Hypnosis and Rape Victims

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Abstract
The author presents three cases involving rape victims who suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their attack. Hypnotherapy was used after prior methods of psychotherapy failed to relieve the patients of their symptoms. Treatment focused upon relief of fears, feelings of powerlessness, anxiety, social isolation, and self-depreciation. Specific messages and metaphors were used for each symptom to allow the victims to identity an increasing level of power and control within them. As each patient experienced more control in her hypnotherapy, symptoms diminished and more adaptive behavior emerged. Mastery of hypnosis equated to a reduction of symptoms and an increase in feelings of self-worth.

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