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HOW HYPNOSIS COULD HELP YOU

By
Donald A. Price, Ph.D.

Have you ever wondered "Can I be hypnotized?" Certainly people have different natural abilities for trance, but in my experience about 99.9% of people can learn to go into trance and, with practice, can learn to develop the skill well enough to accomplish their goals. Learning hypnosis can help with many different areas of life. The following are eight possibilities to consider:

    Gastrointestinal disorders. Many GI problems are stress related (either caused by stress or made worse by stress). Hypnotic approaches to stress management and relaxation can be helpful. A high percentage of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are helped by hypnosis.  For more information on hypnosis treatment for IBS click on the following: http://www.ibshypnosis.com.

    Chronic and acute pain. Learning hypnotic approaches to pain (such as hypnotic analgesia) do not have the side effects of heavy-duty pain medication, and have the advantage of being constantly at the person's disposal to reinforce. Not all pain can be completely removed, but its quality or intensity can often be modified in ways that make the discomfort more manageable.

   Preparation for surgery . Helping people prepare for surgery is, for me, one of the more rewarding opportunities in hypnotherapy. Hypnosis can help reduce the anxiety surrounding the procedure, assist in the anesthesia (to the extent that some patients do not need post operative pain medication for such major procedures as hip or knee replacement -- often to the surprise of nurses and doctors), and control of bleeding (reducing the need for transfusion). Other post-operative benefits from such preparation include reducing or eliminating the side effects of the chemical anesthesia, speeding up healing.

    Preparation for Childbirth. Hypnosis can help promote relaxation, reduce pain and anxiety and handle whatever happens (since the process is essentially unpredictable).  Staying calm and flexible is helpful.

    Peak performance enhancement. Hypnosis is often used to help athletes enhance their focus and performance. You too can take advantage of this approach to enhance your abilities in your hobbies such as tennis, golf, and other sports, as well as enhancing your focus and performance at work or study.

    Dental Problems.  Hypnosis can be used to help with a number of problems specific to dentistry.  To learn more click (Dental Hypnosis).

    Children's problems. Some problems are not unique to children. Many of the above applications are relevant for children. But stuttering and enuresis are two problems for which hypnosis has proven to be very effective.

Hypnosis is not a magic bullet as many of us would wish for, but when it is learned and practiced regularly it can provide us with a great deal of added self empowerment in many areas of our life. The above are just a few of the applications you might consider.

Donald A. Price, Ph.D. received his Masters in Counseling at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University.

He is a Clinical, Supervisory Member and Fellow of the American and Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (http://www.aamft.org), and a Past-President of Utah Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  He is a clinical member of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (http://www.asch.net), and a Past-President of the Utah Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

Linda M. Price, Ph.D. received her Masters in Counseling at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Utah.  She is a member of the American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org), and a Past-President of the Utah Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

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