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What
is Hypnosis?
Long perceived as the wizardry of magicians and Svengalis
hypnosis is now being rethought as reported in the magazines
Newsweek, “O” Oprah, ePregnancy, and the Jane
Pauley and Date Line TV shows which are explaining why health
care is Rethinking Hypnosis. Hypnosis can be defined as an
altered state of consciousness, awareness, or perception.
Hypnosis is a highly relaxed state in which a person’s
conscious and subconscious mind is focused and receptive to
positive suggestion and imagery.
Almost everyone has experienced an altered state at some time
in his or her life. Think of those times when you were driving
to work and you get there not remembering passing streets
or buildings totally unaware of what you were doing until
you pulled into the parking lot What about when you or your
children were so engrossed in a TV program that you were unaware
that someone else had entered the room. These are the simplest
explanations of what hypnosis is. NO mind control, no giving
away of secrets, not sleep just a safe and relaxed experience
that is pleasant, refreshing and beneficial.
A
brief history of hypnosis.
Hypnosis
under various names has been used for as long as records have
been kept. Mesmerism is what we hear it referred as most often.
Modern hypnosis is usually dated from about 1773. James Braid,
M.D., coined the term hypnosis in approximately 1841. However
even before this James Easdale, M.D. had documented over 3,000
surgical operations using Mesmerism in India. The American
Medical Association approved the use of hypnosis as an appropriate
technique for dealing with many medical problems in 1958.
more...
What
Training is Required?
In
most states any one can practice hypnosis. The stage hypnotist
is an example. The major professional hypnosis organizations
(licensed health professionals) require 60 clock hours of
training. Para-professional organizations (non-licensed) offer
100 clock hours of training to become a certified hypnotist
and require annual continuing education for recertification.
Para-professionals are limited in their practice to using
hypnosis for behavior modification such as smoking cessation,
weight loss, and stress management. If the hypnotist is not
a licensed health care provider he or she can only work with
medical issues through referrals from a licensed health care
provider.
Hypnotists
advocate patient’s rights and a strict code of ethics.
How is hypnosis
typically used to treat physical or emotional problems?
Some examples of the utilization of hypnosis, by discipline,
are:
- Health
Prevention – Habit control such as smoking, hair pulling
and weight control, phobias, depression, anxiety, sexual
problems, alcoholism, speech problems, chronic pain, self-esteem/ego
strengthening, and memory/concentration improvement.
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Medicine – Chronic pain, cancer pain, anesthesia and
surgery, childbirth, psychosomatic disease, gynecology,
control of bleeding, burn therapy, dermatology, pain control,
irritable bowel, preparing for surgery, high blood pressure,
diabetic treatment compliance, stress management, and much
more.
- Dentistry
– Fear of dentistry, dental surgery, bruxism, control
of bleeding, tongue biting, saliva control, orthodontia,
gagging, ease of dentures, and general oral hygiene.
- Other
Uses– Sports enhancement, improve study habits, meditation,
test anxiety, relaxation, enhance the immune system, sleep
better, road rage, and healing from within.
Are
there physical or emotional conditions, which do not lend
themselves to hypnotic treatment?
The hypnotist involved should make the decision whether or
not hypnotic treatment is appropriate. He or she will take
the individual’s complete history in order to determine
if there are physical or emotional conditions that would indicate
if hypnosis would be inappropriate. The hypnotist will probably
not utilize hypnosis with individuals who display such physical
problems as severe heart disease, or other major physical
conditions where there might be a danger of masking an illness.
Persons with significant emotional problems, such as borderline
psychosis, may not be appropriate patients for hypnotherapeutic
treatment unless their illness is controlled with mediation.
How
long does hypnotic treatment take?
Length of hypnotic treatment is like most other treatment
procedures. It will vary depending on the nature and severity
of the problem. Treatment may be as short as one session for
such things as smoking, to several sessions for other problems.
Hypnosis is frequently used in conjunction with other forms
of medical treatment. Hypnotic treatment is only one tool,
and when used by itself the treatment is usually short term.
Will my health insurance cover the cost?
Most insurance companies do not cover hypnosis.
Misconceptions
About Hypnosis...
Loss of consciousness. One of the major myths
about hypnosis is that you will lose consciousness. Hypnosis
is altered level of consciousness, but you are not rendered
unconscious. You will be aware of everything in the environment
and hear everything that the hypnotist is saying.
Weakening
your will. Your will is not weakened or changed in
anyway. You are in control and, if you wish for any reason
to terminate the hypnotic state, you may do so simply by opening
your eyes. You cannot be made to do anything against your
will.
Spontaneous talking. Patients do not spontaneously
begin talking or revealing information they wish to keep secret.
You can talk while under hypnosis and you and your hypnotherapist
may wish to use some talking procedure in order to assist
you with your problem.
