Hypnosis
as a
Psychotherapy Tool
SUSIE
ROTCH Psychologist
BA, TSTC, DipCrim, MACE, MAPs
This
publication offers an overview of the principles employed in the Living
Skills Library series of self help programs. It is intended as a resource
to any helping professional who wishes to administer the HypnoBook series.
However many of the topics covered in this book have a relevance to anyone
studying the therapeutic use of hypnosis. It is a founding principle of
the Living Skills Library to explain in clear language any theories or
practices that are woven into this application of psychotherapeutic hypnosis.
The
contents of Hypnosis as a Psychotherapy Tool include the following:
- Hypnosis,
a convenient mystery
Introduction
A history of hypnosis
Hypnosis - a working model
Thinking styles and hypnosis
Unconscious biological cues in hypnosis
The uses of enchantment - storytelling and metaphors
Language for trance formation and transformation
Concentrating attention
Confusion to our enemies, and our friends!
Techniques specifically excluded - Cognitive
and behavioral restructuring
Right thinking
Goal setting
Enacting goals - Techniques from neurolinguistic programming
- Celebrating
- Program structure
- Hints
for HypnoBook Administrators
Program structure
Program administration - References
- Evaluation
- Some comments on evaluation
- Administrators’ evaluation sheet
- HypnoBook users' evaluation sheet
ISBN
1 876687 10 X
$24.95
+ P&H
Published: 2004
The
HypnoBooks use a potent set of techniques
including NeuroLinguistic Programming, guided imagery, cognitive restructuring
(as developed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and the teaching of self-hypnosis.
These self-administered resources will to help your patients or clients
to learn to take control of their own lives and to overcome their difficulties
in programs that give them control of the pace of their own learning.
They also include a revolutionary new development. The known ability of
moving images on a screen to focus attention is harnessed for therapeutic
ends to increase peoples’ ability to learn and use self-hypnosis.
Each program includes a DVD / video which both focuses attention in a
most powerful fashion to help create and enhance a trance state in the
viewer and which also includes a series of hypnotic instructions to enhance
desired changes in a systematic fashion. A dynamic new element has been
added to make it easier for your patients and clients to learn some profoundly
useful self-management skills.
The programs are designed to teach people with difficulties to recognize,
extend and actually enjoy applying skills they already have. They help
in the learning of new skills and how to enjoy applying these. With this
learning your patients or clients can have a sense of mastery over the
management of their problems and of their lives.
Well applied, the principles taught in any one program can be applied
to any problem that may crop up in peoples’ lives. The principles
taught can be extended to be used and re-used in new situations. The user
is taught how to do this in each program
Program
structure
Each of the programs in this series has a common format.
Firstly there is a visual and auditory presentation (on DVD or videotape)
which encourages motivation and change through the use of Ericksonian
hypnotic techniques. These are explained in the section entitled ‘Hypnosis’
in this book for professionals administering the programs to their patients/clients.
Secondly there is a self-administered journal which the person who is
undertaking the program completes him/herself, at his/her own pace. This
uses techniques of goal setting and enactment, cognitive restructuring
and imaging that are explained under the headings “Imaging”
and “Goal Setting and Enactment” in this manual.
Each program stands alone but can also be bought as part of a package
to be offered by helping professionals to their clients and patients.
This handbook is the third part of the program. This administration resource
supplements the programs which may be obtained by helping professionals
& institutions, corporate buyers & educational institutions for
their patients, clients and students. This handbook briefs you on the
principles that underlay all the programs, their structure and administration
and other helpful hints for helping professionals.
Program administration
If you are giving one of the programs to your clients,
employees students or patients then you will want to make sure that each
person who undertakes it should purchase the appropriate program. The
price has been kept reasonable to make it accessible to people on all
income levels.
Compared to more traditional forms of therapy the cost involved is minimal.
I estimate that the benefits from doing one program are equivalent to
those gained from ten or twelve individual sessions with a highly qualified
therapist. The gains that the person undertaking the program can make
in terms not only of symptom reduction but also in terms of gains in independence,
self management and self-esteem are very considerable indeed.
It is very important that you ensure that the user commits to watch and
experience the hypnosis induction component at least five or six times,
but preferably seven, over a period of days. They must also commit to
filling in and stepping through the journal.
Footprints in ink of a journey
that has started
The use of the HypnoBook Manual /Journal is
critical to the success of this program. It has the function of being
the ‘witness’ to record the changes in the users’ attitudes
and goal achievements. The Journal will display evidence that change has
happened and therefore can continue to happen.
You will probably want to explain the principles on which the program
works yourself to the person you are giving it to. These are outlined
as part of each manual and in this book also. (See sections on ‘Hypnosis,
a Convenient Mystery’ ‘Cognitive/Behavioral Restructuring’
and ‘Techniques from Neuro Linguistic Programming’ ).
You can read over them together and answer any questions at that time
or you can just leave it to people to undertake themselves once you have
established that there is a need and a willingness to undertake a self-help
program. Often the biggest barrier you will face is to convince your service’s
users to give the programs a try. Once they do they will be enthused by
this new way to empower themselves.
It
might be worth your while to run yourself through one of the programs
as if you were a client or patient doing it. This is the best and quickest
way that I know to familiarize yourself with the way that it works. And
hopefully you might find what it has to teach enjoyable and useful too.
I’ve certainly tried to set it up so it targets people at every level
of competence in their personal functioning, from those struggling with
activities of daily life to the very highest functioners in our society.
So try one program at least and have some fun with it!
Follow
this link to the What
is Hypnosis Page
Follow this link to the
Hypnosis FAQ Page
Follow this link to the
All
material on this site is the copyright property of The Living Skills Library™
2008
