Modern hypnosis began with an Austrian doctor called Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 - 1815) in the 18th Century. Mesmer was a medical graduate from the famed medical school of Vienna and after studying as a Jesuit priest, he became interested in magnetism. He found the he could cure people of different diseases without medicine or surgery, and he believed he had a magnetic force which could regulate the flow of magnetic fluids in people to produce a cure and thereby became Europe's foremost expert at magnetic healing, where magnets where passed over the body to effect a healing. Mesmer forgot his magnets one day and so just made passes over the patient with his hands and was surprised to find that they got better. From there on, he thought he had sufficient magnetic fluid in himself to effect the cures. In many cases his cures were successful and this method of healing came to be known as Mesmerism.
During the last hundred years hypnosis has not stopped moving forward and has advanced to what you see today. During World War II it was widely used among psychiatrists and physicians to treat problems such as stress and battle fatigue. There have also been formed many councils, associations and organisations all over the world during the last century in order to assist the modern-day therapist to keep in touch with the latest information and discoveries. And most have a “Code of Ethics” for their members to follow.
Hypnosis has evolved a long way since its first uses all those years ago. Modern day hypnotherapy is a very effective tool that is used to treat a wide range of problems, from emotional and psychological problems, to being used an effective tool in pain relief. It has long been believed by many healers that body, thoughts and emotions can influence one another. Therefore it is possible to influence a physical sickness by working on and realizing particular emotions and by changing thoughts and behavioural patterns.
What Can Hypnotherapy Help With?
Most people know that Modern hypnotherapy can treat and relieve a wide range of conditions and symptoms, alter unwanted behaviour patterns and create new ones However, you may be surprised to find that it can help you to pass your driving test or ease that itching sensation that you get with Eczema.
Although not exhaustive, the list below will give you an idea of the range of conditions that can be helped by hypnotherapy.
| Alcoholism | MS (Multiple Sclerosis) |
| Anger Management | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| Asthma | Pain Control |
| Blushing | Panic Attacks |
| Breast Enlargement | Phobias (fear of flying, spiders, etc) |
| Confidence/Motivation/Self Esteem | Psoriasis |
| Depression | Relaxation |
| Drug Addiction | Sexual Problems |
| Eating Disorders | Sports / Work Performance |
| Eczema | Stammering |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Studying & Examination Nerves |
| Insomnia | Smoking Cessation |
| ME | Stress / Anxieties |
| Migraine | Weight Loss |
Most of the issues named above take more than one session of approximately 50 minutes per session depending of the client. However, Smoking Cessations are one-off’s and the session can take up to 2 hours.
Contraindications
If you suffer from epilepsy, schizophrenia, clinical depression or any other mental illnesses, you should consult your GP before requesting hypnotherapy treatment. You should also declare any prescribed medication you are taking prior to hypnotherapy.