by Rev. William Mitchell, CI
When people find out that I am a Hypnotist, they want to know what can be done with Hypnosis. Hypnotism is much more than a party trick or a comedy routine. The National Institutes of Health technology assessment panel recognizes hypnosis in the treatment of a variety of disorders and recommends its integration into medical interventions.
“Hypnosis has been used for Medical purposes for a very long time. It is routinely taught in over one-third of accredited schools of medicine and in PhD and diploma programs in clinical and counseling psychology.” (Barabasz,2009)
According to study abstracts in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (www.ijceh.com) some of the most common evidence-based uses of hypnosis include:
- Acute and Chronic pain
- PTSD
- Childhood and adolescent problems
- Childbirth pain and trauma
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Weight Control/healthy eating/exercise
- Psychosomatic disorders
- Habit Control (Smoking Cessation)
- Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
- Headaches and migraines
- Cancer patient care
From Medical Hypnosis Primer Clinical and Research Evidence. Edited by Arreed Barabasz, 2009
The items in bold are the ones I have had experience with in my practice at Personal Motivation Hypnosis Clinic (www.hypnoprogram.com ) however I specialize in Weight Control/healthy eating/exercise and Habit Control (Smoking Cessation). I teach my clients Self –Hypnosis for most medical issues like pain, headaches and migraines, and IBS.
I focus on Hypnotism because it is a safe, non-invasive and effective technique that can empower clients. In the natural hypnotic state individuals can access their own inner resources to create positive outcomes and solutions for difficult issues, like weight loss and smoking cessation.
A short definition of hypnosis is an “attentive perception and concentration, which leads to controlled imagination” (Spiegel, 1998. p.2). Relaxation is often a by-product of hypnosis, but is not required. Hypnosis is also different for different people, because some possess more “hypnotic ability” than others. However, most people in the general population respond to hypnosis, it is just a matter of degree or “depth of trance”.
Because I am also a Christian Pastor, some people are initially surprised that I use Hypnotism. I assure such people that this is the most natural and God-given form of medicine. My Church is proud of the fact that I can help both members and the public with health and medical issues using Hypnotism. Many of my Church members have used my pastoral counseling to stop smoking, lose weight, overcome fears and control pain with self-hypnosis. Before I arrived as Pastor, half of my Deacons had stopped smoking using hypnosis offered by a local psychiatrist, so they understand it is a medical procedure that is used by God to improve our lives.
I have seen clients since 2003 in Springfield, IL. From 2005-2009 I served on the SIU School of Medicine Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Panel. My new St. Louis Personal Motivation Hypnosis Clinic has already had many successful clients since I opened in April. For more information you may email me at hypnosisclinic@sbcglobal.net or call 877-708-5822 to schedule a Free Consultation/Screening to discuss your issue and to test your “hypnotic ability”.