Self-Hypnosis

Overview the film, we are less aware of things happening

Hypnosis is a state of inner absorption, near by and more responsive to suggestions that
concentration and focused attention. This focus are offered. One might jump if startled or cry if
allows us to use the potential of the mind for saddened. The ability of the movie to provoke
specific goals like blocking pain or reducing these physical responses usually correlates with
inflammation. This cannot be done without the how well it does at the box office. The patient is
patient’s cooperation and there is no truth in the always in control and can go and get popcorn if
popular misconception that hypnosis results in s/he wishes. A good movie or hypnosis session
a loss of control. Contrarily, hypnosis works by involves three factors: absorption, dissociation
empowering the patient to gain control over a and suggestibility. Through an induction
specific condition. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. technique the subject becomes fully absorbed in
the matter at hand resulting in dissociation from
There are many different techniques for various distractions. This creates a heightened
accessing this subconscious influence on the state of awareness that allows the person to be
body, but for practicality we will focus on one more receptive to suggestions that can influence
tool that primary care practitioners can use and physical change. Educating the patient regarding
modify to meet the needs of their patients. This the purpose of hypnosis will help remove fear
tool requires 5 main principles. and confusion and result in a better clinical
response.
1. Education
2. Tailoring to patients’ Tailoring
beliefs/interests/needs
The talented hypnotherapist will tailor the
3. Trance induction
hypnotic technique to each individual’s unique
4. Utilization of trance directed towards
needs. Since most practitioners using this
a specific goal
reference won’t have this experience, we will
5. Re-alerting (coming out of trance)
focus on a few questions that can easily be
remembered, helping tailor the hypnosis to the
Education patient’s beliefs and interests. The more the
Time must be taken to educate the patient technique relates to these beliefs, the more
regarding hypnosis to remove fear and accepted and useful it will be. In contrast, if a
misunderstanding. The first task is to define technique is used that encourages an image that
trance. This is a heightened state of attention is associated with anger or fear, the process will
where the body is more prone to suggestion. be counterproductive.
Emphasize to the patient that everyone has Questions that will help tailor the hypnosis:
experienced trances many times. Examples

Name a favorite place where you feel
would be daydreaming or a driving trance
comfort and a sense of peace.
where you arrive home and can’t remember the

What is your favorite color?
drive because the mind was focused on other

What are some of your favorite activities?
thoughts. Being absorbed in a good movie
offers an excellent example. While focusing on

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 Self-Hypnosis
Trance Induction 10…Relax your face and jaw letting your
tongue gently rest at the floor of your
It will be helpful if you can walk the patient
mouth.
through this so s/he feels comfortable doing it
9…Relax your temples, eyes and eyelids
independently. Children can do this very easily,
as we step down to
but adults often need a little practice.
8…Relaxing the back of your neck and
There are many different techniques for trance shoulders, simply letting go…
induction. It is helpful to use a trigger to tell the 7…Relax your arms knowing that there is
body it is time to relax and focus. The finger nothing for them to do
technique is one that is easy to perform. 6…Relax your chest, with each rise and
fall of the breath
 Finger technique to trigger trance 5…Relax your abdomen setting the
Have the patient press the tips of the thumb muscles free
and index finger together making the “OK” 4…Relax your pelvis allowing it to sink into
sign. After pressing firmly, direct the patient the chair
to take a deep breath and hold for a count 3…Relax your legs giving them the day off
of five. With exhalation have her/him with nothing to support
release the fingers. This acts as a signal for 2…Relax your toes as we arrive at…
the body to relax and go into trance. This 1…
can be used at any time by the patient for
self-hypnosis.  Exploring the favorite or peaceful place
Taking a few moments to allow exploration of
 Using the image of a staircase to induce the peaceful place will allow deepening of the
relaxation and deepen trance. trance and more vivid imagery and sensory
Imagining a beautiful staircase with ten recruitment. If time is limited, you can jump
steps allows us to use each step to help right to utilization.
focus on relaxing a different part of the body
as we have the patient descend to a favorite With the mind’s eye, have them explore their
place. In the {} brackets, insert favorite surroundings.
things that were asked about during tailoring
What do they see…colors, objects?
such as favorite place or color.
Do they notice any scents or smells?

Do they hear anything?
This may go something like this:
Ask them if they feel comfortable here
and if so, have them find a place to settle
Imagine a beautiful {favorite color} staircase down or sit.
that has ten steps. These ten steps lead to
a peaceful and relaxing {favorite place}. In a It is now time to utilize the trance for a specific
moment I am going to start counting goal.
backwards from 10 to 1. After each step we
will focus on a different part of your body
allowing yourself to gently relax deeper and
deeper with each step.

As you start at the top of the staircase, allow

each exhalation to release any tension or
strain in your body.

