Hypnosis FAQ page is probably the most important page on this website because it helps you find answers to questions that can influence your decision about using hypnosis for your treatment.

Hypnosis, performed by a medical practitioner, a.k.a. hypnotherapy, uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve heightened awareness, sometimes referred to as a trance. In this state, the person’s attention is so focused that everything that happens around them is temporarily blocked or ignored.

Q. What is hypnosis?

A. That’s a difficult question to answer promptly and precisely. Some individuals believe it to be a ‘transformed state of awareness’; however, due to the lack of a universally accepted interpretation of consciousness, this debate can become circular. When we discuss hypnosis, we frequently tend to be either speaking about the loosened up, concentrated, taken-in feelings related to a ‘hypnotic trance state’ (although some people do not like the term trance), or we tend to be discussing the intriguing things people can do when hypnotized—these are the items of ‘tip.’ For more details, a great place to begin reading is the interpretations page. Otherwise, follow the links on the left for additional information about the study of hypnotherapy and its usage.

Hypnosis initiates the state of cognizance in which a patient seemingly drops the control of intentional action and is highly approachable to propositions or directions. Thus, this method benefits the rehabilitation program when the hypnotherapist recovers blocked recollections or adjusts the patient’s behavior. A person adopts a mindset that diminishes their capacity for critical thought, strategic action, and anticipating guidance from others. Therapy uses it to assist individuals in rehabilitating or positively modifying their behavior to become more responsible.

Q. How does hypnotism work?

A. Hypnotism works because it changes patients’ subconscious minds and habitual patterns. Thus, hypnotherapy helps to motivate patients with more guidance and instructions. In clinical hypnosis, we talk to your subconscious and embed the right synapses in your brain.

Q. Will I lose control during hypnosis?

No, you do not lose control. You always have power and are aware of what’s happening. Hypnosis is just a state of deeply relaxed focus.

Q. Are there any side effects of hypnosis?

A. Clinical hypnotherapy is a safe procedure with advantages when carried out by a qualified professional. However, in rare cases, the patient may have unwanted side effects, including dizziness, headache, anxiety, false memories, or stomach upset.

Q. Is hypnotherapy genuine?

A: Short answer: yes! Hypnotic recommendations can alter individuals’ experiences as well as assumptions. For example, hypnotic tips can create vibrant hallucinations or modify your perception of discomfort. Studies that gauge brain tasks have revealed that hypnosis and hypnotic tips alter how the brain refines information. Randomized, regulated medical tests have indicated that hypnotherapy can be an effective treatment for discomfort and a practical part of therapies for various other conditions. People often question the naturalness of hypnosis because it is relatively easy to fake a hypnotic response. While this is true, there are also genuine, measurable impacts.

Q. Can anyone be hypnotized?

A. Yes, everyone is hypnotizable to some extent—some more than others. A hypnotic sensitivity scale (see ‘dimension of hypnosis’) can determine an individual’s vulnerability to hypnosis. Scientists identify individuals as ‘highs,’ ‘mediums,’ or ‘lows.’ 80% of people remain in the ‘tool’ band, suggesting that they can experience many of the impacts of hypnotic suggestion and are likely to gain from its medical usage if needed. About 10% of the populace are considered highly hypnotizable, implying that they can conveniently experience dramatic changes in feeling and assumption with hypnosis. About 10% are categorized as reduced”, implying that they have not reacted strongly to hypnosis (although there are some skill programs that intend to increase sensitivity to hypnotherapy).

Some clinicians, particularly Milton Erickson, believe that anyone can undergo hypnosis; however, the hypnotherapist must tailor the design or content of their techniques. However, since the only way to assess suggestibility is to observe how people respond to suggestions and it is rarely measured in scientific contexts, it is difficult to provide evidence to support this claim.

Is it possible to customize hypnotizability?

