-playing, imagination, motivation, and strong responses to suggestion. They believe that the interaction of these factors can explain the mechanism and result of hypnosis (Harary).