Hypnotherapy is a supplemental technique utilizing hypnosis to aid and treat various symptoms, health conditions, mental issues, and more. In hypnotherapy, the person is induced in a deep hypnotic state marked by a waking awareness. This state allows the person to experience detached external attention and focus on the inner experiences. Hypnotherapy is sometimes used to treat specific phobias, anxiety disorders, pain management, weight loss, smoking cessation, and more. Today, it is one of the most popular ways of breaking out of a bad habit (smoking), trauma, anxiety, and more.
There are various types of hypnotherapies, they are mentioned below:
In this type of hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist works with the client to create and find a solution to the problem. This hypnotherapy allows the person/patient to work 'towards something' (a goal) rather than 'away from something (a problem), which makes it successful.
In behavioral hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist works with the client to modify and change their current or future habits and behaviors. The hypnotherapist works collaboratively with the client using hypnotherapy techniques and hypnotic suggestions to support behavioral changes and build new habits.
In cognitive hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist focuses less on the behaviors and habits of the client and more on the beliefs and thoughts relating to the said behaviors. This type of hypnotherapy helps clients update and change their old beliefs and thoughts on a 'subconscious level', which makes the patient think about things differently.
In Ericksonian hypnotherapy, named after Milton H. Erickson, an American psychiatrist and hypnotist, the hypnotherapist use 'indirect suggestions' and storytelling, metaphors, etc., to create changes in the clients. These changes can be behavioral, cognitive, or even analytical. It is a highly effective form of hypnotherapy.
In regression hypnotherapy (or 'regression to cause'), the hypnotherapist takes the client back in their mind to face their past events that might be the root cause of the problem. This can be used for phobias or fears, but this type of hypnotherapy is not used to access negative events or memories because it might traumatize the client once again.
This type of hypnotherapy is for clients who believe in past lives and want to know about their past lives and their effect on their current issues. Clients might be taken back to their past life memories and experiences, and some might gain insight into their problems and figure out why it's happening.
Clinical hypnotherapy is performed in a clinical environment or to treat a client's medical condition. These conditions can be pain, skin issues, obstetrics (childbirth), psycho-sexual disorders, and other such problems.
Hypno-psychotherapy uses the integration of both hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. Usually, this type of hypnotherapy is used to learn both hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. Then, the therapist uses both this therapy method to treat the client.
In Hypno-counselling, the therapist uses counseling techniques rather than hypnotherapy to treat the client.
Other than the abovementioned hypnotherapies, there are some other therapies and techniques as well that are used to treat the clients. When choosing which hypnotherapy to go with, there is usually no 'best type of hypnotherapy' as it depends on the client's condition and what issues the client is dealing with. The client then can choose the type of hypnotherapy to best suit their condition.
Fulcher, R.O.R.Y.Z. 2020. Types-of-hypnotherapy. 15th January. Types of Hypnotherapy. [Online]. [17 February 2022]. Available from: https://hypnotc.com/types-of-hypnotherapy/
