It is a common misconception that hypnotism involves being asleep or unconscious. To some extent this is due to the fact that the word “hypnotism” comes from the Greek word for sleep. However, James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, bemoaned this misconception himself and was emphatic that 90% of his patients were conscious during hypnosis. Continue reading
This article outlines the final views of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, as summarised by his follower, Dr. John Milne Bramwell. Continue reading
This short article explains how hypnotism actually originated, in part, under the influence of Oriental meditation techniques, described in the writings of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy. Continue reading
Some reviews and free online sample of the new collected edition of James Braid’s writings. Continue reading
This short article reviews Braid’s concept of hypnotism in his later writings and attempts to correct certain widespread misconceptions among hypnotherapists, about the original nature of hypnotism. Continue reading
The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid, the Father of Hypnotherapy (2009) can now be browsed and searched free online with Google Books. Copies are available for purchase from Anglo-American Books, Amazon, and The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH). Continue reading
This is an excerpt from The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid (2009) which provides a brief outline of Braid’s original theory of hypnotic suggestion. Continue reading
This short excerpt from the Coping with Noise project self-help manual, provides very simple advice on using relaxation techniques and hypnotic methods to overcome insomnia and other sleep-related problems. Continue reading
This short article describes the principal writings of James Braid, the founder of hypnotherapy, all of which are reproduced in the new book The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid (2009), edited by Donald Robertson with a preface by Dr. Michael Heap. Continue reading
This is a short excerpt from Dr. John Milne Bramwell’s influential account of James Braid’s life and work, published in 1896. Bramwell’s introduction to the work of Braid is included as a preface to Braid’s collected writings in the new edition The Discovery of Hypnosis: The Complete Writings of James Braid (2009). Continue reading