Gut directed hypnotherapy has been researched for around 40 years with long term studies which confirm its success as an adjunct therapy. Gastroenterologist Peter Whorwell, of the University of Manchester, first introduced the scripted hypnotherapy protocol for IBS conditions in 1984.
Gut directed hypnotherapy aims to calm the digestive response through direct suggestion and is particularly useful for irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
In addition to the direct suggestion hypnosis, I also incorporate some neuro linguistic programming to familiarise the unconscious mind with the idea of self-healing of the digestive tract. In this way, the reactivity and inflammation present in the abovementioned conditions are treated more like a past illness which has healed itself. By aligning the digestive problem with this self-healing experience, the unconscious mind learns to treat it in the same way, as something that simply takes care of itself.
Janice’s Gut Directed Hypnotherapy
Janice was severely limited with her diet due to her digestive inflammatory responses. Her aim was to get a sense of control back into her life. She accepted that she may always need to be careful with food, but she needed help with having the control to resist harmful foods; as well as needing help with the general calming of her digestive tract.
I used the self-healing pattern with Janice and she reported very little gut inflammation in that following week, if any. But doing this one was not enough as two weeks later Janice again began to feel the symptoms. Ideally Janice would do this process perhaps three times for lasting effect, and to do it in conjunction with lowering the triggering foods.
To assist Janice with managing her cravings for harmful foods I taught her the pattern breaker technique to remove the urge. She found success with this approach. In terms of the direct suggestion for gut calming, the process is three live sessions and a daily recording to maintain the momentum, which the client will listen to for one month and then whenever needed.
If you need assistance with gut directed hypnotherapy to help overcome your digestive inflammation or reactivity, we can help. Horizons Clinical Hypnotherapy Sunshine Coast.