10 - HYPNOTHERAPY

							                     Hypnotherapy: A New Way to Health

                                                                    Rev. Dr. Robert Pinto
                                       Parish Priest, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Lucknow &
               Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist from California Hypnosis Institute, USA.


        Hypnotherapy is an alternative system of medicine. It is fairly new in India but is
opening up its door quickly to vast horizons. It is a new way of healing people suffering
from physical, psychological or spiritual diseases through the power of the mind. Our
                                                               e
mind is the most powerful resource or the treasure that w are blessed with and that can
be harnessed to know what is happening in one’s own life, to control it and also to set
goals and achieve them. The mystery of the mind still remains to be unravelled fully.

         How does the mind function? The mind is mainly divided into two sections - the
conscious and the subconscious. As one grows physically in age the conscious mind also
develops the faculty of logic, the power of reasoning and, by the age of 12 the will power
and the ability to make decisions. Every minute the conscious mind receives so many
message units which are processed by the critical area in the mind and whatever is
needful and useful is stored in the subconscious mind. The subconscious is very
powerful. Even when the conscious mind is asleep the subconscious mind takes over and
controls all, specially the automatic actions in our body. The subconscious is non –
judgemental. Whatever message units it receives it stores them as pleasurable or as
painful, depending on whether they are known or unknown to the mind. The
hypnotherapist prefers to work at the subconscious level because what he wants to do can
be achieved easily here for the following reasons – Firstly, the subconscious mind being
uncritical and non-judgemental accepts easily whatever suggestions are given to the
person. Secondly, there is an easy access to the vast data base at the subconscious level
which can be utilized to help the client to focus upon, according to his/her need, and to
bring about the desired change in his/her habits and behaviour by a positive approach.


         What is hypnosis? How does the hypnotherapist perform his role? Hypnosis is
not a sleep or some form of magic as some would consider it but it is an altered state of
consciousness. Hypnotherapist uses the techniques of hypnosis to overload the conscious
mind which consequently gives up its control and allows the message units to pass
through the critical mind more easily and reach the subconscious mind. Thus a link is
established between the therapist and the client’s inner being. The subconscious mind
being uncritical accepts without any difficulty the suggestions and guidance given by the
therapist who ultimately helps the client to achieve his/her goal.

        Advantages of hypnotherapy: 1. It is drug free. Since no drugs are being used in
this therapy, one is rid of the burden of spending a lot of money on drugs as well as is
saved from their nefarious side effects. 2. Very often one is not required to undergo so
many tests in order to diagnose the problem. 3. A hypnotherapist doesn’t require the
equipment and facilities of a medical doctor like the big operation theatres. 4.
Hypnotherapy can be practised anywhere in the absence of a proper clinic. 5. In most
cases the cure is quick and lasting.

       Who can benefit from hypnotherapy? It is effectively used in      cases of addiction
and alcoholism, depression, trauma, insomnia, stuttering, bed-wetting,    to stop smoking,
to eliminate fears and phobias, to control pain, to reduce stress, to    control weight, to
reduce sexual dysfunction, to improve relationships, to enhance          concentration and
memory, to excel in exams, to build self confidence, self-esteem, etc.

         Hypnotherapy is practised not only to cure people of their illness but also to
empower them with energy, concentration and confidence to perform better in their lives.
These days sports personalities, actors and actresses, national leaders are seeking the
professional help from the hypnotherapists to bring out the best in themselves and there
by remain in the limelight. There is a great demand in the Corporate Sector for the
hypnotherapists so as to enhance performance, improve work culture and multiply the
profits.

          There seems to be a proclivity between hypnotherapy and Jesus’ mission. Jesus
said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”(Jn.10:10). The purpose of
hypnotherapy is also the same – to give life and life in abundance, to liberate people from
various pains and bondages and to improve their quality of life. Chaplain Paul G. Durbin,
Ph.D. from Los Angeles cites many examples from the Bible to illustrate the influence of
the Bible on hypnotheraphy. (http://www.durbinhypnosis.com/bible.htm). One can also
trace some similarities between the pattern of hypnotheraphy and Christ’s healing
miracles. Christ perceiving the dire need of his disciples exclaimed, “The harvest is
plentiful, but the labourers are few.”(Mt.9:37). It is also the case with the clinical
hypnotherapists.

        Hypnotherapy being less expensive in comparison to many other remedies and
also being very powerful and effective means of healing, will prove a great boon to the
ailing majority in India. It also provides the best solution to many of the modern day
problems. It is a novel way of serving humanity, following the example of Christ, the
great healer.