Using Hypnotherapy to Heal Psychological Trauma
For people who have major traumas, such as childhood trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), their daily lives are filled with burdens and “ghosts” that follow every step of the way. Trauma that has been experienced but has not been healed will negatively affect thought patterns and behavior patterns, although sometimes this is not fully realized. However, it turns out that psychological trauma can be cured with hypnotherapy.
For example, a person who was a victim of violence as a child may grow up to become a very introverted person and find it difficult to build positive relationships with other people. Another example is a soldier who has faced situations of intense conflict, when returning to his normal life at home will be a person who is always restless and finds it difficult to hold back his anger. This suggests that behavior problems experienced by a person could be the result of trauma that has been experienced. There are several ways a person with trauma can deal with a variety of behavioral problems. One of them is undergoing hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is a psychotherapy method developed by an Austrian scientist, Franz Anton Mesmer in the 1770s. This method was born from the theory of the subconscious mind popularized by Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.
Difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is a process that works to bring you calm and clarity of mind so that you can enter your subconscious mind. In the process of hypnosis, you will feel very relaxed and focused. In this state, you can accept suggestions to achieve the results you want. Hypnosis itself is just a “medium” used in hypnotherapy, which means that these two terms have different meanings. Imagine if you were going through a psychological counseling where you shared (sharing)your problem with the psychologist who treats you. Process sharing this is the media used in psychological counseling. Likewise the analogy with the hypnosis process in hypnotherapy.
Those who study hypnosis may bring someone into their subconscious mind (do hypnosis), but not necessarily they can become a hypnotherapist. Hypnosis can only make you feel relaxed and focused, making it easier for you to accept suggestions such as quitting smoking or reducing anxiety. Meanwhile, in hypnotherapy you will be asked to dig into your past to process the haunting trauma.
Healing trauma with hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapists are responsible for performing hypnosis, looking for the root of psychological trauma, and neutralizing or altering a person’s perception of a traumatic event that causes behavioral problems. As an illustration, a client experienced childhood trauma due to witnessing the argument and divorce of his parents. As an adult, he became afraid to build relationships with other people so that he always failed in relationships. This is because in her subconscious mind, this client is afraid that her parents’ divorce will repeat itself to her. He also always used violence as a solution because that was the only way his parents learned when solving problems. However, often this childhood trauma is not realized by the client so that he only feels frustrated due to failure in romance. In addition, this client is also unable to control his emotions because he does not realize what causes his anger so easily ignited.
The hypnotherapist who handles this client will do hypnosis so that the client is in a relaxed state and is very focused on his subconscious mind so that whatever is happening around him will not interfere. After that, the hypnotherapist will provoke the memory stored deep in the client’s subconscious mind to come to the surface. Then the memory filled with traumatic events and negative emotions will be neutralized through giving suggestions. For example, this client will be given a suggestion to forgive his parents. The client will also be suggested to understand that the divorce of his parents was not caused by the client himself. The memory will not disappear from memory, it’s just that the client now has a much more positive perception and feeling towards that memory.
After the client has successfully processed and neutralized the memory, the hypnotherapist will help the client to change the behavior patterns generated by these bad memories. Clients will be suggested to open up and trust others. He will also be given suggestions to control his emotions, for example taking a deep breath when anger starts to overflow.
Is the process dangerous?
Many people believe in the myth popularized by the entertainment media that the person who is hypnotized will lose control of himself. This means that the person hypnotizing you can order you to do anything, including hand over property or reveal secrets. This myth is not true. In fact, when you go into hypnosis, you can still be in full and active control of your mind. Hypnotherapists cannot perform brainwashing or mind control. In fact, it is you who must instill the suggestions yourself by the hypnotherapist. The hypnosis process will make this process easier. However, if you reject the suggestion of a hypnotherapist, then nothing will change whatsoever to happen in your subconscious mind.
Hypnotherapy can only be done by mental health professionals who have undergone special education to receive a hypnotherapist certificate. Before you start a hypnotherapy session, make sure that your therapist has an official certificate and a supporting scientific background.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.