Can I ask you about hypnotherapy?

[BrightLightsAndSound]

Has anyone ever tried it? Did it work for you? I'm considering making an appointment for a phobia.
Just out of interest I started googling how people train to become practitioners and you don't actually need a degree in psychology or anything.
Doesnt that mean that it could get a bit dangerous?
Any mental health professionals got any thoughts on it?

I tried it to try and cope with public speaking. The woman was highly recommended and I knew she had cured a friends fear of spiders but did nothing for me.

Tried a different person, again no help.

Think I might be one of those people that can't be hypnotised though

I've had a few sessions with a hypnotherapist for generalised anxiety/confidence sort of issues, and perhaps that was a bit too big and vague of an issue to be fixed but didn't feel a massive difference. Also had a group session as part of a spider phobia course, and can't say for sure that it was just the hypno that worked, but something did.

It's pretty relaxing, and you do remain totally aware of what's being said to you, so I really wouldn't worry about it being dangerous. It's not like you see in stage hypnosis where you'll do something completely bizarre or out of control. It's more just getting you in the right frame of mind to actually believe the common sense stuff that you probably already know about your fear. Definitely worth a go

Had it to allay a phobia. It worked. No more dangerous than letting your mind wander a bit as you wait for the kettle to boil. As pp said, you're perfectly aware of everything whilst in a hypnotic state.

Go for someone who looks credibly qualifiedcertification from/membership in a respectable assoc. of hypnotists if there is such a thing where you live, speciality in hypnosis only (i.e. not offering aromatherapy, Reiki, similar bullshit on the side)and then have another go with someone else if not satisfied. I was very lucky as the chap I went to patiently spent an hour trying various techniques to get me under; if you have a go, I hope you land on one who's equally dedicated. Good luck.

An added benefit I discovered by chance is that having been hypnotised subjects one to disapproval from a certain strain of fundamentalist Christians as, apparently, if you prayed properly Jesus would have helped you instead. Always fun to watch someone move swiftly from small talk to seething self-righteousness.

I had a hypnotherapy session after failing my driving test 12 times. I passed on my next attempt after the hypnotherapy.

I thought it was brilliant. You might need a few sessions for a chronic ongoing problem though. Mine was a one off issue that I needed it for, it was really effective though!

And definitely research before going, as anyone can become a hypnotherapist!

You're right about the certification etc - basically anyone can become a hypnotherapist and some of those people are a bit strange to say the least. You should always go on personal recommendation if possible, because a lot of good counsellors do use hypnotherapy and it's often effective.

I had hypnotherapy for a personal issue where I was 'shutting down' psychologically and it was fab.

OTOH I knew someone who called herself a hypnotherapist, but was a deeply screwed up and manipulative person. She's one of those who's into any alternative therapy though, rather than a trained counsellor using hypnotherapy as a tool.

I did it, i went to someone i knew slightly and trusted. It did help

Would definitely make sure the person is properly qualified - I know someone who did a two-week course and now calls herself a hypnotherapist (it's RTT if anyone wants to avoid).

On the other hand my psychologist is qualified in hypnotherapy and did a two-year course on top of her psychology degree, MA and counselling qualifications. I've only done guided meditation with her but she does it very well.

I had it a couple of times from very qualified people but I reacted badly and found it deeply unpleasant. I had an overwhelming fear respond and could not be hypnotized. In the wrong hands I think it's very dangerous and would always recommend CBT or mindfulness type things instead.

Fear response not respond.

Yes - it has definitely worked for me. Be prepared for the fact that it might not seem that it is doing anything though. That's kind of how it works.
I don't think that is it dangerous but some people are going to be better than others and have more training and it's worth choosing carefully just to get your money's worth.

I had it for a food phobia. I recall being regressed to eating it as a child and choking on it which must have caused the fear. I still can’t eat it but I can now touch it, which I couldn’t before. Yes, I’m strange!

I had it for a needle phobia and I found it very useful. The hypnotherapist I chose specialised in phobias and was able to explain why my body and mind reacted the way in which it did (i.e. fainting) which made a lot of sense to me.

