[spython]

I've had good experiences with hypnotherapy, the most effective being a self-recorded audio. I took a more or less standard hypnotherapy text from Brian Alman and Peter T. Lambrou's book and adapted it to my needs. Experiencing my past self wishing me well, encouraging me, calming me was quite a bit more powerful and trustworthy than any abstract 'radio voice'.

Well worth the time to try and record it yourself, for yourself.

[alexnaoumidis]

That’s really cool, its taking self-hypnosis to the next level. I personally dislike hearing the sound of my own voice haha but glad to hear you’re finding it helpful.

[spython]

Haha, yes, I took a few tries to get the tone of the voice quite right. Maybe something for to explore in future releases of your app? A guided, self-created hypnotherapy session. Could take away the fear of and resistance to 'losing control' that many experience when the idea of being subjected to hypnosis comes up.

[alexnaoumidis]

Yeah I think it’s a great idea - we’re really interested in expanding the level of personalisation our programs provide and this could be a feature. Definitely, it’s harder to fear losing control when it’s your own voice.

[angrais]

Can you explain how that is hypnotherapy? Sounds like self reflection?

[spython]

Self-reflection, as I understand it, is pretty much the opposite of hypnotherapy. Self-reflection is analytical, while hypnotherapy is like having a dream. Except that you wrote and directed that dream beforehand.

I like to use the language of IFS therapy for the explanation. It assumes that we are made of a self and, in addition, different parts. The parts have different ages, different needs and different solutions, but they all want what is best for us. So in a person with e.g. fear of public speaking there might be a younger part that remembers how it got humiliated when speaking publicly, and there might be a managing part that tells them 'you're an adult, a professional, you have to get on stage, it's beneficial for your career'. The first one wants to protect them and the second one wants to let them thrive, they are both right, but there is still a conflict. With self-reflection it might happen that they just decide that the second one is right, and the first one has to shut up, but it doesn't solve the problem, it just exiles it even further.

With hypnotherapy and other techniques that use imagination, I first allow my body to relax, and ask the conflicting parts to calm down for a moment and see that calm is possible. I need >10 minutes for that, but once that is established, I can show both parts a scenario where the things that they fear will go wrong, go right. Then I aknowledge how that feels and slowly exit the session. Instead of shutting up an important part of me, I allow it to see that things can and will go right, and if they go wrong, it will be still acceptable. When you do it a dozen times, it kind of sticks.

This is of course a simplified explanation of just one kind of hypnotherapy.