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“What is Hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in Hypnotherapy.

“What is Hypnosis?” Describe the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discuss the role of relaxation in Hypnotherapy.

Hypnosis is hard to define as there is much debate and discussion regarding its nature and its true effects. It can be argued that each individual’s experience of hypnosis is unique to them, different people for example are considered to be more susceptible to hypnosis than others and therefore it is hard to measure or assess. Hypnosis itself has developed over time and explanations and evidence provided have been dependent on the scientific and psychological methods of the time. Hypnosis in its most general terms can be described as ‘a relaxed and focused state of concentration brought about through the use of set techniques. These techniques are thought to enhance concentration and increase an individual’s responsiveness to suggestion in order to make beneficial changes to a person’s thought patterns, behaviour or their physiological state’ (Chrysalis, 2010, p 9). In this essay I will first give a very brief account of the history of the practice of hypnosis and then go on to describe the psychological and physical aspects of it. In the last section of the essay I will discuss the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy.
Hypnosis in some form or another can be found throughout history and within different cultures. One of the earliest examples can be found amongst the Shamans, who were also referred to as witchdoctors or healers. Shaman would intentionally induce a focused concentration and imagine a decent into a ‘lower world’ to seek out the sick spirit and will the sick person to be healed (Hadley and Staudacher, 1996, p14). In the western world hypnosis is thought to have originated in the 1700’s

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