Sex, Lies and Hypnosis
Congratulations to Ursula James and Channel 5 (and to Dr Felix Economakis and BBC3) for at last presenting hypnotherapy accurately on TV. It is refreshing to see the media moving away from hypnosis for entertainment and 'shock value' and instead to show how life changing hypnotherapy treatment can be for people who are stuck with difficult issues.
One of the most commonly asked questions by my new clients or students is "is hypnosis like I've seen on TV? Usually meaning, will I have to bark like a dog, be made to do embarassing things, or reveal secrets that I don't want to?"
Hypnotherapy is none of these things, being a serious and well researched therapy to provide support to individuals who want change. Programmes like "Sex, Lies and Hypnosis" and "The Panic Room" are beginning to show this at last.
Of course, hypnosis is an interesting therapy as far as the cameras are concerned, and the addition of gadgets for the purpose of "good telly" is too tempting to avoid. I doubt that Ursula usually uses the CT scan headband (and assistant in the next room) to check that her clients are in hypnosis. The coloured peaks and troughs on the screen representing brain wave cycles are nice visually, but any well trained hypnotherapist knows when their client is in hypnosis without such obvious props.
Apart from that, is "Sex Lies and Hypnosis" an accurate representation of what might happen in a session? The answer, in the main, is yes.
Ursula is using a range of therapy techniques in the session, including visualisation and reframing devices, but the most obvious technique, and the most memorable from programme One, is regression. In regression the therapist is helping the client to return to what we call an Initial Sensitising Event - in other words, the root of the issue. Again, for the sake of "good telly", the client's distress at returning to an uncomfortable episode is shown graphically, with zoom shots of tears, fear, anger and frustration.
Let's be clear, that "Abreaction", as this release of emotions is called, is not always necessary or forthcoming. Often there is no Initial Sensitising Event, or there is a minor one, or a series of minor events. This often results in giving the client a new sense of awareness or self-realisation. Therefore, hypnotherapy is not always, by any means going to be experienced in such a strong way.
And, not all hypnotherapy uses regression - this is but one valuable technique that a well trained hypnotherapist will use. It will depend on the issue and the client whether the therapist decides to use regression, and this should always be with the express permission of the client after giving them a full understanding of what the process involves.
Having decided to use regression therapy, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, emotions or anxieties can often disperse with remarkable ease and make real positive changes for people within a short space of time.
This is different from some traditional talking therapies. To use a simple metaphor, talking through issues can feel a little like our car breaking down. We can lift the bonnet and have a look and come to a conclusion about what is wrong with the car. Then we can call a mechanic who can stand with us as we both have a look and work out what is wrong with the car. However, until we roll our sleeves up and get our hands dirty to actually address the issue, that car is going to stay broken. Its one thing to be able to discuss what our feelings are, another to actually address them, face them and resolve them.
What I find sad about the "Sex Lies and Hypnosis" Programme is that the first episode showed a young couple who were really helped by the therapy. If they had not had the benefit of being part of the programme, I'm certain that they could not have afforded Ursula's (or any other private therapist's) fees. Even one or two sessions would have been out of the question for the couple who were struggling to pay for a new washing machine. Hypnotherapy is not offered on the NHS and rarely offered by Medical Insurance Providers.
For private practice, there is a wide range of fees charged by different therapists. A lower rate often indicates a newly-qualified (or student) therapist who might not have the confidence to deal with every issue that they are presented with. Effective therapy from an experienced therapist, therefore becomes quite an investment for some. Yet, as solution focused therapy, it has a lot to offer those who can benefit from it most. Organisations such as UKCP who register properly qualified hypno-psychotherapists, are helping to change this, but we still have some way to go.
Congratulations to Ursula James and Channel 5 (and to Dr Felix Economakis and BBC3) for at last presenting hypnotherapy accurately on TV. It is refreshing to see the media moving away from hypnosis for entertainment and 'shock value' and instead to show how life changing hypnotherapy treatment can be for people who are stuck with difficult issues.
One of the most commonly asked questions by my new clients or students is "is hypnosis like I've seen on TV? Usually meaning, will I have to bark like a dog, be made to do embarassing things, or reveal secrets that I don't want to?"
Hypnotherapy is none of these things, being a serious and well researched therapy to provide support to individuals who want change. Programmes like "Sex, Lies and Hypnosis" and "The Panic Room" are beginning to show this at last.
Of course, hypnosis is an interesting therapy as far as the cameras are concerned, and the addition of gadgets for the purpose of "good telly" is too tempting to avoid. I doubt that Ursula usually uses the CT scan headband (and assistant in the next room) to check that her clients are in hypnosis. The coloured peaks and troughs on the screen representing brain wave cycles are nice visually, but any well trained hypnotherapist knows when their client is in hypnosis without such obvious props.
Apart from that, is "Sex Lies and Hypnosis" an accurate representation of what might happen in a session? The answer, in the main, is yes.
Ursula is using a range of therapy techniques in the session, including visualisation and reframing devices, but the most obvious technique, and the most memorable from programme One, is regression. In regression the therapist is helping the client to return to what we call an Initial Sensitising Event - in other words, the root of the issue. Again, for the sake of "good telly", the client's distress at returning to an uncomfortable episode is shown graphically, with zoom shots of tears, fear, anger and frustration.
Let's be clear, that "Abreaction", as this release of emotions is called, is not always necessary or forthcoming. Often there is no Initial Sensitising Event, or there is a minor one, or a series of minor events. This often results in giving the client a new sense of awareness or self-realisation. Therefore, hypnotherapy is not always, by any means going to be experienced in such a strong way.
And, not all hypnotherapy uses regression - this is but one valuable technique that a well trained hypnotherapist will use. It will depend on the issue and the client whether the therapist decides to use regression, and this should always be with the express permission of the client after giving them a full understanding of what the process involves.
Having decided to use regression therapy, uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, emotions or anxieties can often disperse with remarkable ease and make real positive changes for people within a short space of time.
This is different from some traditional talking therapies. To use a simple metaphor, talking through issues can feel a little like our car breaking down. We can lift the bonnet and have a look and come to a conclusion about what is wrong with the car. Then we can call a mechanic who can stand with us as we both have a look and work out what is wrong with the car. However, until we roll our sleeves up and get our hands dirty to actually address the issue, that car is going to stay broken. Its one thing to be able to discuss what our feelings are, another to actually address them, face them and resolve them.
What I find sad about the "Sex Lies and Hypnosis" Programme is that the first episode showed a young couple who were really helped by the therapy. If they had not had the benefit of being part of the programme, I'm certain that they could not have afforded Ursula's (or any other private therapist's) fees. Even one or two sessions would have been out of the question for the couple who were struggling to pay for a new washing machine. Hypnotherapy is not offered on the NHS and rarely offered by Medical Insurance Providers.
For private practice, there is a wide range of fees charged by different therapists. A lower rate often indicates a newly-qualified (or student) therapist who might not have the confidence to deal with every issue that they are presented with. Effective therapy from an experienced therapist, therefore becomes quite an investment for some. Yet, as solution focused therapy, it has a lot to offer those who can benefit from it most. Organisations such as UKCP who register properly qualified hypno-psychotherapists, are helping to change this, but we still have some way to go.
Labels: Lies and Hypnosis, Sex
