Hypnosis  *   Psychotherapy

Hypnotherapy For Test Anxiety!

The procedure begins with progressive
relaxation. Once the student has entered
a light trance, deepening techniques are
used.  Post hypnotic suggestions are given
in the deep state of hypnosis.  
Ojeda reports that this method works
well with students. Ojeda (1984), described
a hypnotic technique to treat anxiety in
medical students and residents.         
Treatment was conducted in two one-hour
sessions during the week leading up to the
examination.
In the initial interview, a history of
previous examination is taken. Special
attention is given to the student's
activities on the day prior to previous
tests and actual behavior during the
examination.  A typical procedure used by
Ojeda follows: the student is asked to get
into a comfortable position and stare at
the ceiling until the eyes begin to tire.
This in itself will initiate a light trance
state.
The student is then asked to close
the eyes, take a deep breath, and just
relax.  Ojeda deepens the trance using a
procedure such as, "with each breath you
will become more deeply relaxed, yet will
remain fully in control of your body and
your senses at all times, confident in the
fact that your preparation will serve you
well in the days ahead for the task at
hand."
In summary, in the intensive
qualitative review of the literature, most
of the students and researchers have
reported that hypnotherapy was very
effective in treating test anxiety. Joseph
A. Ojeda, Ph.D., is a board certified
professional clinical hypnotherapist,
psychotherapist, and a holistic practitioner
in Middletown, New York.  He makes
house calls. For more information or a
Consultation E-mail: [email protected].  
  By: T.N.T

Many students and educators would
be surprise to Know how many students
grades are depressed just because of test
anxiety.                        
This should be a major concern in
education, but educators generally lack a
precise, descriptive understanding of the
phenomenon, which they would need to
diagnose and treat the condition.
There is a great deal of literature on
test anxiety.  However, it was only though
a qualitative review of the literature on
hypnotherapy, test anxiety and
experimentation that I was able to get a
handle on the problems from a
theoretical, as well as a practical stand-
point.
The literature provided clues to
diagnosing the difficulty, and method of
treatment-- hypnotherapy.  Many of the
texts dealing with anxiety do not clearly
map out the symptoms of test anxiety or
describe an effective treatment strategy.  
The following materials discusses, and
offers some hope.
Dr. Joseph A. Ojeda, has provided an
excellent brief narrative description of
how hypnotherapy was utilized.
Interestingly if not surprisingly,
according to Ojeda, hypnosis has met with
approval from High School, College and
Adult students since its use began in 1978.
Ojeda, reported that clinical hypnosis
was used many times in dealing with
academic concerns such as memory
improvement, concentration, and test
anxiety.
Dr. Ojeda, described test anxiety as a
situation wherein a student prepares well
for an exam but when actually sitting for
the exam becomes so nervous and
apprehensive that the mind goes blank
and the student is unable to recall the
material.
The following is a typical hypnotic
procedure as used by Dr. Ojeda.  The
student is asked to sit quietly in a chair,
in a comfortable position, with the eyes
closed.

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