analytical hypnosis

OK, I'm probably going to open up the floodgates here and end up with hypnotherapists arguing but I feel that you might benefit from my twopence worth.

"Analytical hypnotherapists" treatments quite literally consists of multiple sessions of analytical or regression hypnosis. I've never quite understood why, especially in the cases of problems that can be treated quickly and effectively with little or no analytical work whatsoever, that someone would only use analytical hypnosis.

Any properly trained hypnotherapist is trained in analytical hypnosis but does not rely on it, or practice it, exclusively. In fact, I had a conversation recently with an analytical hypnotherapist who was asking me about further training as she felt that dealing with problems such as smoking cessation in up to 12 sessions when other hypnotherapists are treating it in between one and three sessions at a fixed price (hundreds of pounds cheaper than the total they would spend with her) was not in her clients best interests.

Admittedly, I don't know what addiction(s) you are being treated for but I do have to add that it's rare for one of my clients to need more than six sessions and the average number is three. From my experience, addictions are one of the easiest treatments a hypnotherapist faces due to the efficiency of the therapy in this area. In fact, as an example, about 18 months ago I treated a fairly wealthy couple in joint sessions who were spending (between them) in excess of £60,000 per year on crack cocaine. Even at this level of use, they only required three hypnotherapy sessions.

I also feel that hypnotherapists who rely exclusively on analytical hypnosis are opening themselves up to potential False memory Syndrome claims. Although not common in the UK, these have had a lot of press in the USA. Some insurance companies exclude cover for FMS claims nowadays, fortunately the company that covers me for Professional Indemnity Insurance has now lifted this restriction from my policy.

I'll just sit here and wait for the analytical hypnotherapists to start jumping up and down now! (incidentally, as I've had this discussion with a few AH's, I looked into taking one of their qualifications for the hell of it but was horrified to find that the main qualification I had come across was a distance learning course that cost £2500 !!! - a bit expensive just to add weight to my point, and a horrific price for distance learning a therapy which I feel can't be learned effectively in this format).

I am not a hypnotherapist, but have benefitted greatly from the treatment over the years, for many different things from childbirth to unreasonable food choices (chocolate - way too much of it!). I have never had more than 3 sessions for any issue, other than when I was trying to deal with an emotional response to my mothers death, and that involved 4 sessions - but I think I went more for the relaxation. I rarely spoke - I outlined what I was feeling and dealing with before the hypnosis, and then the therapist put me into trance and I woke up about 40 minutes later feeling brilliant.

I would seriously consider trying a different therapist.

I have to agree with the previous two posts. Having trained in hypnotherapy, I can't think of many cases where I would want to use analysis when you can get much quicker results by dealing with the present issue.
I am sure it can be very interesting, although, as Bannick pointed out, I would always be worried to bring up false memories.
Maybe you should have a chat with your therapist to make sure you understand why she uses that method instead of a more direct one?

Thank you Bannick, Jabba and Claire for the advice on the one hand I feel more confident that support using hypnotherapy can be helpfull although I am still unsure whether I yet actually been in a state of trance ,I am keeping an open mind , there was also that concern over false memory .I still think there is an improvement in how I am feeling although I will wait another session or two before I am fully convinced that it is longer term and not just because I am attending appointments . I gave up smoking about 10years ago ,without any help ,for the first week it was a nightmare then I made up my mind that I was not going to feel the negative effects of giving up any longer and I cant believe how easy I found it after that ,I am hoping that this time it is the same .