Hypnotic Weight Loss

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Just got the hang of it. Clients report that hypnotherpay for weight loss is extremely effective. There is one branch that is overly efficient, in that it'll stop you snacking, no problem, but it's quite… severe. It's called Aversion Therapy. I won't go in to it much, but suffice to say that it involves things like putting spiders in your mouth. Some of my colleagues use it all the time time with great results (2-4 sessions needed) but I don't feel… comfortable… using this method. Probably best stick to the gentler but safer suggestion therapy! Could take up to 5 sessions but at least this way I won't get sued for terrorizing my clients!

 

[TCRAIG]

Just got the hang of it. Clients report that hypnotherpay for weight loss is extremely effective. There is one branch that is overly efficient, in that it'll stop you snacking, no problem, but it's quite… severe. It's called Aversion Therapy. I won't go in to it much, but suffice to say that it involves things like putting spiders in your mouth. Some of my colleagues use it all the time time with great results (2-4 sessions needed) but I don't feel… comfortable… using this method. Probably best stick to the gentler but safer suggestion therapy! Could take up to 5 sessions but at least this way I won't get sued for terrorizing my clients!

That version of aversion therapy get a OH HELL NO! from me

 

[fla4fun]

That version of aversion therapy get a OH HELL NO! from me

It would give me nightmares! I HATE spiders, more than roaches or snakes or other creepy crawly things (which I don’t like either).

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

It would give me nightmares! I HATE spiders, more than roaches or snakes or other creepy crawly things (which I don’t like either).

That particular corner of Aversion Therapy is VERY effective, but is doing what I would call "the dirty". People stop eating as a result of it, sure, but they don't exactly feel good post session. I like to leave my clients happy and relaxed after an appointment. It may take a little longer (three or so sessions as opposed to one or two) but leaving people feeling good about themselves AND a few stone lighter is vastly preferable to me.

 

[barkley]

I prefer what I think used to be (back in the ancient 80's) called 'redirection therapy'. I knew a couple of people who did it-one for smoking, one for weight loss. I don't know what the weight loss person was redirected to do when they got an urge to eat but they did lose weight, the smoker chose to redirect to 'work tasks' and as a result not only successfully quit smoking but also increased his work productivity (he had allot of stuff he could choose to do in preparation at home) by something like 40%-win/win.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I know I've seen aversion therapy for specific phobias. You noted spiders and gradual introduction to the fear stimulus is common among some counselors for treatment options. Eating issues, on the other hand, are typically rooted in deep emotional issues and have very little to do with the food itself. While I have heard that incorporating aversion into hypnotherapy can prove successful with excessive overeating, it has the strong potential to leave the underlying emotional triggers untreated. Thus causing them to manifest in other destructive forms of personal issues if therapy fails to go beyond the aversion technique. You also mention snacking, and while that's some of it, a lot of people with major obesity issues are plagued with binge disorders that go well beyond mindless snacking. So, I guess my concern is how deeply this segment of hypnotherapy goes to ensure you're not just treating the surface issue.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

I know I've seen aversion therapy for specific phobias. You noted spiders and gradual introduction to the fear stimulus is common among some counselors for treatment options. Eating issues, on the other hand, are typically rooted in deep emotional issues and have very little to do with the food itself. While I have heard that incorporating aversion into hypnotherapy can prove successful with excessive overeating, it has the strong potential to leave the underlying emotional triggers untreated. Thus causing them to manifest in other destructive forms of personal issues if therapy fails to go beyond the aversion technique. You also mention snacking, and while that's some of it, a lot of people with major obesity issues are plagued with binge disorders that go well beyond mindless snacking. So, I guess my concern is how deeply this segment of hypnotherapy goes to ensure you're not just treating the surface issue.

From first hand experience and from working with colleagues, it has become clear that to practice aversion therpay on any serious scale tends to require permission. The spider concept came from my tutor, Chris, who successfully used it in a number of clients. It doesn't just attack snacking, you can target all foods, but it's pretty severe and can FUEL phobias. Again, I won't go into details (DISers won't thank me if I did) but it IS a tried and tested approach. Expect to see results in as little as one to two sessions.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Aversion therapy is a form of behavioral treatment that pairs an unwanted behavior (e.g., smoking, drinking) with an unpleasant, uncomfortable stimulus—such as electric shocks or nausea-inducing drugs—to create a negative association and reduce the desire for the behavior.

Basically we implant an idea in someone's head that eating is somehow linked to something nasty or (in this case) gnarly. The client goes to open a bag of crisps and encounters something very, very unpleasant. They then subconsciously make the connection every time they snack and stop themeselves. We've seen some dramatic improvements in dieting, but to be honest, clients don't really thank us if we pursue TRUE aversion therapy. Much perferable is a more conventional form of therapy, which can take a couple of sessions longer, whereby you implant a PLEASANT idea in someone's mind when they eat - such as eating slower, taking smaller bites or becoming more satisfied with smaller plates of food.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

See, the probelm with binge eating is what we call a secondary gain - people eat because they crave it and their minds release pleasing neurochemicals when they tuck into something Forbidden. It's half problem, half addiction. We need to address that. No, hypnotic session are NOT the sole answer to weight gain - rather, it is used in CONJUNCTION with other therapies such as CBT and of course, exercise and dieting. Although of course, should the client wish, it can be adminstered as monotherapy and still have an impact. But the benefits can be marked and they do last.