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 Self-Hypnosis
Utilization Re-alerting
This is the process of using focused attention The process of re-alerting involves not only
for an active purpose. There are many possible speech but also tone of voice. As you get closer
uses. Examples include: pain relief, healing to having the patient open the eyes, the tone of
from an injury, removing warts, overcoming your voice should rise accordingly. Re-alerting
anxiety on an airplane, changing habits, can simply be a reversal of the induction
relaxing the smooth muscle of the intestines for technique; climbing up the staircase with energy
more comfortable digestion, reducing nausea coming back into the relaxed muscles. Effort
from chemotherapy, and improving outcomes should be taken to empower the patient to feel
from surgery. Following is a scenario that can comfortable using the technique when needed in
be used for headache relief. the future.

Headache: Cool breeze technique In a moment we will climb the staircase, counting
each step. Afterwards you will be happy that you
Cooling the head helps facilitate have learned self-hypnosis. You will be pleased
vasoconstriction. This is accompanied by because you realize that you can visit this place
imagery of warming the hands which helps when you wish, having the power to influence
reduce pressure and headache pain your condition when needed.
(particularly migraines).
1…As you proceed up the first step, allow
The induction technique mentioned will often the energy to re-enter your body starting at
reduce pain by facilitating relaxation. Further your toes…
time spent on relaxation of the head is 2…And now allow it to flow up your legs…
warranted since tension is often involved in the 3…into your pelvis as you feel it press into
pathogenesis of headaches. the chair
4…traveling to your abdomen, feel your
Feel the muscles in your temples relax. Focus body come alive
your attention on the eyes and forehead and let 5…Take in this energy with each rise of
them relax with each breath out. With each the chest
breath, let the muscles relax more and more. 6…As you feel it travel into your arms
Now follow the muscles through the scalp to the 7…Going up to the shoulders and neck
base of the skull and relax this area. Exhale 8…into the temples, eyes and eyelids
and feel the whole head relax. Imagine walking 9…feel your tongue, jaw and the muscles
along a snowy path in the mountains with a cool of the face energize and allow your eyes to
breeze blowing across your face, cooling your open when you are ready.
head, your face, your eyes. Imagine a cool and 10…
soothing sensation across your forehead and
above each eye. Your hands are tucked in your
Homework for the Patient
pockets, so they are warming. They are warm.
Your hands are warm and comfortable, while a The scenario discussed above should first be
cool breeze and cold air makes your head feel done with the practitioner in the clinic to help
cooler, soothing and relaxing every muscle, show how this process can be done on his or her
releasing any tightness, any stress. Just feel a own. For conditions such as pain, there is no
calm sensation flow through your eyes and limit to the frequency of use. The tool can be
forehead. You are calm and comfortable and used to abort headache, for example.
relaxed. (Repeat if needed)

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 Self-Hypnosis
Summary of the hypnotic process:
Note
1. Educate to remove preconceived fears.
Hypnotic induction and suggestion is 2. Tailor to match the suggestions to the
an art that takes time and practice, yet patient’s beliefs.
simple techniques like those discussed 3. Induction
can be used to enhance care in the • Finger release technique to trigger trance
primary care setting. For more • Staircase technique to help with
complicated cases, referral should be progressive muscle relaxation and
made to a licensed practitioner. deepening of trance.
4. Utilization of trance for a specific purpose
(headache, warts, etc.)
5. Re-alert. Bringing the patient out of trance
Licensed Practitioners
There are many hypnotherapists who advertise References
their services. Guide the patient to choose one 1. Hadley, J., Staudacher, C. Hypnosis for Change. MJF
rd
who is licensed in a clinical field (for example, Books, New York. 3 edition. 1996;
2. Hammond, D.C. Handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions
medicine, psychology, social work, or dentistry) and Metaphors. WW Norton & Co. New York. 1990.
and who is certified by the American Society of 3. Hammond, D.C. Hypnotic Induction & Suggestion.
Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH). The ASCH and the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Chicago. 1998.
American Psychotherapy & Medical Hypnosis
Association (APMHA) provide referrals to
qualified practitioners. To contact ASCH call This handout was created by David Rakel, MD,
(630) 980-4740 or go to the website: Asst. Professor & Director of the Integrative
http://asch.net/referrals.asp. For APMHA’s Medicine Program, Dept. of Family Medicine,
referral service, go to University of Wisconsin-Madison. It was adapted
http://apmha.com/hypnosishelp/wanthelp.html. from Gurgevich, S. Self-Hypnosis Techniques.
In: Rakel DP (Ed) Integrative Medicine, 2nd
Edition. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2007.
Further Training
• The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Date created: August 23, 2007
(AHSC) offers excellent workshops that
lead to certification. Their number is (312)
645-9810 and web site is WWW.asch.net/

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University of Wisconsin Integrative Medicine
www.fammed.wisc.edu/integrative