Our ever-changing world and how it is changing our children

by Marygrace Anderson 

I took a Masterclass on Working with Children. The interesting topic was current conditions hypnotherapists are getting requests for - by parents - to help their children. Five years ago, the topics were bed wetting, fear of the dark and general anxieties like separation and sleep issues. While those are still common, we now see Children for Attention Deficit Disorder, bullying, vocal and motor tics, compulsions and ritual behaviour bordering on OCD behaviour.

So the fascinating question is; “whose problem is it?” Is it the parent overreacting or a serious problem for your child? How do you know? Every case is different but the two key questions are: is it affecting your child’s health (how long has it been going on) and is bothering them? If it’s not bothering your child, I wouldn't worry about it. If your child is miserable or worried and wants help, that is when you should take action.

Just like an adult, your child needs to want to receive help before they can make changes. Things you can do at home to help:

• Do positive visualisation with them
• Fill in a progress chart or a note book/journal (depending on age)
• Say coping statements with them in the present tense. (I am calm and confident)
• Give positive reinforcement when they make progress
• Find distraction tasks when they think or perform the undesirable pattern
• Have them talk the problem out loud to a puppet or family pet and see if they can explain the problem and possible solutions to solve it. Think of as many as they can and then choose the best one they like.
• Make it a game! See how long they can go without the worry or compulsion and beat their time next time.

If you have any questions, you can contact Marygrace on 07931 54 75 14, by email at mghypnosis@aol.com or visit the MGHypnosis website.

Weight loss and hypnotherapy

by Marygrace Anderson

It’s still one of the top 3 hottest issues for a hypnotherapist. The main reason is we cover more behind the scenes issues than just finding out what you are eating and how much you are exercising. Those are very important but it’s the long term results of a life style/life commitment that is our goal to successful weight loss. If you are going to do something, do it right. If you are going to commit to your future and your health do it right. Best advice.

Hypnosis over 30 times as effective for weight loss:
Investigated the effects of hypnosis in weight loss for 60 females, at least 20% overweight. Treatment included group hypnosis with metaphors for ego-strengthening, decision making and motivation, ideomotor exploration in individual hypnosis, and group hypnosis with maintenance suggestions. Hypnosis was more effective than a control group: an average of 17 lbs lost by the hypnosis group vs. an average of 0.5 lbs lost by the control group, on follow-up.
Cochrane, Gordon; Friesen, J. (1986). Hypnotherapy in weight loss treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 489-492. 


Two years later: Hypnosis subjects continued to lose significant weight:
109 people completed a behavioral treatment for weight management either with or without the addition of hypnosis. At the end of the 9-week program, both interventions resulted in significant weight reduction. At 8-month and 2-year follow-ups, the hypnosis subjects were found to have continued to lose significant weight, while those in the behavioral-treatment-only group showed little further change.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1985) 


Hypnosis subjects lost more weight than 90% of others and kept it off:
Researchers analysed 18 studies comparing a cognitive behavioral therapy such as relaxation training, guided imagery, self monitoring, or goal setting with the same therapy supplemented by hypnosis. Those who received the hypnosis lost more weight than 90 percent of those not receiving hypnosis and maintained the weight loss two years after treatment ended.
University of Connecticut, Storrs Allison DB, Faith MS. Hypnosis as an adjunct to cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for obesity: a meta-analytic reappraisal. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996;64(3):513-516. 


Hypnosis more than doubled average weight loss:
Study of the effect of adding hypnosis to cognitive-behavioural treatments for weight reduction, additional data were obtained from authors of two studies. Analyses indicated that the benefits of hypnosis increased substantially over time.
Kirsch, Irving (1996). Hypnotic enhancement of cognitive-behavioral weight loss treatments--Another meta-reanalysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64 (3), 517-519. 


Hypnosis showed significantly lower post-treatment weights:
Two studies compared overweight smoking and non-smoking adult women in an hypnosis-based, weight-loss program. Both achieved significant weight losses and decreases in Body Mass Index. Follow-up study replicated significant weight losses and declines in Body Mass Index. The overt aversion and hypnosis program yielded significantly lower post-treatment weights and a greater average number of pounds lost. Weight loss for women: studies of smokers and nonsmokers using hypnosis and multi-component treatments with and without overt aversion.
Johnson DL, Psychology Reprints. 1997 Jun;80(3 Pt 1):931-3. 


