It is a widely accepted treatment that when administered by a professionally trained practitioner is considered safe as a supplement to standard medical care. However, since some psychological disorders are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain it is not a recommended therapy for severe depression, even though it has a definite role in the treatment and management of some depressive disorders. A reference from a primary physician is recommended.
Hypnosis resembles sleep and is based on achieving a trancelike state to reach the unconscious level of the mind. During treatment, hypnotherapies focus on putting patients into a relaxed state and through the power of positive suggestion eliminating negative thoughts from the mind. A British physician, James Braid, created the name hypnosis after the Greek word for sleep. Sigmund Freud used hypnotherapy for a time, an in 1958 the American Medical Society recommended its use by qualified professionals. Today the American Society of clinical Hypnosis has a membership of 4,300 physicians, psychologists and dentists.