Researchers have developed educational programs to assess participants’ reactions to suggestibility tests. Some scientists have argued that raises produced through this technique are not genuine and are merely the result of individuals being urged to respond without needing to experience their feedback as spontaneous (a standard Weitzenhoffer set as a ‘true’ response to recommendation). However, other researchers have argued that the subjective responses of such ‘experienced highly suggestible’ participants are equivalent to those of ‘commonly highly suggestible’ participants without training. Researchers have also discovered that some medications effectively increase suggestibility. See changing suggestibility for more in-depth details.

Q. Is hypnosis dangerous?

A. Hypnosis is not by itself an unsafe treatment. However, there are concerns that if it is not used correctly, it can bring about negative reactions. The risks associated with hypnotherapy (for example, participants periodically experience mild frustration) have been revealed not to vary from those associated with attending a university lecture (Lynn, 2000).
Problems may occur due to faulty techniques on the part of the hypnotherapist or misunderstandings about hypnotherapy. For a fuller conversation on the possible threats of hypnotherapy, read this area of Campbell Perry’s discussion of hypnosis on the website of the False Memory Syndrome.

Q. Can hypnosis make me do things I would rather not do?

A. No, you can’t be forced to do anything in hypnosis. In hypnotherapy, you keep power over your ability to act on tips; however, if you allow yourself to act on a recommendation, you may feel the impacts are taking place alone.
Orne & Evans carried out a research study to discover if they could make hypnotized subjects do antisocial acts, such as throwing a container of acid in the face of a study assistant (for safety and security, the container didn’t contain acid). However, the subjects in the experiment didn’t know this. They discovered that 5 out of 6 high hypnotizable individuals tossed the ‘acid’; however, 6 out of 6 low hypnotizable participants were asked to mimic remaining in hypnotherapy through the ‘acid.’ This experiment reveals that it’s not something unique regarding remaining in hypnosis, which can make individuals carry out antisocial acts; instead, it is something regarding the social scenario in which the experiment was performed. The experiment reasons that if you can get people to dedicate antisocial acts without hypnotherapy (the reduced hypnotizability that was being asked to claim), there is no demand to use hypnotherapy to discuss what individuals are doing (to learn more on experiments, including authority-reviewed Stanley Milgram’s well-known experiment below).

Q. Is hypnosis like sleep?

Q. What does hypnosis seem like?

A. Hypnosis can feel different for each individual. Numerous hypnotists (scientists & medical professionals) utilize aspects of relaxation treatments, so individuals frequently link a feeling of relaxation with hypnotherapy. Various people have all sorts of physical reactions to leisure guidelines; some feel as though their bodies are hefty, whereas others can feel light, nearly as if they were floating. Psychologically, again, people have all sorts of feedback. People usually report feeling extremely focused or absorbed, and they often find it easy to achieve this state. Given that guidelines for images are typically used, people can have highly vibrant, imaginative experiences—many record feeling ‘as if they were there. Erika Fromm created an excellent publication on self-hypnosis based on the outcomes of a substantial study, which includes plenty of intriguing descriptions from participants in her studies.

Q. Can I get ‘stuck’ during hypnotherapy?

A. There is no evidence that anybody can end up stuck in hypnosis. The most awful scenario could be that you fall asleep and awaken unhypnotized! Orne & Evans carried out a well-known research study in which individuals were hypnotized, and the experimenter left the area under the pretense that there was an issue he needed to take care of; the participant was observed (without his understanding) to see what took place. The result was that participants automatically got up, and the highly hypnotizable took a little longer.

Q. Why should one use hypnotherapy as a remedy?

A. As many people suffer from depression and stress, or some try to quit smoking, hypnotherapy can solve all these issues and give you a positive, healthy life without fear.

Q. How long will the treatment go on?

A. The length of the treatment depends on the nature and severity of your problem. Medical doctors often use hypnosis as an additional treatment, along with other forms of medical intervention. An average session lasts approximately 90 minutes. We usually recommend 6 or 7 sessions for an entire course of treatment.

