Module 1 – Reflective Journal The first session of the training course provided me with a much better

understanding about where hypnosis has come from and the journey it has taken to

become more recognised and accepted for its use in therapy. I find hypnosis intriguing due

to its simplicity yet effectiveness to create change. I love how you can use hypnosis on

yourself and others for a wide range of issues or just to relax. It’s easy to see how the

general perception of hypnosis is misconstrued due to practitioners of the past, the media

and how hypnosis for entertainment has depicted it.

Explain the state of hypnosis and its history

‘Hypnosis’ was first coined by James Braid in 1840 after the name of the Greek god

of sleep, Hypnos. Despite what its name suggests, it is not to go to ‘Sleep’ but a process that

allows the subject to access their subconscious mind more easily. It increases their

suggestibility and is achieved through internalising the senses using the imagination and

imagery.

The first note worthy practitioner of hypnotic phenomena was Franz Anton Mesmer

in 1770. Influenced by his studies and colleagues at that time, he believed that human

health was affected by forces that were exerted by other planets through an invisible fluid

that flowed through each person. If the fluid got blocked or was not aligned in a person then

they became ill. He believed that this ‘fluid’ could be affected by using magnets and so to re-

align its flow. He labelled his theory ‘Animal Magnetism’. He eventually changed his

methods, getting rid of the magnets and claiming that his body was the source of the

‘animal’ magnetism.

Although Mesmer’s ideas and beliefs were a little farfetched, he was actually

conducting hypnotic techniques on his patients. This was later established by Abbe Faria