Hypnotherapy is a type of psychotherapy which is based on hypnosis. The therapy treats patients by manipulating their subconscious by instilling new thoughts, responses, attitudes, and feelings. It is a universally accepted fact that all types of hypnosis stem from self hypnosis, that is, a person cannot be hypnotised unless and until they allow themselves. The therapist merely promotes the experience and can only let the ideas sink into their subconscious if they allow themselves. Hypnotherapy is used to plant, not just ideas, but lifestyle adaptations as well which become firmly planted in their psychology.
People can use hypnotherapy for a variety of physical, emotional, and mental conditions. Many patients use it to relieve themselves of the pain of surgeries or dentistry procedures. Hypnotherapy has also proved to be more effective than painkillers and eases a woman during labor by decreasing the pain incurred in the process and ultimately decreasing the labor time. Hypnotherapy has also been used to effectively treat lifestyle problems like alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking. By instilling the idea to stay away from these substances, a therapist is able to help the patient recover from unhealthy addiction. Food related problems such as bulimia and anorexia can also be treated with the help of hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy, contrary to what most people think, does not put the patient to a deep sleep. Rather, the patients are always fully aware of their surroundings and it is impossible for the therapist to make them do something which they normally would not do. If the patient has inhibitions against changes affecting their subconscious, it is almost impossible to successfully perform hypnotherapy.