Frequently asked questions and answers FAQ
About psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and hypnosis.
PsychotherapyHypnotherapy
What exactly is integrative psychotherapy?
Integrative psychotherapy combines the understanding of the human psyche from psychoanalysis, humanistic psychology, transactional analysis, and Gestalt psychotherapy into a meaningful, connected, and highly useful whole.
Integrative relational psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach designed by Richard Erskine. It is a long-term process, usually lasting several months or years, and is aimed at deeply changing inadequate and forming new neural connections in the brain that are necessary for a satisfying life.
How does the process of change occur in integrative relational psychotherapy?
The process of change occurs primarily through the relationship between client and therapist. It is this relationship that enables the gradual healing of the body's so-called cellular memory, which can significantly change the way we live in our bodies and increase our sense of basic well-being in our own existence.
Is integrative psychotherapy just about positive thinking?
No. Integrative relational psychotherapy is not focused solely on changing thought patterns to more positive ones. Experience shows that people who learn to think only positively often still experience unpleasant emotions and physical discomfort, which prevents them from fully enjoying life. The therapy therefore also focuses on the emotional and physical levels of experience.
What is special about integrative psychotherapy?
A key characteristic of integrative psychotherapy is its relational nature. It focuses not only on internal processes within the client, but also on the processes that occur between the client and the therapist.
What are relational needs?
Relational needs are fundamental human needs that are fulfilled in relationships. According to Richard Erskine, there are eight of them and they are crucial for psychological health and a sense of inner fulfillment.
What relational needs does integrative psychotherapy address?
The need for security
That we are not bullied, shamed, belittled, or overlooked in a relationship.
The need for significance
That our value is confirmed by both actions and words.
The need for acceptance
That in a relationship we can be who we really are, without the need for adaptation or masks.
The need for shared experience
That the other person understands us deeply because they have had similar experiences in their lives.
The need for self-determination
The possibility of differentiating from the other, discerning and disagreeing without jeopardizing the relationship.
The need for influence
To have the feeling that with our presence and actions we influence the feelings, thoughts or actions of others.
The need for initiative from another
That in a relationship, the initiative doesn't always come from us alone.
The need to express love
That we can not only receive love, but also express it in a way that is unique to us.
Why is meeting relational needs so important?
When relational needs are identified and met, an individual feels more secure, connected, and alive. This creates the foundation for deeper change, better relationships, and greater satisfaction in life.
Why is the relationship between client and therapist so important in psychotherapy?
The therapeutic relationship is the foundation of psychotherapy. It creates a safe and structured framework in which the client can explore their challenges, develop trust, and gradually achieve their goals. Without a clear and stable relationship, progress is slower or more difficult.
How do the effects of therapy carry over into other relationships?
The insights and new experiences gained in the therapeutic relationship are often quickly applicable to other relationships in the client's life. This can lead to a noticeable improvement in quality of life soon after the therapy session.
What is the optimal outcome of integrative psychotherapy?
The optimal outcome of integrative psychotherapy is greater inner freedom. Instead of being trapped, there is a possibility of choice, instead of being predetermined, a sense of influence, instead of exclusion, inclusion, instead of loneliness, a sense of connection with others, instead of helplessness, a sense of self-efficacy, and instead of aimless wandering, a focus on meaningful goals.
What is the result of psychotherapy?
The result of psychotherapy is greater flexibility of the individual – mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social and environmental. This means that a person is able to respond to real situations and their demands, instead of automatically reacting according to old, learned patterns, which are often no longer appropriate in new circumstances.
Does psychotherapy mean a life without problems?
No. Psychotherapy does not mean the absence of problems, but rather a greater ability to cope with them. The individual copes with challenges more effectively, without being overwhelmed or paralyzed by emotions. They can enjoy life not because there are no problems, but despite their existence.
Why shouldn't a therapist be a friend, acquaintance, or family member?
The psychotherapist is not a friend or part of the client's social circle. It is best if the client has no personal experience with the therapist prior to the start of therapy. Such professional distance allows for the impartiality, safety, and clear boundaries that are essential for an effective therapeutic process.
How often do therapy sessions take place?
Meetings usually take place once a week, always on the same day and time. This makes it easier for the client to organize their time, and the regularity ensures continuity of the process. At the same time, the costs of therapy are stable and predictable.
What is the therapist's commitment in the therapeutic relationship?
The therapist is committed to acting in the best interest of the client. He or she is responsible for guiding the therapeutic process, maintaining professionalism, and his or her own psychological well-being. Regular supervision and involvement in one's own psychotherapy are important safeguards for the quality of work.
Why is honesty so important in therapy?
