What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy and hypnosis are often used interchangeably. At Idaho Trauma & Wellness Therapy, we differentiate the two as separate techniques, both useful in their own way. Clinical hypnosis is the process of helping the client enter a deeply relaxed trance state where the therapist gives direct suggestions for positive change to the client. For more on clinical hypnosis and the types of issues that can be helped with this technique click here.

Hypnotherapy is the technique of helping a client enter into the deeply relaxed trance state and using therapeutic techniques with the client while they are in that state to treat trauma, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and other psychological issues. Hypnotherapy allows the therapist and the client to approach issues together at their root level within the subconscious. At Idaho Trauma & Wellness Therapy, Hillary Cook, LPC uses Ego State Therapy and inner child work in hypnotherapy to assist clients in healing and living more fulfilling lives.

What is Ego State Therapy? 

Ego State Therapy is a powerful therapy based on the idea that our personalities are composed of multiple separate parts.  These parts (which everyone has) are called ego states.  The therapist interacts directly with the ego state that can most benefit from change, rather than merely working with an intellectual, talkative state. Essentially, we are working with the root issue in the deep subconscious where the maladaptive patterns formed instead of simply intellectualizing the issue.

Each person is made up of a number of different ego states; each has its own feeling of power or weakness, emotion, logic, skills, and other personal traits.  When we say, “Part of me wants to,” we are talking about an ego state.  When we say, “I feel at peace with myself on this issue,” we are talking about our ego states agreeing, not having an internal struggle.  Our various ego states help to make our lives rich, productive, and enjoyable.  An ego state that is in pain can cause discomfort and unwanted emotional reactions. When two ego states are in conflict we can feel torn on an issue or a decision.

Our ego states are formed from our habits and patterns. As we repeat behaviors, this repetition creates a physical neural pathway in the brain that has its own level of emotion, abilities, and experience of living. Ego states develop as a coping mechanism to adapt to specific issues and situations. Our ego states are not formed to harm us, but as a protective barrier from the situations we have faced over time.

For example, if as a child my parents were nurturing, I may attempt to be nurturing to others. If I receive positive feedback for my efforts, I will develop a nurturing ego state. By repeating actions the brain will create a neural pathway in our brain for this state. We each have different parts that have developed from our life experiences. We switch between ego states when a need for that state occurs or when an injured part of us is reminded of the painful circumstance that created that state, the injured part of us may emerge in an attempt to protect us. This is why a bad feeling may come over us suddenly.

Each of us has our own distinctive set of ego states that we have trained.  No one else will have ego states that exactly match our own, but they may have some ego states that are very similar to some of ours.

What are the goals of Ego State Therapy?

• To locate ego states harboring pain, trauma, anger, or frustration and facilitate expression, release, comfort, and empowerment (It is unresolved states that come out and make us feel out of control. They are our internal tender spots
• To facilitate functional communication among ego states (the statement “I hate myself when I am like that” indicates two states lacking in proper communication and appreciation), and
• To help clients learn their ego states so that the states may be better used to the clients’ benefit (e.g., allowing the client to, at one time, be open to enjoy emotional experiences and, at another time, be assertive to feel expressed when challenged).