NHS plans to use more hypnotherapy
On the whole, this is great news. After all, hypnotherapy was acknowledged as far back as 1955 by the British Medical Association to be ‘a valuable medical tool’ and helpful for a number of things including the alleviation of pain (and it was used as the sole method of anaesthesia in hundreds of tumour removal and amputation surgeries by James Esdaile in the 1840s). So it’s really about time.
Whilst the plans seem to primarily involve the training up of medical professionals in the use of hypnotherapy so that they can incorporate it into their practices, it makes sense that this should lead to greater awareness among the public of the very real benefits of hypnosis (as opposed to its wacky, ‘cluck like a chicken’ image) as more people experience hypnosis when they go to their doctor. This should result in greater choice for people when they are looking to manage stress, pain, habits and disorders, and hypnotherapy gradually gaining the recognition it deserves.
Watching eagerly to see what happens with the plans and hoping that the NHS also starts to trust those of us already trained and experienced in hypnotherapy…
Fiona
