Most people are surprised to learn that the British Medical Association has approved hypnosis as a valid treatment tool for health in 1957. In fact, this was long overdue since hypnosis was already a part of healthcare in Europe. At the beginning of the 1930s, many scientists started to do research on the value of hypnosis and, in the 1950s, they concluded that hypnosis could help people remain healthy.
Here are three areas where Clinical Hypnotherapy can help:
First, there is enough proof which demonstrates that hypnosis can help with pain management. Most people believe that pain is only present in the Healthy Body; it is also present in their mind. Pain is an interpretation of the signals coming from the nerves by the brain. For example, someone may dislike the taste of hot peppers and another may find it tasteful. Their perception is different. A Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist can utilize suggestion to change your mind's perception of a painful stimulus so that it becomes less problematic. Also, a suggestion may be used to increase the beneficial effects of medication and get good results using a lower dosage causing fewer side effects. It can be useful for chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, dental problems, arthritis or chronic fatigue.
Second, Clinical Hypnotherapy is excellent for helping people with all kinds of medical conditions related to stress or having a psychosomatic component. Irritable Bowel Syndrome,
migraines, dermatological conditions, cardio-vascular illnesses and auto-immune troubles such as Lupus are only a partial list of the conditions that may benefit from the deep relaxation that a person can feel when he or she is in an appropriate hypnotic state.
Third, a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent medical problems. Your hypnotherapist can help you stop smoking, manage your weight and
motivate you to exercise. He can also help you to remember to take your medication on time; and, if you need surgery, your hypnotherapist can help you remain calm so that your hospital stay goes well.
When looking for the services of a hypnotherapist to help you with a condition related to your health, make sure to look for a practitioner who offers clinical hypnosis as an adjunct instead of a form of alternative medicine. A Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist will only offer hypnosis services to complement the treatment that you are receiving from your doctor. Hypnosis will not
be utilized as an alternative or substitute for your doctor's care. The objective of all Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists is to help increase the efficiency of the treatment that you are receiving from him or her. The objective is never to replace the work and care from your doctor.
There are few health professionals who are adequately trained in hypnosis. But if you decide to explore what hypnotherapy can do for you, you can find help with a hypnotherapist certified by the Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists of Canada and/or the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association.
The hypnotherapists certified by these organizations have to satisfy high education and professional criteria, have to take annual continuing education in order to maintain their
certification and will only offer complementary services. When a person seeks consultation with a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist for help with a health-related condition, the
hypnotherapist will need a referral from his doctor or other health professional. As more and more health professionals are aware of the value of hypnotherapy for their patients, your doctor will probably not have any problem giving you a referral when you ask him.
When choosing a hypnotherapist, it is important to be sure that he or she is qualified. Pierre Benoit, CHt, RCCH, specializes in helping people whose lives have been touched by cancer. He is a member of the Association of Registered Clinical Hypnotherapists of Canada (ARCH) and of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA) and can be reached at (514)472-3535.
