More than following a watch and falling asieep

THE POPULARITY of hypnotherapy is increasing, and the
practice is being used in areas such as childbirth and weight

control, says Doctor Rachel Aarons.

“Hypnotherapy traces the roots
of a problem back to childhood
and looks at ways to reorient,”
said Aarons.

“Since 1973 I've begun to focus
on the use of hypnotherapy
because of the power of the
method to facilitate change.

INNER MIND

‘It brings quicker resolutions
than conventional methods,
because hypnotherapy works with
the inner mind of the subconscious
— not just with the conscious

DR. RACHEL Aarons uses hypnosis to help relax Debbie Maryk -- a client of Aarons. The West Vancouver

By KIM PEMBERTON
News Reporter

mind,”’ she said.

Aarons, a psychotherapist with
her master of social work degree,
uses hypnotherapy in her West
Vancouver counselling practice.

She said many of her clients
have benefited from hypnotherapy
to help overcome problems such as
insomnia, panic attacks, depres-
sion and to change habits, such as
smoking and weight control.

Childbirth is another area the

practice is proving helpful, said
Aarons,

“It’s a very natural method,”
she said, quoting a retired
obstetrician as saying ‘“‘the only
anesthetic that is without danger is
hypnotism.”’

NATURAL PROCESS

She described hypnotherapy as a
natural process, focussing
awareness to bring about a relaxed
and open state of mind. She said in
this state the person is able to in-
fluence involuntary functions, such
as blood pressure and breathing.

“It impacts on childbirth
because we are helping to relax —
to calm ourselves.”’

NEWS photo Nell Lucente

psychotherapist uses the technique in such areas as childbirth, weight control and depression,

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PAGE 26

When using hypnotherapy in the
area of childbirth, Aarons, who is
not a medical doctor, uses a local
doctor as a ‘medical consultant.’*

“Tt’s useful during all stages of
childbirth,’'- she said, noting
studies have shown women trained
with hypnotherapy shorten their
labor by about 3.2 hours for a first
baby.
LT)

‘Hypnotherapy
helps to reprogram
our actions and
reactions. For
instance, rather than
reach for something
to eat when I’m
feeling frustrated,
I'd be able to
recognize that and
deal with it...”’

AL RT

Aarons said there are many
misconceptions surrounding hyp-
notherapy.

STAGE HYPNOTIST

‘As soon as people hear the
word hypnotherapy many people

get the image of a stage hypnotist.
There’s an image of ourselves as
tobots under someone else’s con-
trol. But nothing could be further
from the truth.

“What is being taught is self-
hypnosis ~— people are being
taught control. People need to
know they'll be awake and aware
of what's going on and _ will
remember what has occurred dur-
ing the session,’’ she said.

In the area of weight control,
Aarons said hypnotherapy helps a
person learn the reason for their
eating behavior in order to affect
long-term change.

She said diets do not work
because studies have shown 95 per
cent of the people who lose weight
this way regain it later.

REPROGRAM ACTIONS

‘Hypnotherapy helps to
reprogram our actions and reac-
tions. For instance, rathcr than
reach for something to eat when
I’m feeling frustrated, I'd be able
to recognize that and deal with it,’
she said,

She said generally hypnotherapy
is a therapeutic approach which
has the goal of making people feel
better about themselves.

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