This is a brief summary of the history of hypnosis.

The word "hypnosis" comes from the greek word, "hypnos" which means sleep. The concept dates as far back as the 5th century B.C. when the Egyptians and the Chinese used it in their sleep temples and as a medical treatment.

Recorded history the use of of hypnosis appears to have dropped off the face of the earth for a few hundred years.

Franz Anton Mesmer introduced Mesmerism -hence the word, "mesmerize" in 1774 A.D. He was an Austrian physician named who is credited with the first formal use of hypnosis to treat certain psychological physical and psychological aliments. At the time, he witnessed a priest using an approach that included the use of magnets being spun around the patient in an effort to balance bodily fluids which would result in a cure. Mesmer began to experiment with the concepts and eventually became very well received in France.

James Braid a Scottish neurosurgeon in credited with introducing the terms hypnosis and hypnotherapy in 1842. Although he agreed with many of the useful applications of using hypnosis he disagreed with the tenant that magnetism was the way to induce the hypnotic trance. He found that by using the starring approach combined with focused concentration a subject was able to get into a trance state. He is given credit for coining the term "hypnosis". He is considered to be the Father of Modern Hypnotism.

Jean Martin Charcot further advance the use of hypnosis in various directions and during this time. The First Internationals Congress for Experimental and Therapeutic Hypnotism attracted such attendees as himself other notable forunners and contributors of the field Hypnotism, such as Sigmond Freud, Hippolote Berheim and Ambroise- Auguste Liebeault. Ambroise -Auguste Liebault is credited with coining the term "hypnotherapy". During his life time (1823-1904) he furthered the study of hypnosis. He introduced the concept of "suggestion" . He became a well known educator and contributed to the research and study of the formal uses of Hypnosis in France during the last half of the 19th century. He is considered to the be the Father of Hypnotherapy.

After a long period of most medical communities dismissing the uses of hypnosis a resurgence in the interest of its application came about again in the 1950"-both the American and British Medical Associations started recommending hypnotherapy for physical and mental ailments.

In 1995, science started to gain more acceptance of hypnosis, when the National Institute of Health recommended that it be an option in the medical protocol for chronic pain.

After this, the licensing finally began. With hypnosis gaining such wide acceptance, Licensing boards and regulatory agencies that were put in place to protect the public were not exactly sure how to regulate the use and criteria for standards of practice for clinicians So it was kind of on the back board for most licensing boards to delineate it applications .

We have finally reached a new Triumph in the field as the new State Regulation in 2006 In Washington state now gives recognitions and formal standards of practice to those who are Hypnotherapist .

It its now required that the board of behavioral science requires that a Hypnotherapist be on the board as one of the credentialinzing members.

This is a great leap for most practitioners. You can actually get hypnotherapy paid for by your insurance company is your hypnotherapist is state licensed in Washington.

The hope of most professional is that the other state licensing agencies will follow .

Today we live in a professional climate with elevated standards.

State regulators are strict in their approach to allowing hypnotherapists to practice.

Only those holding Advanced Degrees in Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Education and related fields are permitted to do Clinical Hypnotherapy.

That is a Master Of Arts or Master of Science or the equivalent in something in the human service field... from an ACCREDITED University.

Today their are many avenues to seek good hypnosis and the field is very flexible and has many applications varying from improving your sports performance to smoking cessation as well as relieving anxiety and stress.

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