Friday, February 8, 2013

Book Review: The Hypnosis Treatment Option: Proven Solutions for Pain, Insomnia and Other Common Health Problems

This book is a valuable addition to my bookshelf and should be read by anyone interested in or practicing hypnosis.

I like the fact that the author is not a recent hypnosis graduate nor someone who has gathered thoughts from other hypnotists and put them in book form. Instead, Dr. Scott is a chiropractor with more than 25 years of experience using hypnosis for himself and to help his clients.

The book's title, "The Hypnosis Treatment Option: Proven Solutions for Pain, Insomnia, Stress, Obesity, and Other Common Health Problems", states the author's intention. On this, he clearly delivers, providing his own personal experiences working with clients and references to highly regarded medical and professional journals. Under the collective term "other common health problems", the author covers smoking, fear of public speaking, fear of flying, bedwetting, labor pain, fibromyalgia, teeth grinding, pre- and postsurgical hypnosis, irritable bowel syndrome and many other issues where hypnosis has proven to be effective.

I believe the following audiences will benefit from reading this book:

  • Those who are wondering what hypnosis is or is not and how it can be used. Part I (Chapters 1 - 5) covers: What is hypnosis (the process, how you would feel, how it works), myths and misconceptions, its history (including its use as an anesthesia), finding a good hypnotist and self-hypnosis.
  • Those who are practicing hypnotherapists or consulting hypnotists. From my experience, there are many well-intentioned hypnotists, who are narrowly trained. That is they are well-trained in what hypnosis is and is not, and how to assist a client to access a relaxed state. However, often they are not trained to sit down with a client and fully explore the patient's presenting issue and underlying factors nor the metaphor that the client is living that holds the issue in place. As a result, they often use pre-written scripts (one suit fits all). Dr. Scott gives many experiences from his own or other practices that illustrate how a session can be customized to address the client's particular issue.
  • Those who are affected by or have a family member who is affected by any of the mentioned ailments. Parts II and III of this book cover how hypnosis can improve your health by discussing how hypnosis has helped patients with various health conditions.