The article, very imaginatively entitled ‘Look into my eyes,’ (ha, ha, ha….we haven’t heard that one before, have we?) highlights that, despite the many jokes and quips about hypnosis, there is also:

‘a body of scientific evidence to back up the effectiveness of hypnosis for weight loss  and a range of other issues, from anxiety and sleep disorders to infertility and compulsive shopping.’

You can read the online version of the article here.

The article goes on to say:

‘Let’s face it, hypnosis does not exactly have the best reputation, what with the ritual humiliations employed by stage hypnotists. “The stage scenario has given the process a bad name,” concedes Georgia Foster, a hypnotherapist who has treated a string of high-profile clients. “People think it’s all about mind control, but nobody can really control someone else’s mind. It will only absorb what it knows is appropriate. Hypnotherapy is like Google. It puts helpful information into the subconscious mind so the brain can find it next time it’s doing a search.” ‘

That’s an interesting metaphor. You know, I tend to dislike metaphors that compare the brain to a computer and our thoughts to software that can be ‘re-programmed.’ I think that way of thinking is a little reductionist. It doesn’t really work for me. Metaphors are, after all, highly personal.

However, I can see what Georgia Foster is saying here. It is a neat way of conveying that you, the browser of your brain, are in control. I could extend the metaphor by saying that your thoughts and emotions are only a result of the particular search terms that you enter. Hmmmm… I need to think that through a little…

The article is a useful round-up of some popular applications of hypnotherapy: to change your weight and shape, to let go of anything that may be holding you back from optimum fertility, to enjoy a better sex life and now, of course, the subject that everyone is talking about, hypnotherapy for ‘credit crunch anxiety.’

I went into a gift shop the other day and got talking to the owners about hypnotherapy and we got onto the subject of hypnosis ‘for a better sex life.’  I am constantly amazed at the conversations that my job opens up for me.

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