How Do I know that hypnosis will work for me?

Health Psychologists have long pondered why some people benefit from hypnosis, and other ‘talk’ therapies, whilst others may try several different types of therapy, with little or no success. Interestingly, and not surprisingly they have come up with a model, that predicts whether a particular therapy will work for you or not. They coined it, The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB).

Central to the TPB model, is the belief a person holds in the therapy itself. This is one of the central components. So in the example of hypnosis the client must hold a belief it will work rather than try it for the sake of it, or ‘going’ through the motions because someone has told them to do so. This belief has to be coupled with the belief they have within themselves in controlling their behaviour. So for example, if a person wants to quit smoking and they have read, watched a program or had a friend who has quit smoking with hypnosis, and from this information they hold a belief it will work, and they have the motivation to give up, then the chances are they will succeed. It is the expectation that the therapy will help that is part of the treatment (Mair 1992).

Psychologists have found a lot of data to support the above model in respect of quitting smoking, curtailing binge drinking, abstinence from drug taking to positive behaviours, such as healthy eating and increasing exercise.

But wait, that is not the whole story. There are other factors which increase the likelihood that hypnotherapy is for you, and that is the hypnotherapist itself! This was demonstrated in the 1950’s by Dr Albert Mason. He treated a boy covered in warts which made his skin turn black, thick and leathery and resulted in painful skin infections.

Doctors tried desperately to help and even undertook skin grafts to alleviate the boy’s condition, with little benefit. This was when Dr Mason became involved, and he suggested hypnosis, as he knew warts responded well to this type of treatment. As a consequence he conducted a number of hypnosis sessions on the boy, concentrating on specific body parts. After a number of sessions the warts disappeared revealing normal skin. Dr Mason knew this would happen as he knew the power of hypnosis on the treatment of warts.

However, unbeknown to Dr Mason was the true nature of the boy’s condition. The boy wasn’t suffering from warts but from a rare and deadly genetic disorder, called ‘congenital ichthyosis’. When this was explained to Dr Mason he was unable to ever replicate the success with this horrific skin condition. This was put down to the fact that Dr Mason now knew that this condition was incurable and that it was his belief which prevented the successful treatment of this condition.

We have seen that the belief of the client and hypnotherapist is vital for the successful treatment of any condition, coupled with motivation to change. However, there are other factors which linger around the hypnotherapists room that could help, in your hypnosis treatment. Frank (1973), found four factors that increase the success of ‘talk’ therapies. These are: 1) Clearly set boundaries of client and therapist. The latter has the knowledge and thus demonstrates this to the client with their expertise. This instils confidence that the hypnotherapist knows their subject well. 2) The actual setting of the therapy room is important. Comfy chairs, carpets, low lighting and quietness help ‘set’ the scene 3) The therapist must adopt a rational framework for making sense of the clients issues (The all important detailed history taken down at the initial consultation), 4) and lastly the therapeutic rituals. This further enhance the client’s faith in the therapist. If you think about religious rituals which have been passed from generation to generation and which cultivate a sense of something deeply significant and powerful, hence the importance of the ubiquitous hypnosis chair.

So back to the original question, will hypnosis work for you? As you can see this depends on whether you believe it will work ,and whether you have the motivation to change. The hypnotherapist will already be playing their role, by setting the wheels in motion, as you enter their therapy room. They believe you will change, and want you to succeed. All they ask, is that you believe in the power of hypnosis, and that you can change.