Q. What conditions can hypnosis deal with?

A. Hypnotherapy isn’t a therapy in its own right. Still, when used by a certified medical professional, dental practitioner, or psychotherapist, hypnotherapy can be practical in treating discomfort, anxiety problems (including fear, panic, and PTSD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and many more. See the hypnotherapy section for more details.

Q. What problems can hypnotherapy not treat?

A. Hypnotherapy should not treat acute, severe surgical conditions that require immediate intervention. Hypnotherapists usually refer such issues to specialists. However, surgeons may prescribe hypnotherapy as an additional treatment after their intervention, so you can contact us.

Q. I would like hypnotherapy to be part of my treatment; who can I see?

A. Different nations regulate hypnotherapy and psychotherapy differently; in numerous countries, no specialist training is needed to call oneself a ‘hypnotherapist.’ The International Culture of Hypnotherapy advises that the only specialists using hypnotherapy must be those already qualified in professional self-control (such as medicine, dentistry, psychology, or psychiatric therapy). To quote Martin Orne: “If an individual is not properly qualified to deal with something without hypnosis, thereafter, they’re not certified to treat something with hypnosis, either. First, you look for that professional certificate on the wall—a physician, dentist, clinical psychotherapist, or whatever. Then you search for the certificate of hypnosis.”

Q. Is NLP like hypnotherapy?

A. NLP, or neuro-linguistic programs, is a set of techniques to promote personal growth. A few of tEffective hypnotherapists, particularly Milton Erickson, developed some of these methods.nues to be scientifically unvalidated and is not a part of mainstream academic psychology. There is a fantastic account of NLP on Skeptic, the doubter’s dictionary. Additionally, Michael Load’s site and Wikipedia provide more cautious accounts of NLP.

Q. Are some words more symptomatic than others?

A. Careful use of language is crucial when usingin hypnosis, yet it is difficult to determine if a specific word is more indicative of symptomsrrently usually accepted that exactly how well an individual responds to a suggestion has a lot more to do with their private characteristics (suggestibility, desire, absorption) than with the power or authority of the therapist (e.g., 3). A medical professional’s design of hypnosis can vary from authoritarian/direct (“When I click my fingers, you will feel … “) to permissive/indirect (“As I continue to chat, you could start to notice that the sensation ends up being …”), and the indirect tip has been popularized by fans of Milton Erickson. ExperimentResearchers have conducted experiments to compare the effects of these types of suggestions.the results do not enable us to conclude that it is much more efficient than the others (4 ). (Concern submitted by a confidential individual.)

Q. Can hypnosis aid me in stopping drinking alcohol?

A. There’s very little proof that hypnosis is an efficient therapy for alcoholism. In an evaluation, Nash & Benham claim that alcohol and drug addiction react well to hypnosis, and two research studies that I can locate that compare hypnosis (or self-hypnosis) therapy to various other types of treatment, such as psychotherapy or stress management, reveal any persuading advantage for making use of hypnosis (Jacobson, 1973; Pekala, 2004). (An anonymous customer sent the concern.)

Q. Can hypnotherapy create rest conditions?

A. No recorded situations of hypnotherapy causing or contributing to developing a sleep disorder. There is much proof that hypnotherapy can play a valuable role in treating sleep disorders such as leeping disorders (Borkovec, 1973), sleep terror, and sleepwalking (Hurwitz, 1991).

