A hypnotherapist uses the discipline of hypnosis to treat clients for a range of conditions. Depending on the region in which the hypnotherapist practices, there may be a prevailing laws about certification to ensure that clients are served by qualified professionals. Typically, hypnotherapy is considered complementary medicine, meaning that while it may be a valid and useful method of treatment, it is not the only technique used to treat a patient.
The study of hypnosis is quite old. Many ancient cultures believed that trance like states promoted healing and divine communion, and as a result some people developed techniques for entering these states of altered consciousness. In the 1700s, Franz Mesmer started hypnotizing patients and using the trance as a therapeutic tool. His technique came to be known as mesmerism; most hypnotherapists differentiate between hypnotherapy and mesmerism, arguing that hypnotherapy has been tested in controlled environments and that it is a valid medical treatment technique.
Clients seek out a hypnotherapist for all sorts of conditions. Many hypnotherapists work on behavior modification, dealing with issues like anxiety, anger management, attitude problems, weight management, and smoking cessation. Others focus on pain management and the treatment of stress related illnesses. Some psychologists may use hypnosis as part of their patient treatment, and some doctors encourage hypnotherapy treatment to deal with fears which may be associated with upcoming surgeries or other major medical procedures.
When a client approaches a hypnotherapist to request a session, the hypnotherapist starts by talking about hypnosis and what to expect from the session. A professional hypnotherapist will review the techniques which will be used during the session while talking with the patient about the issue that has brought him or her to the office. Hypnotherapists must tailor their treatment to their individual patients, as each person thinks and operates slightly differently. During a preliminary interview, a hypnotherapist can think about which techniques would be most effective, and how to address the client's needs.
When the hypnosis part of the session begins, the client is asked to relax and the therapist uses the techniques that he or she has trained in. Ideally, the client will enter a form of trance in which the subconscious is brought to the surface. People are very suggestible while they are under hypnosis, so a hypnotherapist can bring up issues and deal with them. Because of this suggestibility, a hypnotherapist must also have impeccable professional and personal ethics, since clients are very vulnerable while under hypnosis.
