Virtual Reality Healing is a new resource that is used to treat a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia and addictions. It uses a combination of visual and auditory stimuli to enable a client to achieve a deep state of relaxation, and to receive positive information and messages.

Virtual Reality Healing can be used to complement traditional forms of counselling. At Life Bridge we are developing several treatment packages to address particular areas, and to ensure that we are providing clients with a holistic care.

Problems or conditions that respond well to hypnotherapy include:

RESEARCH

Studies have found that Virtual Reality Healing, also known as hypnotherapy, may improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease feelings of anxiety.

There also evidence that hypnotherapy can reduce anxiety, particularly that related to stressful situations such as receiving chemotherapy. It is also effective for panic disorders and insomnia, particularly when integrated into a therapy package. Research also shows that hypnosis enhances the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for conditions such as phobia, obesity, and anxiety.

Pain management

Montgomery, David, Winkel, Siverstein & Bovbjerg (2002)
Hypnosis - The results of 20 published controlled studies were examined that looked at the use of hypnosis as an adjunct with surgical patients. The results revealed that patients in the hypnosis treatment groups had better outcomes than 89% of the patients in the control groups. It was found that adjunctive hypnosis helped the majority of patients reduce adverse consequences of surgical interventions.

Montgomery, DuHamel & Redd (2000)
This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of hypnosis in pain management. Examination of 18 studies revealed a moderate to large hypnoanalgesic effect, supporting the effectiveness of using hypnosis for pain management. The results also indicated that hypnotic suggestion was equally effective in reducing both clinical and experimental pain.

Smoking cessation

Green and Lynn (2000)
Green and Lynn reviewed the results of 59 studies of hypnosis and smoking cessation. These studies included 'clinical reports' and 'experimental research'. The best of the research showed that hypnosis was more effective than a wait-list control group, which makes supports the use of hypnosis for smoking cessation.

Depression

Assen Alladin and Alisha Alibhai (2000)

This study investigated the effectiveness of cognitive hypnotherapy (CH), hypnosis combined with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), on depression, 84 depressives were randomly assigned to 16 weeks of treatment of either CH or CBT alone. At the end of treatment, patients from both groups significantly improved compared to baseline scores. The effect size was maintained at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. This study represents the first controlled comparison of hypnotherapy with a well-established psychotherapy for depression, meeting the APA criteria for a “probably efficacious” treatment for depression.

For more information about virtual reality healing please visit: www.myvirtualmedicine.com