Hypnosis Addiction Treatment
I am often asked if hypnosis can treat addiction. Many people hear about its efficacy in smoking cessation and hope that the same approach can be applied to addiction in general. I would treat with extreme caution any claim that hypnosis can provide a standalone treatment for something as complex as substance use or sex addiction. Particularly if it is the simple direct suggestion or NLP approach to habit reform.
In some situations, it’s true, we just need permission to give up something that is no longer serving us – especially if we’ve done the work. So the very act of believing in a higher power helping us achieve this (whether that is the subconscious mind, or something spiritual) can give us that extra push to let a habit go and form new routines. Unfortunately, in n my experience working with hundreds of clients overcoming addictions and addictive personalities; it is rarely that simple.
Below are the ways I use hypnosis to support recovery from sex and substance use addictions in my practice. I work closely with various sex, alcohol and drug treatments centers, recovery coaches, sober living communities, holistic and traditional therapists in New York (and worldwide), as I believe it usually takes a village of support to beat addiction.
How can hypnosis help with addiction recovery?
- Bring mindfulness to early warning signs of over reliance or over indulgence.
- Help anchor helpful phrases around setting boundaries.
- Provide relief from cravings and confidence in riding the wave.
- Imagining a future without the addiction and how to be successful on that journey.
- Insight into the root causes of the addiction and how to heal our subconscious wounds.
- Assist with regulating overstimulation, managing sensitivity (almost all of my addiction clients are highly sensitive empathic people) and emotions.
- Figure out how to meet needs that have so far been unmet.
- Facilitate a deeper sense of connection and trust in one’s own internal resources as well as expanding options of connection and trust with others.
- Makes meditation more accessible in situations where concentration or bodily comfort is challenging. This can be very healing.
- Explore the hidden, denied, shunned parts of ourselves in a safe container that is less confronting than discussing things outright.
- Explore altered states and fantastical journeys away in a healthy way
- Practice re-associating in low stakes exercises that can build the skills for more challenging scenarios
Next Steps
For more information on my approach to Sex & Porn Addiction, click here.
To set up a free consultation to see if I’d be a good fit to support you in your recovery from drug, alcohol or sex addiction drop me an email.