Like any good form of therapy Hypnotherapy must adapt with the field in order to both survive and thrive. https://hypnosistrainingacademy.com/hypnosis-trends-2017/ have produced an excellent article naming the top 10 hypnosis trends for 2017. As we approach 2019, this article aims to analyse these trends and perhaps predict which direction future trends may lead us.
1. Traditional Treatments are Evolving. The article talks about virtual gastric band vs surgery, and the emergence of vaping and its potential problems.
My previous article Vaping vs Smoking discusses some of the latest thoughts on vaping as it is currently a very hot topic with the great number of people taking up e-cigs and other alternatives to smoking without solid long-term research to say that it is completely safe. I think its a very good bet to say that stop-vaping services will be sought after increasingly in the years to come, and its something I get asked about regularly in my clinics at the moment.
At present there is no official stop vaping service in the UK, while typically stop smoking aids and medications are designed only for burning tobacco products, despite vaping being a highly addictive and potentially harmful habit taken up by a huge number of people. A stop vaping hypnotic service could therefore be a very useful service for the present and future.
2. Mental Health Services. It is noted that although public/media perception to mental health has recently shifted to something acceptable for open discussion, public funding has continued to be cut. The most recent UK budget has set aside increased funds for mental health services however, presumably as it makes perfect sense to treat problems early before they become more serious. CBT is being used with greater frequency to treat common issues such as anxiety and depression for this reason.
We know that self-hypnosis techniques alone can greatly aid anxiety and personal well being. Will preventative services further latch on to the effects of hypnotherapy in the future? It very much depends on how research develops but I think it is an excellent idea worth exploring further.
3. Links with conventional Medicine. Studies indicate that hypnosis can be used for various medical purposes, such as pain management, recovery from surgery, childbirth and IBS. With medical services continuing to be stretched, costs forever increasing and demand from patients not wanting medication based treatment, hypnosis can reasonably expect to play an increasing role in more wide ranging treatment plans of the future.
4. Healthy Diets. Obesity continues to rise in both adults and children, despite the healthy food craze that seems to sweep back and forth perpetually. As a result of this the author suggests there is a trend toward hypnosis to promote healthy eating.
Looking at future trends I would expand upon this to say hypnotherapy can play a role in improving healthy lifestyles in general; to include eating, activity/exercise and social habits.
I have commented before on the potential problem of social media and the screen time both adults and children now seem bound to in both work and leisure. Sedentary lifestyles, eating more processed foods coinciding with decreased 'real' social interactions can only lead to more physical/mental health issues in the future.
Society must find an answer to correcting our negative lifestyle patterns. If hypnosis can aid us eating well, getting regular good exercise and interacting socially then perhaps that answer is right in front of us.
5. Closing The Gap Between The 4 Streams of Hypnotists. The four branches are listed in the article as; the world of research and academia, hypnotists with healthcare qualifications, laymen hypnotists and stage and entertainment hypnotists. The Hypnosis Training Academy says that in the past hypnosis was considered something 'mystical', whereas nowadays for various reasons there is more acceptance and understanding of the practice which has lead to cohesion of sorts.
The author claims the gap between laymen hypnotists and hypnotists with healthcare qualifications is closing, partly due to the increase of training courses available on a widening range of topics. Similarly techniques used in entertainment such as 'hypnotic mind reading' have been taken up in hypnotherapy sessions, while well known celebrities such as Paul Mckenna who started in entertainment have switched to offer therapeutic services.
6. Advances In Research Related To Changes In The Brain. The author cites the recent study of Dr Spiegel which demonstrates how the brain alters under hypnosis, proving that hypnosis has a very real empirical effect upon the brain, and also begins to show how the subconscious mind can be manipulated under hypnosis to make changes to aspects of body such as secretions/blood flow.
As scientific research hopefully continues to demonstrate the potential of Hypnotherapy, this can only strengthen its position within society and open more and more people to the idea of hypnosis as an alternative treatment option.
7. Change Of Emphasis From Power To Empower. The Hypnosis Training Academy say there has been a shift between the image of a hypnotist being in control of their subject to working cooperatively toward a shared goal, empowering positive change.
I would say this is not a very recent change but something that has happened over a longer period of time, and certainly hope that hypnotherapy remains an empowering experience in the future!
8. Hypnotists Are Becoming More Business-Minded. The article states that this is due to the growth of hypnotherapy the industry has had to evolve. Increased demand for hypnotherapy means there are now more hypnotists in the field, so there is a need to promote services to stand out and succeed as a business.
