Integrating Mindfulness & Hypnotherapy (Online)

Hypnotherapy: A Medium for Mindful Change

Clinicians who are trained only in mindfulness may have preconceived notions about hypnosis. Likewise, individuals who are trained only in hypnosis may have self-limiting ideas about mindfulness. For example, given the history of hypnosis, some might think of it as it has sometimes been portrayed in “hypnotist shows,” as a form of entertainment or mind control. Hypnotherapy is neither entertainment nor a method of “mind control.” Hypnosis and hypnotherapy involve a focus of attention and receptivity to suggestions and are directed toward empowering clients to achieve their personal goals. They are respectful of clients and used in a flexible manner by therapists with sufficient training and experience. During a hypnotic state, an individual is uniquely receptive to exploring experiences with an open mind and with avid curiosity. By clearly explaining mindfulness and guiding a client’s experiences directly in a hypnotic state, we can pave the way for the client having similar experiences with mindfulness in the future. This helps to expedite a client’s orientation toward greater mindfulness and helps the client explore the beneficial effects of mindfulness on his or her own during daily life.

Clinicians who are familiar with hypnosis but lack a background of training in mindfulness may have misconceptions about it being unscientific, strange, and inextricable from its religious roots (these issues are further addressed in Chapters 2 and 3 of this book). Mindfulness may be misunderstood as being “the same as hypnosis” or as just a relaxation or stress management technique. It is not. Mindfulness and hypnosis can, however, be combined for a synergistic effect.

One of the challenges to effectively integrating mindfulness into treatment is conveying the subtle, yet radical wisdom that mindfulness entails.¹ This is important because a lack of understanding of nonjudgmental awareness, for example, can dilute the impact of mindfulness practice and delay its clinical utility. When a client misperceives a mindfulness concept, the distortion often occurs when the client comes face to face with unfamiliar concepts or when even the clinician does not have sufficient training and experience with mindfulness practice. For example, consider the following description of mindfulness that a client will sometimes provide, even several sessions into a mindfulness-based treatment:

The client’s approach to this situation may have been the best option available to the client given the circumstances. Regardless of its effectiveness or ineffectiveness, it demonstrates the use of coping skills that are almost diametrically opposed to mindfulness. In this case, the client has misconstrued equanimity as nonengagement, has confused nonjudgmental awareness with trying to control feeling, and has assumed that if something is unpleasant it must be escaped (in this case, by compartmentalizing the experience and pretending that everything is fine).

Hypnosis shares similarities to mindfulness in that it involves guiding clients to achieve a focus of attention. However, it is different from mindfulness in its theoretical foundations and in the very intentional use of suggestions to guide experience and achieve a range of specific goals. Hypnotherapy interventions typically are directed toward change or alteration in thoughts, feelings, physiology, or behavior. An example of a client using self-hypnosis is illustrated in the following comment by the client using hypnosis for pain control.

In this case, the client is using hypnosis to relax and cope with a painful procedure. This can be effective and there are benefits to using self-hypnosis in this way. However, it is not an illustration of the power of nonjudgmental awareness, acceptance, daily practice, or the deeper wisdom of mindfulness. The benefits of mindfulness go beyond simply finding a technique or method for coping with a stressful or painful situation or event. The power of mindfulness can be life changing and extends to all forms of suffering—emotional, physical, interpersonal, existential, and spiritual. Consider the following comment from an individual who had begun mindfulness practice on a daily basis:

This chapter began with a quote from Dr. Milton Erickson, one of the most important figures in contemporary psychotherapy and hypnosis: “Until you are willing to be confused about what you already know, what you know will never grow bigger, better, or more useful.” There is great potential for the integration of hypnosis and mindfulness (Yapko, 2011); however, to achieve this, clinicians and individuals must be open and flexible in their understanding of both concepts. To be confused is to be open to learning, and learning creates new understanding and potential for growth and thereby potentially grows bigger, better, and more useful. Acceptance and change are not incompatible. It is mind-expanding to go beyond existing schemas and create new ones.