Psychotherapeutic application of hypnosis vs. mental imagery Let us look at the patient who is overweight. Choosing hypnosis as a therapeutic modality the therapist implants suggestions about eating less, eating healthy food, or exercising into the patient's subconscious mind. These suggestions, particularly when reinforced, are expected to alter the patient's behavior towards food. In some cases this intervention works. And in many cases it does not, or it does, but temporarily. Why? It is well known that people who develop undesirable, hard-to-break habits tend to exhibit, as they often characterize themselves "addictive personalities". The suggestions given by a therapist address a particular habit or a set of habits. They do not, though, deal with the client's underlying belief system. In the case of anorexia nervosa, for example, the belief "I am fat" is so strong that it even defies an objective reality test, and in extreme cases people die. Behind the belief "I am fat" another belief may be in place, something like "No matter how much I work- I will not succeed". People may go through life developing new addictions whether it be to substances or relationships. They may go to see a therapist for another "fix" only to develop a new dependency. Some people succeed in making a particular change and then slowly go back to their old habitual way. They often say the suggestions "wore off." Once again, it is not that the suggestions wear off but the belief system about the old habit never changes, and a powerful stimulus from the outside triggers the old way of responding. Why couldn't suggestions change one's belief system? Because the belief systems underlying and motivating one's behavior are not as discernible as the behavior itself (i.e., overeating, smoking, fighting, self-sabotage...). Belief system is not a linear, logical concept which can be rationally "figured out." Rather, it is one's inner prism of perceiving reality which affects the way one consciously thinks, feels, and behaves. This prism can be identified only through the totality of one's perception. Such an organ of perception is imagination.