Hypno Therepy, is it ok?

[calledchuck]

Is hypno therepy ok for christians? I want to do whats right in God's eyes, but I feel like I cant get the help I need and "move on" if I dont really remember what happened.

chelsey, known as chuck

 

[bubblefish]

Hey Chelsey I don't see a problem with hypno therapy personally. I would never try it as I don't think it would work for me (personal views) but I don't see a problem with it if you think it might work for you.

How are you doing Hun? Haven't heard from you in ages!!

Katie

 

[Ariel]

I advise against it, I don't think God is pleased it.

 

[calledchuck]

Thanks for the reply. im good katie. thanks for asking. Just trying to work thru my past. how are you?

and thanks for taking the time to reply ariel.

I talked to my pastor about hypno therepy. he also advices against it. Bc you arent in control, but i think if it were by a christain counselor it might be ok...

chuck

 

[savingme09]

Hi Chuck,

Not to sidestep the issue of whether or not hypnotherapy goes against God's teachings, but there are a couple of things you might want to consider as you are deciding whether or not to pursue hypnotherapy.

First of all, I don't know your exact circumstances, but I would encourage you to consider whether remembering what happened would truly be helpful in your recovery process. Some therapists believe that our minds repress some extremely painful and traumatic memories as a defense mechanism so that we aren't overwhelmed by the weight of what we experienced. If you were to remember what happened, would you feel capable of coping with whatever feelings and reactions came out of those memories?

Secondly, I would encourage you to ask yourself what you would hope to gain by remembering what happened. Is it a desire for closure? To recognize the signs to avoid being victimized again? To determine if you were somehow to blame or at fault in any way (the answer is most likely no)? Is what you hope to gain worth the risk that you may re-traumatize yourself and experience a setback?

To address the issue of not being in control during hypnotherapy... I am not trained in clinical hypnotherapy but I do know that it is not like what you see on TV and at comedy clubs. In fact, clinical hypnotherapists are ethically bound not to perform any hypnosis without the patient's full knowledge and consent after the patient has been educated as to risks, benefits, and expectations. If you decide to pursue hypnosis, research the therapist's credentials and make sure that they are certified and/or licensed in clinical hypnotherapy. A reputable therapist will be glad to answer any questions or concerns about the level of control the patient maintains during the session and afterwards. And please, stay VERY far away from any therapist who claims to help patients "recover" memories of childhood abuse. This is NOT a recognized and accepted practice in mental health and it has destroyed numerous lives and reputations.

As to your initial question, I do not believe that hypnotherapy is against God's teachings as I understand them. Hypnotherapy is based on the Freudian notion that our unconscious mind stores and processes information that our conscious minds are not aware of and that we can bring this information into consciousness through specific relaxation techniques.

I wish you the best of luck in your recovery process. Healing from trauma is never an easy thing, but I believe that God does not burden us with more than we can handle with His help.

 

[Flibbertigibbet]

I am seconding the second paragraph of the post above by Savingme09. Our minds repress certain memories, not to stymie us or make us feel that we are missing pieces, but to shield us from trauma.

One of the things about the recovery process that holds true for a number of people is that as you begin to work through what you already know - no matter how little - and come to terms with it, more memories usually come. There is only so much that we can process at one time. And though we think we just want to know every single detail and get it all out, so we can deal with it once and for all, we just don't actually function well that way.

One thing you can do right now - pray every night that God will reveal to you those memories that He feels you need to have in order to heal. Take a few minutes each evening (or morning) after you have read some of your Bible and prayed, and just write down in a journal every impression that comes to mind.

I would also recommend that you get the book "The Wounded Heart" by Dan Allender. It is a book for survivors, written by a Christian Ph.D. who specializes in treating victims of childhood abuse.

Let me also add, to reassure you, that you do NOT have to recall everything that happened in order to heal. So don't be too distressed that there are memories that are missing.

 

[Rich Baum]

I believe it is OK, if the conditions are severe enough.

Be Careful. A lot of Hypno people, are NEW AGE, and dislike
or worse, Christianity. They may throw you "TONS" of Anti-Christian
verbage, thoughts, ideas.... Yuck... Be Careful.

Faith Hope Love Peace Be With Us All

 

[Tenebrae]

Is hypno therepy ok for christians? I want to do whats right in God's eyes, but I feel like I cant get the help I need and "move on" if I dont really remember what happened.

chelsey, known as chuck

HI Chuck

I'm neither here nor there on hypnotherapy, I tend to think though the mind has a way of protecting us from stuff that has the potential to overwhelm us. I am wary of dragging things out before they have come to your conscious mind simply because it can be very overwhelming.

If your pastor is someone that you know well and trust, it would be good to listen to him, because he knows you better than us.

 

[4hurting]

Oh no, hate to sound all Revelation Genesis TV like, though used to watch it alot, lol, but no, have a piece on Yoga and the like.
Danger in these things cause of the gateways opened, that's all.

Meditation if on God is fine, but the origins of things are the problem.

Halloween, Harry Potter, Lee your nuts, innocent.
Is it, funny how Ex-Witches that have come to Christ say differently.

So no, what is not know, best left that way, asking God, praying hard and often over it, could help.

Forgiving, asking for forgiveness and for goodness sake bury the past, otherwise you ruin your present with going over the past.
Trust me, I know, not a week goes by I'm not saying, please God take me back to May 2003.
LOL, have to see my powerful story for why that is.

Anyway, sorry to sound a killjoy or anything, but, there you go, ((hugs)).