Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy For Mental Issues

Did you know, hypnotherapy can be utilized for almost any problem treatable by psychotherapy, and for many physical ailments as well? (Saichek/Vail)

Josef Breuer (1842-1925) an Austrian physician, physiologist, and a founder of psychoanalysis stated that neuroses could arise from unconscious processes and, furthermore, that the neurotic symptoms could disappear when these underlying causes became part of the conscious mind. He communicated these findings to Sigmund Freud and the two men entered into a collaboration. Breuer emphasized hypnosis as a form of treatment.

Wolberg states in his book, Medical Hypnosis, "The importance of Breuer's work lies in the change of emphasis in hypnotic therapy, from the direct removal of symptoms to the dealing with the apparent cause of these symptoms." Breuer created the cathartic method of hypnosis, reliving the traumatic experience would lead to a cure.

The Story of Anna O

It was in 1880 that Breuer first observed the development of a severe mental illness in one of his patients, "Anna O." Breuer found that he could reduce the severity of Anna's symptoms by encouraging her to describe her fantasies and hallucinations. He began using hypnosis to facilitate these sessions. He found that when she recalled a series of memories back to a traumatic memory, one of her many symptoms would disappear, a process that Breuer called cathartic.

Soon, Breuer was treating Anna with hypnosis twice a day and eventually all of her symptoms were gone. Breuer drew two important conclusions from his work with Anna: that her symptoms were the result of thoughts that were buried in her unconscious and that when these thoughts were spoken and became conscious, the symptoms disappeared.

Promiment psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers in the United States use hypnosis in conjunction with traditional therapies. However, in Canada, there are few trained medical professionals who use hypnosis. This is mainly due to ignorance. It's been almost 50 years since the American Medical Association endorsed hypnosis as a viable treatment modality. Canada only just repealed the law in 1998 to allow the practice of hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy in Canada is very new, but there is certainly a lot of movement and interest in this art. Hypnosis has proven to be an invaluable tool in helping people treat PTSD, depression, trauma and anxiety. Hypnosis is not advised for psychotic patients or MPD's.

Most people who are diagnosed with a mental disorder have already been through traditional treatments such as drug therapy or psychotherapy and even naturopathic and holistic methods. If you are still seeking relief, hypnotherapy and hypnosis can prove to be effective.