Experts warn on unlicensed hypnotherapists in UAE

Medical experts seeing an unlicensed hypnotherapist could cause lasting trauma to a patient.

ABU DHABI // Medical experts have warned about the dangers of seeking help from unlicensed hypnotherapists.

They say there are fake hypnotherapists whose actions could cause lasting trauma.

Dr Michael Hamarneh, a clinical psychologist at Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai, said: “There are some people who attend a few classes and start working as hypnotherapists and they are very dangerous, in my opinion.

“Patients need to look at the training, education and licence of the practitioner.”

Many hypnotherapists work by putting people in a relaxed state or a trance, and then try to help them to deal with their problems.

Dr Hamarneh has met many patients who, having consulted hypnotherapists, said it had not helped.

“I see life coaches or people who are not really psychologists and they get certifications and that is dangerous, because people think they will have all the answers,” he said.

One of the criticisms of hypnotherapy is that it can produce false memories by making suggestions, he said.

He said hypnotherapy could be useful in a case where a patient had very strong defence mechanism or resistance. He does not use hypnosis.

Dr Reena Thomas, clinical psychologist at Aster Jubilee Medical Complex, said hypnotherapy should be used alongside other techniques.

She gets patients who tell her that they want to try hypnosis to erase painful memories.

“It does not work like that. Bringing up memories suddenly can be hazardous for the patient and can harm them.

“Not everyone can undergo hypnosis and we need to assess this. Some have trust or control issues or they may be fragile and cannot be hypnotised.”

Adrian Rusin, a clinical hypnotherapist who has been working for six years in the United States, moved to Abu Dhabi a few months ago.

Mr Rusin said hypnotherapy helped to accelerate the healing process but said that he did not give medicines.

“I can’t help everyone. There is a measure to ascertain a level of functioning and if a person is beyond a particular score, I cannot help them.”

Yet people say they have benefited from hypnotherapy.

A K, a 32-year-old Emirati, said there was a lot of stress in his life.

“I feel better about my career and I am getting better at my work performance,” he said.

M A, 30, also an Emirati, said: “I was afraid, but the fear was of coming to know things about myself that I was not comfortable knowing. It has helped me face my fears.”