ABOUT THE METHOD
The Therapeutic Approach
This is a psychodynamic therapy approach. In psychodynamic, it is assumed that much of what people do in their everyday lives happens unconsciously. For example, one might find themselves repeatedly in similar emotionally burdensome situations or stuck in entrenched behavioral patterns. Many aspects of who we are as adults have developed in the past since early childhood. Understanding these connections can grant us deeper insights into our inner lives. Understanding helps us identify repetitive psychological patterns in our daily lives and potentially break free from them over time. Feeling self-efficacious also provides more opportunities to lead a more satisfying life.
Another crucial aspect for the success of psychotherapy is the trusting and supportive relationship with the therapist. Through conversation, one learns to articulate their own psychological experiences. Often, our own thoughts become more complete when spoken aloud in the presence of another person.
The therapist aids in processing burdensome experiences and facilitates learning to rediscover oneself and become who they are.
The Positive Effects of Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a method that has been extensively studied and tested in scientific research. The trance, which is the state experienced during hypnosis, is a natural state of consciousness that we encounter in everyday life. For example, when we:
- Get lost in an image,
- Daydream,
- Dance or play,
- Space out,
- Watch a movie,
- Read an engaging book,
- Work with deep concentration and lose track of time,
- Jog or swim,
- Experience flow states,
- Delve into pleasant memories, or
- Become absorbed in a thought or activity.
During such moments, the surroundings fade into the background, and our everyday worries often lose their significance. We perceive these phases as states of deep relaxation and heightened attention, which can calm and stimulate both the body and mind.
Children have a simplified access to such a state. They spend a lot of time in a playful trance, imagining fantastic stories using the simplest objects. Anyone who has observed a child deeply engaged in play for an extended period of time will be familiar with its calming effect. Even adults can experience trance, a state of deep relaxation and heightened attention. The therapist assists in directing one’s attention towards their psychological experiences, making it easier to transition into this natural state of consciousness.
Hypnosis as a Therapeutic Method
Hypnosis simplifies access to our own potentials. In this regard, it is similar to the playful trance experienced by children. The creative and playful aspects of the unconscious help to explore new paths, possibilities, and perspectives for problem-solving.
Imagination, or the ability to think in images, allows us to create and test new ways. Hypnosis targets our sensory capabilities. In our imagination, it feels as if we are literally seeing, hearing, smelling, or performing a movement. This leads to feelings of holistic experience and the possibility of new, positive experiences. It becomes evident that things can be different from what they were before. The self-image undergoes a transformation. One starts to see oneself in an entirely new light.