Hypnotherapy group with stress reduction achieved significantly more weight loss than the other two treatments:
Randomised, controlled, parallel study of two forms of hypnotherapy (directed at stress reduction or energy intake reduction), vs dietary advice alone in 60 obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea on nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment.
J Stradling, D Roberts, A Wilson and F Lovelock, Chest Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK 


Hypnosis can more than double the effects of traditional weight loss approaches:
An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the "… weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects" of traditional weight loss approaches.
University of Connecticut, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 (Vol. 64, No. 3, pgs 517-519). 


Weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized:
Research into cognitive-behavioural weight loss treatments established that weight loss is greater where hypnosis is utilized. It was also established that the benefits of hypnosis increase over time.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1996) 


Showed hypnosis as "an effective way to lose weight":
A study of 60 females who were at least 20% overweight and not involved in other treatment showed hypnosis is an effective way to lose weight.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (1986)

Hypnotherapy and Smoking Cessation

by Marygrace Anderson

Some stats: 

Please love stats, but I personally find them boring. However, for those of you who want them please see below and enjoy. I enjoy the facts, like smoking kills you and those around you. I enjoy knowing people who think £250.00 to stop smoking for a longer life, spend £6.00 - £7.00 on a packet of cigarettes (almost £80.00 a month). Talk about burning away your money and health. I was a smoker and quit with hypnotherapy. When you are ready, I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Good health.
Marygrace Anderson

Wiki web site:


90.6% success rate for smoking cessation using hypnosis:
Of 43 consecutive patients undergoing this treatment protocol, 39 reported remaining abstinent from tobacco use at follow-up (6 months to 3 years post-treatment). This represents a 90.6% success rate using hypnosis.
University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2001 Jul;49(3):257-66. Barber J.


87% reported abstinence from tobacco use with hypnosis:
A field study of 93 male and 93 female CMHC outpatients examined the facilitation of smoking cessation by using hypnosis. At 3-month follow-up, 86% of the men and 87% of the women reported continued abstinence from the use of tobacco using hypnosis.
Performance by gender in a stop-smoking program combining hypnosis and aversion. Johnson DL, Karkut RT. Adkar Associates, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana. Psychol Rep. 1994 Oct;75(2):851-7. 
PMID: 7862796 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


81% Reported they had stopped smoking after hypnosis:
Thirty smokers enrolled in an HMO were referred by their primary physician for treatment. Twenty-one patients returned after an initial consultation and received hypnosis for smoking cessation. At the end of treatment, 81% of those patients reported that they had stopped smoking, and 48% reported abstinence at 12 months post-treatment.
Texas A&M University, System Health Science Center, College of Medicine, College Station, TX USA. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2004 Jan;52(1):73-81. Clinical hypnosis for smoking cessation: preliminary results of a three-session intervention. Elkins GR, Rajab MH.


Hypnosis patients twice as likely to remain smoke-free after two years:
Study of 71 smokers showed that after a two-year follow up, patients that quit with hypnosis were twice as likely to remain smoke-free than those who quit on their own. Guided health imagery for smoking cessation and long-term abstinence.
Wynd, CA. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2005; 37:3, pages 245-250. 


Hypnosis more effective than drug interventions for smoking cessation:
Group hypnosis sessions, evaluated at a less effective success rate (22% success) than individualized hypnosis sessions. However, group hypnosis sessions were still demonstrated here as being more effective than drug interventions.
Ohio State University, College of Nursing, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Descriptive outcomes of the American Lung Association of Ohio hypnotherapy smoking cessation program. Ahijevych K, Yerardi R, Nedilsky N. 


Hypnosis most effective says largest study ever: 3 times as effective as patch and 15 times as effective as willpower:
Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking, according to the largest ever scientific comparison of ways of breaking the habit. A meta-analysis, statistically combining results of more than 600 studies of 72,000 people from America and Europe to compare various methods of quitting. On average, hypnosis was over three times as effective as nicotine replacement methods and 15 times as effective as trying to quit alone.
University of Iowa, Journal of Applied Psychology, How One in Five Give Up Smoking. October 1992. (Also New Scientist, October 10, 1992.) 


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