What is the difference between cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnosis?
Hypnosis involves putting someone into a trance, where they are open to suggestions, and are less likely to lie or editorialise their responses. Cognitive behavioural therapy involves asking someone to identify different behavioural and thought patterns (i.e. things they often think or do). These patterns are then analysed by the person to see how they make them feel. Patterns which have a negative effect are then identified, and worked on. The aim is to change these negative patterns into positive ones. This is often used to treat depression. For example, someone may be depressed because whenever anything goes wrong in their life they automatically think ‘I’m worthless’. This causes the person to feel worthless. CBT identifies this, and the person is encouraged to think of something that they did right, then instead of thinking that they are worthless, they can remember something that shows they aren’t.
