What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is one of the most misunderstood (and effective!) tools for self-change available in the world today.

When you say "hypnosis," most people think of magic shows, silly stage acts, and possibly even witchcraft.

Frankly, nothing could be further from the truth.

Hypnosis is simply this: a relaxed state of focused attention that allows people to control and change mental and physiological patterns that can't be changed in everyday awareness.

The use of hypnosis to treat disease (also called "hypnotherapy") has been around for more than half a century. In fact, the British Medical Association approved the use of hypnotherapy in 1955. The American Medical Association approved its use in 1958.

The Power of Hypnosis has not been Lost on the Mainstream Media as you can see below:

More Importantly, Clinical Studies Prove Hypnosis Works . . .
Increasing Weight Loss By up to146%

Numerous clinical studies have proven that hypnosis is amazingly effective in helping folks lose weight:

• In a 9-week study of two weight management groups (one using hypnosis and one not using hypnosis), the hypnosis group continued to get results in the two-year follow-up, while the non-hypnosis group showed no further results (Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1985).
• In a study of 60 women separated into hypnosis versus non-hypnosis groups, the groups using hypnosis lost an average of 17 pounds, while the non-hypnosis group lost an average of only .5 pounds (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1986).
• In a meta-analysis, comparing the results of adding hypnosis to weight loss treatment across multiple studies showed that adding hypnosis increased weight loss by an average of 97% during treatment, and even more importantly increased the effectiveness POST TREATMENT by over 146%. This shows that hypnosis works even better over time (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1996).

The bottom line here is that when hypnosis sessions are added to various weight loss programs, the results are always better — up to 146% better over the long term!

Source: www.hypnosisnetwork.com 

The British Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis states:

"In therapy, hypnosis usually involves the person experiencing a sense of deep relaxation with their attention narrowed down, and focused on appropriate suggestions made by the therapist." These suggestions help people make positive changes within themselves. In a therapeutic hypnotherapy session you are ultimately always in control.  A hypnotist merely helps to facilitate your experience - hypnotherapy is not about being made to do things, in fact it is the opposite, it is about empowerment.   

The following four extracts from Dr Hilary Jones' book, "Doctor, What's the Alternative?", provide a wonderful description of what hypnotherapy is, how it works and how hypnotherapy can help you change and grow.

Definition of hypnotherapy

Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep.  It does involve the induction of a trance-like condition, but when in it, the client is actually in an enhanced state of awareness, concentrating entirely on the hypnotist’s voice.  In this state, the conscious mind is suppressed and the subconscious mind is revealed.

The therapist is able to suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations to the client, the seeds of which become firmly planted.

The practice of promoting healing or positive development in any way is known as hypnotherapy.  As such, hypnotherapy is a kind of psychotherapy.  Hypnotherapy aims to re-programme patterns of behaviour within the mind, enabling irrational fears, phobias, negative thoughts and suppressed emotions to be overcome. As the body is released from conscious control during the relaxed trance-like state of hypnosis, breathing becomes slower and deeper, the pulse rate drops and the metabolic rate falls.   Similar changes along nervous pathways and hormonal channels enable the sensation of pain to become less acute, and the awareness of unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea or indigestion, to be alleviated. 

How does it work?

Hypnosis is thought to work by altering our state of consciousness in such a way that the analytical left-hand side of the brain is turned off, while the non-analytical right-hand side is made more alert.  The conscious control of the mind is inhibited, and the subconscious mind awoken.  Since the subconscious mind is a deeper-seated, more instinctive force than the conscious mind, this is the part which has to change for the client's behaviour and physical state to alter.

For example, a client who consciously wants to overcome their fear of spiders may try everything they consciously can to do it, but will still fail as long as their subconscious mind retains this terror and prevents the client from succeeding.  Progress can only be made be reprogramming the subconscious so that deep-seated instincts and beliefs are abolished or altered. 

What form might the treatment take?

Firstly, any misconceptions a potential client may have about hypnosis should be dispelled.  The technique does not involve the client being put into a deep sleep, and the client cannot be made to do anything they would not ordinarily do. They remain fully aware of their surroundings and situation, and are not vulnerable to every given command of the therapist.  The important thing is that the client wants to change some behavioural habit or addiction and is highly motivated to do so.  They have to want the treatment to work and must establish a good clinical rapport with the therapist in order for it to do so……

The readiness and ability of clients to be hypnotised varies considerably and hypnotherapy generally requires several sessions in order to achieve meaningful results.  However the client can learn the technique of self-hypnosis which can be practiced at home, to reinforce the usefulness of formal sessions with the therapist.  This can help counter distress and anxiety-related conditions. 

