Just a random thought on what could be a more effective 'test' for trans people

[Elis]

Looking through this forum I've noticed a lot of posts about nervousness starting therapy and if people have made the right choice to transition medically. I'm just wondering if maybe hypnotism could work as part of seeing a gender therapist. We have a lot of memories in our brains that are in our subconscious,  so maybe theoretically the therapist could hypnotise you,  make you believe you're a child/teenager and then a young adult and then ask you if you feel male or female or neither. I know gender like sexuality can change through out your life so that maybe a draw back to how you possible feel in the present. And like any therapy it can be abused. So what do you think? Maybe this sounds absolutely crazy   

[suzifrommd]

Interesting idea.

I did a lot of hypnosis work (kind of a hobby for me) when I was exploring my gender. I can't say it made me any more certain, though it really helped me be in touch with my feelings of wanting to change gender. Without it, I'm not sure I'd be as clear about my desires to be female.

[Elis]

Interesting idea.

I did a lot of hypnosis work (kind of a hobby for me) when I was exploring my gender. I can't say it made me any shouldertain, though it really helped me be in touch with my feelings of wanting to change gender. Without it, I'm not sure I'd be as clear about my desires to be female.

Hmm, maybe they should have hypnotism not as a test then but just to make sure that you're sure to medically transition. I wonder why hypnotism isn't apart of therapy and if there are studies to consider if it should be.

[suzifrommd]

Hmm, maybe they should have hypnotism not as a test then but just to make sure that you're sure to medically transition. I wonder why hypnotism isn't apart of therapy and if there are studies to consider if it should be.

Many psychologists are uncomfortable using hypnosis. Its use as a tool for exploring one's feelings has not been scientifically explored. My experience is that the sort of thing that I did would be highly unusual if a therapist did it for me. For example, I hypnotized myself to see myself as a woman for 20 minutes, and then noticed how happy I was during that period. Were I a therapist, though, I probably would never dare use this on a client. Too many possible repercussions.

[darkblade]

This sounds like an interesting idea. Hypnotism could be dangerous though, so there are still risks, it might make you believe something you otherwise don't think you are. Personally I'd want to try that though. All the memories I have of "my future" as a child have no gender aspect to them at all, so I'm kinda curious as to how I saw myself back then. Would be interesting, but potentially very dangerous seeing as how gender is a sensitive thing for a person that's questioning themselves.

[Elis]

[quote author link=topic=179207.msg1582679#msg1582679 date=1417796519]
Many psychologists are uncomfortable using hypnosis. Its use as a tool for exploring one's feelings has not been scientifically explored. My experience is that the sort of thing that I did would be highly unusual if a therapist did it for me. For example, I hypnotized myself to see myself as a woman for 20 minutes, and then noticed how happy I was during that period. Were I a therapist, though, I probably would never dare use this on a client. Too many possible repercussions.
[/quote]

Ok, maybe it shouldn't be used to hypnotise you to talk about your current feelings to do with what you feel your gender currently is as it may 'mess' with your brain, but I don't see the harm for using it how I said it should be used.

[Elis]

This sounds like an interesting idea. Hypnotism could be dangerous though, so there are still risks, it might make you believe something you otherwise don't think you are. Personally I'd want to try that though. All the memories I have of "my future" as a child have no gender aspect to them at all, so I'm kinda curious as to how I saw myself back then. Would be interesting, but potentially very dangerous seeing as how gender is a sensitive thing for a person that's questioning themselves.

I'd want to use it for the same reason you said. I don't think it should be used if you're questioning, but if you're sure enough that you're trans that you seek out a gender therapist so you can medically transition.

[Mai]

hypnosis can definately be a dangerous thing, if not careful with it.  i myself have used it in the past, with great effect, for stopping my video game addiction that absorbed all my free time for years.

hypnosis itself, is not a bad thing, its what you use it for.  just need to be careful as when you are in a relaxed state, or a state of trance, anything said, can have a lasting effect on your subconcious.  and i know from an old friend of mine, can lead to false memories being implanted, of things that never happened. 

he was using it to try to recall suppressed memories, and he ended up creating memories of things that never happened.   like mmmmm.   remembering what things were like at a certain point.  noones memories are perfect, and you may end up starting to fill in missing gaps with memories and thaughts that are not real.   hypnosis can be very dangerous if you arent careful about what it is you are being hypnotised for.   always have a recorder and record any hypnosis sessions, and listen to them at a later point when you arent in a relaxed/trance state to see exactly what the hypnotist said, and what your replies were if your session was of a question/answer nature.

