I (Emilia Armstrong Crews) have been trained in the Milton H. Erickson style of hypnotherapy, and this way of practising hypnotherapy is different from what many people may know hypnosis to be. Erickson formulated a way of working with his clients that was unique to each individual. He would listen, watch, question, and relate to the people he met in order to get to know them – how they viewed the world, what mattered to them, and what aspects of their life they wanted to change. He is known to have said, “When a client comes in, they bring the solution to their problem with them.”
This article written in November 2024 states that 77% of participants avoiding alcohol found hyponotherepy helped sustained their abstinence.
When rebuilding a life that is different from what it may once have been, it can feel impossible to imagine that you might actually have the knowledge needed to change and heal. This is why a guide (a practitioner) can help. We take time to get to know each other. It’s as important that you feel comfortable with your therapist as it is for the therapist to feel they have the skill and ability to help.
Metaphorically, a hypnosis session is not dissimilar to a bus ride. You trust the driver (the therapist) to get you from one place to the next, but the scenery that catches your attention will be that which, for personal reasons, means something to you. Your brain, your mind, and your body begin to make the changes they need to make, finding ways to see your current life differently, to view your past more holistically, and to imagine your future with greater security. Ericksonian hypnotherapy doesn’t necessarily change thoughts; it changes associations. It doesn’t change reality; it changes perspective.
Here is an example of the kind of suggestion that may be used:
“Some people discover that when they notice a craving or an uncomfortable feeling, another part of their mind begins to remember that this is a sign that something inside them needs tending to.”
If a pipe were to suddenly burst in your kitchen, you would respond. In the same way, feelings also need to be addressed. Yet it would make no sense to attempt to fix your toilet while your kitchen was flooding.
Combined with other therapeutic modalities, hypnotherapy can help you connect with feelings of resilience and your own ability to solve problems. You can begin to address feelings such as insecurity, shame, and anger, developing an understanding that allows you to live in a more mentally and emotionally resourced way.
For those who have suffered, and who carry suffering, hypnotherapy can create space for the mind to recognise the possibility that different feelings can coexist. Much like in a dream, the brain can accept sensations of love and anger, hope and grief, shame and grace. In this way, you can begin to listen to your body and your inner experience, discovering what you need, while your mind gradually creates the space for change to take place.
A significant trial using a combination of methods, including hypothesis to treat pain found that 61% of participants reduced their alcohol intake without the deliberate effort to change.
This must be due to a nervous systems response – calming pain and the parts of the brain that search for relief.
So often, the body needs rest. It needs security. It needs to know that it is safe, and that love and acceptance are possible – and, if fortunate, readily available. These are aspects of life that support healing and help people move away from using drugs. Learning how to draw on these qualities from within yourself can also make it easier to find them in the world around you.
These needs are humble, yet they can offer a powerful protection during the difficult times that all people encounter in life. Knowing what you need, recognising when to seek help, and feeling able to do so with dignity are great strengths. Responding appropriately to your needs, the needs that so often lie beneath addiction, can become an important part of recovery.
What Is Ericksonian Hypnosis? Psychology Today Australia
Erickson Foundation
Can Hypnotherapy Treat Addiction? Risks, Benefits and Effectiveness
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