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Cognitive Hypnotherapy: An Integrated Approach to the Treatment of Emotional Disorders
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is now in use worldwide, while hypnosis as a technique continues to attract serious interest from the professional community. Integrating the two, the field of cognitive hypnotherapy uses the natural trance states of clients to unlock unconscious thoughts and memory patterns that can generate and sustain problems. Cognitive hypnotherapists work within the client’s model of the world, so that changes are more likely to be subconsciously accepted and become permanent. This practical guide shows how cognitive hypnotherapy can be used to treat a range of emotional disorders including depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, eating disorders and PTSD.
310 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2008
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November 11, 2023
I know it’s traditional to end a review with the conclusion rather than start with it, but for this book, I’m going to go against the norm, and the conclusion is I ***REALLY*** disliked this book. After reading the first chapter I added this to my notes: "first chapter is very dull and rather pointless. Could easily have been condensed to a single page or even dropped entirely." After completing the second chapter, I amended it to "first two chapters are very dull and rather pointless. Could easily have been condensed to a single page or even dropped entirely." I thought chapter three was heading the same direction, but I got to page 41 (almost a fifth of the way into the book) where the first instance of anything actually useful (The Downward Arrow Method) could be found, and even then it's just a short transcript rather than a useful explanation. Same for Circle of Life which follows it.
I was warned the book was very dry and academic; this didn’t bother me as a great deal of my reading is highly technical academic books and research papers, but this tome took things to a whole new, and very dull, level. The integration of cognitive-behavioral concepts with hypnotherapy is a nuanced and complex subject that demands a robust and engaging exploration. Unfortunately, this book fails to deliver that. It's as if the author is speaking from a great height, expecting the reader to grasp the concepts with little to no scaffolding provided. If the book wasn’t required reading for a course I was on, I would have stopped and got the information it did provide elsewhere.
The structure of the book is another point of contention. It meanders through concepts with a lack of clear direction, leaving the reader to piece together the methodology with minimal guidance. Chapter 10, "The Management of Sexual Dysfunctions" covers only one dysfunction, so the title is incorrect. This is not just a matter of semantics but indicative of the broader issues with the book's organization and content delivery.
Moreover, the book lacks the practical application of theories it discusses. As practitioners, we know that the real value of academic theory lies in its application to clinical practice. Theoretical knowledge needs to be complemented with case studies, examples, and detailed explanations of how to apply these techniques in a therapeutic setting. This book, however, falls short of providing these critical connections.
The prose is another hurdle. One would expect that a book aimed at professionals would be written with a certain level of finesse and engagement. Instead, the text is cumbersome, making the process of reading more a chore than an enlightening experience. The author, undoubtedly knowledgeable, seems to have forgotten that even the most scholarly of readers appreciate a text that is accessible and enjoyable to read.
While the book does contain some nuggets of valuable information, they are few and far between, hidden beneath layers of tedium. I’m sure the author must be a great hypnotist, he can put anybody under just by getting them to read this book and boring the consciousness out of them. The book could have been a significant contribution to the field of cognitive hypnotherapy, but instead, it serves as a reminder that not all that is academic is useful, and not all that is written should be published. I think the author should have just continued playing with magic carpets rather than trying to write a book.
I was warned the book was very dry and academic; this didn’t bother me as a great deal of my reading is highly technical academic books and research papers, but this tome took things to a whole new, and very dull, level. The integration of cognitive-behavioral concepts with hypnotherapy is a nuanced and complex subject that demands a robust and engaging exploration. Unfortunately, this book fails to deliver that. It's as if the author is speaking from a great height, expecting the reader to grasp the concepts with little to no scaffolding provided. If the book wasn’t required reading for a course I was on, I would have stopped and got the information it did provide elsewhere.
The structure of the book is another point of contention. It meanders through concepts with a lack of clear direction, leaving the reader to piece together the methodology with minimal guidance. Chapter 10, "The Management of Sexual Dysfunctions" covers only one dysfunction, so the title is incorrect. This is not just a matter of semantics but indicative of the broader issues with the book's organization and content delivery.
Moreover, the book lacks the practical application of theories it discusses. As practitioners, we know that the real value of academic theory lies in its application to clinical practice. Theoretical knowledge needs to be complemented with case studies, examples, and detailed explanations of how to apply these techniques in a therapeutic setting. This book, however, falls short of providing these critical connections.
The prose is another hurdle. One would expect that a book aimed at professionals would be written with a certain level of finesse and engagement. Instead, the text is cumbersome, making the process of reading more a chore than an enlightening experience. The author, undoubtedly knowledgeable, seems to have forgotten that even the most scholarly of readers appreciate a text that is accessible and enjoyable to read.
While the book does contain some nuggets of valuable information, they are few and far between, hidden beneath layers of tedium. I’m sure the author must be a great hypnotist, he can put anybody under just by getting them to read this book and boring the consciousness out of them. The book could have been a significant contribution to the field of cognitive hypnotherapy, but instead, it serves as a reminder that not all that is academic is useful, and not all that is written should be published. I think the author should have just continued playing with magic carpets rather than trying to write a book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review