fastestinternetaccess.info

Therapy: Credibility Hypnotherapy gains credibility

Intelligencer Journal Lancaster New Era; Combined Saturday edition, Feb 12, 2008 by Brian Wallace

“Denise” recently took a relaxing trip above the clouds. The Lancaster woman, who asked that her real name not be used, wasn’t in an airplane but was seated on a couch in Conestoga. Denise was taking a journey in her mind while undergoing hypnosis therapy to help her cope with anxiety and stress.

During the recent session, hypnotherapist Roger Willard led Denise through deep-breathing exercises and then verbally coaxed her into relaxing. Using only his voice, Willard then prompted Denise to picture herself in a comfortable place where she could block out all distractions. The 52- year-old mother imagined lying on her back, floating lazily above the clouds. “Enjoy the feeling because you are in control,” Willard told her. “You are there. It’s good to relax. Just stay there for a while.” He then urged Denise to unburden her mind of her problems, and the two of them discussed her conflicted feelings about one of her children, who is moving out of the house. Twenty minutes later, Willard brought Denise out of her trance and asked her how she felt. “Relaxed,” she responded. “Very relaxed.” Mission accomplished. Before coming to Willard in January, Denise was prone to feeling sad or angry – a reaction to problems within her family. For years, she had found it difficult to relax, despite taking medication for anxiety and receiving emotional counseling. Today, after four hypnotherapy sessions, Denise said she feels like a different person. “All I know is the mess I was in when I first came in here is gone, and it hasn’t come back,” she said. Hypnosis has long been associated with stage shows – think of the stereotypical swinging watch and a subject doing wacky things on stage – and weight-loss or smoking-cessation programs. But hypnosis therapy, or “hypnotherapy,” also can be used to help people cope with chronic pain, skin disorders, phobias, stress, anxiety and other maladies. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hypnotherapy is effective in reducing fear and anxiety associated with medical and dental procedures and appears to help decrease pain for burn patients and speed their healing. Hypnosis also may help people with cancer who are experiencing anxiety, pain and stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. Studies indicate that 75 percent to 90 percent of people are susceptible to hypnotic suggestion, according to Prevention magazine
hypnotherapy in london