Is Hypnosis Safe
I was working with a client the other day, and she asked me the above question, “is hypnosis safe?” I have to admit that it has been a very long time since I was asked this question. Years ago, let’s go back 20 years, I was asked this question by pretty much every client I had. Now, for some reason, the question does not come up.
It is true that at least once or twice a year, there is a news story where a hypnotherapist steps over the moral line and engages in inappropriate behaviour with a client. And yes, very often when this occurs, the fact that the person is a hypnotherapist sets the tone of the debate. I mean that the hypnotherapist MUST have used hypnosis to get his way with this person.
In reality, hypnosis cannot be used in this way. However, what CAN occur is that the therapist abuses the therapeutic relationship and uses his position of trust to do what he likes. This dynamic is not only abused by hypnotherapists, but also psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, psychologists and even doctors. When clients come to us, they trust us to be able to manage the relationship to the advantage of clients. This is one of the most important aspects of attending clinical supervision which helps the client to manage their own dynamics within the therapeutic relationship.
Oh, I almost forgot, Yes, hypnosis is safe and no one can be made to do anything under hypnosis that they do not want to do, are morally opposed to or are physically incapable of doing.
