The start of a new year is generally a time when people reflect on their lives and make resolutions – some trivial, some life-changing – so they can become better versions of themselves.

It is a tradition that started thousands of years ago in Babylon and it is still practised by 45% of the population today.

However, as most people are aware, New Year resolutions also lose their appeal rather quickly and before you know it, it’s barely March and your resolve to lose weight, get fit or quell your anxiety attacks has been reduced to nothing more than a frivolous thought.

Did you know that hypnotherapy can do the trick of helping you change for the better through your resolutions? It’s worth a shot and what better time to learn more about it than on World Hypnotism Day today.

In fact, this option is now available in Malaysia through research at Universiti Malaya as well as through LCCH’s medical and graduate clinical hypnotherapists.

Clinical hypnotherapy explained

Clinical hypnosis is a safe and natural state of relaxation. Most people enjoy it and emerge feeling refreshed, re-energised and re-motivated.

This makes hypnosis a useful tool for anyone looking for personal growth, a fresh start or who is in a mentoring or coaching role.

When you combine hypnosis with psychotherapy techniques, you have a powerful intervention that can break unhealthy habits, heal emotional trauma and banish negative thinking.

Probably the nicest part of this therapy is that it is simple, feels good and generally works quickly.

In medical treatment, clinical hypnotherapy is used to help manage chronic pain, irritable bowel disorder, insomnia, migraine, preparation for childbirth and during surgery.

Look into my eyes

It is a myth that you are asked to look into your therapist’s eyes during a hypnotherapy session. And, you are never under their spell or power.

In fact, about 90% of people experience the natural state of hypnosis every day. Clinical hypnotherapy feels like a pleasant daydream where you feel your stress and troubles float away.

Imagination is the language of hypnosis. This means that the words which you use creates an image of what you want to achieve.

It is quite easy to identify when a co-worker or family member has become stressed or unhappy because their language slips into a negative spiral.

Isn’t it comforting to know that just one session of clinical hypnosis can help to reverse this trend? Chronic, or difficult challenges however, will take more time. But many clinical hypnotherapists teach their clients self-hypnosis so that they can use this technique themselves.

In fact, self-hypnosis can be such a powerful tool that it is used in chronic pain management, insomnia as well as stress management and confidence-building.

Malaysia a leader of clinical hypnotherapy in the region

Clinical hypnosis was introduced to Malaysia in 1984 by Dr Mahadevan Mahalingam and the late Khoo Kah Lin. Together they established the Malaysian Society of Clinical Hypnosis which sets the gold standard for practice in Malaysia.

Today, clinical hypnotherapy is a post-graduate elective for dentists at UiTM and is available in some hospitals for patients undergoing surgery, making Malaysia a leader of clinical hypnotherapy in the region.

But clinical hypnotherapy is also seen as having a role in corporate well-being, offering simple, timely and cost-effective solutions which can be easily integrated into work routines.

Clinical hypnosis is person-centred but it is also practical and adaptable. The same methods which build team cohesion can be modified for personal motivation and provide employees with skills that can help in their personal lives or with their own families.

FREE for FMT readers 

LCCH Asia is offering both personal therapy and corporate programmes free of charge during the month of January. It is an opportunity for FMT readers to find out a little more about clinical hypnotherapy in conjunction with World Hypnotism Day.

To enrol for LCCH’s FREE hypnotherapy session, click here.
To join the first FREE virtual event on Jan 8, click here.
For more information on clinical hypnotherapy, visit the website.

Sheila Menon is the Principal LCCH Asia.