Questions and Answers About Hypnosis

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Hypnosis requires three things:

• 1. a desire for change
• 2. permission to go into hypnosis (permitting yourself)
• 3. the ability to follow simple instructions. If you can answer “yes” to the above requirements, you will experience hypnosis.

Hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.

A trained and certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides you into this deep state of focus and relaxation with verbal cues, repetition and imagery. When you’re under hypnosis, this intense level of concentration and focus allows you to ignore ordinary distractions and be more open to guided suggestions to make changes to improve your health.Because it's coming soon. Thank you for being patient. Posted 04.10.2024

It’s commonly known that in the deep state of focus and relaxation that’s achieved with hypnosis:

• Your conscious mind is quieted.
• You can tap into the part of your brain where your thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, and behaviors originate.
• In this state, you’re more open to gentle guidance from your Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist to help you modify or replace the unconscious thoughts that are driving your current behavior. Hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.

 Myth: Hypnosis isn’t real. It’s a form of entertainment.

• Hypnosis isn’t a stage act or some magical act. Clinical hypnosis is a type of medical therapy often used as part of a treatment plan that includes traditional medical approaches.

Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you’re hypnotized.

• Most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware of who and where you are and remember what happened during a hypnosis session.

Myth: You’re under the control of your hypnotherapist when you’re hypnotized.

• Your hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides hypnosis, but hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You can’t be made to do anything against your will. You won’t reveal any information that you wish to remain secret. You don’t lose control over your behavior. Hypnosis makes it easier to experience suggestions but doesn’t force you to have specific experiences.

Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.

• Hypnosis isn’t sleeping. Some deeper forms of hypnosis could make you appear asleep because your body is still and quiet, but you aren’t asleep. It’s commonly known that in the deep state of focus and relaxation that’s achieved with hypnosis:
• Your conscious mind is quieted.
• You can tap into the part of your brain where your thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, sensations, emotions, memories, and behaviors originate.
• In this state, you’re more open to gentle guidance from your Hypnotist or Hypnotherapist to help you modify or replace the unconscious thoughts driving your current behavior. Hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.

 People describe hypnosis in different ways. You may feel like you’re “zoned in” or in a trance-like state — so focused that you’re able to block out surrounding distractions. Have you ever been so focused on a TV show or so entrenched in a good book that you don’t hear your family talking around you or even your dog barking? This experience is somewhat similar to how you might feel while hypnotized. Many people say they feel calm and relaxed despite their increased concentration. Most described it as a pleasant experience. 

 There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence. 

Induction

During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your hypnotherapist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing (breathing in over a count of seven, then breathing out over a count of 11) or progressive muscle relaxation (tensing muscles as you breathe in and relaxing muscles as you breathe out, then repeating in a particular order of muscle groups throughout your body) or focusing on a visual image.

This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery, such as walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.

This is the stage for actual experience, behavior, or perception change. Your hypnotherapist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom-focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought, or behavior.

• Example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference, and install the changed behavior. You may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.

During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your hypnotist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing up stairs or counting up.

  Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotized. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotized. For those who feel fear, visit our office/Zoom/or phone call for a complementary time to gather information.  

Hypnosis may not be appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. It might also be inappropriate for someone who uses heavy drugs. Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotized. A person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotized. For those who feel fear, visit our office/Zoom/or phone call for a complementary time to gather information and introduction to our type of work.   

 Yes, it’s possible to practice self-hypnosis. Deep breathing, imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness techniques may work similarly to hypnosis. This can be particularly useful for controlling the side effects of chemotherapy or managing recurring (repeating) health issues, such as headache pain. Many utilize self-hypnosis to keep them moving forward and focused on their goals.  

  Hypnotherapy offers a unique and effective approach to rewiring the brain. By leveraging the brain's remarkable neuroplasticity, this therapeutic practice helps individuals overcome limiting beliefs, change unwanted behaviors, manage emotions, and unlock their full potential.