Q. Is hypnosis scientifically researched?

A. Science is a technique of discovering expertise: subjecting your suggestions to an empirical test to see whether they are sustained by proof (see the Wikipedia entry for a far more comprehensive summary). Many reseaMany researchers employ a scientific approach to investigate hypnotherapy, formulating research questions or hypotheses and methodically verifying their validity.sOur understanding of hypnosis has advanced because of this: individuals once believed that the effects of hypnosis were caused by a mystical magnetic fluid; we now believe that the results stem from an interaction between the hypnotherapist and the subject, which can influence how the mind processes information.studies Psychotherapists want to know what hypnotherapy is, and physicians and medical psychologists want to know what impacts hypnotherathe practiceon clinical and mental conditions. Their research study is released in journals, and you can browse the database utilizing online devices like PubMed or Google Scholar. So, there are certainly scientists thinking about hypnotherapy, and you might claim that there is a science of hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is the name we offer to use hypnotherapy to deal with psychological and medical conditions, and there is research regarding using hypnosis to deal with the disease. However, ‘hypnotherapy’ is a controversial term. Expert organizations such as the ISH, ASCH, and ESH think that appropriately qualified specialists (such as doctors, dental experts, and psychologists) ought to use hypnosis, which they should use as a tool alongside their other professional skills. In their sight, hypnotherapy isn’t a therapy in its own right, so a clinician would certainly claim, “I’m a psychologist/doctor/dentist who uses hypnotherapy ” instead of” I’m a hypnotherapist.” IndividualIndividuals who identify as ‘hypnotherapists’ generally lack healthcare credentials beyond their hypnotherapy training and typically do not publish significant research.tConsidering this, it may be reasonable to assert that a science of hypnosis exists; however, ‘hypnotherapists’ contribute little to its advancement.ential user sent the concern.)

Q. I often fall comfortably asleep when using self-enhancement hypnosis CDs. Are the tips on the CD still reaching my subconscious mind, or does the truth that I am sleeping and not in hypnosis avoid this?

A. The idea that we can find out while asleep, so-called ‘hypnopedia,’ was preferred throughout the 1950s. That was aThe 1950s also marked a significant period for research.do not appear to be encouraging, though in one study by Emmons & Simon) participants playing recordings while asleep did not perform better than control participants at identifying words from a list. Not much study has been done, which indicates that this is possibly not a fruitful subject of the research study. More modern research studies have analyzed whether it is feasible for individuals undergoing basic anesthesia to find out. In these experiments, essential ‘finding out’ is examined, which is much simpler than the sort of deep-level learning that you might want from a hypnotherapy CD. The signs are that it could be possible for really basic organizations to be formed; however, the complex definitions of occasions have not been discovered (Deeprose, 2006). To recap, the proof until now appears to point towards hytowardapy requiring the individual to be awake. (Concern submitted by a reader.).

Q. Under hypnotherapy, do individuals address the concerns you ask truthfully?

A. No more or less than they do when not under hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy cannot oblige people to do things they don’t wish to and can’t force them to be sincere. Pointers given during hypnotherapy can purposely or unintentionally influence memories, and consequently, hypnotically assisted memory recall is not admissible in court in most

Q. Can hypnotherapy cause bad behavior without my consent?

A. See the above solution regarding whether hypnotherapy can make individuals do points they do not want to. The short answer is no: hypnotized participants typically can refuse a tip. (A confidential individual sent the inquiry.)

Q. When doing past life regression, when should I ask questions? Sometimes, I notice REM and other trance signs when I ask questions, but I find that the person is suddenly awake or has already fallen asleep. When and how should I start asking about youth memories or past lives?

A. I do not know what context you’re operating in; however, unless you’re appropriately qualified, I think it is ideal not to ask inquiries regarding youth memories or past lives while customers are hypnotized. Although hypnotherapy is typically used to revisit occasions from an individual’s past, there is no proof that it can aid individuals in recalling memories from childhood with exceptional accuracy. When appropriately restrained, you risk producing false-memory syndromes, which can be particularly purposeless in individuals with trauma backgrounds. There is no clinical evidence supporting past lives or proof that presenting the principle in therapy is practical. The only time I give tips for past lives is as a mentor presentation to demonstrate how creative people’s imaginations are.

