In the realm of mental health treatments, clinical hypnotherapy often sparks curiosity and skepticism alike. Many wonder: does it really work? As an expert in the field, let’s explore the efficacy of hypnotherapy, particularly in addressing anxiety.
Clinical hypnotherapy or trance, is when you still the body and focus the mind. It’s worth noting that we take ourselves in and out of trance multiple times a day. We enter the ‘zone’ when we work out, when we engage in repetition, when we daydream.
So this is not foreign to our experience and a clinical hypnotherapist is utilising this established skill to focus the client to achieve a specific outcome. Now why is this valuable?
We have approximately 2 million bits of data entering the brain every second. Through our senses data enters the brain, we process that data, sifting, sorting, storing and deleting. By guiding clients into a deeply relaxed state of consciousness with clinical hypnotherapy they become highly receptive to suggestions and therapeutic interventions.
The subconscious mind is where we store our deeply rooted beliefs and patterns and hypnotherapy provides the gateway to access those established patterns. By harnessing the power of suggestion, visualization, and positive reinforcement, hypnotherapy aims to reprogram these patterns and promote positive change.
This is especially the case with treating symptoms of anxiety patterns, offering relief from excessive worry, fear, and dependency. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, researchers found that hypnotherapy was significantly more effective than relaxation therapy in reducing anxiety symptoms among individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
By tapping into the subconscious mind and promoting positive change, clinical hypnotherapy offers individuals a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety and reclaiming their mental well-being. If you’re struggling with anxiety, consider exploring the benefits of clinical hypnotherapy as part of your treatment journey.
