What is it best for: Pain and anxiety as well as breaking bad habits.

What you may be imagining: A stage hypnotist may put an audience member into a trance and persuade him or her to bark like a dog; then the performer snaps his fingers and the volunteer wakes up, unaware of why the audience is laughing.

How it really works: You will not fall asleep. And chances are you will remember everything the therapist said when the session is over.

In the therapist's office, hypnotherapy is a much more powerful tool. Brain scans of people who have been "induced" show the most activity during hypnosis is in the areas that governs vision. "That suggests that if you can imagine certain things in your mind, the body starts to respond as though they are really happening," says Psychologist Marc Oster, PsyD, a spokesman for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

In a typical session, the therapist speaks softly to help you become deeply relaxed and focused, to the point of ignoring all distractions. Once you reach a state of hyperconcentration, the therapist makes suggestions, such as saying to a smoker, "Cigarettes are poison for my body." These suggestions can alter the way you think and behave. For instance, an analysis of nearly 50 studies found that hypnosis helps smokers break the habit successfully in 36 percent of cases while prescription medication helps just 17 percent of would-be quitters.

What it takes: Therapists who use hypnosis as part of their practice charge their normal rate. Results usually occur within three visits.

To find a qualified hypnotherapist: Try the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis, www.asch.net

 

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