Course Code: BIRMI 1A15
Unit 1 – Basic Hypnotherapy Techniques (Ofqual Ref. M/505/8186)

Homework Assignment – Journal Entry

Module 1 (1 – 1.1) Explain the state of hypnosis.

Looking back, it is clear now that hypnosis has been around for many centuries and the use of hypnotic states can be traced back to Shamans or Witch Doctors. In the 1700’s Franz Anton Mesmer produced his theory of “animal magnetism” in which he believed healing forces could be transferred through “cosmic fluid” there is no evidence to support the transfer of the healing energies devised by Mesmer but his success rate was high which lead to his patients being described as “mesmerized” and mesmerism is an early forerunner for modern day hypnosis. Many theories utilising a hypnotic state then followed but it was not until an English physician called James Braid (1795-1860) giving mesmerism a scientific explanation of a “nervous sleep” introducing the word hypnosis derived from the Greek word for sleep Hypnos. Many theories evolved from this view and hypnosis eventually gained acceptance as a naturally occurring phenomenon. In the 1950’s hypnosis began a renaissance as it became recognized for the therapeutic potential in the fields of behavior modification and healing.

Hypnosis can be categorised as a trance state or altered level of consciousness. Our minds are split between our conscious and subconscious states and we are able to switch between the two often unaided and without realising. A good example of the natural shift between our levels of consciousness is illustrated when driving it is often noticeable that a person will arrive at a destination without realising the journey has happened or that a driver’s attention is snapped back to the road as a hazard appears.
This is due to the skillset for driving being stored in the subconscious and when combined with the familiarity