The state of hypnosis is a natural phenomenon; it ’s how
God wired us. Did
you ever wake up and remember the song your clock radio played .
. . all day long? Did
you ever turn out of your driveway to head to the store, and end
up driving toward work without thinking? Did you ever stare at one of those illusion pictures
until you could see the images? How about daydream or lose track of the time?
These
are all the result of mild hypnosis that happens daily.
In
therapy, the hypnotic state is used to relax and put you in
charge of your inner motives and the subconscious mind.
Hypnosis
sessions are usually about the same length of a counseling
session: 50 minutes. The
cost is higher, $50 an hour, BUT, you are developing skills to
continue therapy at home.
- Work with Depression
- Performance Enhancement (athletic)
- Treat anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress
- Addictions and Eating Disorders
- Assist in less painful childbirth (Pre-Childbirth relaxation and painkiller)
- Facilitate therapy
- Systematic desensitization of phobias
- Augment student achievement
Note: All Scriptural references come from the Bible; New International Version
- Our creation is inherently good. If God created it, it is the Lord's and can be used for His glory: 1 Corinthians 10:23 "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. . . . . 25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."
- The natural phenomena of hypnosis is something God created
- The Bible indicates that we are formed in God's image
- God legitimizes all of the human experiences and states. No human emotion or natural experience is left out of the Bible. Scripture affirms that the hypnosis trance is a component of human creation for individuals: People experience these components of hypnosis as part of their makeup:
- emotions (heart): All emotions are in Scripture
- contemplation, meditation (mind): We are instructed to meditate on God, Christ, and His Word. We are to consider Him and remember Him. In prayer, we are to narrow our focus to God by "go[ing] into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. (Matthew 6:6).
- conscious and unconscious desires (soul): The interplay of why do we do what we don't want to do is one of the central themes throughout the Christian experience. Being aware of our depravity and disciplining our motives to seek out Christ are imperative in walking with Christ
- sleep/wake (strength): Physiologically all of the body processes were created from the beginning. God knows when we are awake and asleep and, consequently, all of the processes from one to the other.
- Neurologically; hypnosis occurs when the brain waves cycle at a slower frequency. Wakefulness is 12-35MHz (megahertz), light trance 8-12MHz, medium/deep trance 3-8MHz: Many times during every day, people experience these trance states. Frequently hypnosis occurs when driving, resting, sleeping, praying, watching mindless TV -- when people are relaxed and unfocused.
- The "do not worry" chapter in Matthew is an admonition to relax -- any Scriptural reference to unburdening ourselves with anxiety and tenseness is an approval of the hypnotic state.
So, if used for His glory, the hypnosis phenomena can be legitimately experienced by Christians.
During hypnosis, you are in complete control. God did not design us to be mindless slaves or easily manipulated. A hypnotherapist cannot influence you to do anything against your will.
Too much fantasy in the media has duped Christians into thinking that hypnosis will allow demons to 'get in your head' when Scripture does not support such a fear. The Bible is clear that Satan does operate in lies however; such irrational fears are simply a lie to keep you from experiencing God's healing through hypnosis.
(Back to Top) Research shows that we only use 8% of our brains on a regular basis. A skilled Christian practitioner of therapy during hypnosis can help you get the other 92% of your brain working for you.
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