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It takes more than a snap of the fingers to get smokers, overeaters to alter habits
By Jeremiah Stettler
PART TWO OF THREE Looking for a quick fix? Well, it's not quite that simple when it comes to hypnotherapy. At least that was the explanation given by Logan clinical psychologist Gary Sazama when discussing the application of hypnosis for smoking additictions and weight management. "Often times, people with weight-loss or smoking problems are looking for a quick and easy fix," said Sazama. "It's not quite that simple. It takes some work and determination on the individual's part. I think [hypnosis] can be used effectively to change a behavior pattern. A lot of change can occur by replacing one impulse with another." But the road to changing behavior is a little more complicated In fact, for Leif Birdsall it has required more than 250 hours and roughly $4,000 to receive. Nearly a year later, he has opened his first independent practice in Logan. "This is something I've always wanted to do," said Birdsall. "[Hypnotherapy] is an effective tool toward helping people change behavior. I've seen it work successfully since I began." Birdsall, like other hypnotherapists in the United States, advocates hypnotism as a medical alternative for overcoming smoking addictions, weight management problems and chronic pain. And it worked for Ogden resident Kent Booker. "I really wanted to reduce my risk of health problems and be a better example for my kids," said Booker, "I smoked one to two packs a day, but I quit. I think if someone wants to quit, [hypnosis] is a valid tool for interrupting those negative patterns." His story is among dozens of endorsements released by the Brigham Hypnotherapy Clinic. But there are exceptions. . . . "Tony," a hypnotherapist in training, admitted that although he has produced hypnotic sensations in others, he has not been receptive to therapy himself. Professional hypno-anethesia therapist, Margarita Abramova, has an explanation. According to her research, hypnosis is 90 percent effective for patients who want to change. But therapy can be unsuccessful above and beyond those statistics for any number of reasons. "To ask a hypnotherapist his or her success rate is a meaningless question," said psychologist Bryan Knight. "Who would tell you her success rate is 3 percent? In any case, should the hypnotherapist's rate be 95 percent, this says nothing about your chances of success. For many different reasons you may fall into the 5 percent. But for unhealthy habits such as smoking, hypnotherapy is 100 percent successful for those who really want to change." But the issue is debatable, especially amongst the counseling profession in Cache Valley. Utah State University psychologist Mark Ziger supports hypnosis as a therapeutic tool, but contends that pain relief is the only application which has been proven to be effective. "Hypnotherapy is legitimate for some purposes," said Ziger, "In fact, the best documented purpose has been for pain relief in dentistry or childbirth. But it has not been shown to be effective for losing weight or stopping smoking." His reasoning: lack of motivation. "If you were in a lot of pain, for example, you would be very motivated to work with a hypnotherapist," said Ziger. "It is obviously an adverse situation. On the other hand, if you are smoking or have a pattern of overeating, those are thing that, in the short term, are enjoyable to people. They have a motivation to continue that behavior. "Hypnosis is not magical in that regard. A hypnotist cannot go into a person's mind and totally alter their behavior." Sazama agrees, musing that individuals perceive hypnotherapy as a "magical" treatment which can change behavior with little or no effort on behalf of the client. British hypnotherapist Charles Barr has helped numerous clients overcome tobacco additions. But he, too, explains that hypnosis is not effective on a patient who is unwilling to change. "In order to make positive changes and become mentally fit, a person must be consciously aware of the need for change and be motivated to devote the time and effort necessary to make the change." Birdsall agrees, but explains that a lack of motivation is seldom a concern for individuals seeking hypnotherapy. "People who come to me have the desire to change," said Birdsall. "I would say that many of the smokers or those trying to lose weight have tried everything. So when they come in and find out that they should have tried hypnotherapy in the first place, they have the motivation to change." Kim Openshaw, associate professor in marriage and family therapy at USU, has used hypnotherapy as a psychological tool while conducting therapy at the USU marriage and family therapy clinic. Openshaw accepts hypnosis as a legitimate alternative for overcoming pain and anxiety, but suggests that tobacco additions should be confronted on several fronts. "People have to be relatively motivated," said Openshaw. "If they come in and say they want to stop smoking, but have no real motivation, it is like any other method. There has to be a desire to follow through with the suggestions. I would recommend using hypnosis in conjunction with the patch." Although success rates of 85 to 90 percent have been advertised by hypnotherapists in Cache and Box Elder counties when treating tobacco additions, skeptics contend that smoking and weight-management programs are still debatable within the field. Pain relief, however, has been accepted throughout the medical community
as legitimate application for hypnosis. •
Part One: What is hypnotherapy -- and what is it not? Although
forms of hypnotherapy and visualization are used extensively in Cache
Valley, Utah State University psychologist Mark Ziger explains that
the public is skeptical about its use in the medical world. Some people
think of swinging pocket watches and Svengalis in black suits. |
Archived Months:
September
1998 |
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