Sleep. Hypnosis is not sleep; you will not
fall asleep. The hypnotic EEG pattern is entirely different
from the sleep EEG pattern.
What
if I can’t come out of hypnosis?
In the hands of a trained professional there is no danger
in the use of hypnosis. Since the client/patient holds the
control, there is no difficulty in terminating the hypnotic
state. The professional will take your complete history before
using hypnosis, and if there are any contraindications to
the use of hypnosis, another form of therapy will be recommended.
To
encourage and promote excellence in the use of hypnosis and
other complementary medicine by qualified individuals; to
advance scientific research, education and standards of practice
in hypnosis, and to advise others about the value, application
and ethical use of complementary medicine.
HYPNOSIS IS USED
FOR...
Pain
Management Hypnosis & self-hypnosis are
endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the Joint
Commission Association for Health Care Organizations (JCAHO)
as an adjunctive coping skill in the treatment of chronic
and cancer pain.
Stress
Management On an average workday, an estimated
one million workers do not make it to work due to stress.
Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are the best avenue for dealing
with stress. Endorsed by the National Institutes of Health.
Weight
Management Hypnosis Works! "Dateline"
in November 2003, hypnosis is the easiest and most successful
means for relaxing away those excess pounds.
Smoking
Cessation As seen on Dateline - a great tool. "I
was smoking 5 packs of Camels a day - I have not had a cigarette
in 3 years thanks to Ron's Smoking Cessation Program."
Navy LT, Newport, RI.
Childbirth
Pain Free Child Birth as seen on Dateline. Studies show a
decrease in hospitalization for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
by 50%. Labor shortened by 2-4 hours. Decreases c-sections
from 30% (national average) to less than 5%.
Fears
Multiple studies have shown the efficacy of hypnosis in overcoming
multiple fears. Included are: Fear of flying, spiders, snakes
and public speaking.
Irritable
Bowel Syndrome Hypnosis is proven to be 85% effective
in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Surgery
Preparation Blue Shield of California did studies
showing quicker recovery, less nausea and vomiting, and less
pain when using hypnotic techniques 2-3 weeks prior to surgery.
Children
Success with bed wetting, nail biting, sports and study habits
Cancer
Research has shown that hypnosis help manage cancer pain and
is effective in increasing the immune system while decreasing
the uncomfortable side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
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MEDICAL
SURGICAL and CLINICAL HYPNOSIS 
procedures.
Any
and all hypnosis involving medical conditions, such as managing
pain, is always done under the supervision of a physician,
or by referral. Your doctor and the Wellness Center must work
as a team to help you attain the results that you desire.
If you would like to find out about the use of hypnosis to
help you with a medical condition, give us a call. As a trained
Nurse Anesthetist and Advanced Practice Nurse, Ron is used
to working with physicians and our office knows how to set
up the referral.
circumstances
without your prior written consent. 
Ron
Eslinger: Owner
and CEO of Healthy Visions Wellness Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
was nominated by the Department of the Navy to Represent the
Department of Defense as Ex-Officio member to the National Institutes
of Health’s Health Service’s Committee on Complementary
and Alternative Medicine and the National Guild of Hypnotist’s
receiver of the Researcher of the Year award for 2003. He graduated
from St. Mary’s nursing school Knoxville, TN, in 1970
and completed Nurse Anesthesia training at the University of
Tennessee in 1974. Certified in Hypnotherapy in 1978. He received
his BS degree in Professional Arts from Saint Joseph’s
College in Wenham, Main, and his Masters Degree in Foreign Affairs
for National Defense and Strategic Studies from the United States
Naval War College, Newport, RI in 1994. 
Joan
Cassens: is a Certified Hypnotherapist, a retired teacher,
school counselor and licensed mental health counselor from Fort
Pierce, Florida. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a M.Ed. in
Counseling from University of Florida. She has 36 hours toward
an Ed. D. from Florida Atlantic University. She has taught and
counseled at the elementary, secondary and community college
level. After retiring from the school system, she worked as
a licensed mental health counselor for the Psychiatric Outpatient
Unit of Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. In 1998, she came
to Oak Ridge to care for her two grandchildren while her daughter
attended UT’s Veterinary school. She is a member of Kern
United Methodist church, where she is a Stephen’s Minister,
and sings in the choir. She volunteers at the Kern Angel Food
Program and in the church sponsored Water Angel program to feed
the homeless. She is on the board of The Humane Society, belongs
to Toastmasters, Democracy For East Tennessee and the Oak Ridge
Woman’s Club. Her interests include drama, swimming, folk
dancing, reading, and gardening. She is delighted to be living
in beautiful East Tennessee with her husband Jerry, her cat
and her Chihuahua.
Lena
Scott: Executive Assistant