Beginning with English movies/ TV shows like A Series of Unfortunate Events’ to the popular tamil movies like Ezhaam Arivu, hypnosis has always been shown as a controlling tool to bring masses under submission without their consent. But, have you ever wondered if such a portrayal has any truth to it? Or if is it even possible to control someone without their consent?

Yes, you guessed right, there is no control which works that way. And, hypnosis is NOT a mode of psychological control without consent. If it is, wouldn’t it be widespread where all those anti-authoritarian protests would be impossible?

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

Hypnosis is an induced trance-like state. Here, the human mind becomes highly attentive and is perceptive to suggestions from outside.. For hypnosis to work, the person has to be willing to be hypnotized. Therefore, consent plays a key role in hypnosis. This suggests that one cannot be made open to suggestions from an external source without one’s consent.

Even in a hypnotic state, a person under hypnosis still has agency over what they do and can stop responding to suggestions at any moment in the process.

WHAT IS HYPNOTHERAPY?

Hypnotherapy is a holistic therapeutic intervention that employs hypnosis. In hypnotherapy, hypnosis is used as a strategy, often tailored according to the needs of the clients, to help them with certain psychological and behavioral issues.

WHO DOES HYPNOTHERAPY?

Usually a Psychotherapist or a psychiatrist with an additional credential in Hypnotherapy is qualified to use this technique efficiently to treat patients. They often use hypnotherapy in addition to other therapeutic or pharmaceutical interventions.

WHO NEEDS/ COULD BENEFIT FROM HYPNOTHERAPY?

Hypnotherapy has the potential to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals who choose to consciously break away from certain thoughts, behavior, habits and psychological disorders. This includes:

• Stress
• Addiction/ Substance abuse
• Compulsive thoughts/ behavior
• PTSD
• Insomnia
• Anxiety and other associated disorders

Conclusion:

There is a growing interest in holistic and non-pharmaceutical modes of approach to treat illnesses. Being one of those therapeutic interventions, hypnotherapy tries to delve beneath the facade of the human mind and treat distress at its source. Therefore, even along with therapeutic interventions, hypnotherapy can positively impact people’s lives both in the long as well as short term.