Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and hypnosis are two powerful approaches for addressing a variety of life’s problems or mental health issues. Each of these approaches, when used alone, has been found to be effective for many people. However, combining the two appears to turbocharge the benefits of both, resulting in what is known as Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy (CBH). This of course needs to be clinically indicated for clients. This means that such an approach would be based on a collaborative agreement between the client and the therapist.
Here at the College of Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, many of our tutors, supervisors and lecturers are experienced CBH practitioners. We also train our students, on our final Advanced Diploma in Integrative CBT/REBT II, to become skilled and accredited Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy therapist themselves. We strongly believe that when used as part of the ongoing therapeutic process already utilising Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (and in particular Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, the modality we specialise in here at the college), the results can be powerful, delivering effective change for some clients.
Our minds are incredibly creative and resilient, but when we struggle with issues like anxiety, or low self-esteem, our thought patterns, in the form of rigidly held irrational beliefs, can often be the biggest culprit in maintaining these problems. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and REBT especially, helps us to examine our beliefs and thoughts objectively, rationally, and honestly, allowing us to identify which patterns are leading to problematic behaviours, thoughts, and feelings. We are then able to formulate healthy, rational believes and behaviours and begin the process of replacing one with the other.
When we combine this approach with hypnosis where clinically indicated, we can integrate these new ways of thinking at a deeper level. Our subconscious minds hold all our habitual thoughts and responses, and when we relax with hypnosis and enter a more receptive state of consciousness, we can bypass our critical conscious mind and directly access our subconscious. This makes it easier for new ways of thinking to take root and results in quicker change for most people. The hypnotic process does not create these new beliefs, nor does it embed any that the client does not already know to be true and understand to be helpful. It simply helps strengthen the new beliefs and bolster our commitment to act on them.
While hypnosis alone can be effective in helping people ‘feel’ better, it may not address the underlying faulty thinking patterns that are contributing to the problem. That’s where Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy comes in – it is specifically designed to help people overcome emotional, behavioural, and symptomatic problems in the longer-term by addressing the often deeply-held irrational beliefs that have provoked the problems in the first place. Our goal is to help people get better, not just feel better.
Combining these two powerful approaches has proven to be highly effective for some people dealing with a variety of mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to depression to phobias. Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy offers a unique and dynamic approach to address the root causes of our problems and achieve lasting change.
If you are interested in learning more about CBH or training to become a qualified and accredited CBT or CBH therapist, take a look at our range of courses available, no matter what your current experience level may be.
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