Hypnotherapy Potential

Greetings from Doc Judie
How many sessions will it take?

This is probably the most common question when a client wants to break a habit.  Most do not want to sit around an office talking about their habit any longer than they "are forced to" and yes, they are also looking at their wallet!
So how long does it take to break a habit?  No quick answer, but the training of a therapist who has a background in psychology, drug and alcohol therapy vs a lay hypnotherapist who has six weeks of training will look at a client differently. 
The lay hypnotherapist will only look at the symptom and will suggest a behavioral change Surprise! It can work, but usually only for a period of time. If the client has not come to terms with the cause of the habit, it may return under stress, chemical inbalances in the brain chemistry, or take another form. ("I no longer smoke pot, but I now enjoy wine!").
It also depends on the motivation of the client.  Can you imagine working with Charlie Sheen? He does not want to quit, so until he does either by loss of income, court order, or failed health, no amount of therapy will help.

I had a couple today with a husband who is an alcoholic and a wife that "just can't leave him." They are divorced but live together and have two children. They are both lovely people, but he does not think he has a problem and can manage a six pack a night, and a couple of nights that go into the wee morning hours "with the boys!" He does not want to give up his drinking "on the surface" but he knows she has had it with him and is ready to leave him for the final time.  After the intital interview, I realized that he is afraid that he can't quit. There is so much alcohol in his system that is is not a safe suggestion to take him off  completely. I asked him what was a reasonable amount that he could commit to for the first week.  He came up with two beers a night and no drinking with the boys.His wife was not happy with the gradual withdrawl, but she agreed to go along with it.  I also gave him massive amounts of amino acids as alcohol issues are not always a matter of will power, (or any other addiction for that matter) but body chemistry.  The aminos which contain tyrosine, L glutamine and phenylalaine help with the cravings and replace dopamine naturally (alcohol depletes the dopamine receptors).
So to answer the question, one session, probably not unless the client has had success and is on the final stage and just needs a push.  Divorce, long term use, poor self esteem need tools over several sessions.  I usually recommend five sessions and then a review to see how they are doing.

If you have started therapy with a qualified therapist who uses ASCH hypnosis, stay wit the program,it may be longer than you want, but with the layering of the message and the guidance of your counselor,your chances of success are far greater.I'll let you now how the couple is progressing next week.
Here's to your mental and physical health
Doc Judie
judie@docjudiecom
775 7823889

Hypnosis does not work for all clients

Greetings from Doc Judie

I absolutely love the art and science of hypnosis.  I attend two major conferences yearly to keep up on the current trends and I subscribe to journals to read up on the latest clinical trials and reports. In general,  over 85% of my clients report a positive experience. They report that it .works better and faster than cognitive behavioral therapy (talk therapy).  However, there are certain conditions where hypnosis is not the best treatment of choice. . Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules about who to treat and who not to treat, it comes with experience, training, and learning from other professionals in the field The best indicator is usually from the client's self report on how a hypnosis session worked for them. 

For this reason, I usually interview new clients over the phone and explain the pros and cons of hypnosis.  It is "a tool" not a cure all.  It is a way of relaxing the mind so  the message of change can be heard from a calm relaxed state.  During the first session,  I follow the standard protocol and have my clients fill out a intake form  and I go over their history, the medications, and ask if they have been in therapy before or have they ever been hypnotized? This is not a definite "rule out" as hypnosis is both science and an art form.  The client may have not connected with their therapist, or perhaps the hypnosis was not delivered by a trained expert.  If my clients are currently seeing a MFT, a psychologist, or medical doctor,  it is not a good idea to have two different therapists working on them at the same time.  If they were referred to me,  I ask for written permission to speak to their mental health or medical professional.   If they present with Bipolar Disorder (a mood disorder) or Personality Disorders, hypnosis is not  the best choice  I have made exceptions, by working in tandem with their doctors.  Even though I treat for addictions, if the cases are severe, I feel they need a full treatment team and I am only part of it. See what I mean, it gets complicated!

The extreme cases are not what I generally work with; I have a full practice of people who are just "stuck" going through life phases, feeling depressed, anxious, or want to lose weight, stop smoking,  pass a test, or get through a divorce.  They are good subjects for hypnosis. Where it gets tricky is when  a client appears to be a good candidate, meets all the criteria, and then reports after a session: "That did not do anything for me!"  I am then faced with a couple of choices  I ask if it was what they expected, or if they noticed any change in their behavior.  Yes, I have had a few clients tell me that "they hated it!"  It made them feel out of control and they felt vulnerable.  It is best to believe them  I do not live in their heads.   I might not be the best choice for them and I give them a referral to other sources that could possible be a better choice for their treatment.

There is another approach to what I have just said, not all hypnosis sessions are the same, even for the same client.  Sometimes change takes place immediately, sometimes the change order happens after a few sessions of layering the same message, sometimes long after the treatment.  If the client is willing to stick with it, I try different approaches that work with the client's personality.  Some clients respond to direct commands, others like a story line, again,part of the art form.

Another interesting factor is how hypnotizable is the client. I recently filled out questionnaire developed by Dr. Ron Perkala which gives a range of "very likely to not very likely" to respond to hypnosis.   I was surprised that I was on the low end of the scale (not a very good subject for hypnosis). So it made me rethink the questionnaire.  I usually  respond immediately, but sometimes it does take a few sessions before my behavior changes.  Hypnosis has been very helpful for me personally.  It continues to be a valuable tool for motivation, losing weight and passing tests! 

Now that I have rambled on, and probably confused you if this is the first blog you have read out of curiosity or you may be   considering hypnosis, so I will leave you on a positive note.  Give your hypnotherapist as much information as you can.  Tell him/her how you feel after the session. If you are in the vast majority of people who try hypnosis, you will more than likely enjoy the session and you should see change in your behavior in a short period of time.  However, if it does not work for you, do not hesitate to tell your therapist about your experience.  There are so many ways to reach the mind and we all are learning from each other.

Here's to your physical and mental health
Doc Judie
775 7823889 judie@docjudie.com