Hypnosis may help victims of traumatic crimes overcome fears by freeing them of painful memories...
The
University of Adelaide has embarked on a radical study, recruiting
people traumatized by violent attacks or other crimes to help them
enter an altered state.
Lead researcher and registered
psychologist Birgit Pfitzer says victims who are unable to escape
fearful thoughts are already in a state close to hypnosis. "They are
often living in a distracted, distant place because of what's happened
to them," Ms Pfitzer told AAP. "So it makes sense that we use this to
treat them, to help them unlock these memories, reconsider them and
then get on with their lives."
The therapy has been found to be
effective in depression, anxiety and pain management but, says Ms
Pfitzer, no studies have yet proved it beneficial for long-term
post-traumatic stress. The university hopes to enlist people aged 18 to
70 who have been a victim or witness of crime at least three months
ago. Each will be randomly assigned either standard cognitive behavioral therapy alone or additional hypnosis to see if it has extra
benefits.
Ms Pfitzer believes these people require a "more
imaginative" therapy because their traumatic thoughts, unlike other
memories, are encoded in a specific, fragmented way. "That's why people
lock them away, but that doesn't work because it just comes back in a
more intrusive way," she said. With hypnotherapy, patients are induced
into a "state of focused attention of an increased concentration".
"This
is actually something we experience on a daily basis... when you read a
book or are intensely involved in work," Ms Pfitzer said. "But we use
this as a therapy, stabilizing them and, in a safe careful way, work on
recalling their traumatic memories." She said their were many
misconceptions about the treatment, especially the idea people may
recall lost memories while in an altered state. "That's something I
would never dare to promote," Ms Pfitzer said. "I would never claim
that any memory mirrors true facts, that's not what this is about."
Dany Leblanc Ch, Nlp is a Certified Hypnotist, and an NLP Practitioner that has a practice in the Gatineau - Ottawa area (Canada). A Perma-student when it comes to the human mind, Dany is also studies body language and facial expressions. He is also an author and is working on publishing a first book on Hypnosis and the sciences of change very soon!
The practitioner does not treat, prescribe for, or diagnose any medical condition.
The practitioner is a facilitator of hypnosis and is not practising any other profession that requires a license under the laws of the area where the service is offered.
Hypnosis is not a replacement for medical treatment, psychological services or counselling. A medical referral might be required for some services.
Dany Leblanc Ch, Nlp is a Certified Hypnotist, and an NLP Practitioner that has a practice in the Gatineau - Ottawa area (Canada). A Perma-student when it comes to the human mind, Dany is also studies body language and facial expressions. He is also an author and is working on publishing a first book on Hypnosis and the sciences of change very soon!
