Ella McCrystal Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist.

Dip Hyp. LHS Acc. - Dip CP, Dip CP AD. MCS Acc.
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What is hypnotherapy and psychotherapy? 

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis and psychological techniques to help individuals with their issues or problems. 
 
The hypnotic state is one of deep relaxation which allows the therapist to access your subconscious mind to replace negative thoughts, processes and behaviours with positive ones.The hypnotic state to the onlooker resembles sleep which is in fact how it got its name from the Greek word "hypnos”, meaning to sleep. However, the individual may at times actually feel in a state of heightened awareness, in which they have full control of their own mind whilst at the same time, feeling deeply relaxed and being more open to suggestions that may be given by the hypnotherapist. During the pleasant and relaxing state of hypnosis a person can talk quite easily and freely, but they cannot be made to do anything that they do not want to do, and they would not blurt out any of their secrets!! Because hypnosis allows you to focus in on yourself and because the subconscious part if the mind is accessed, the individual may find that they can access parts of their memory that they had filed away.
 
Hypnosis is being used increasingly as a adjunct to orthodox medicine where it is providing a valuable alternative to drugs and anaesthesia to accelerate the healing process, and to relieve and help with pain.
 
 Brain Waves During Hypnosis

 

For many years hypnotherapists thought that it was alpha wave patterns that were characteristic of hypnotic states. It is generally now accepted that it is theta and to some extent delta waves and 40Hz gamma waves that play the major role. Other wave patterns do also occur, even active beta waves, but these are now thought due to the content of the suggestions and the images generated by them.

 

The sequence goes something like this.

 

  • As the you relax and then close your eyes there is a brief and gentle build up of alpha waves.
  • As the hypnotic state begins to develop there is an increase in theta and to a lesser extent delta wave activity and the alpha activity slows and reduces.
  • This continues until the end of the period of hypnotic induction and deepening.
  • During the therapeutic hypnotic suggestions the prominant brain wave activity can vary greatly depending upon the nature of these suggestions and the effect they are having at any given moment. During this period the delta and theta wave activity usually begins to gently subside.
  • Through the whole of the hypnotic process there is a very gradual increase in 40Hz gamma wave activity.
  • As the hypnotic state is ended the alpha activity and finally the normal beta activity returns.

    • Brain Waves

    Name

    Frequency

    Characteristics

    Lamda

    ~200Hz

    Self awareness, higher levels of insight and information. Tibetan monks that walk barely clothed for days through the snow have exhibited high levels of these. They are difficult to measure and little is known about them. They are carried on the very slow moving Epsilon Waves (<0.5Hz).

    Hyper Gamma

    ~100Hz

    Gamma

    38 - 90Hz

    Important in harmonizing and unifying thoughts processed in different parts of the brain. Combines different perceptions. Suppressed totally by anaesthetic. Found in all parts of the brain. Self awareness and insight.

     

    40Hz

    The core frequency. Important in cognition, especially coordinating simultaneous processing in all parts of the brain. Deficiencies exhibit learning difficulties. Produced during hypnotic states.

    Beta

    12 - 38Hz

    Wide awake, alert, focused, analyses and assimilates new information rapidly, complex mental processing, peak physical and mental performance, cannot be sustained indefinitely otherwise exhaustion, anxiety, and tension result.

     

    15Hz-18Hz

    Mid Range Beta Neuro-feedback training that produced alert behaviour, useful in depression cases.

     

    12 - 15Hz

    Low Beta Also known as Sensory Motor Rhythm (SMR) - vigilance, reduced mobility, shallow breathing, less blinking, fixed attention and eye focus, enhancing through neuro-feedback reduces epileptic symptoms and has a calming effect (ADHD sufferers).

    Beta-Alpha

    12Hz

    Hyper-efficient in processing single tasks as it can focus on the details as well as the overall task at the same time

    Alpha

    7.5 - 12Hz

    Mental coordination and resourcefulness, relaxation, alert but not mentally processing anything, inward focus, calmness, at ease, deep breathing and closed eyes can amplify alpha production, peak around 10Hz.

    Alpha-Theta

    7.48Hz

    Primary ionospheric resonance (Schumann) frequency. Stimulates retrieval of memories from the subconscious.

    Theta

    4 - 7.5Hz

    Memory access, learning, deep meditation, sensations, emotions, the threshold of the subconscious, dreaming.

     

    6.2 - 6.7Hz

    Frontal Midline Theta - Cognitive activity, maths problems, sustained attention, extrovert personality, low anxiety

    4.5Hz

    Shamanic trances, Tibetan mantras, Buddhist chants all use this frequency to access altered states

    ~4Hz

    Object naming

    Theta-Delta

    ~3.5Hz

    Long term memory access

    Delta

    0.5 - 4Hz

    Deep sleep, human growth hormone release, low blood pressure, low respiration, low body temperature. No muscle movement - Reticular Activating System (RAS) shuts this down.

    Epsilon

    <0.5Hz

    The state Yogi's go into when they achieve "suspended animation" where no heart beat, respiration or pulse are noticeable.

     

                                       What is Psychotherapy?

     

    Psychotherapy involves the examination of behaviour and it requires action or work to solve problems. Behaviour can be said to be anything we do. It can be any action, any thought or thought pattern, what you may say, a memory, a sensation or an emotion. Work is in fact anything we do that requires some degree of effort and this therapy requires the cooperation, desire and work of the client. This includes changing any behaviour, habits or usual actions causing problems, restrictions or distress in life.

     

    Psychotherapy and Counselling have a great deal in common but counselling is not the same as psychotherapy. Counselling usually brings about a realization, or helps a person to reach a decision.  A Psychotherapist helps or facilitates as you create changes in your personal environment that bring about changes you desire in your life.

     

    Psychotherapeutic techniques and approaches make up the bulk of the 'therapy' used within the practice of Clinical Hypnotherapy.

    Hypno-psychotherapy?

     

    Hypno-psychotherapy is both integrative (using a wide range of psychotherapeutic approaches and techniques) and eclectic (choosing the right mix of techniques and styles of therapy to resolve the issues/problems/conditions presented, thus offering the most balanced and effective therapy possible in each and every situation.

    Therapeutic Techniques used in Clinical Hypnotherapy/Psychotherapy include:

    Hypnoanalysis  -  Hypnotic Suggestion

    Parts Therapy  -  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)  

    Transactional Analysis  -  Gestalt Therapy

    Neuro-LinguisticProgramming (NLP)

    Psychodynamic Counselling

    Human Givens Therapy