{"id":338,"date":"2023-12-15T13:06:44","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T13:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/amala-parry\/?p=338"},"modified":"2023-12-16T16:18:57","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T16:18:57","slug":"from-stress-city-to-serenity-could-hypnotherapy-be-the-key-to-student-wellbeing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/amala-parry\/2023\/12\/15\/from-stress-city-to-serenity-could-hypnotherapy-be-the-key-to-student-wellbeing\/","title":{"rendered":"From Stress-City to Serenity: Could Hypnotherapy be the Key to Student Wellbeing?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Con artists, TV Magicians, and Cheap Entertainers were among the phrases that once came to mind when I heard the term Hypnosis. My perception of the practice has always been massively influenced by the media, from watching magicians on Britain’s Got Talent<\/em> hypnotise Ant and Dec into forgetting a certain number to witnessing Derren Brown willing an entire room to fall asleep within seconds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d never considered that hypnosis might be a genuine practice, let alone, a form of therapy. It was only when I started looking into different forms of therapy for anxiety relief that I came across ‘hypnotherapy’ and discovered its potential benefits for mental health conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Solutions and frameworks are delivered to the client after some talking via a hypnotic trance. This entials having the person completely relax and go into a mental state very similar to dreaming.”<\/mark><\/strong><\/em><\/p>Sian Barnard, Licenced Therapist and Director of ‘Peaceful Minds’<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before we go much further, it’s important to understand the difference between ‘hypnosis’ and ‘hypnotherapy’, a differentiation that is often misunderstood. Hypnosis is “a trance-like mental state in which people experience increased attention, concentration and suggestibility.<\/a>” It’s a subconscious state that we all go into every single day, whether it be when we’re driving home from work or watching TV late at night. Hypnotherapy, however, is the use of hypnosis by psychotherapists to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, addiction etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to studies, Hypnotherapy is said to have a 93% success rate<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>, leading researchers to believe that it’s one of the most effective methods for helping with bad habits, negative thought patterns and behaviours, working much quicker than other forms of therapy. But the question still stands: what is hypnotherapy, and what makes it superior to other forms of therapy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Newcastle-based therapist, Sian Barnard (https:\/\/peacefulminds.org.uk\/<\/strong><\/mark><\/a>), “Hypnotherapy is an eclectic therapy drawing from psychodynamic therapy, behavioural psychology, neurolinguistic programming and cognitive behaviour to name a few.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked how hypnotherapy works, Sian said “Solutions and frameworks are delivered to the client after some talking therapy via a hypnotic trance. This entails having the person completely relax and go into a mental state very close to dreaming.” Through this method, psychotherapists or hypnotherapists can deliver positive messages directly to their clients, helping them to cope with multiple personal problems, from childhood trauma to phobias and general anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding the benefits for University students, hypnotherapy can help with several issues. These include adjustments to the University lifestyle, sleep problems, self-confidence or addiction issues (the latter being especially relevant due to student drinking culture and the prevalence of addictive items such as vapes). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All these issues are said to be helped massively through ‘Solution-Focused’ hypnotherapy which, according to the Hypnotherapy Directory<\/mark><\/a><\/strong>,<\/mark> is “a form of therapy that uses relaxation, visualisation and suggestion techniques as the centre point of the therapeutic process.” Solution-focused hypnotherapy is proven to be especially effective for anxiety disorders given that a relaxed state of subconscious makes clients far more open to receiving positive messages and suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I definintely think hynotherapy would be an amazing option for university students…”<\/mark><\/strong><\/em><\/p>Adam Rothwell, Clinical Hypnotherapist with ‘Bright Futures Therapy’<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Image taken from a Zoom Interview with Adam Rothwell, Photo Credit:<\/strong> Amala Parry<\/sub><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n