Why can hypnotherapy work faster than other therapies?
You constantly read about hypnosis being touted as a “short-term therapy.”
Unfortunately, for many people, this triggers the idea that it’s the “magic-wizard-therapy-that-solves-every-problem-with-a-snap” therapy. This is not the case.
Hypnotherapy isn’t magic, but many have already noticed how quickly hypnotherapy often takes effect. Especially compared to conventional psychotherapy.
Why hypnosis works quickly, but not in all cases, is what I will explain here.
Most people know the image of the iceberg, where the largest part sits below the surface of the water.
Most people also know that this is used as a symbol for the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind. And yet, most people think they can solve their problems with the top 10-20%.
I have often heard in my hypnosis practice, “I know what I should do, but I just don’t do it.” This happens especially when the conscious mind wants something, but the unconscious is not convinced.
So, in order to approach something with all our conscious and unconscious resources, we also have to get the part below the surface on board.
Now, fortunately, we have modern science, which has shown us that in a hypnotic trance, the conscious and unconscious parts begin to communicate with each other. In this state, it is therefore possible to optimally address both parts combined and thus access all resources.
That is why, for example, it should generally be a goal for every therapist to put their client into a certain trance.
These trance moments don’t have to be particularly long. Nor do they have to be with closed eyes. We know them from everyday life, when we drift off or something is stimulated inside. Most people also know it when someone speaks in a moving or interesting way and we become absorbed by the conversation.
We feel this change because in these very moments our unconscious is also being addressed.
These meaningful moments are the foundation for all change.
And they are very hypnotic.
Hypnosis instead of hoping
In hypnosis and hypnotherapy, it is our declared goal to bring our clients into a trance. In doing so, hypnotherapy proceeds much more purposefully than other talk therapies.
Because in hypnosis, we don’t hope for meaningful, transformative moments, we create them.
This is also the reason why hypnotherapy often works faster than other therapy methods. In hypnotherapy, we go straight to the source, so to speak, and don’t blather on endlessly at the conscious mind, which obviously can’t solve the problem (otherwise it would already be solved).
Nevertheless, it is important to say that hypnotic changes also require time and effort.
Stories of amazing changes with hypnosis naturally invite the idea that you just sit down and get “fixed” from the outside by the hypnotherapist. Like a car getting an oil change. However, this is not the case.
Even if more energy can be utilized by tapping into unconscious resources, hypnotherapy is still not a magic pill. Solely having access to the best tools is usually not enough. We also have to use them appropriately. And change sometimes takes a certain amount of time.
When does hypnotherapy not work quickly?
We said that utilizing trance enables the use of conscious and unconscious resources. Usually, these are available in sufficient quantities.
For certain people, however, these must first be built up. And this can often take a certain amount of time.
Furthermore, many problems are not just anchored in one place, but there are multiple points in life where things are stuck. Solving all of these also takes time.
In addition, the changes must also happen on a physical level in the brain. For something new to settle in, new connections in the brain must also be made and consolidated. These must also be stronger than the old patterns.
For these reasons, hypnotherapy also sometimes needs many sessions for a truly lasting positive change.
Mostly, however, it is still faster than other methods that are not geared towards utilizing trance.
