February 28, 2007

How To Choose the Right Hypnotherapist

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Guidelines are offered here so you can select the hypnotherapist who has the most suitable background, training and experience to help you resolve your unique issues.

There is no 100% fool-proof method of selecting the right hypnotherapist, any more than there is a guaranteed way to select the right lawyer, physician, accountant, or plumber.

Major sources for finding a reputable hypnotherapist are: physicians, family or friends, the workplace, the Yellow Pages, lists from professional associations, and The International Registry of Professional Hypnotherapists.

A doctor can refer you to a well-reputed colleague or to his or her own hypnotherapist. But there can be no guarantee that the recommended hynotherapist will be suitable for you. Personality factors, particular problems or differing ideologies may interfere with rapport. The same is true for referrals by family or friends.

Above all, do not be misled by reputation alone. A great reputation in the therapy field is not always based on competence. Sometimes it is fed by publicity and by professional colleagues who have a personal liking for a particular therapist, especially if he or she devotes a lot of time to their organization’s interests. The colleagues may be impressed by that therapist’s speeches, self-confidence and self-promotion. But do they personally know any successfully treated clients?

Trust your reaction when talking with a hypnotherapist. Shop around. Spend at least as much time to select a hypnotherapist as you would to choose a car.

The best criterion is satisfied clients. Ask the hypnotherapist for written testimonials. Any therapist who has been in business for a reasonable length of time will have letters on file from grateful clients. These will be people who have given permission for their comments to be shown to enquirers. Read and verify them.

And be sure you feel comfortable with the hypnotherapist. If you feel uneasy, it may be a sign that he or she is not good for you.

Key questions to ask yourself are:

  • Does he or she seem interested in my problems?
  • Do I feel welcome?
  • Is the hypnotherapist on time?
  • Do I feel accepted?
  • Does he or she treat me with respect?
  • Does he or she appear hopeful?
  • Does he or she ask a lot about me?
  • Is he or she genuinely interested in me?
  • Does his or her office feel like a haven?
  • Does the hypnotherapist really listen?
  • Does he or she seem knowledgeable?

Key questions to ask the hypnotherapist are:

  • Why should I see you, and not one of your competitors?
  • What experience do you have with my kind of problem?
  • What are your professional qualifications?
  • How long have you been in practice?
  • Do you have references?
  • What hypnotherapy associations do you belong to?
  • How soon can I make an appointment?
  • What are your fees?
  • May I bring someone with me?
  • Do you mind if I tape-record the session?
  • Do you play audiotapes?
  • Will you teach me self-hypnosis?
  • Could you treat my problem without hypnosis?
  • Do you use hypnosis yourself?

Experience is a good criterion. Experience both of life and of hypnotherapy. To ask the hypnotherapist questions relevant to his or her experience is a smart move. Has he or she written books or articles which you could read?

Respectful hypnotherapists do not snap their fingers at you, nor speak in a condescending manner. They treat you with the importance you deserve. After all, their business depends on you, and others like you, who seek a better life.

Lack of respect also applies to improper questions, suggestions or behavior. And not just about sex. Impropriety also applies to money and morals.

In a truly therapeutic relationship you are heard, accepted, understood and guided to strengthen your inner resources. The hypnotherapist is your ally. Not your friend. Not your business partner. Not your guru. And certainly not your lover.

Above-board hypnotherapists will be delighted that you bring a friend or relative with you. Similarly, they will be pleased you wish to tape-record the session because then you can use the tape at home as reinforcement.

Hypnotherapists with your interests at heart will automatically teach you self-hypnosis. It is part of your becoming self-reliant. At the very least, the hypnotherapist should recommend a book like my Health and Happiness with Hypnosis, which includes explicit instructions on how to hypnotize yourself.

Hypnotherapy should be tailored to you, the individual. No two problems, and certainly no two people, however similar, are identical. Settle for nothing less than personalized service.

That individualized approach requires a complete history-taking. It is of course impossible in the short time available for the hypnotherapist to learn everything about you. But he or she should know the details of your presenting problem, your family situation, important life events, health condition, fears, likes and dislikes, etc.

Do not be overly concerned with the per session fee. A very low fee per session may sound attractive, but, in monetary terms, it is the total number of sessions which will count in the end. In human terms, becoming well makes even a high fee seem like a bargain.

Beware of any therapist who has a one-track mind. Some therapists continually find that the origin of all their clients’ problems lies in childhood sexual abuse; others find that all their clients’ problems arise from past lives; others find that all their clients’ problems arise from birth trauma, etc., etc. Not all of life’s distresses arise from one trauma, or indeed, from any trauma. Human beings are far too complex and life, fortunately, is far too rich, for there to be one single cause of everyone’s troubles.

Two questions that concern most people are,How many sessions will it take? andWhat is your success rate?

No one can know in advance how many sessions your problem will take to resolve. There are far too many variables, including: the personalities of you and the hypnotherapist, your talent for hypnosis, whether you really want to shed the problem, what other issues may surface, etc.

Of course, you could specify a certain number of sessions. And some psychotherapists who use hypnosis do set a fixed number of sessions. The pressure of this deadline approach sometimes helps but there can be no guarantee.

Be assured, however, that hypnosis usually speeds up the therapeutic process. What might take months or years of regular psychotherapy can usually be accomplished in weeks with hypnotherapy.

To ask a hypnotherapist his or her success rate is a meaningless question. Who would tell you her success rate is 3%? In any case, should the hypnotherapist’s rate be 95%, this says nothing about your chances of success. For many different reasons you may fall into the 5%.

For unhealthy habits such as smoking, hypnotherapy is 100% successful for those who really want to change.

