Hypnosis for entertainment or therapy: What’s the difference?

Hypnosis for entertainment

Firstly let’s discuss hypnosis for entertainment or therapy. Today, hypnotherapy has become more acceptable now as a recognised treatment for many ailments and issues. Normally the first thing that springs to most people’s minds is stage hypnosis ie hypnosis for entertainment. They visualise people doing silly, embarrassing acts. For example, eating onions and prancing around on stage like a ballet dancer.  This is against their better judgement but they are unable to control themselves.

Hypnotherapy as a treatment and hypnosis for entertainment are worlds apart.  Despite both utilising the unconscious mind’s ability to introduce suggestions to the person.  Unfortunately, hypnosis for entertainment can often give clinical hypnotherapy a bad name. However, please let me explain the difference to you.

You’re Back in the Room: Hypnosis for entertainment for the masses

Recently, a new series  ‘You’re back in the room’ was screened on TV. The principle idea of the show involved a hypnotist getting willing participants on the stage. Then hypnotising them to perform a variety of silly tasks in order to win a prize. Once again, this leads to debates on whether this is a true representation of hypnosis.
These ‘entertainers’ are in it for the fame and fortune and choose their subjects carefully. The participants themselves want their ’15 minutes of fame’. They are usually extrovert characters who will do anything for a laugh. The resulting actions can be very funny and entertaining. Having said that this is not what hypnotherapy is about. In addition, it is important that a person seeking therapy realises that their therapist will be professional.  Furthermore, treating them with the utmost respect and confidentiality.

Hypnotherapy to help treat people

The words hypnosis and hypnotherapy are interchangeable. Whilst a therapist may call himself a hypnotist, a stage hypnotist will not say they are a hypnotherapist as they are only using hypnosis for entertainment and not therapy.

A certified hypnotherapist will use his expertise to help his patient overcome any challenges he is facing. This could be for a whole range of issues. These include  Stopping smoking, losing weight, overcoming a phobia or raising self-esteem. Hypnotherapy can be used as a stand-alone intervention or in conjunction with other treatments.
Hypnosis doesn’t involve some kind of magic. Nor any hocus pocus that turns you into a zombie who will be at the hypnotist’s beck and call. You are not ‘sleeping’ only deeply relaxed. Then the therapist uses certain tools and techniques to address any issue of concern. The patient will then be taught these valuable methods to practice himself in the comfort of his own home. This reduces reducing the visits to the hypnotherapist until the client feels his issue has been resolved.

Hypnotherapy takes time to take effect

The words hypnosis and hypnotherapy are interchangeable. Whilst a therapist may call himself a hypnotist, a stage hypnotist will not say they are a hypnotherapist.  This is because they are only using hypnosis for entertainment and not therapy.
A certified hypnotherapist will use his expertise to help his patient overcome any challenges he is facing.

This could be for a whole range of issues. These include  Stopping smoking, losing weight, overcoming a phobia or raising self-esteem. Hypnotherapy is a stand-alone intervention. However, it can also be used in conjunction with other treatments.  
Hypnosis doesn’t involve some kind of magic. Nor any hocus pocus that turns you into a zombie who will be at the hypnotist’s beck and call. You are not ‘sleeping’ only deeply relaxed. Then the therapist uses certain tools and techniques to address any issue of concern. The patient can practice these valuable methods in the comfort of their own home.  Furthermore, this can help reduce the visits to the hypnotherapist.  Without a doubt, this will resolve the client’s issues.

Hypnotherapy takes time to take effect

Stage hypnosis appears to make changes in people instantly however, to make real, deep-seated changes takes time and commitment. There is no click of the fingers and voilà! You are a different person. You are not going to close your eyes and wake up slim for example.

Therapy takes time to address an issue that the person may have had for a very long time. Many challenges take more than one session to cure. With this in mind, the hypnotherapist will have given the patient some useful tools and techniques. These can be to use to help himself when necessary. This will ensure the initial problem does not reoccur and he does not become reliant on continuous therapy.
This long-term support is important in the healing process.  This will not only help with the issue at hand but also aids self-esteem, self-worth, self-confidence, and so much more.

So are there any similarities between hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis?

Despite there being many differences in their workings, there is one similarity – they both work by connecting to your subconscious. Our subconscious mind is the part that affects our feelings and emotions. It also affects our memories and we are not aware when it is working – it just does.

This part of the mind can communicate in a positive or negative way.  Stage hypnosis will never do anything to harm you as it is solely for entertainment value.  However, the person might feel a fool and leave feeling a bit negative.  
Hypnotherapy can enrich people’s lives in a positive way.   Ultimately, it makes them feel better about themselves. This could be by helping them remember events in the past and understanding the reasons behind resulting behaviours.

People can overcome their problems with hypnotherapy.  It is all about changing someone’s state in a positive manner.  This will make them feel good in the long term.  On the other hand, stage hypnosis is just for entertainment.   It just has comedy value so treat it as such.