Also there are now more regulatory bodies which aim to set standards of hypnotherapy such as training, CPD and insurance, all with a view to make hypnotherapy more professional practice and move away from those 'mystical beginnings'.
9. Hypnosis As A Career In Later Life. As the population lives longer they are needing to work longer too. The author states that projected stats for 2022 are that 31.9% of people aged between 65 and 74 will still be working, an increase of 58% since 2002.
Due to the work having little physical demands and having the flexibility to be self employed, the article states that more people are turning to hypnotherapy as a second career choice or a career in later life.
With the population being statistically older, perhaps a future trend of hypnosis need best consider the treatment/lifestyle needs of the aged also. What will the requirements be for older people still needing to work, or longer years spent in retirement? Could hypnosis be used to improve the lives and well being of older people? Again, I firmly believe there is great potential for development here.
10. Hypnosis For Students And Its Impact On Future Generations. The Hypnosis Research Academy links research demonstrating the benefits for meditation in schools, and claim that the known benefits of hypnosis in stress reduction, behavioural issues and information retention mean that it could be a highly useful tool for future generations of students.
If all children learnt self hypnosis - what kind of effect would that have upon them growing up? The effect upon society could be massive.
Supplementary suggestions to the list...
To add to this list for future trends I feel it would be unwise to ignore the role of technology. Increased screen time can be disadvantageous as previously stated, but tech can also open doors if used in the right way. Advances to the internet and smart phones mean we can be connected to anyone across the globe without limit or financial restraint, and not just by voice conversation, but with face to face via video link.
I have conducted hypnosis successfully using these methods, and although I prefer real time patient interaction telephone consultations certainly suit some clientele. They are cost effective, remove the problem of getting to appointments, the geography divide of patient/therapist, and also remove the waiting room experience. Due to phobias and other medical issues there are a range of reasons why a patients/therapist might not want to have real time interaction - so I can only reflect upon them positively as a flexible and highly useful option for therapy.
There is 'smart' technology emerging everywhere around us at the moment from phones to watches and car seats, all linked by apps that can help us understand the way our body and mind works. A question we have to ask ourselves is how best do we use this technology to actually improve ourselves? How can hypnotherapy be used in conjunction to achieve this?
If you feel there is something missing from the list then please leave a comment to the article.
1. Traditional Treatments are Evolving. The article talks about virtual gastric band vs surgery, and the emergence of vaping and its potential problems.
My previous article Vaping vs Smoking discusses some of the latest thoughts on vaping as it is currently a very hot topic with the great number of people taking up e-cigs and other alternatives to smoking without solid long-term research to say that it is completely safe. I think its a very good bet to say that stop-vaping services will be sought after increasingly in the years to come, and its something I get asked about regularly in my clinics at the moment.
At present there is no official stop vaping service in the UK, while typically stop smoking aids and medications are designed only for burning tobacco products, despite vaping being a highly addictive and potentially harmful habit taken up by a huge number of people. A stop vaping hypnotic service could therefore be a very useful service for the present and future.
2. Mental Health Services. It is noted that although public/media perception to mental health has recently shifted to something acceptable for open discussion, public funding has continued to be cut. The most recent UK budget has set aside increased funds for mental health services however, presumably as it makes perfect sense to treat problems early before they become more serious. CBT is being used with greater frequency to treat common issues such as anxiety and depression for this reason.
We know that self-hypnosis techniques alone can greatly aid anxiety and personal well being. Will preventative services further latch on to the effects of hypnotherapy in the future? It very much depends on how research develops but I think it is an excellent idea worth exploring further.
3. Links with conventional Medicine. Studies indicate that hypnosis can be used for various medical purposes, such as pain management, recovery from surgery, childbirth and IBS. With medical services continuing to be stretched, costs forever increasing and demand from patients not wanting medication based treatment, hypnosis can reasonably expect to play an increasing role in more wide ranging treatment plans of the future.
4. Healthy Diets. Obesity continues to rise in both adults and children, despite the healthy food craze that seems to sweep back and forth perpetually. As a result of this the author suggests there is a trend toward hypnosis to promote healthy eating.
Looking at future trends I would expand upon this to say hypnotherapy can play a role in improving healthy lifestyles in general; to include eating, activity/exercise and social habits.
