SelfhelpMagazine

 

Some fundamental religions do look upon clinical hypnosis as something evil, claiming that it opens the mind to the influence of the devil. Sadly, such beliefs prevent some persons from accessing what can be a very useful tool in a person's battle with chronic pain.

As best I can tell, these negative beliefs originate from some otherwise common misconceptions about hypnosis. Some persons, influenced perhaps by films such as "The Manuchurian Candidate", fear that hypnosis can be used to make a person do something against their will. The reality, however, is that the person being hypnotized maintains control and can even discontinue the trance experience if he or she becomes uncomfortable.

A related misconception is that the unconscious is the doorway for the devil. This seems to be based on the fairly common experience of having disturbing dreams of either violent or sexual nature. Such dreaming, however, is quite normal and should not be taken as literal statements about one's wishes and desires. Dreams should be understood as symbolic.
Clinical hypnosis can be used as a very effective adjunct in the management of pain. Approaches include the use of hypnosis for relaxation as well as the development of mental imagery which can counteract the negative aspects of pain.

Other persons can be helped via hypnosis to distance themselves from their pain. Psychologist Harold Crasilneck of Dallas, Texas has devoted a lifetime to the practice of pain management and has demonstrated again and again the power within the unconscious mind to provide relief pain.

If you have concerns about the use of hypnosis in helping you with pain, ask questions. Ask about specific procedures. Always remember to verify the therapist's credentials. Always work with licensed professionals, even if they are practicing a technique like hypnosis that doesn't require a licnese. The truth is that a licensed practitioner is held accountable to a consumer protection board in your state. That means that if you aren't satisfied, you have recourse by filing a complaint to that board. That practitioner also stands to lose their license if they are found by that board to not have treated you appropriately.

 

When you choose to work with someone who is unlicensed, it is akin to riding in an automobile driven by a person who isn't licensed to drive. You have no assruance that thheir skills have been examined by an impartial third party, and no assurance that they indeed know what they are doing. While licensure does not measure competence, it does offer some assurance that at some point in time, the person with a license was at least minimally competent to pass that objective review by a third party.

 

On the other hand, for the unlicensed professional, there is no objective party on record to attest to their level of competence. Also, when working with a licensed professional, check the state licensing board to be assured that person's license is indeed current and valid. Additionally, membership in the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, while not a guarantee, insures you that the therapist has had a high level of training in the use of hypnosis and has been credentialed as competent.

 

When interviewing any potential treating professional, discuss your spiritual concerns as well. If the therapist dismisses them, perhaps you need to work with someone else. However, if the therapist responds to your concerns respectfully and is willing to proceed with hypnosis in a slow and cautious manner until you feel more assured about being in control, then I would encourage you to give it a try.

My own personal belief is that the God of my understanding has given us many capabilities to help us deal with many problems. I also believe that much of that capability exists within our unconscious minds. Whether through dream work or through the unconscious ability to provide anesthesia, the range of gifts each of us is provided is truly impressive. For God to have provided us with these capabilities and then deem it "bad" to use these gifts would be a cruel joke, wouldn't it?