A Brief History
The practice of hypnosis is most often traced back to an Austrian physician named Franz Mesmer (1734-1815). From him comes the term "mesmerism". Mesmer discovered that individuals could be "cured" from many diseases by having them hold onto "magnetized" rods and suggesting to them they would be healed. This worked well until around 1782 when an entourage which included Benjamin Franklin was sent to investigate this miracle worker and determined that if the people get better it was by their own imagination. So mesmerism lost its great following until it reappeared in a revised form with a new term, hypnosis, derived from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep by a man named Dr. James Braid in 1841. Dr. Braid used a "fixed gaze" to produce a "sleeplike" state. From that time we find such names as Professor Jean Charcot, who in 1878 began experiments and revitalized hypnotism. This was done at the School of the Salpetriere in Paris. The School of Nancy in French Lorraine also emerged with Dr. Liebeault as its chief investigator. Hypnotism also had its early advocates in surgery. In 1846 Dr. James Esdaile was one who performed many operations using hypnosis alone. Perhaps the most famous of these early "mind explorers" was Sigmund Freud(1856-1939), who learned hypnosis from Charcot and others. He then studied with a man named Josef Breuer who co-authored a paper called Studies in Hysteria in which the famous Anna O. case was presented. Together they showed how hysterical symptoms were actually repressed memories and could be unlocked with hypnosis. Eventually Freud developed free association because he was uncomfortable with the intimate nature of hypnotism.
Hypnotism Defined to Understand Human Behavior
Hypnosis may then be defined as: "An emotionally charged system of beliefs that suspends our attention for a time, allowing the creation of different behaviors, beliefs and/or attitudes. These new ideas will remain until another trance of emotionally charged energy interrupts and suspends our attention with another system of beliefs, creating new behaviors, beliefs and attitudes which create a different perspective.
Think about it for a moment. Emotionally charged ideas. Emotions are those feelings we have that if left unbridled, will conquer us. Our emotions can be reached through relaxation, fear, guilt, love, hate, boredom, etc. These feelings create a state of heightened awareness that can liberate us with healthy life styles or paralyze us into unwanted behaviors. Emotions work through ideas that we call suggestions. A suggestion can be anything in our environment that gets our attention. Once our attention is caught by suggestion, then our imagination formulates ideas that we react to. This is called behavior. Behavior is the expression of energy.
All things consist of energy which can not be created or destroyed, only transformed.
Think about when you watch a movie and laugh or cry. You are responding to your perception of the suggested idea. When you see a fight, you may become frightened or angry, based upon your internal cues. Remember, whenever you are persuaded by an emotion, you can be certain that hypnosis is involved!" Don Spencer, Clinical Hypnotherapist* http://www.sleepnow.com
Hypnotism Today
Around 1945 a man by the name of Milton Erickson began to incorporate hypnosis into his MD Psychiatric practice and hypnotherapy began to gain a reputation as a viable form of treatment. Today Erickson's teachings have developed into NLP or Ericksonian hypnosis.
In 1958 hypnosis was finally accepted by the American Medical Association.
Another early pioneer of hypnosis was Dave Elman who developed the 3-minute induction.
During the turn of the century the stage hypnotist began to appear around the world amazing audiences with his hypnotic abilities. This brings us to the creative use of hypnotism by today's practitioners.
Every major city in America and most countries will have their share of hypnotherapists. One look in the phone book and you will find a variety of uses for hypnosis: smoking cessation, weight loss, stress control, elimination of fears and phobias, sports motivation, confidence building, regression therapy, test anxiety, better concentration, sleep disorders, pain control, inner child healing and almost any area you can imagine.
Medical Use of Hypnosis
The benefits of hypnotism in the field of medicine has been recognized for decades. It was recognized by the American Medical Association in 1958 as a legitimate treatment modality. The NIH, National Institute of Health recognized its value in 1996. Hypnosis is used by Medical professionals for natural childbirth, pain control, habit cessation, sleep disorders, stress management and so much more. Clinics around the country utilize hypnosis for its effectiveness in mediation, visualization for rapid healing to name a couple. The use of hypnosis is limited to one's imagination!
American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association
Public Education, Treatment and Referral Services since 1992. A professional organization for State Board Licensed Therapists and Doctors. Celebrating our 15th Year in 2007.
"To avoid failures, hypnosis should be used in most instances, with re-education, psychotherapy, and other procedures, including medications when indicated."
William S. Kroger, M.D., Psychiatrist, Surgeon, Hypnotherapist
"Successful therapy depends heavily on two major elements:
1) A willingness for change, and
2) a constant belief that a constructive goal will be reached."
David B. Cheek, M.D. Psychiatrist, Author of Fetal Perception In Utero
"Dedicated to Promoting the Ethical Use of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy by State Board Licensed Medical and Mental Health Professionals."
APMHA Founded in 1992
Religious Aspects of Hypnotism
Throughout history hypnotism as it is now understood, has been used by all cultures in one form or another. Most religions consider lies immoral and truths moral. An individual whose character is founded upon lies would be considered moral if one could change their way of thinking and acting and accept truth for what it is. This premise is the foundation for behavior modification. This is also a building block of religion. A man name Phineas Quimby, an early follower of magnetism was sought out by a woman named Mary Baker who found relief from Quimby's techniques. They worked together after that until disagreements led her to begin the Church of Christ with revised magnetic and hypnotic techniques learned from Quimby. The history of many modern day American churches can be traced back to the founders dabbling with hypnotic techniques. Go figure. But such has been the case of what I call hypnotism from the beginning!
Hypnosis Training
The uses of hypnotism are limited only by ones imagination. Today there are dozens of professional hypnosis organizations which are dedicated to the study and understanding of hypnotism. On one hand we have the professional community of psychologists and doctors who limit their membership to their associates. We also have the students of professional hypnotherapy who have studied at schools of hypnotism and have learned their craft well. They are called Certified Hypnotherapists.
Not all schools are created equal. Certification is a title that can be bestowed by any person or group organization. Most are self-serving and directed by one person. If you have questions about any specific group just ask!Most certified hypnotherapists will have more precise training in the art and science of hypnotism/hypnotherapy than their friends in the psychological community.That is why more and more academic professionals are receiving advanced training in hypnosis in specialized schools. Any competent hypnotherapist, certified or not, from whichever branch they stem, should have a minimum 300 hours of training. That's "hands-on" training. Anything less that should be suspect. Every professional or lay practitioner of hypnotism and or hypnotherapy today should also have an extensive library of hypnosis books, hypnosis tapes, hypnosis videos and such.
Hypnosis Entertainment
The use of hypnotism in entertainment has gained wide appeal. In fact much praise it owed to the stage hypnotist for keeping the fascinating use of hypnosis alive in the minds of the masses for the Clinical Practitioner to continue his enthusiastic work.
Try Hypnosis Today continues to explore the potential applications of hypnosis to the many life challenges that we face today. We hope you'll find the information on our site informative and that you'll go ahead and Try Hypnosis Today!
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