Answers to Consumer Questions About
Using Hypnosis to Stop Drinking !
Question 8:
"I'm interested in stopping drinking and have heard about hypnosis as an
alternative. Could you please provide me with some info on what the
normal process will be (number of sessions required) etc.? Many thanks, S."
Answer #1: Yes
Answer #2: Maybe
Answer #1: Yes
Thanks for writing, S.
Hypnosis offers a very powerful intervention for drinking problems, as
it does for most addictive targets such as food, nicotine, and
prescription and street drugs.
The normal treatment process starts with a good intake interview,
usually 80 to 90 minutes in length. I like to take a comprehensive
history before we start the hypnosis so that I know we are headed down
the right path.
Most people struggling with addiction problems have tried to quit many
times and tried many ways to stop on their own. Therefore, I don’t
want hypnosis to become another tried and failed intervention, because
I have seen it work so many times if it is applied properly.
With most people who are amenable to hypnotherapy, you can tell if it
is working within the first three to five sessions, and many times,
people have noticeable relief after the first session. After that, the
sessions can either be stretched out to a maintenance level of once
every two to four weeks.
Many people find that my hypnotherapy system can
be very effective without coming into the office at all. This patented
technology has been clinically tested and proven under grants from the
National Institutes of Health. It is very effective for maintaining
the effects of hypnosis through days, weeks and months. If you have a good health
care plan, the costs of the sessions is usually covered to some
extent.
I hope my answer has been helpful. Please give me a call a (206)
232-9474 if you would like to speak to me directly. I offer a free
telephone interview for anyone wishing to find out more about clinical
hypnotherapy and whether it can help them with their specific problem.
Best of Luck!
Rob
[Webmaster's note: I had written response #2 below and was
not satisfied with it. I asked Rob to write a response because,
while I have dabbled in hypnosis, Rob has done extensive research in medical
hypnosis and seemed better qualified to answer. ]
Robert B Speigel, ACSW, LICSW
Board Certified Diplomate, NASW
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
Answer #2: Maybe
Dear S:
RE: hypnosis to stop drinking.
I
have a master’s degree in substance abuse counseling and 17 years of
experience in the field. I am also a Washington State Licensed Mental
Health Counselor (LMHC). I have been trained in hypnosis and use hypnotherapy as one of my counseling skills.
I can't tell you how many
hypnosis sessions it would take for you to stop drinking, because I
don't personally know anyone who has successfully used hypnosis to
stop drinking. I don't know whether it would be possible for someone
with a serious alcoholism problem. I imagine there are
hypnotists out there who specialize in such treatment; however, I am
not familiar their success rates.
The effectiveness of hypnosis would depend on a number of issues: How serious is the
drinking problem? How much do you consume? In what setting? (alone vs.
in a bar or other social setting.) What beverage in what amounts? How
long have you been drinking? How long has it been a problem? What
other techniques have you tried? How committed are you to quitting?
The effectiveness of hypnotherapy is influenced by a number of other issues.
Have you ever been hypnotized? Was it effective? Are you suggestible
or do you have a tendency to be resistant and uncooperative? How much
do you want to quit? How hard are you willing to work to achieve
quitting for good?
Another problem is that by the time drinking has become a problem, it
also has become
part of your coping mechanisms (how you deal with the world). This means that under certain
circumstances, drinking alcohol is part of the way you cope—or deal with—the
situation. For example, you might use it to deal with social anxiety.
Socializing, dating and other activities in your life may have come to automatically include drinking.
If you want to stop
drinking, you need to identify the positive functions of your drinking
and find other (hopefully more healthy) ways to deal with your
problems. If you try to use hypnotherapy to stop drinking without
developing alternative coping methods then the absence of drinking
leaves a big hole in your coping skills. How will you handle these
situations without alcohol?
How hard are you willing to work to quit drinking? Too often people
seek hypnosis as a painless shortcut. "I don't have to do anything and
the problem will go away."
Eventually, you will need to learn some new thinking skills. If you
haven't already, read the "Small Book" by Jack Trimpy.
Or you may prefer the spiritual approach of the "Alcoholics Anonymous
Big Book," that has guided so many in their recovery.
I am sorry not to be able to answer all your questions, but I don't
have all the information.
Floyd Else
Webmaster:
www.CounselingSeattle.com
See also: "Drunk Driving
and DUI: The Legal and Emotional Consequences"©
"S" Responds
Thanks Floyd:
"This is the most
honest answer I have ever gotten and I appreciate your sincerity. Your
thoughts, comments and concerns are much in line with mine. I believe
I need to work things out myself and understand the reasons why I have
used alcohol to cope with reality and pressure. I have lately engaged
in various classes of hobbies I enjoy and since then I'm feeling
really happy and able to fill the gap I have inside.
"I stopped drinking
three weeks ago and have no cravings and no problems so far. I was
drinking about 3 bottles of white wine per week and felt that my life
was surrounded by responsibilities for others: a full time job (50-60
hours per week) and two small children.
"I now realize I have
the right and the responsibility to take time off for myself and do
things I enjoy. I do not wish to jeopardize in any way the future of
my children and the best possible thing I can do is to give them a
happy mother and not a numb mother.
"The reason I asked
about hypnosis is that I met a lady last year who went through 6
sessions of hypnosis to stop drinking but it never worked. About
three weeks ago I called her again and asked her to try the sessions
again. After much thinking, I came to the conclusion that what has
been working so far for me is my real desire and resolution to stop
drinking. I really appreciate your time and your response and hope
more people would be as honest and upfront as you were with me."
Many thanks, S.
Related topic, see:
Drunk Driving and DUI: The Legal and Emotional Consequences©
