Hypnotherapy: an alternative to combat test anxiety
Ryan McCullough
Hypnotherapy patients do not end up thinking they are a dog or end up discovering past lives, but they could quit their smoking habit or get over test anxiety. Brian MacLear, a hypnotherapist, has been advertising around MCC.
According to MacLear, hypnotism is, “any mental state other than your normal waking conscious state.”
MacLear offers his services to those wanting better grades, to quit smoking, to get over test anxiety and to solve motivation issues.
“Smoking cigarettes, bad study or work habits, or over-eating: all these things are frequently tied up with some sub-conscious or psychological issue,” MacLear said.
MacLear meets with patients in a place they feel comfortable, often a library study room or a coffee shop.
When a patient wishes to quit smoking, MacLear asks them to conjure up the image of smoking they have in their mind. Then, MacLear will ask questions such as if the image has color or not, if it has a frame, if it is grainy or not, etc.
“Then, I will have you think about something you dislike,” MacLear said.
After finding out the qualities of the image the patient dislikes, he will have them apply the same attributes to the image relating to cigarettes.
“Suddenly now, cigarettes look like something you’re not interested in,” MacLear said.
Those with test anxiety issues are addressed in a similar manner.
“Anxiety is often tied to some emotional issue… It’s a process of self discovery,” he said.
Sonia Esposito, an MCC counselor, helps students experiencing test anxiety with more traditional methods.
She stated that test anxiety is different for everyone. Some forget important information during the test and others experience physical symptoms.
“Research has shown that 60-80 percent come from poor study skills,” Esposito said.
MCC offers a class entitled “College Strategies for Success,” or CPD150 to aid with such problems. “High school students come in [to MCC] and don’t have the study skills,” Esposito said.
The class teaches many skills including one study method which involves using different colored highlighters to show the importance of studying before exams.
Luzivone Damaceno, an acupuncture and hypnotherapy practitioner at Suddenly Slimmer Spa, also treats those with anxiety or wishing to quit smoking.
“Acupuncture assists in cutting back the withdrawal symptoms,” Damaceno said.
Damaceno stressed that a potential patient must want to solve the problem for themselves for the procedures to be effective.
Those interested in MacLear services can contact him at 480-734-8591.
For Damaceno’s services, visit http://www.suddenlyslimmer.com/acupuncture-arizona.htm for more information.