If patientIf patients/volunteers fall asleep or wake up quickly, it shows they are uncomfortable and have not consented to the hypnosis session.u know what you are doing, I would advise you not to use regression methods. (Concern submitted by a reader.)

Q. I have heard that three types of people are unhypnotizable: the first is drunk, and the second is an individual high on medicines. Can you tell me the third one?

A. The stylish response is “people who don’t want to be hypnotized”; however, it’s worth clearing up a few misunderstandings. Researchers measure hypnotizability on a continuum; it’s not that a person can or can’t be hypnotized. A far better inquiry is “How hypnotizable is he or she?” Hypnotizability complies with a typical distribution, so a small percentage of people are ‘highs,’ and a tiny percentage are ‘lows.’ Furthermore, the bulk can experience some impacts of the idea in hypnotherapy. It’s simple to be ‘un-hypnoti”unhypnotizableenable yourself to be hypnotized; no one can be hypnotized against their will. Interestingly, some medications, such as laughing gas and alcohol, appear to raise hypnotizability. It depends on the drug. However, others, such as diazepam, don’t have any results. See the web page on modifying hypnotizability for additional information. (Question sent by a reader.).

Is it true that highly motivated people who fake hypnosis undermine the idea that it is a distinct state of awareness?

A. No greater than it revokes the concept of a ‘damaged leg’ if someone is believed to be harmed. The fact that it is feasible to hypnotize belief makes it a fascinating sensation. Stage hypnStage hypnotherapists do not care much if their participants are pretending, as long as the audience is laughing.rs have a more challenging time ironing out the actual reactions of the pretenders. However, they have created some intriguing devices. One strategy is to utilize the real/simulator style. In this design, you give the same tips to people with low and high hypnotizability, with the lows told to act “as if they were hypnotized.” If both groups do the same after that, your outcome may not result from hypnosis, but if the highs perform differently, it is assumed that several of the suggested results were real. More recenRecently, researchers have tested the ‘genuineness’ of hypnotic impacts using mind imaging techniques. submitted the inquiry.).

Q. Is hypnotherapy a one-session “quick fix” for a problem?

A. The answer to this will depend significantly on what ‘the issue’ is. It is simple to visualize that someone is likelier to quit smoking after a solitary session than to recuperate from a more psychologically severe illness such as chronic clinical depression or trauma (PTSD). Regarding cigarette smoking, there is some proof that a percentage of people will undoubtedly become sober after one session of hypnosis. In one study, 23% abstained for two years after a single hypnotherapy session. However, the evidence additionally seems to indicate that hypnosis is not a lot more reliable than other smoking cessation treatments, so, likely, roughly this percentage of people would undoubtedly be aided to quit cigarette smoking after a single session of any therapy, which makes hypnosis athe techniquelatively less unique.

There does not seem to be much strong proof for the efficiency of single-session therapies for various other mental issues. There is a ‘short therapy’ motion (commonly called ‘service-concentrated quick therapy’) for which there is some proof of performance for certain conditions. Some specialists in the short treatment movement want ‘single-session psychotherapy,’ but there is little regulated evidence to recommend that it works.

Unlike single-session therapies, there are thousands of randomized controlled tests for using cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) to treat psychological problems. These regulated studies typically suggest that a minimum of 6–20 sessions of psychiatric therapy are necessary to treat light to modest difficulties. Thinking more generally about the context in which such treatment is provided, CBT is widely used in many financially constrained medical solutions worldwide. The realitThe evidence supporting CBT indicates that it is likely one of the most effective treatments available. review organizations like the National Institute for Health and Professional Excellence support this judgment. If quick treatment or solitary session therapy is effective after that, the experts must demonstrate it using regulated studies; this remaithe outcomeo be shown.

Q. Do specific differences in “imaginative suggestibility” supply a less complex description than dissociation in explaining responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions?

