Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very well researched and proven therapy used to challenge un-helpful thought patterns and beliefs that lead to poor life choices. Often people are unaware that many of the problems that they have in every-day life, are made somewhat worse by their under-lying thoughts and beliefs.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, helps to identify and adjust these beliefs and thought patterns. A part of the process is to identify more accurate and helpful cognitions. The role of Therapist is to facilitate and empower the Client to uncover their hitherto unhelpful cognitions. To challenge their validity and to subsequently formulate a new way of thinking. One that is more valid and conducive to beneficial outcomes.
Perhaps surprisingly, hypnosis far pre-dates psychotherapy and is credited as being the foundation of traditional psychotherapy methods.
There are many misnomers related to Hypnotherapy. Perhaps brought about by the media and stage hypnosis.
In fact:
It is in fact, a completely safe process!
Under Hypnosis, a state of deep relaxation is achieved. At which time the mind is untroubled by worry or the excessive 'noise' of the day. I liken it to that time when you first start to awaken in the morning. Yoour eyes are still closed. you are very relaxed, you know where you are and could react in an instant if the need arose. But you lay there deciding whether to get up now, lay there a bit longer and rush a little more later. You are very relaxed and at this time your mind is very receptive, because it is not concentrating on anything else. It hasn't yet been distracted by the multitude of stimulants competing for it's attention, simultaneously throughout the day. As a result, it is very receptive to new ideas.
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy combines the structure and research-based techniques of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with the focus and relaxation of Hypnotherapy. It helps clients to understand and change patterns of thought and behaviour at a deep level.
It can be used initially to help to discover the thoughts and beliefs that a Client may find is holding them back or causing them problems. Most often they are not aware of these cognitions themselves. Because they are able to relax very deeply under Hypnosis, the process of exposing these cognitions can be shortened, often quite drastically. Similarly, the process can of establishing, more advantageous cognitions, can be drastically shortened. There is the added advantage that Self Hypnosis can be taught to enable the Client to potentially be able to maintain and enhance their health, at will, for life.