A person using hypnosis should practice within his or her professional competence. Thus a dentist who relaxes her dental patients with hypnosis has no business engaging in psychotherapy, unless she has also been trained in that field. Conversely, a physician must be involved when a medical concern, such as pain, is being tackled.

Responsible therapists use hypnosis as a tool. Since it is not in itself a therapy, nor is it a cure-all, you are in better hands if the hypnotherapist is also able to deal with your problem without hypnosis.

Thus, if you are consulting a physician who is using hypnosis to help you control pain, presumably she will have pharmaceutical alternatives with which to help you should the hypnotherapy not work well. But if the doctor is using hypnosis to help you deal better with a disastrous relationship, she is helpless if the hypnotherapy does not work well - unless she has taken special training in couples counselling.

Licensing and governmental regulation over who is allowed to practice hypnotherapy vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Many states and provinces, such as Quebec, have no rules whatever. Others are very stringent.

Remember, to find the right hypnotherapist for yourself, first do your homework about credentials and experience and then — trust your instincts.

The above has been adapted from Dr Knight’s book, Health and Happiness with Hypnosis. It is available direct from Dr. Knight via the Order Form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan M. Knight, MSW, PhD, holds a degree in psychology from Sir George Williams University, a Master’s in social work from McGill University and a doctorate in counselling from Columbia Pacific University for his dissertation, Professional Love: The Hypnotic Power of Psychotherapy.

Dr. Knight is the author of numerous articles and several books. Consulting Hypnotherapist to the Westside Medical Clinic in Montreal, he is also the distributor of Psychovisual Therapy hypnotic DVDs. He created The International Registry of Professional Hypnotherapists.  And introduced EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) to Canada.

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February 25, 2007

Hypnosis CD’s - Just What You Need To Kick Life Into Gear

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There are many internet sites that offer hypnosis cd sales. These are recorded sessions that provide training on hypnosis. The training provided is a guide towards the process of hypnosis and the applications and uses of this process. It is believed that hypnosis can lead to a greater self worth and to a better understanding of self and therefore the ability to achieve goals that are often thought off or perceived by individuals as too difficult too accomplish. The use of hypnosis as a tool to accomplish goals is now common and this tool can lead to the resolution of problems that are deeply embedded in us.

The hypnosis cd available from many sites goes in depth into teaching things like self hypnosis. Self hypnosis is thought to be one of the leading ways to get individuals on the right path. The process simply begins with a look into self. This means that the individual has to focus on the communication of ones thoughts, both verbal and non verbal with ones self. This is vital to getting in the frame of mind for a positive self hypnosis outcome.

The hypnosis cd then goes on to explain other actions that assist in achieving this higher thought process and frame of mind. It is possible to use they way you interact with your environment on a physical basis and to explore and determine exactly your reactions. This is important in directing energies to the right area. It is also essential to emotionally determine your reactions to different situations and determine how your thought processes are directed. This leads to better control in the decision making process and assists individuals in moving towards positive paths.

The hypnosis cd on sale at many sites is of great value as it can assist in the breaking of many undesirable habits. This cd can help individuals to break habits such as smoking that can be deadly and can lead to lung cancer. It can also assist individuals that over eat and are obese. Obesity is very unhealthy and obese persons are more likely to develop illnesses such as heart disease and cholesterol problems. These may also lead to death. If there is any goal that is perceived to be out of the reach of an individual hypnosis can assist.

When purchasing hypnosis cd information it is important to make sure that the source of the information is credible. This is vital in the determination of if the information can be of any benefit to you. If possible do a lot of external reading on the subject before making any purchases. Expand you knowledge base and make sure that you are really interested in hypnosis before spending your money.

About the Author:

Carl Walker is a successful webmaster and publisher of Hypnosis ABC with information about hypnosis from free hypnosis through hypnosis training and weight loss hypnosis.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

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February 22, 2007

Overcoming Procrastination with Hypnosis

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Overcoming procrastination isn’t that hard. So I guess we can get to that tomorrow. Well, therein lies the problem. You keep putting things off to a tomorrow that never comes. Eventually, you either forget about it, or you find yourself facing up against an impossibly close deadline where you will need to either pull an all-nighter or work 16 hour days to just get it in on time. More than likely, though, you will just end up delivering your work late. This is not good, because it makes you seem as though you are not to be counted on. However, you can stop this brutal cycle and start getting work done on time and maybe even early. Through hypnosis, overcoming procrastination is possible.

You know all the pep talks by now. They usually boil down to, “Get it done early and you won’t need to worry about it later.” This is true and even the worst procrastinator will agree with it. However, a few words are not going to change the fact that you do not get things done early, so you always do need to worry about it later. Thus, the vicious cycle of procrastination puts you behind on one project, leaving you no time for other projects, which also end up late because you had to worry about the previous project. This is not good.

However, you can start changing your habits by changing your attitude toward work that needs to get done. Hypnosis can give you the impetus you need to get things done early and start getting them done well before they are due. By working with you mind to help it not only understand that work needs to get done, but make those platitudes actually stick, you can begin overcoming procrastination and get those projects out the door.

Sometimes the catchy phrases and the occasional efforts aren’t enough when overcoming procrastination. You need something more powerful. Instead of knowing what you need to do, you need the drive to ensure that you actually do what you need to do. Overcoming procrastination can become a lot easier with hypnosis. Sure, hypnosis will not actually get the work done. But it can give you the mental energy and discipline to start your projects early and get them done early. Then, as you continue to work earlier and more effectively, you will not need to worry about overcoming procrastination. Because you will have overcome it and you will start seeing the positive results that come from working that much longer on your projects.

About the Author

http://www.about-hypnosis.com teaches you how to use hypnosis to improve your life. Hypnotism can help with weight loss, stopping smoking, fear of public speaking and more. You can also learn to hypnotize yourself.

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