| As a Christian hypnotherapist I believe it is important | | | | Besides Jesus' divine power working, in many of his |
| to know that Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state, | | | | signs and wonders we can see the power of the |
| commonly experienced on a daily basis when we lose | | | | suggestions. Trained in Clinical Hypnosis by instructors |
| awareness of surrounding distractions. We all enter | | | | who teach the Ericksonian Approach, I think it is |
| the hypnotic state just before we fall asleep at night, | | | | reasonable for me to submit these views. |
| and again just before awakening in the morning. | | | | Helping people meet their needs, solve their problems |
| Other forms of hypnosis include daydreaming, | | | | or find a feasible way to cope with them is the goal |
| becoming engrossed in a book, movie, or sport. While | | | | of therapy. Hypnosis is merely one more means of |
| in hypnosis, the subconscious mind will not allow a | | | | helping the client reach his/her goals. I have the |
| person to do or say anything against their moral or | | | | privilege of helping my subjects understand that |
| ethical beliefs. Hypnosis is neither a belief nor a | | | | hypnosis will help them work toward their good. |
| religion. It is not even a matter of conviction. Used in | | | | People with whom I have worked have corrected |
| therapy, it is simply another tool, further, hypnosis | | | | previous misconceptions and have actually been |
| has no need to be defended. When properly used by | | | | complementary about hypnosis. Many have remarked |
| a trained professional, it defends itself by the results | | | | that it helped them significantly and some have |
| obtained. | | | | simply stated that "It is just simply relaxing and |
| The good it does speaks on its behalf. I wonder if | | | | wonderful" |
| God used hypnosis when He "...caused a deep sleep | | | | Hypnosis is a great and wonderful tool and more |
| to fall on Adam..." (Genesis 2: 21). Was formal | | | | professionals should use it. CEO's use it, pro athletes |
| hypnosis used in Bible? Were hypnotic techniques | | | | use it and so do the most successful people in all |
| used? Paul speaks of being in a trance [Acts 22:17) | | | | areas of life. It is without doubt the most beneficial, |
| and Peter "fell into trance" [Acts 10:1-48] Paul gazed | | | | powerful and result oriented tool available to all of us, |
| into his eyes and he was healed [Acts 14:9-10) | | | | yet most people never even know it. Better yet, |
| Something else is evident. Not for his own benefit, | | | | after you master it, it costs nothing, is easy to do |
| but rather for the sake of those He helped, Jesus | | | | and can be utilized immediately. Many practitioners in |
| very frequently used the power of suggestion in his | | | | the various areas of health care have incorporated it |
| ministry. In fact in all his parables He suggests some | | | | in their practice. More and more, regardless of their |
| specific truth regarding his Kingdom. He said: "The | | | | specialties, medical doctors use hypnosis to better |
| kingdom of heaven is like unto..." | | | | treat their patients. Many of them are now referring |
| We see what may be considered the classical | | | | their patients to hypnotherapists. For a long time |
| example of Jesus using the power of suggestion in | | | | most scientists opposed the use of hypnosis in |
| His great parable of The Good Samaritan. He ends | | | | therapy. They considered it as of little or no value. |
| the incident by telling the lawyer: "...go, do likewise." | | | | Many discarded it as "hocus pocus". Nevertheless, |
| That lawyer nor any of those with him or anyone | | | | thanks to the constant, indefatigable efforts of |
| present was hypnotized by Jesus. Yet, they received | | | | those who see its true value, Hypnotherapy is now |
| the same suggestion. What they did need but had | | | | recognized as a true science in the medical field. |
| failed to recognize was the one thing Jesus | | | | Surely this should help the general public to have a |
| suggested: "Show mercy to him who is in need!" "Be | | | | better view about it. |
| his neighbor!" In all his teaching, Jesus often used | | | | All things can be used for good or evil. Even religion. |
| metaphors. His message of the passing of a camel | | | | Wars have been fought and are still being fought in |
| through a needle's eye can readily be understood as | | | | the name of religion. There is nothing new under the |
| teaching about values and priorities. How can anyone | | | | sun and that includes "hypnosis". Godly people and |
| miss the message conveyed in Jesus' statement | | | | prophets went into "trances" to receive revelation |
| about faith enabling the individual to cause mountains | | | | from God. When you are trying to replace a bad |
| to be removed! | | | | habit with a good one, you are, in essence, renewing |
| A powerful suggestion this is of self-confidence | | | | your mind. |
| based not on self-sufficiency, but on divine help. | | | | |