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Find out more about our Hypnotherapy Diploma course<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It might seem simple to start with the term \u2018hypnosis<\/strong>\u2019, although it is anything but simple.\u00a0 As yet, the profession has not come together with a single definition or description. If you were to hypnotise 100 people and then ask them what they experienced, it is likely that a range of experiences will be reported.\u00a0 Common descriptions include \u2018feeling relaxed\u2019, \u2018being focused\u2019, and \u2018feeling absorbed\u2019.\u00a0 A popular description of hypnosis is that of \u2018focused state of attention\u2019.<\/p>\n The American Psychological Association<\/a> (APA) has ranged in its definition of hypnosis, with revisions in 1993 and 2003, prior to the current 2014 version, which considers hypnosis to be:<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>A state of consciousness involving focused attention and <\/em><\/span>reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion\u201d<\/span> The APA suggest that there is some discussion whether it is necessary to use the term \u2018hypnosis\u2019, and that some people consider it essential<\/em> (APA 2003) and this is certainly supported by the Gandhi and Oakley (2005) research.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A \u2018hypnotist<\/strong>\u2019 is a person who uses \u2018hypnotism<\/strong>\u2019 to \u2018hypnotise<\/strong>\u2019 a client, subject, patient or participant, to create hypnosis. Even in this basic example of hypnosis terminology, some of the terms can be varied. Whilst many practitioners who see clients for therapeutic purposes tend to call themselves \u2018hypnotherapists<\/strong>\u2019; some do use the term \u2018hypnotist<\/strong>\u2019, particularly if that was on their first qualification.<\/p>\n A \u2018hypnotherapist<\/strong>\u2019 tends to use psychotherapeutic techniques, together with<\/em> hypnosis; the hypnosis often helping to enhance the therapeutic aspects, whether with shorter duration of therapy, or greater benefit.\u00a0 An additional term growing in popularity is that of \u2018practitioner\u2019, thus the modern combination \u2018hypnotherapy practitioner\u2019<\/strong> was coined.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A \u2018clinical hypnotherapist\u2019<\/strong> or \u2018clinical hypnotist\u2019<\/strong> is a term used by practitioners who have training that enables them to work with medical issues.\u00a0 They will often liaise with a GP, consultant, or another healthcare professional.\u00a0 Another view is that a clinical hypnotherapist is a psychologist, psychiatrist, anaesthetist, surgeon, dentist, or doctor who has hypnosis training.\u00a0 However, some medics may instead use the term \u2018medical hypnotist\u2019<\/strong> or \u2018medical hypnotherapist\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ‘Clinical hypnotherapist<\/strong>‘ is a term that is sometimes misused by hypnotherapists who do not in fact have the training or ability to work with medical issues, but simply want to appear more ‘professional’ – that said there are<\/em> some highly respected ‘clinical hypnotherapists’ working today, but they are a much rarer breed than your standard hypnotherapist.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n To create \u2018hypnosis\u2019<\/strong> a \u2018hypnotic induction<\/strong>\u2019 is used. This is a formal \u2018procedure designed to induce hypnosis’<\/span> (APA 2014), to enable someone to become \u2018hypnotised\u2019.\u00a0 This takes the form of some suggestions to promote the focus of attention and often, although not always, includes some suggestions for relaxation.\u00a0 These inductions range from lengthy, gentle, ‘progressive relaxation<\/strong>‘ focused approaches, to quicker ‘rapid inductions<\/strong>‘ or ‘instant inductions<\/strong>‘.\u00a0 It could be suggested that they all fall into one of two categories: Those that fatigue the nervous system, and those that overload the nervous system.\u00a0 However, an induction could have both effects.\u00a0 After an hypnotic induction, a \u2018deepener<\/strong>\u2019 or ‘state deepener<\/strong>‘ is often used to intensify the hypnosis.<\/p>\n Finally, the term \u2018hypnotic suggestion\u2019<\/strong> relates to the guidance, directions or instructions given by the hypnotherapist in order to generate a response, which is often a change in subjective experience, behaviour, perception, emotion, thought or sensation. For example, suggesting to someone that they may start to notice their arm getting lighter and lighter.\u00a0 Often the suggestion will involve engagement with the imagination or an aspect of involuntariness, so frequently a subject will find their arm lifting without even thinking about it…<\/p>\n Although this blog focuses on hypnosis from a therapeutic perspective, there are some other terms that are useful to understand, as clients may have an understanding of them. \u00a0The first is \u2018street hypnosis<\/strong>\u2019 which is performed by a \u2018street hypnotist<\/strong>\u2019.\u00a0 These terms tend to be associated with \u2018ad-hoc\u2019, informal demonstrations of hypnosis in a public or private environment, for entertainment.\u00a0 The second term is \u2018stage hypnosis<\/strong>\u2019 which is performed by a \u2018stage hypnotist\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 Although it might be reasonable to assume that this is hypnosis on a stage, it actually<\/em> refers to the use of hypnosis for the purposes of entertainment – no stage required!\u00a0 Both stage and street hypnosis tend to involve demonstrations of hypnotic phenomena such as suggestbility testing<\/a>, or other more profound phenomena such as amnesia (forgetting a name) or hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t actually there). Stage (and street) hypnosis is generally performed for entertainment purposes, so the demonstrations of phenomena are intended to be funny or informative (about the power of the human mind).<\/p>\n An emerging term is \u2018stage hypnotherapy\u2019<\/strong> performed by a \u2018stage hypnotherapist\u2019<\/strong>.\u00a0 This is where hypnotherapy, instead of being conducted in the privacy of a consulting room or other location, is presented in a more public environment for the entertainment of the public.\u00a0 For example, conducting some hypnotherapy (e.g. for a phobia) as part of a television show or radio show. This could certainly bring up confidentiality issues, among other things…<\/p>\n <\/p>\nSo what does all this hypnosis terminology mean? What about hypnotherapy?<\/h2>\n
What is hypnosis?
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\n<\/em>(Elkins et al 2015).<\/p>\nIs it hypnotist or a hypnotherapist?
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"hypnosis](\"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/hypnosis-woman-hand.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/p>\nIs it clinical hypnotist or clinical hypnotherapist?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Hypnosis](\"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Talking-therapy--300x256.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat are hypnotic inductions and deepeners?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What are hypnotic suggestions<\/strong>?<\/h3>\n
![\"Hypnosis](\"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/brett-jordan-POMpXtcVYHo-unsplash-2-300x225.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhat is stage hypnosis and street hypnosis?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"hypnosis](\"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/hypnosis-g9090ada36_1920-300x200.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/hypnotc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Kate-Circle-for-Blogs-Small-New-2018.png\" "\\"\\"")
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