**2.4 Hypnotic suggestions**

The desired behavior to be performed by the client is referred to as suggestion. After a hypnotized person enters trance (a state in which the subject is more open to influence), post-hypnotic suggestions are delivered. Suggestions are classified into direct and indirect based on schools of thought [25].

**29**

*Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach*

An explicit command to perform certain action is known as a direct suggestion in conversational hypnosis. It is a powerful tool though viewed as unethical because of the authority or power a hypnotist has over the client. With this method, the client does not control the decision to change behavior. Some classical direct sugges-

Certified hypnotherapists use indirect suggestion as their favorite, Milton Erickson was a champion of indirect suggestion; in this method, the control is in the subject's hands rather than those of the authoritarian, the patient's boundaries and clinical ethics are respected. This method has proven to be more effective for subjects that are skeptical or resistant to trance. One could say: "When you are comfortable, you may wish to close your eyes" rather than "order" a subject to relax

**3. Advantages and disadvantages of traditional versus conventional** 

Traditional hypnosis is believed to be the simplest and easiest form of hypnotherapy that can be done even by oneself. As an advantage over conventional approach, traditional hypnosis is authoritative and can be a more powerful tool using direct suggestions [26]. As a disadvantage, this approach is commonly met with resistance [27]. The conventional or modern approach is a subtle, respectful method using indirect suggestions and has advantages of being accommodative, ethical, and more effective than the traditional method; the traditional approach is considered unethical by some schools of thought. Another disadvantage of the traditional approach is that some studies claim that this form of hypnosis rarely achieves more than a 30% success rate, and has a higher of rate relapse [3]. Although the clients may feel better, however, they may not always do better the

Hypnosis has been shown to be associated with some risks according to the reviewed literature in the late 1980s. The literature documented a few cases of patients who displayed "unanticipated" adverse behavior after hypnosis [26]. Complications or adverse reactions usually encountered during hypnosis consisted of unexpected, unwanted thoughts, feelings, or behaviors during or after hypnosis that are inconsistent with agreed goals and interfere with the hypnotic process by impairing optimal mental function. Adverse reactions most commonly suspected included nausea, panic, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, stiffness, anxiety, and

**approaches of achieving hypnosis and hypnotherapy**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619*

*2.4.1 Direct suggestion*

• "You will stop smoking"

• "You will lose weight" [25].

• "You will go to sleep"

*2.4.2 Indirect suggestion*

(direct suggestion) [25].

next time something similar happens [3].

**3.1 Hypnotic risks**

tions include:

*Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy: The Role of Traditional Versus Alternative Approach DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91619*
