How to Use Hypnotherapy To Lose Weight

Hypnotherapy uses hypnotic techniques to put patients in a trance state. While in this state, it is said, the subconscious is directed to help the patient achieve stated goals. Many believe this approach can be used to address a wide range of issues, including stress, depression and chronic pain. Hypnotherapy may also be used to help people lose weight.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access to research hypnotherapists

1. Change your relationship with food via hypnotherapy. For many overweight people, eating has little to do with hunger and more to do with issues such as comfort and safety. Hypnotherapy can help change your attitudes at a very basic level so that you no longer look to food for this kind of security.
2. Get a handle on what situations cause you to overeat. Your hypnotherapist will work with you identify situations that cause you to turn to food, and will use hypnosis to help alter your responses in these instances.
3. Improve your self-esteem. Solid self-esteem is an important tool in your effort to create a slimmer you. Hypnotherapy can work to help you accomplish this by helping you to defeat damaging attitudes and silence negative self-talk.
4. Crave the right foods. Hypnotherapy can help you build an affinity for foods that are good and healthful, thus replacing bad cravings with good ones.
5. Find a hypnotherapist with experience in the area of weight loss. The National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists Web site contains listings that can help you make contact with practitioners in your area (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Hypnotherapy can be costly. To put it in perspective, though, it's typically a less expensive route than traditional psychotherapy. About 3 sessions is all it takes to address most conditions, but additional sessions are often recommended to help achieve the best results.
• When used in conjunction with hypnotherapy sessions, hypnoptherapy CDs can help patients achieve dramatic results. They are usually available in hypnotherapy offices or online.
• Severe symptoms such as faintness, shortness of breath or chest pain should not treated with hypnotherapy. These symptoms could indicate a serious ailment, and should be treated by a doctor.
• Before you start any alternative medical technique, be aware that many have not been scientifically evaluated. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about how alternative medicine practitioners can be professionally licensed. If you decide to visit one, choose one licensed by a recognized national organization. Consult your primary health care provider about your decision first. Keep your doctor informed about the alternative medical technique you undertake.