It should be used for pain control only after a doctor has evaluated the person for any physical disorder that might require medical or surgical treatment. Hypnotherapy might not be appropriate for a person who has psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, or for someone who is using drugs or alcohol. It might also be helpful for a person with severe symptoms or in need of crisis management. Hypnotherapy might be used to help with pain control and to overcome habits, such as smoking or overeating. It can improve the success of other treatments for several conditions such as: The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestion. Once the trauma is revealed, it can be addressed in psychotherapy.
The decision whether or not to use hypnotherapy in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy should be made in consultation with a qualified professional who is trained in the use and limitations of hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy is performed by a licensed or certified healthcare professional who is specially trained in this technique. In this naturally occurring state and with the help of a trained therapist, the person may focus his or her attention on specific thoughts or tasks.
The person’s attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked or ignored. Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation, intense concentration and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. Hypnotherapy is a technique that uses the hypnotic state, which enables changes in perception and memory, a major increase in response to suggestion, and the potential for managing many physiologic functions that are usually involuntary.