She gave me key phrases and things to think about when having blood tests and I haven't fainted since.

I did spend quite a bit of time investigating the right person and looking at their qualifications to see if it was right.

YES PLEASE ASK ME! I had the world's worst public speaking phobia until recently. I've posted about it here and been close to giving up on my career because of it. I used to get tunnel vision and crazy fast heartbeat just reading out loud in front of a small group of colleages. I felt like I was disabled by it, truly.

Any time when I knew in advance that I had to do it, I used beta blockers, which worked well, until I got pregnant! I didn't want to risk the baby's health, so looked into hypnotherapy.

I think it's very important to find the right therapist. Mine has been practicing for maybe twenty years and has a master's in CBT. She uses a variety of different techniques to 'reprogramme' the neural pathways, such as eye-movement therapy and 'tapping'. However, I think the most important thing she does, which many others don't (I've tried and failed to address the issue with a couple of duds in the past) is that she records the session on an MP3 for you to listen to every night as you fall asleep.

Since seeing her (about five times, at about £85 a pop - I probably would have been fine with less, but I was very nervous), I have done no less than SIX presentations in one month, three of which were at high-profile conferences, to a very big and knowledgeable audience. If anyone had suggested I do that six months ago, I would've laughed (bitterly) in their face.

If you're in the London area, send me a pm and I will give your her details. She's really amazing. If she can fix me, she can fix anyone.

Don’t waste your money. It’s absolute nonsense and if you get better it’ll be the placebo effect. And it’s very expensive for something useless.

Self refer to your local NHS IAPT team for an assessment and get the help via an actual trained therapist who provides evidence based treatment.

Jessie, I had IAPT CBT over the phone and it was worse than useless for me.

I think it depends on the person.
I tried it and it just didn't work at all for me.
Give it a go - you've got nothing to lose.

I had hypnotherapy after failing my driving test 6 times.
I felt completely aware at all times so nothing to worry about. He helped me visualise the mental block I had about it - won't go into details here but it involved my mother and a bottle if champagne. We addressed the issues under hypnosis. I passed my test with only two minors which my examiner said 'I'll have to give you , because no one is supposed to do a perfect test.'
I did go to a hyonotherapist who was part of a practice of professionals.

Sorry to hear that RoboticSealpup. was it actual cbt? IAPT use a model where when you first get referred you’re usually only given six or so sessions, often over the telephone, which is self help based on CBT principles but not actual cbt and the practitioners are trained as psychological well-being practitioners not accredited cbt therapists.

I’d be surprised if they gave you proper cbt over the phone without that being your explicit preference. It’s a shame cos the work PWPs do is great for the right people, but if they’re not clear to patients it’s not cbt then patients get the wrong idea and believe they’ve had cbt when they haven’t, putting them off accessing actual cbt in the future (which can be up to twenty sessions in person).

I did a course, and found it worked amazingly. While you still went.
After a couple of weeks of finishing, nada. I think it works but you need to keep committed to it - and it's not cheap.

The guy was lovely and said I went really deeply into my own head

@JessieLemon I don't know - they did an initial assessment over the phone and then I guess I was offered what they thought I needed. But the therapist was really terrible. She kept telling me to download apps for mindfulness although she didn't even recommend a particular one. She also told me that I should ask my employer when it would be a good time for me to have a baby! (I stopped the sessions after that.)

No need to feel bad for me though - I'm actually cured now!

Oh that’s rubbish! It doesn’t sound like you had CBT. I’m glad you’re better now. If in the future you go for help again don’t be afraid to ask what the person’s job title is and what their professional qualifications are :)

@Lizzie I think so too. That's why it was so amazing to get the personalised MP3 with one of my sessions on it. When I have something coming up, I listen to it for a few nights in advance.

@JessieLemon Thank you! I guess I thought that going through IAPT would be some kind of guarantee that they would be properly qualified professionals.

I used an app to stop biting my nails. It worked, but I fell back to old habits so I think I need to listen to it once a week to keep the effect topped up. It took a few attempts before I found an app that suited me.