If you are not honest in the therapy space, my response to your dishonesty will also be incorrect, because I am responding to the information you provide me. The more you can be, the more you will get from me. I realize that this requires trust, so tell me as much as you can – but keep what you say honest. You are paying for therapy, so lying is counterproductive. If you are using drugs, have a problem with alcohol, or have committed acts that you find very burdensome, tell me. This helps me better understand your situation and make it easier for me to help you achieve your goals.
Is the information I share in therapy confidential?
Yes. The therapist is bound by professional confidentiality and the protection of personal data. Confidentiality is one of the key conditions for the development of trust and openness in the therapeutic relationship.
The exceptions are when I assess that there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, or when there is suspicion of child abuse or neglect. In these cases, I will intervene to protect you and others.
What is the client's responsibility in psychotherapy?
The client is responsible for regular and punctual attendance at sessions, payment of fees, and bringing to therapy the topics that are most important to him. The level of his activity or passivity significantly affects the course and effectiveness of psychotherapy.
Are the client and therapist equal in the relationship?
Yes. The client and therapist are equal partners and co-creators of the psychotherapy process. Each has their own role and responsibility, and the common goal is the client's progress and well-being.
Why can't we be friends?
The reason is the so-called dual relationship – being both a therapist and a friend to someone. This is unethical and not helpful to the therapeutic process. In therapy, you are the sole focus, while in friendship, the relationship is mutual. To keep the relationship professional and safe, we yell at each other and make an agreement about the therapeutic process.
Why are there so many rules in psychotherapy?
Rules exist to eliminate as many distracting and inhibiting factors as possible. A clear structure allows the client to focus on themselves, their goals, and the process of change, and to progress in the therapeutic relationship as quickly and safely as possible.
Is psychotherapy always a pleasant experience?
Not always. After an initial period of relief and pleasant feelings, psychotherapy can also be hard work. It requires perseverance, honesty, and a willingness to deal with challenging content from both client and therapist.
Is therapy really worth the financial investment?
I am well aware that therapy is financially demanding for many people, especially if you are dealing with other problems at the same time. However, therapy is an investment in the future. In therapy, you learn skills that not only help you in the current situation, but also become part of your internal tools that you use throughout your life. The effects of therapy are manifested in better stress management, greater emotional flexibility, better self-understanding, and more functional responses in relationships - both personal and business.
Why are regular therapy attendance and punctuality important?
Part of therapy is consistency. Therapy is a long-term process, usually lasting several months or years, with once-weekly 50-minute sessions.
It is important for this process to make therapy a priority, just like taking care of physical hygiene – it is about emotional hygiene. If you are late, we have less time together, as the session starts on time, and the session is charged regardless of whether you arrive or cancel the day before. The appointment is reserved exclusively for you and I do not offer it to other clients. Regular meetings allow me to better monitor you and understand your progress.
What if I have doubts or a feeling that something went wrong?
If I make a mistake, I apologize in advance, but please tell me. I cannot fix a mistake if I do not know about it. I will not respond to your feedback with anger or resentment. Therapy is based on the relationship between therapist and client. If you are hurt by something I have said or feel unheard, give me the opportunity to understand it and change it if necessary. Even what may seem insignificant is important because it is yours. It is important for me to know your concerns, because only then can we continue the therapeutic process.
Will I be accepted as I am in therapy?
I know it can be hard to talk about things that are embarrassing or embarrassing at times. I'm here to help you deal with these feelings without judging you. I've heard a lot of different stories and I'm not easily confused or embarrassed. You can also start by saying that you're embarrassed to talk about something. Together we'll create a space where you can gradually talk. I'm also available by email, as a lot can happen between meetings; during the class we go into depth on the topics.
Do I have to worry about you as a therapist?
No. You are in therapy to take care of yourself, you come first. You don't need to worry about whether your experiences are too difficult for me. I have a support system of supervision and mentorship, I consult with colleagues regularly, and I receive additional education. I can be there for you through your difficult emotions. If I ever feel that your situation is outside my professional scope, I will help you find appropriate help elsewhere.
What if you also make a mistake?
I'm not perfect. Occasionally, I may miss a message or forget to return a call. If this happens, please let me know. If I happen to be late for an hour (which has happened very rarely so far), I will refund you or make up for it on the same or the next hour.
Frequently asked questions about hypnotherapy.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses hypnotic trance as a tool to treat psychological and physical problems.
Hypnosis creates a state of heightened concentration and focused attention, while also providing access to subconscious content. In this way, it is possible to get to the deeper causes of problems, not just their symptoms. The changes that occur at the subconscious level in this process are gradually reflected in everyday life - as more inner peace, greater emotional stability and more joy.
Is hypnotherapy safe?