What problems can be treated by hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy can be applied to many psychological, emotional and physical disorders.  It is used to relieve pain in surgery and dentistry and has proved to be of benefit in obstetrics.  It can shorten the delivery stage of labour and reduce the need for painkillers.  It can ease the suffering of the disabled and those facing terminal illness, and it has been shown to help people to overcome addictions such as smoking and alcoholism, and to help with bulimia.  Children are generally easy to hypnotise and can be helped with nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) and chronic asthma, whilst teenagers can conquer stammering or blushing problems which can otherwise make their lives miserable.

Phobias of all kinds lend themselves well to hypnotherapy, and anyone suffering from panic attacks or obsessional compulsive behaviour, and stress-related problems like insomnia, may benefit.  Conditions exacerbated by tension, such as irritable bowel syndrome, psoriasis and eczema, and excessive sweating, responds well, and even tinnitus and clicky jaws (tempero-mandibular joint dysfunction) can be treated by these techniques.

In a nutshell hypnotherapy can help:

Frequently asked questions:

Have you ever been hypnotised? Most people answer no. Have you ever driven a long distance and, after your arrival, had the thought: “How did I get there?” Have you ever watched a movie without even hearing somebody talk behind you? Are you aware of background sounds right now, if you do not concentrate on it? This is basically hypnosis!
 

Is hypnosis dangerous?
The hypnotic state is no more dangerous than the sleep state. The worst that can happen, is that nothing can happen!

If hypnosis was dangerous, we would also have to tell ourselves not to slip into any other state of consciousness, like daydreaming or concentrating too deeply or to avoid becoming totally absorbed in something interesting.

Am I asleep in hypnosis?
You are aware in hypnosis and a small percentage of people even find their hearing increases during hypnosis. You do not lose consciousness, although in a deep trance, noises and disturbances in your environment may seem to be so remote that they will not bother you.

Am I still in control when hypnotised?
You are always in control. You will be aware of sounds, touch, smells, taste and visual input. You will even be able to speak while in hypnosis. You will always be able to awake from a trance. If you felt in anyway uncomfortable, you would simply open your eyes. All you need to decide on is to wake up, and once this decision is taken, you will wake up.

Am I at risk from spiritual attack when hypnotised?
As everyone on earth has experienced trance in the form of daydreaming, if you were at risk from spiritual attack, we would all be at risk from spiritual attack while day dreaming too! People tell me that the devil gets a chance when you are hypnotised. It is just impossible. The Scriptures teach me that God protects you at all times. How can the devil be stronger than God during hypnosis?

I am strong willed so can you hypnotise me?
Strong-willed, intelligent and creative people are actually the best subjects! There is a faulty belief that only weak persons are hypnotisable and that a hypnotherapist has therefore unlimited control over the person, while in fact the hypnotised person is always in control. In the end, you decide if you are going to allow yourself to be hypnotised or not. So you are never under the control of the hypnotherapist.

Can you get me to reveal secrets or say things I will regret?
The person in trance always remains in full control. When you see “show hypnosis” on television and audience members are jumping about the stage clucking like chickens – remember that they volunteered to do that in full knowledge that they would be expected to do something “crazy”.

A hypnotherapist cannot make someone reveal any information against his or her will.

You always have the choice to tell the therapist or not. Some clients will tell the hypnotist what is happening during the session. Some will do it afterwards. Some will never. You don’t even have to tell your hypnotherapist what happened. A hypnotherapist will be able to help you, not even knowing what happened.  No hypnotist can compel you to do anything against your own morals or beliefs.

Can I be hypnotised against my will?
All hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis. You have to want to be hypnotised before a trance state can be achieved.  This is very important. The hypnotist cannot hypnotise you. To get hypnotised is the ability of the client, not the ability of the hypnotherapist. So, you can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to do in hypnosis. In hypnosis you retain power over your ability to act upon suggestions.

Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
There is no evidence that anybody can become stuck in hypnosis. The worst that might happen could be that you fall asleep – and wake up unhypnotised!

Will I remember everything afterwards?
You will remember everything that you need to remember. Some people don’t remember certain things, simply because their minds strayed during the trance. And that is OK, because we are addressing your subconscious mind, not the conscious. You are free to let your thoughts wander as we go. Some people even fall asleep, and that is OK, too. It is true however, that the more hypnosis sessions you have, the deeper you will go into trance every session. Hypnosis is nothing else but just a deep state of relaxation causing a state of mind power. Nothing more, nothing less.

What is be traumatic?
It is important to address this issue. Many people are scared what may surface while hypnotised. First of all: the days of going back to the trauma and reliving every second are over. Nowadays we have techniques of dealing with trauma without having to re-traumatise the client. I use techniques to deal with trauma without inducing more trauma or through reliving the experience.