I have a feeling there are similarities between hypnotherapy and NLP: they seem to be about "reprogramming" the mind to overcome obstacles and patterns. Certainly, no-one should denied a way out of their problems, but as is often said here "the way out is through" not "over".

As I am seeing it at the moment, we have to peel back layer after layer of distorted perceptions to find out who we really are. This process is not easy, and is likely to be very painful at times. The only lasting peace will be obtained through that I think.

Where hyponotherapy strikes me as possibly being useful is in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), if it is due simply to some kind of subconcious habit.

Yes I agree with you. There are similarities with NLP. In neuro linguistic programming again there is an attempt to create a state of being that we want rather than accepting and being awesomely okay with what is.

In NLP, spoken language, body language and mental imagery are all contolled to produce a certain effect. I've encountered people trying to manipulate all of these things to try to appear powerful or confident in front of others for example. Perversely when confidence arises from pure nothingness inside, then our outward actions are authentically shaped and we we radiate natural beingness which in effect is total confidence because it is absolute acceptance.

So in my view, with NLP the tail is wagging the dog rather than the other way around and ultimately it is destined to fail in terms of what our true purpose here is.
NLP can be useful however - or at least a variaition of the principles of NLP. I've experienced that when I let go of identifying with my ego and 'right action' arises from being, 'right action' is still distorted in the mind. There are all kinds of reasons for this - the mind is like a battlefield where our passions and desires are resolved and much interference occurs from our environment. When we are totally aware of our own distortions and have to a greater degree illiminated these, then we can be sure what is an authentic pull from within. However to bring into effect this authentic pull requires the mind 'to be on board'. Mind, body and spirit need to be aligned. In this case, I've found creating mental imagery which is in line with the pull helps bring about right action.

So for example, when you are in mid flow of a true self inspired action, visualising the outcome of what you know to be happening. However it requires us to hold these visualisations lightly and as a continually moving and evolving draft so that we are not in danger of trying to manifest a false reality.

Chris

Do you think it is possible that hypnotherapy could be beneficial if it is used to help someone recall (or release) repressed trauma and events that have left a person in a mess of distorted behaviour?

Generally the whole concept of hypnotherapy seems a little odd to me, and speaks of encouraging denial and repression, rather than the other way around. Reprogramming the brain, seems to deny a person the process of natural unfolding that invites self realisation. It actually seems potentially dangerous to me. There is the potential of creating false memories and trauma, and allowing a person to become utterly removed from their truth.

Well I've experienced excellent regression therapy which released trauma and any kind of deep tissue work including Openhand Meditation in Movement is deigned to achieve that. However to me this is distinctly different to hypnotherapy where I observe the tendency is to take oneself away from the usual state of perception.

In regression therapy, I believe it is most effective when you travel to the place in question in your usual state of perception although it will be expanded to a greater or lesser degree depending on the skill of the facilitator/healer.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone who thinks there are genuine benefits for hypnotherapy?

Chris

Here is a website by a once popular hypnotherapist who gives first hand accounts of the dangers...click here

Do you have any practical suggestions as alternatives to hypnotherapy or NLP for getting over problems, addictions etc?

I agree with Trin that false memory syndrome can be a big concern where therapists use hypnosis or similar trance-like states. Some people are very suggestible, and this has big implications when dealing with issues of alleged child sexual abuse or the retrieval of memories as evidence from a crime witness.

More at False Memory Syndrome Foundation.

Thanks for the links Liberation and Chris.

It can be quite shocking to learn how hypnotherapy can go awry! If people using testimonies after hypnosis as evidence for crimes, I dred to think about the consequences.

It reminds me of allopathic medicine, whereby people are generally looking for a quick fix to their medical condition... but find a host of side effects that they had not anticipated. I guess this is to be expected in any case of looking for a quick fix to problems, when we treat the symptoms and not the 'disease'.

I read in the danger of hypnotherapy link above (straight from the horses mouth) that a woman was found dead in her bed the morning after being told: "I'm going to count from one to three and clap my hands. And as I clap my hands you will feel 10,000 volts of electricity shoot through your chair, and it will hurt!"

It seems that hypnotherapy is open to so much abuse. Even if a practitioner has 'good' intentions, surely the potential is always that the consequences could be seriously strange. I mean, what if the ordinarily centred and wholehearted practitioner were having a really bad day...

Discover a simple process for over coming addictions... click here.

This new article by Chris may be of interest (taken from the home page). It talks of a process useful for overcoming issues such as addictions.
Trin
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Hi I read your postings with interest, I am to begin my studies of this subject in the late Autumn, I do appreciate that the intention of the therapist, as with any therapy has to be good.

I met with some qualified colleagues this week and I was very pleased that they were concerned with the whole person and not just the topic that the client had presented with. I look forward to learning more and ask for clarity in my learning. Hope to be able to discuss this more whilst I am learning!

Jules

I choose to be patient, inspired, loving and pure and a quiet knowing tells me I'm sure.