Yes, hypnotherapy is generally safe when performed by a properly trained and experienced therapist. During hypnosis, you are conscious at all times and maintain complete control over what is happening. Hypnosis cannot force you to do anything that goes against your will, values, or moral principles.
Is hypnotherapy suitable for everyone?
All people are susceptible to hypnosis to some extent, but hypnotherapy is not suitable for everyone. During the initial consultation, we will check together whether this form of treatment is appropriate for your needs, goals and current psychological state.
What about taking medication during hypnotherapy?
Clinical experience shows that the results of hypnotherapy treatment are often worse in clients taking antidepressants, tranquilizers, or antipsychotics.
Medications can make it difficult to access deeper emotional and psychological content that would need to be processed for successful therapy. In such cases, key patterns and experiences are often repressed, which can slow or limit the healing process.
The best results were achieved with clients who were involved in long-term treatment and who gradually reduced the dosage of medication under professional supervision. In such cases, cooperation with the treating psychiatrist is essential.
How long does a hypnotherapy session last?
The time frame for a session is not strictly defined. We dedicate as much time to each client as necessary, but the goal of the treatment is to resolve your problem as effectively as possible and to allow you to fully return to your daily life as soon as possible.
What is the price of hypnotherapy treatment?
Each treatment or program is tailored to the individual, so the price also depends on the content, duration, and goals of the therapeutic process.
Is hypnotherapy suitable for children?
Yes. Children generally have fewer inappropriate beliefs and conditioning, and their minds are more open and flexible. Due to the brain's pronounced neuroplasticity, new connections are established very quickly in children, which is why the results are often very good and the changes are rapid. This is also confirmed by clinical experience.
What do I need to know before starting hypnotherapy treatment?
No special preparation is required. The key is openness, honesty, and genuine motivation to solve a problem or achieve a clearly defined goal.
If you are considering hypnotherapy, it often means that previous approaches have not produced the desired results. Therefore, it is important to temporarily step back from past techniques and expectations before starting treatment and surrender to the process with an open mind.
Does hypnotherapy by itself solve all problems?
No. Hypnotherapy is not a magic bullet. During treatment, you will gain important insights and access to your own inner sources of power, but you are responsible for using them and integrating them into your daily life.
Internal changes often also require certain adjustments in external life – in the areas of work, relationships, or lifestyle – although this is not always necessary.
What do I need to know before starting hypnotherapy treatment?
No special preparation is required. The key is openness, honesty, and genuine motivation to solve a problem or achieve a clearly defined goal.
If you are considering hypnotherapy, it often means that previous approaches have not produced the desired results. Therefore, it is important to temporarily step back from past techniques and expectations before starting treatment and surrender to the process with an open mind.
About hypnosis and hypnotherapy.
It's hypnosis process in which we help people tap into their mental connections, memories and life potentials to realize their own therapeutic goals. Hypnosis is monitored from the very beginning misconceptions and myths.
Integrapy follows the understanding of Milton H. Erickson, who also understood hypnosis as a special form communications, which allows the client to use his own thinking, understanding, emotions, in a way that best matches his scheme of life.
It's hypnosis a human phenomenon and is as old as a human (a history of hypnosis). Despite the fact that it is being researched very intensively, there is still no common agreed-upon definition that most people agree on.
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a client and a therapist using clinical or conversational hypnosis. These are therapeutic procedures that are carried out while the person is in a hypnotic state. In most countries, it is understood as a form of psychotherapy and not as an independent therapeutic approach. Therefore, some professionals do not use the term hypnotherapy and instead call it therapeutic hypnosis.
Hypnosis can be understood as a state in which the ability to respond to ideas is increased. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for medical or psychological problems.
A hypnotic state can be achieved by most people who are properly motivated and have the right attitude towards hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis is a naturally occurring phenomenon that almost everyone has experienced in various daily situations, such as watching TV, listening to music, and driving a car automatically.
However, hypnosis is not suitable for people with heart disease, epilepsy, severe asthma and psychosis.
When hypnosis is used and combined with therapeutic suggestions or procedures, it has therapeutic value. A hypnotist (stage hypnotist) can hypnotize a person but does not perform any therapy, in contrast, a hypnotherapist (practitioner of therapeutic hypnosis) incorporates therapeutic suggestions or procedures into the hypnosis process in order to effect change in the individual.
A fully qualified hypnotherapist is a professionally trained psychotherapist, doctor, social worker, psychologist, or other health professional who uses hypnosis. Competent and ethical performance of activities requires knowledge of modern psychotherapy and clinical skills.
Some practitioners of hypnosis and hypnotherapy may refer to themselves as hypnosis practitioners, primarily to avoid violating regional and licensing laws regarding the use of the term therapist.
