Hypnosis is definitely not a new age phenomena. Way back during the Ancient Greece and Egypt periods, there were such things as ‘sleep temples’ - places of pilgrimage and healing where hypnosis was practised. And during the Middle Ages, healing was done through touch and prayer; this was done while the people were in a hypnotic state.
Did you Know that...
‘Mesmerize’ is an English word which means ‘to fascinate’. Now it is also used to mean ‘to hypnotise’ because ‘mesmerism’ is now equated with hypnosis. However, when the word first came to be used, it was not associated with hypnotism although that was exactly what it meant. The word ‘hypnosis’ was invented much later. The word ‘mesmerism’ originated from a man named Anton Mesmer who practised hypnosis in the 1700’s (18th century). This was when the theory of magnetism was developed. Franz Anton Mesmer discovered that he could induce people into a trance-like state. It was only in the 19th century that James Braid coined the term ‘hypnosis’ for the induction of a trance-like state through simple suggestion. He was the one who re-examined Mesmerism and reached similar conclusions as Anton Mesmer.
In the early part of the 20th century, hypnosis was used almost exclusively by stage hypnotists, thereby projecting a hopelessly distorted view of the very powerful therapeutic tool. This was when misconceptions and distorted views about hypnosis became rampant, causing many professionals to disassociate themselves from this powerful tool.
However, in 1952, the British government passed the Hypnotism Act as it recognised hypnosis as a viable therapeutic tool, but it was only in 1955 that the British Medical Association decided to endorse the practice of hypnosis in medical school education. The American Medical Association also recognized hypnosis as a healing modality. And in 1958, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) also approved hypnotherapy for use by professionally responsible individuals.
Despite this, many medical schools did not include hypnosis in their curriculum, leading to many doctors passing through medical school without the knowledge to utilise hypnosis in their work. 
Meanwhile the field of hypnotherapy was growing and many individuals became professional hypnotherapists and were able to help the vast majority of people whose problems could not be solved by conventional medical science.
Hypnotherapists who belong to accredited organisations like the NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists) are required to follow the code of Ethics prescribed by it and have to renew their membership annually by meeting certain criteria set by the Guild. Any client who has medical symptoms like pain is always asked to provide a doctor’s referral before he or she is seen by a hypnotherapist. In this way, professional hypnotherapists work hand in hand with the health care professionals.
The information contained on this blog is provided for one's general interest and knowledge only, and it does not constitute as therapy. Those seeking professional attention on specific issues are advised to contact us directly. My team and I are based in Singapore and offer one-on-one hypnotherapy, counseling and coaching sessions. We can be contacted by email at info[at]petrahypnosis.com. You may also call us at 6-250-6166 or 9-1000-432.
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