I have commented before on the potential problem of social media and the screen time both adults and children now seem bound to in both work and leisure. Sedentary lifestyles, eating more processed foods coinciding with decreased 'real' social interactions can only lead to more physical/mental health issues in the future.
Society must find an answer to correcting our negative lifestyle patterns. If hypnosis can aid us eating well, getting regular good exercise and interacting socially then perhaps that answer is right in front of us.
5. Closing The Gap Between The 4 Streams of Hypnotists. The four branches are listed in the article as; the world of research and academia, hypnotists with healthcare qualifications, laymen hypnotists and stage and entertainment hypnotists. The Hypnosis Training Academy says that in the past hypnosis was considered something 'mystical', whereas nowadays for various reasons there is more acceptance and understanding of the practice which has lead to cohesion of sorts.
The author claims the gap between laymen hypnotists and hypnotists with healthcare qualifications is closing, partly due to the increase of training courses available on a widening range of topics. Similarly techniques used in entertainment such as 'hypnotic mind reading' have been taken up in hypnotherapy sessions, while well known celebrities such as Paul Mckenna who started in entertainment have switched to offer therapeutic services.
6. Advances In Research Related To Changes In The Brain. The author cites the recent study of Dr Spiegel which demonstrates how the brain alters under hypnosis, proving that hypnosis has a very real empirical effect upon the brain, and also begins to show how the subconscious mind can be manipulated under hypnosis to make changes to aspects of body such as secretions/blood flow.
As scientific research hopefully continues to demonstrate the potential of Hypnotherapy, this can only strengthen its position within society and open more and more people to the idea of hypnosis as an alternative treatment option.
7. Change Of Emphasis From Power To Empower. The Hypnosis Training Academy say there has been a shift between the image of a hypnotist being in control of their subject to working cooperatively toward a shared goal, empowering positive change.
I would say this is not a very recent change but something that has happened over a longer period of time, and certainly hope that hypnotherapy remains an empowering experience in the future!
8. Hypnotists Are Becoming More Business-Minded. The article states that this is due to the growth of hypnotherapy the industry has had to evolve. Increased demand for hypnotherapy means there are now more hypnotists in the field, so there is a need to promote services to stand out and succeed as a business.
Also there are now more regulatory bodies which aim to set standards of hypnotherapy such as training, CPD and insurance, all with a view to make hypnotherapy more professional practice and move away from those 'mystical beginnings'.
9. Hypnosis As A Career In Later Life. As the population lives longer they are needing to work longer too. The author states that projected stats for 2022 are that 31.9% of people aged between 65 and 74 will still be working, an increase of 58% since 2002.
Due to the work having little physical demands and having the flexibility to be self employed, the article states that more people are turning to hypnotherapy as a second career choice or a career in later life.
With the population being statistically older, perhaps a future trend of hypnosis need best consider the treatment/lifestyle needs of the aged also. What will the requirements be for older people still needing to work, or longer years spent in retirement? Could hypnosis be used to improve the lives and well being of older people? Again, I firmly believe there is great potential for development here.
10. Hypnosis For Students And Its Impact On Future Generations. The Hypnosis Research Academy links research demonstrating the benefits for meditation in schools, and claim that the known benefits of hypnosis in stress reduction, behavioural issues and information retention mean that it could be a highly useful tool for future generations of students.
If all children learnt self hypnosis - what kind of effect would that have upon them growing up? The effect upon society could be massive.
Supplementary suggestions to the list...
To add to this list for future trends I feel it would be unwise to ignore the role of technology. Increased screen time can be disadvantageous as previously stated, but tech can also open doors if used in the right way. Advances to the internet and smart phones mean we can be connected to anyone across the globe without limit or financial restraint, and not just by voice conversation, but with face to face via video link.
I have conducted hypnosis successfully using these methods, and although I prefer real time patient interaction telephone consultations certainly suit some clientele. They are cost effective, remove the problem of getting to appointments, the geography divide of patient/therapist, and also remove the waiting room experience. Due to phobias and other medical issues there are a range of reasons why a patients/therapist might not want to have real time interaction - so I can only reflect upon them positively as a flexible and highly useful option for therapy.
There is 'smart' technology emerging everywhere around us at the moment from phones to watches and car seats, all linked by apps that can help us understand the way our body and mind works. A question we have to ask ourselves is how best do we use this technology to actually improve ourselves? How can hypnotherapy be used in conjunction to achieve this?
If you feel there is something missing from the list then please leave a comment to the article.