Professionally trained therapists use therapeutic hypnosis to treat diseases or symptoms of diseases. A hypnosis practitioner who helps a client improve their career prospects or performance (coaches, "coaches") should not use procedures and approaches that could be classified as therapeutic - we can claim that they are useful and useful, but not therapeutic. A stage hypnotist is a practitioner of hypnosis, but not therapeutic hypnosis.
A general principle in the medical profession is, "If you are not qualified to treat a problem without hypnosis, then you are not qualified to treat it with hypnosis." Unfortunately, there are few meaningful regulations specific to the practice of hypnosis. Thus, people without academic degrees or proper clinical training can take a short course in hypnosis, usually learning formulaic approaches, and then start offering services as a "hypnotist" or "hypnotherapist". It is important that you work with someone who is well trained and licensed, a health professional (doctor, social worker, psychologist, psychotherapist) who uses hypnosis in their work, and not someone who is just a hypnotist.
Different types of hypnosis practitioners will use different hypnosis techniques, delivery styles, and therapeutic procedures and approaches based on their background, training, clients, and practice environment.
In itself, hypnosis as a process has no intrinsic therapeutic or beneficial value, but it does have a naturally relaxed physiological state, ie. the state of parasympathetic response produced by some types of relaxation hypnosis has intrinsic therapeutic and beneficial value in itself (similar to some meditative practices).
For hypnosis professionals who are aware of the value of this tool, there is no more complicated question. Some of the obstacles to wider recognition and acceptance are well known:
1) outdated, myth-based views of hypnosis that discourage people from learning about hypnosis;
2) the often arbitrary opinion of clinicians that common human problems (such as anxiety and depression) are “diseases” that must be treated biologically;
3) lack of exposure to hypnosis during clinical training to learn about its strong empirical basis or therapeutic merits
No, hypnosis itself is not dangerous. On the contrary, it is a relaxing and invigorating experience. However, like any tool, be it a hammer or medicine, it can be used incorrectly, which can have negative consequences. How? The first lesson you learn when studying hypnosis is that "whatever you focus on, you strengthen". So can a well-intentioned but uneducated doctor make you focus on things that are unimportant or even upsetting? Yes. Therefore, it is important to choose your therapist carefully and to be aware that you can reject any suggestion that you do not find helpful. You are in control!
Although personal approaches to applied hypnosis are generally more effective than impersonal approaches of recorded sessions, the value of recorded sessions is still high. Often used as a supplement to personal therapy, these sessions provide important opportunities to stay focused on your goals and actively do things that will help you achieve them.
No. Hypnosis is not a reliable tool for enhancing or restoring memory, as the entire mental health profession learned the hard way during the years of the so-called "memory wars," when therapists treated almost all symptoms as evidence of hidden memories of childhood abuse. Memory is a subjective process that can be intentionally or unintentionally distorted by persuasive suggestion. You don't need to be under hypnosis for this, as this is simply a vulnerability of human memory in general. Misinformation presented by someone credible, who has no apparent motive to deceive, can lead people to believe that things have happened to them that never actually happened to them. This can even happen in an extreme form, when memories of "past lives" are restored, which may seem real, but are clearly the product of suggestions that people who are inclined to believe in them accept without criticism.
I have a very simple answer to this question in the form of an opposite question: How long does a really good idea last?
The answer is a resounding no! This sad but persistent myth stems from the fact that most people encounter hypnosis recreationally rather than in a clinical setting. Stage hypnotists and television and film scriptwriters portray hypnosis as a form of "mind control," and that's how it may appear to the untrained eye. If there was a type of people called “hypnotists” who could control people, the world would be completely different. No, you do not lose control of yourself in hypnosis. If that were the case, it wouldn't be of much interest to clinicians like me, because no one ever seeks help by saying, "Please help me lose control of myself." What appeals to me about hypnosis is the way hypnosis consistently empowers people.
Hypnosis is a natural state of mind similar to daydreaming. People are often surprised that they can hear what is being said and can move or speak if they want to. Everyone experiences it differently and an individual's feeling may vary each time they enter hypnosis. Some describe hearing every word the therapist says, while others find their minds wandering; many people lose track of time during hypnosis. How conscious or unconscious you are during the procedure does not matter and does not affect the effectiveness of the session. Relaxation is not essential to hypnosis, but most people describe being very relaxed during and after the session and that the session is more enjoyable than they expected.
The therapist will ask you what brought you to therapy and what you would like to see or feel at the end of the session. He will explain to you what hypnotherapy is, how it works and what you can expect from the sessions. After the consultation, the therapist will lead you into hypnosis using the method he thinks is most suitable for you. After the session you may feel more uplifted, light and most likely very relaxed. Because the hypnotherapist will work with your subconscious, the changes are often very subtle, so you may just notice a very positive change in how you feel.