healingways
niques. The belief that the unconscious
mind was creative and solution-generat-
ing led Milton H. Erickson (1901-1980),
Hypnotherapy
an American psychiatrist and author, to
elevate the use of hypnosis in his prac-
tice; he became known as the father of
modern hypnotherapy.
Subconscious Beliefs Rule
By 1958, the American Medical
Association approved and endorsed the
use of hypnosis in tandem with medi-
cine, with the American Psychological
by Brigit Ingram
Association following suit in 1960.
Since 1995, the National Institutes of
Health have recommended hypno-
T
he 1984 Olympic Games made Mary Lou Retton’s name a household word,
therapy as a treatment for chronic pain.
as the fi rst American woman to ever win a gold medal in gymnastics. After-
Many dentists also use it to reduce
wards, the diminutive champion surprised many Time readers by sharing
the fear and anxiety that accompany
one of her secrets in a magazine interview. During the nights leading up to her
uncomfortable procedures.
win, she lay in bed, mentally rehearsing her routine hundreds of times, visualizing
Today, this natural state of height-
a perfect performance down to every minute detail. In effect, she was practicing
ened awareness, in which an individual
self-hypnosis.
easily relaxes, accepts suggestions and
listens to the profound guidance of their
own inner wisdom, is used as a power-
Practitioners explain that
ful tool by practitioners of healing arts.
hypnotherapy can help
Cheryl Beshada and Frank Gar-
an individual access their
fi eld, founders of Warren, Michigan’s
Clinical Hypnosis Institute and Clini-
belief system anchored
cal Hypnosis Professional Group, have
in the subconscious, a
been practicing and teaching hypnosis
for many years. They have used hypno-
storehouse of memories,
therapy for managing stress or eliminat-
habitual self-talk and
ing bad habits, smoking, overeating,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Insomnia,
negative messages. Then,
Fibromyalgia, organ transplants, test/
guided by professional
performance anxiety for students and
to help create peak performance and
counsel, the person is able
proper mind to muscle coordination for
to create new behavior
athletes.
“The success rate of our Smok-
patterns that help
ing Cessation method,” Cheryl says,
them reach their fullest
“which we have been teaching for over
17 years, has made it very popular with
potential.
other hypnotherapists as well as our cli-
ents. Rather than hypnotize someone to
eliminate bad habits, we de-hypnotize
The gold medalist believed in the process of mental conditioning and affi r- them to be free of the negative pat-
mation. “Since the mind doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and real- terns that have been strongly reinforced
ity, Retton’s self-hypnosis helped her to do more effectively what she was already within their subconscious mind and
good at,” says Master Hypnotist George Bien, a nationally recognized professional help them establish a healthy lifestyle
hypnotherapist, with a doctorate in educational psychology and communications. with healthy alternative behaviors.”
“Often the best candidates for hypnosis are highly motivated and intelligent people Cheryl, who also works at St. Johns
like Retton, because of their ability to focus and concentrate.” Hospital’s Van Elslander Cancer Cen-
Since the introduction of hypnosis in the 18th century, outdated images of ter and Sterling Heights’ Healing Arts
a hypnotic trance-like state, induced by swinging watches and spiraling devices, Center, says, “Hypnosis is a wonderful
have been replaced with the concept of concentrated focus and visualization tech- complimentary and integrative therapy
32 Oakland, Macomb, Livingston & St. Clair, MI
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