About Hypnosis
Real clinical hypnosis isn't as dramatic as all that! Most hypnotherapy clients experience a rather mild, pleasant interlude similar to daydreaming with their eyes closed. We use the power of focused imagination to facilitate a client's inward journey, creating a vision quest where she finds her own answers within herself.
Hypnosis is a subtle shift of awareness that opens the doors to our Inner Selves
Anytime you focus your awareness or imagination, you create a state of trance. Whether you're reading a book, watching a movie, or engaging in some hobby or activity that you really enjoy, you enter an altered state of mind and body. This natural ability to zone out and focus in is something we all possess, and we do it all the time without even trying. When we choose to induce hypnosis in a clinical setting, we are merely tapping into this wonderful natural gift inherent in each of us.
Exploding the Myths
Hypnosis is like sleep or unconsciousness...?
No, hypnosis is not like sleep or unconsciousness at all. In hypnosis you are awake and aware, and your conscious will is present at all times. You will open doors to inner levels of consciousness -- that's the whole purpose -- but YOU will never go away. Your mind monitors the entire experience, ensuring that you are always safe and sound.
You can control me with hypnosis...?
No, I can't, not even if I wanted to -- which I don't. Again, you are always awake and aware, and perfectly able to respond however you wish to my verbal guidance. You may disregard any suggestion or guidance very easily, and can simply open your eyes and arise and terminate the session anytime, if that is your wish.
What about stage hypnosis shows where people seem to do crazy things...?
With stage hypnosis, a person is agreeing to go onstage and have fun. He can say to himself, 'Hey, I'm not responsible -- the hypnotist made me do it!' It's a fun opportunity to act out and be a star for a day. The best stage hypnotists are quite skillful with their verbiage. Rather than convincing a person that he IS Elvis, the hypnotist may say, "You can sing LIKE Elvis." A person always has a choice whether to accept or reject any particular suggestion. So on some level, a person is agreeing to sing like Elvis -- because he wants to!
I could get stuck in hypnosis forever...?
No. Even in the deepest of hypnotic states, if your hypnotist left the room and disappeared, you would hear the door closing and likely rest easily, waiting for their return. After several minutes you might simply open your eyes. Depending on your patience, as more time elapsed, you would probably consider simply getting up and leaving the office. You might feel a bit relaxed or daydreamy for a few minutes, but as soon as you engaged once more with the outside world, your normal waking consciousness would activate and naturally come forward.
Hypnosis is like sleep or unconsciousness...?
No, hypnosis is not like sleep or unconsciousness at all. In hypnosis you are awake and aware, and your conscious will is present at all times. You will open doors to inner levels of consciousness -- that's the whole purpose -- but YOU will never go away. Your mind monitors the entire experience, ensuring that you are always safe and sound.
You can control me with hypnosis...?
No, I can't, not even if I wanted to -- which I don't. Again, you are always awake and aware, and perfectly able to respond however you wish to my verbal guidance. You may disregard any suggestion or guidance very easily, and can simply open your eyes and arise and terminate the session anytime, if that is your wish.
What about stage hypnosis shows where people seem to do crazy things...?
With stage hypnosis, a person is agreeing to go onstage and have fun. He can say to himself, 'Hey, I'm not responsible -- the hypnotist made me do it!' It's a fun opportunity to act out and be a star for a day. The best stage hypnotists are quite skillful with their verbiage. Rather than convincing a person that he IS Elvis, the hypnotist may say, "You can sing LIKE Elvis." A person always has a choice whether to accept or reject any particular suggestion. So on some level, a person is agreeing to sing like Elvis -- because he wants to!
I could get stuck in hypnosis forever...?
No. Even in the deepest of hypnotic states, if your hypnotist left the room and disappeared, you would hear the door closing and likely rest easily, waiting for their return. After several minutes you might simply open your eyes. Depending on your patience, as more time elapsed, you would probably consider simply getting up and leaving the office. You might feel a bit relaxed or daydreamy for a few minutes, but as soon as you engaged once more with the outside world, your normal waking consciousness would activate and naturally come forward.
The biggest fear about hypnosis... "Maybe I can't do it!"
Am I too smart to be hypnotized? Too strong-minded? Too controlling? Or, am I too scattered? Too much mental chatter? Can't relax my body or mind...? We all wonder about this.
The fact is, everyone experiences hypnosis or some form of trance quite naturally, and we do it all the time without even thinking about it. If a person struggles with hypnosis in a formal setting, he is likely harboring some type of fear: fear of losing control, fear of failure, or perhaps just fear of the unknown. If a person has concerns along these lines, he should certainly talk about them with his hypnotherapist. A frank discussion will clear the air.
What if I find out something horrible...?
It's important to remember that information springing forth from within you during a session is already inside you, right now - and it may be affecting you, right now. Perhaps you are sitting in a hypnotherapist's office because it's time to bring something out into the light of day where you can understand it, resolve it, and be free.
Am I a 'good subject?'
If a person has a sincere desire to explore, trusts/feels safe with her therapist, and sets a positive intention, success is imminent. All she has to do is follow instructions, as best she can. The relaxation or trance doesn't have to be 'perfect' to be wildly successful. If we can open the doors just a crack, you can access your deepest soul memories and enjoy all the benefits of your own inner wisdom, and your connection to All That Is.
Am I too smart to be hypnotized? Too strong-minded? Too controlling? Or, am I too scattered? Too much mental chatter? Can't relax my body or mind...? We all wonder about this.
The fact is, everyone experiences hypnosis or some form of trance quite naturally, and we do it all the time without even thinking about it. If a person struggles with hypnosis in a formal setting, he is likely harboring some type of fear: fear of losing control, fear of failure, or perhaps just fear of the unknown. If a person has concerns along these lines, he should certainly talk about them with his hypnotherapist. A frank discussion will clear the air.
What if I find out something horrible...?
It's important to remember that information springing forth from within you during a session is already inside you, right now - and it may be affecting you, right now. Perhaps you are sitting in a hypnotherapist's office because it's time to bring something out into the light of day where you can understand it, resolve it, and be free.
Am I a 'good subject?'
If a person has a sincere desire to explore, trusts/feels safe with her therapist, and sets a positive intention, success is imminent. All she has to do is follow instructions, as best she can. The relaxation or trance doesn't have to be 'perfect' to be wildly successful. If we can open the doors just a crack, you can access your deepest soul memories and enjoy all the benefits of your own inner wisdom, and your connection to All That Is.