[Elis]

hypnosis can definately be a dangerous thing, if not careful with it.  i myself have used it in the past, with great effect, for stopping my video game addiction that absorbed all my free time for years.

hypnosis itself, is not a bad thing, its what you use it for.  just need to be careful as when you are in a relaxed state, or a state of trance, anything said, can have a lasting effect on your subconcious.  and i know from an old friend of mine, can lead to false memories being implanted, of things that never happened. 

he was using it to try to recall suppressed memories, and he ended up creating memories of things that never happened.   like mmmmm.   remembering what things were like at a certain point.  noones memories are perfect, and you may end up starting to fill in missing gaps with memories and thaughts that are not real.   hypnosis can be very dangerous if you arent careful about what it is you are being hypnotised for.   always have a recorder and record any hypnosis sessions, and listen to them at a later point when
you arent in a relaxed/trance state to see exactly what the hypnotist said, and what your replies were if your session was of a question/answer nature.

Good point, but if you go to a properly qualified gender therapist like you should anyway, hypnosis may be a good way to make sure you're actually trans along with the regular therapy you get from a therapist. I wonder if you can make someone trans then through hypnosis...

[Ms Grace]

Not everyone is very easily hypnotised. I know I'm not. Even been told so by a professional hypnotist. My subconscious hates giving up its secrets!

[Elis]

Not everyone is very easily hypnotised. I know I'm not. Even been told so by a professional hypnotist. My subconscious hates giving up its secrets!

That may have saved the professional hypnotist from possible embarrassment then 

[Dee Marshall]

My sweety and I are both certified hypnotists. Sweety was specifically trained in memory work. The psychologist who trained her got burned in the nineties. No one realized how easy it is to implant entire false memories and many women were convinced that they had been raped by relatives because a small set of therapists believed that most women are. If you can find it read "Making Monsters". Don't remember the author. Basically, don't try this at home.

[Elis]

My sweety and I are both certified hypnotists. Sweety was specifically trained in memory work. The psychologist who trained her got burned in the nineties. No one realized how easy it is to implant entire false memories and many women were convinced that they had been raped by relatives because a small set of therapists believed that most women are. If you can find it read "Making Monsters". Don't remember the author. Basically, don't try this at home.

Thanks, I'll try to find the book. Maybe hypnotism isn't used then bcos it's considered too dangerous, but why is it used for treating addictions then. Maybe bcos if you used it for trans people you'd be using it on their memories, but even so.

[awilliams1701]

From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.

[suzifrommd]

From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.

Well one might say that if you've read a book, watched a movie, or driven a car, you've been hypnotized because all of those are hypnotic phenomenon.

You are right, though, that if you do not want to be hypnotized by another person, you won't be.

[PinkCloud]

I doubt it would be useful to test something. Regression seems to be mostly self-deceit anyway. But since it can be used to induce self-deceit, how about using hypnosis to cure GID? to remove the self doubts and thoughts about the previous gender. I know we all have too much self-talk about not being able to pass and stuff, maybe it could clear that?

[Elis]

From what I saw on Mythbusters hypnotizing someone is very limited to begin with and for the most part requires them to have faith in it. I do not. I truly do not believe I can be hypnotized. So I would question how effective it would be on me. I have a very deeply integrated desire to be in control of myself. I believe this is the very thing that makes me a poor candidate.

So I guess it's limited to very susceptible people.

[Elis]

Well one might say that if you've read a book, watched a movie, or driven a car, you've been hypnotized because all of those are hypnotic phenomenon.

You are right, though, that if you do not want to be hypnotized by another person, you won't be.

What do you mean by hypnotic phenomenon?

[Elis]

I doubt it would be useful to test something. Regression seems to be mostly self-deceit anyway. But since it can be used to induce self-deceit, how about using hypnosis to cure GID? to remove the self doubts and thoughts about the previous gender. I know we all have too much self-talk about not being able to pass and stuff, maybe it could clear that?

I doubt it would 100% work, maybe get rid of most GID feelings based on how susceptible you are. Same with getting rid of doubts about passing etc.

[Elis]

I didn't think when I posted I'd get such interesting perspectives. Keep them coming