A. Dissociation concepts of hypnotherapy (e.g., Hilgard’s neodissociation concept, Woody & Arbor’s dissociated control theory) suggest that hypnosis creates ‘splits’ or dissociations in cognitive control systems. Consistent with this is evidence that hypnotizability is higher in patients with ‘dissociative’ problems such as trauma. Nevertheless, dissociation theories also predict that healthy individuals who experience more dissociation in their daily lives should be significantly more hypnotizable. This does not seem to be the instance: studies associating hypnotic suggestibility with scores on the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) aren’t substantial. (e.g., Dienes et alia, 2009). Given this information, it appears that dissociation is not beneficial for explaining responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions.

ther hand, scores of creative suggestibility (non-hypnotic suggestibility) tend to correlate highly with hypnotic suggestibility (Kirsch & Braffman, 2001). This suggests that both belong, types of suggestibility are related, but two issues remain

I believe that ‘hypnotherapy’ covers a wide range of suggestions, where hypnotic and non-hypnotic recommendations are fundamentally the same.
Okay, you might have clarified the variance in responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions. However, you have not described the device through which individuals react to non-hypnotic suggestions.

What seemsA concept that discusses precisely how individuals respond to non-hypnotic tips appears to be necessary.Braffman (2001) say these aspects include feedback expectancy, attitudes toward hypnotherapy, dream proneness, absorption, and go/no-go reaction time. Nevertheless, they warn that these variables do not make up every one of the irregularities in non-hypnotic suggestibility. It is feasIt is possible that a hidden capacity exists, potentially involving a genetic contribution to suggestibility (Raz, 2008) or connections between suggestibility and the size of specific brain regions (Horton et al., 2004).sent by a reader).

Q. Does the reality that very inspired subjects can have phony hypnotic effects invalidate the notion of hypnosis as a unique state of awareness? Could you please explain your reasoning?

Does the fact that a motivated individual can phony a busted leg revoke the idea of broken legs? Or does the fact that someone can fake anxiety invalidate the idea of it? If something canThe fact that someone can fabricate something does not diminish its authenticity.

tainly differ with is the “one-of-a-kind state of consciousness.” Scientifically, it’s extremely tough to distinguish between different ‘states of awareness.’ We’re respectable at determining whether individuals are

• awake,
• asleep, or
• in a coma.

Yet scientific research isn’t excellent at distinguishing between more subtle states of awareness.
It is possible to conIt is possible to examine more specific mental activities associated with hypnotherapy and its hypnotic effects, rather than just general states of awareness.l of neuroimaging evidence to suggest something unique about the effects of the idea given in hypnosis and that it generates genuine results. For example, a hypnotized individual who provides ideas for discomfort relief can feel much less discomfort, which is related to decreased activity in the network of brain areas involved in discomfort.

Q. Where should I get hypnotherapy in Philadelphia?

A. When carried out by a medical professional, hypnosis is safe. You can get it at the Philadelphia Hypnotherapy Clinic. A hypnotherapist and physician, Dr. Victor Tsan, will guide you and give you hypnotherapy to soothe your pains.

Q. What criteria do you use to determine that Philadelphia Hypnotherapy Clinic is the best hypnosis center in Philadelphia?

A. Philadelphia Hypnotherapy Clinic is the best hypnosis center in Philadelphia, according to a web survey conducted by Three Best Rated, Find a Top Doctor, THERVO, Alignable, Life Provision, and local TV stations PHL17 and Fox29.

Q. What hypnotherapy services do you provide?

A. We provide special hypnotherapy services and help people overcome depression, alcoholism, phobias, and fears. We also help them to lose weight and quit smoking.

Q. What other services do you provide?

A. Besides clinical hypnotherapy, we offer neuro-linguistic programming, acupuncture, and homeopathy.

Q. How do you schedule an appointment with Dr. Tsan?

A. For more questions or to schedule an appointment for hypnotherapy treatment, contact our clinic at (267) 403-3085 or use our scheduling application.