Hypnosis is an extremely powerful tool in helping anyone recover from an addiction. Whether it be alcohol addiction, gambling addiction or drugs. In fact any addiction (and there are many) is very suitable for treatment with hypnosis.
However to get help for addictions and achieve the results the client is expecting the route to success is in the quality of the therapy and the desire of the client to engage in the process of letting go of their addiction.
We have all seen the street hypnotist appear to immediately put a passer by into a deep trance. Although that is possible there really are only about 10% of the population who will respond this way. Impressive but obviously it’s not therapy.
Therapy implies that there is work to be done and of course that is the case. The words “Sleep” from a hypnotist are not likely to change anyone’s mind over a deeply ingrained psychological and physical habit in 5 minutes. However a good therapist will make the process much easier for the client and offer tools and strategies that they can take with them and keep that change for life.
The famous Canadian psychotherapist Gabor Mate says of addiction “Once you’re in the store you can’t leave!” And he should know since he suffered for many years from an addiction to buying classical music CD’s.
The trick is learning HOW to get out.