Exactly where does hypnosis take place?
We’ll be seated in my office, but the action is in a subconscious state of awareness in your mind, wherein your conscious mental resistance ceases. It is often likened to a guided meditation. You are relaxed, and your mind is narrowly focused. You are completely aware of your surroundings (temperature, smells, sounds, etc.) but are not attached to, or tuned into them. You are open and suggestible, and ready to listen to and receive guidance from the hypnotist.
What does hypnosis feel like?
People report different sensations such as daydreaming, floating, or feeling tingly or heavy. Some people are aware only of their mental consciousness and cease to notice their body at all. You might experience time distortion – a lengthened or shortened perception of how much time has actually passed.
Some people don’t believe they were in hypnosis simply because they were expecting it to feel differently. The hypnotist’s tests, and your observation of your responses, are indications that you did achieve a level of hypnosis. Also, you’ll feel more calm, clear, and refreshed after your session. Like any other new skill, it gets easier with practice.
Do I need to learn anything new, in order to be hypnotized?
All you need is to be willing to participate. Some level of relaxation is necessary, for a hypnotic state to be reached. So feeling comfortable with, and trusting your hypnotist is paramount. Be sure you talk with them prior to scheduling, so you can get a feel of the rapport between you, and get your important questions answered.
How does hypnosis work?
Your subconscious core beliefs are the driving force behind all of your habits and behavior. Regardless of whether they are positive or negative, helpful or self-defeating, these core beliefs (mostly developed in early childhood) run the show. By accessing the protected place where these beliefs reside, you can replace negative beliefs and habits with positive ones.
Examples:
Performance block: Replace fears of failure or injury, with visualizing winning.
Panic attack: Create a mental “safe room” which you can access at any time.
Trauma recovery: Re-frame or disempower troubling memories, store them in a safe place (a mental ‘vault’ that you create), or ‘forget’ them altogether.
How effective is hypnosis?
The more motivated you are, the greater the result. If you truly desire change, and use the tools and suggestions provided, you’ll see positive results. Hypnosis works – but it requires your participation!
How can hypnosis cure a habit?
If you’ve tried numerous methods to break a bad habit, you’ll be understandably skeptical. Hypnosis is not a magic pill. But it does have an advantage over other methods, in that you are working in the absolute best location to create lasting change: your subconscious mind.
Let’s look for example at the desire to quit smoking. I do not simply suggest that you no longer desire cigarettes and voila, you magically come out of hypnosis a non-smoker. (Although that has been known to happen!) But for most people, becoming a non-smoker will require their conscious effort.
A skilled hypnotist will get to the original reason you started your habit, and replace that by inserting new healthy beliefs, into the place where they can actually stick.
With the tools and support your hypnotist provides, you can beat your habit. Hypnosis has a very high success rate for habit cessation, even for people who have failed with other methods.
Will the hypnotist touch me at all?
Never inappropriately, and always with your prior permission. I’d ask first, to touch your wrist or hand as part of a test. I’d ask first, if you were experiencing fear or emotion and might be comforted by a touch to your arm or shoulder. I might suggest Reiki if you cannot relax, but even that can be completely hands-off (i.e. hands hovering). Touch is always completely optional for both myself and the client.
What is a hypnotic suggestion?
It is verbal guidance to address specific issues. It is called a “suggestion” because nothing is ever mandatory. If you fear or don’t like a suggestion, you simply refuse it. In hypnosis, you always have the power to choose how, or even whether, to respond.
What is a post-hypnotic suggestion?
It’s a verbal suggestion the hypnotist gives you while you are in hypnosis that you will remember at a later time or in a specific situation, to give you lasting benefits from the session. Based on what you want to accomplish, it could be remembering or forgetting something, a new aversion to habits or behaviors you’re trying to ditch, or a new attraction to healthy habits you’d like to add.
How many sessions will I need?
Response to therapeutic hypnosis is completely unique to each individual. Your motivation and your rapport with the hypnotist are key elements. Some people resolve their issue in a single visit, especially if they’ve been hypnotized before, or have a meditation or mindfulness practice. Others may need several sessions to clarify their issue or get comfortable with hypnosis. People who are resistant, or have lifelong or chronic issues, may require more sessions. My mission is to help you succeed as quickly as possible, not to turn you into a long-term client.
For a new behavior to become permanent, repetition and practice are what create and solidify a new neural pathway. The amount of effort you put into making changes will determine the speed of your progress.
Can hypnosis cure headaches or other physical pain?
Headaches, unexplained pain and other physical maladies could be symptoms of underlying health issues. If you don’t already know the cause, you should be evaluated medically. A responsible hypnotist won’t ‘disappear’ your headache, because for you to not take the symptoms of a headache seriously could be dangerous to your health.
On the other hand, if you do know the source of your pain and symptoms, and are seeking pain management, then hypnosis is an excellent modality to add nurturing and relaxing tools for self-soothing and pain abatement.
Can hypnosis relieve fears, phobias or anxiety?
It can be very effective because these have roots in the subconscious. However, if it’s serious or chronic, physiological causes should be ruled out or diagnosed by a medical professional. Hypnosis is an excellent adjunct to psychotherapy, and I do accept referrals.
Can a hypnotist make me do anything embarrassing, bad or illegal?
Absolutely not! In hypnosis, you will never do or say anything that your personal ethics code would not normally allow. You won’t disclose a deep dark secret, rob a convenience store, or cheat on your significant other, if you would not do those things in your normal, conscious state. And no decent hypnotist would tell you to! If they do…RUN!
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Almost anyone who wants to, can be hypnotized. The short list of who may not be hypnotized are individuals with:
- Mind impairment (drugs or alcohol, medical condition, serious mental illness)
- Far below-average intelligence (unable to comprehend or participate in conversation)
- Severe resistance (unwillingness or inability to work with the hypnotist – very rare; usually a personality conflict)
FUN FACTS ABOUT HYPNOSIS:
- Hypnosis is a natural state of consciousness that we all slip easily into and out of, daily. It occurs when we relax, bypass our critical factor, and shift our awareness to our subconscious mind.
- ALL hypnosis is really self-hypnosis!
- Throughout history and around the globe, forms of hypnosis have been practiced in just about every society, for eons.
- The state of hypnosis is used ceremonially, spiritually, religiously, medically, therapeutically, and for entertainment.
- Hypnosis is not prohibited by, nor in conflict with, any religion, medicine, or other form of therapy.
- Hypnosis is in harmony, and beneficial to combine with, other methods of healing.
- Hypnosis is utilized by doctors, dentists and surgeons to induce hypnotic anesthesia that works as well or better than chemical anesthesia, with no side-effects.
- There is no report or record of anyone ever being harmed by hypnosis.
- Due to its safety and efficacy – and the complete control of the hypnotized person over their own mental state – the use of hypnosis is largely unregulated.
- A person cannot get stuck in hypnosis.
- You are in control of yourself – always. If the hypnotist suggests something you don’t like, or which to answer would make you uncomfortable, your critical factor will reject that suggestion. You’ll either say no, or bring yourself out of hypnosis.
- It is impossible to be hypnotized against your will.
- A post-hypnotic suggestion only lasts if the subject desires it. No one can implant a negative or harmful post-hypnotic suggestion in your mind that conflicts with your morals or desires.
- For purposes of entertainment, Hollywood, authors, and certain stage hypnotists have given hypnosis somewhat of a bad reputation, from time to time… Stories coming soon!
