You're Getting Very Relaxed, Very Relaxed

We talked about clinical hypnosis in my General Psychology classes this week as we worked our way through the chapter on States of Consciousness.

I started by suggesting that my students close their eyes, take a deep breath, hold it for a second, release it and relax. Then I suggested that before they opened their eyes they clear their mind of everything they knew about hypnosis.

Why did I start that way?
1. It was relaxing.
2. Almost everything people know about hypnosis comes from entertainers, and most of it is wrong.
3. All hypnosis is based on suggestion, so I began with suggestions.

The hypnotic state is defined as a state in which one is highly relaxed and receptive to suggestions.

Last night I read an interesting report on research at London's University College that if you call hypnosis something else it is not as effective. Some therapists have called it "visualization" or "relaxation therapy" because of perceived stereotypic beliefs about hypnosis (false beliefs of what it is and how it works).

What the researchers found was, "Therapists who embrace the term 'hypnosis' have more success in treating patients. That's because the therapy relies largely on the patient's openness to suggestion, and possibly even their preconceived notions of what hypnosis is all about."

In other words, even if their preconceptions are wrong, they facilitate successful therapy that uses hypnosis. Do you see the power of suggestion and expectations even in that? If they expect hypnosis to work, and have a therapist who uses hypnosis, it is more likely to work.

Now, when I count backward to 1 you will open your eyes and not remember anything I have written in this post. But you will feel very relaxed, think that I am one of the best writers you have ever read, and tell someone that they need to start reading my Blog.

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