What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy with David Kraft

Hypnotherapy is not a therapy by itself. David Kraft uses hypnosis as an adjunct to his therapeutic approach, which combines hypnotherapy with psychotherapy. Some clients require more time in the psychotherapy to work through issues than others, whereas some individuals are able to resolve inner conflicts and find more adaptive ways of leading their lives in a relatively short period of time. David Kraft uses a number of hypnotic techniques in therapy, but he is a firm believer in the power of content-free therapy which provides the client with the control and the means to effect change in their own unique way. In addition, Kraft uses Brief Strategic Hypnotherapy to help clients quickly and efficiently to take control of their lives. After an initial consultation session, the therapy will be tailor-made to suit the client's needs.

David Kraft takes a tremendous amount of care in the initial consultation session to build rapport with his patients and to listen very carefully. Generally, he will not diagnose or even label symptoms; but, rather, he will be guided by each individual before treatment begins.

Hypnotherapy is useful in the treatment of a wide range of problems. Here is a list of some of them:

Anxiety (see article)
Alcoholism (see article)
Stress
Eating Disorders (Anorexia Nervosa & Bulimia Nervosa)
Sexual Dysfunction (see article)
Lack of Confidence
Depression
Anger
Phobias* (including Social Phobia and Agoraphobia) (see article)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (see article)
Exam Stress
Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) (see article)
Sleep Disorders (including insomnia, nightmares and night terrors) (see article)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Grief (and Bereavement)
Migraines
Snoring (and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome)
Performance Anxiety (Musical, Public Speaking, Sports)
Panic Attacks
Pain Relief
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Weight Loss
Speech Problems

* See Glossary

In addition, hypnotherapy can be used to enhance performance and to help the client to realize his or her own potential in a range of areas. Hypnotherapy can help individuals to change their lives in profound ways, providing them initially with the support that they need, and then the ability to utilize the skills and maximize the potential that they always and already have.

What is Hypnotherapy?

During a formal hypnosis session, the therapist employs an induction procedure which allows the client to go into trance; this is followed by a deepener which helps the client to become more deeply relaxed. Hypnotherapy takes place at this point. However, there are other, less formal methods that can be used. Some advanced hypnotherapists use informal, conversational inductions, where the patient is encouraged to relax and moves seamlessly into hypnosis via the use of guided imagery.

Hypnotherapy can be useful in the treatment of a large number of problems including anxiety, sleep disorders, phobias and panic disorder. In some instances, clients come back to their therapist for booster sessions; however, hypnotherapy often has lasting effect on clients: it has the capacity to break patterns of behaviour and, having learnt self hypnosis, clients are often able to control difficult situations long into the future.

David Kraft has been trained to use a large number of hypnotic techniques including:

Covert Sensitization

In Vitro and In Vivo Desensitization

Ericksonian Communication Patterns

The 'As if' Approach

Dissociative Techniques

Automatic Hand writing

Hypno-Analysis and Hypnotic Free Association

Age Regression and Progression

The Braiding Approach

Guided Imagery

Inductions Utilizing the Symptom

Polarity Approaches

Re-Synthesis Approaches

Foveal Focus Deconstruction

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Re-Processing)

However, it is important to note that, sometimes, the simplest of methods are the most effective.

What is Content Free Therapy?

This is a very useful technique. In hypnosis, clients are given a great deal of time and space to explore their unconscious. They are then encouraged to resolve inner conflicts and to find more appropriate and adaptive ways to lead their lives. Content free therapy is extremely powerful because it allows clients to control the pace and content of the hypnotherapy.

What is Music Hypnosis?

Music is a very useful tool in hypnosis. It can be used as an induction and deepener, but it can also be used in the hypnotherapy. A trained musician, David Kraft uses music in the hypnotherapy to encourage clients to resolve and work through problems and inner conflicts. As with the content free therapy, the client is given the space to deal with important issues. David Kraft is very careful in choosing the appropriate music for his clients and he discusses the choices with them. This is a unique approach and he has called it 'Musical Free Association'.

What is Integrative Psychotherapy?

David Kraft uses an integrative approach which, in this case, combines psychotherapy with hypnosis. On some occasions, he will use psychotherapy on its own; the preferred method will be discussed at the consultation interview. David Kraft believes that, in many cases, it is important to deal with the underlying conflicts which cause the condition. He, therefore, combines hypnosis with psychodynamic psychotherapy. Some researchers refer to this as Hypno-Psychotherapy.

The UKCP defines Hypno-Psychotherapy as:

'The branch of psychotherapy which uses hypnosis. It rests on an extensive body of work and publications over the last three hundred years, leading to that of Milton Erickson and those influenced by him. It understands that we have a learned model of the world which can restrict the way we feel, what we understand, our attitudes and behaviour. The therapist can intervene to draw the individual's attention to new possibilities, to alternative patterns of thought, emotions and behaviour. The methods and strategies used in therapy are designed to make use of the resources and capabilities that reside within all people, and do not require the individual to fit into a standardised pattern. Hypnotherapy may be invaluable for anyone seeking to resolve specific problems, or for personal development'.

All the text on this website has been written by David Kraft. If you wish to use any of the material in your own work, please ask the author's permission or include the relevant quotation marks and citation notes.