I would like to take a moment to clarify what is different about the “types” of hypnosis- i.e. medical hypnosis vs. carnival side-show hypnosis. To do this, I have looked to the very experienced Carole Thorpe, CHt, HCHI, HCHD, CLEC, CiHOM
Hypnobabies® Childbirth Hypnosis, VP – Director of PR & Marketing. If you have ever been to or participated in one those (really fun) stage shows that uses hypnosis, you may wonder how Hypnobabies birth hypnosis is different from what you have experienced. Let’s see if this helps…
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, so in that respect all hypnosis is basically, mechanically the same process, the same mental and physiological experience. The difference is in the intention of the hypnosis session, and in the depth of hypnosis achieved. The intention of a stage hypnotist is to guide people into hypnosis, just to a depth of heightened suggestibility. Some of the hypnotized people on the stage ‘choose’ to participate in the silliness, and some do not…and the ones who do not ‘choose’ to participate are excused to return to the audience.
Stage hypnotists do not hypnotize people on the stage to the depth of ‘somnambulism’ , which is the depth needed to create hypno-anesthesia which is a medical hypnosis technique. [In everyday usage the term somnambulism is used for sleepwalking; however, in the lexicon of hypnosis somnambulism is used to designate the deepest state of hypnosis.] They also don’t teach people eyes-open, self-hypnosis with the intention of the mother being able to move around while she’s creating an easier, more comfortable birth experience.
Make a bit more sense? Have more questions about hypnosis and it’s uses for birth? I’d love to hear from you!
