Hypnosis Frequently Asked Questions:
How Does Hypnosis Work?
The subconscious mind is the house
of our emotions, instincts, drives, intuition, imagination, memories, habits, and it is the pathway to our superconscious,
the connection to our spirituality. It regulates all of our autonomic body functions, thus it is the controller of our
physiology and healing mechanisms. It is enormously powerful over every aspect of our life. We experience ourselves
and the world in a unique way because of our subconscious mind.
It
is a commonly held belief that most human beings do not use more than 10% of their mind potential. In turn, the subconscious
mind has been referred to as “the other 90% of the mind”, and it truly is a wellspring of amazing potential.
Hypnosis allows you to tap into the potential of your subconscious mind.
A good
analogy for the subconscious mind and how hypnosis works is that of our modern day computers. Our subconscious mind
is like the computer, and all of our past experiences are like the programs that make it operate. As with a computer,
we can delete and add programs to make it function in the ways we want. Hypnosis allows you to reprogram your subconscious
mind. It can rid you of the old, negative programs and replace them with new, positive, life-enhancing programs allowing
you to move past your blocks and limitations to making your life work for you in the ways you desire.
Hypnosis uses techniques that place you in a state of deep physical and mental relaxation which allows us to bypass your conscious
mind and communicate directly with your subconscious mind. In this natural state called trance, you become highly focused
and very receptive to positive suggestions. Being in a state of trance is often compared to being in a state of meditation.
But, rather than going within for the purpose of finding stillness, hypnosis allows you to go within for the purpose of making
connections and doing work that results in lasting change. Even though the term “hypnosis’ is derived
from the Greek word for sleep, when you are hypnotized you are awake and in control.
What are the some of the benefits of Hypnosis?
There are
a wide variety of ways hypnosis can harness the power and potential that exists in the subconscious mind to affect change.
Hypnosis is beneficial in improving ones emotional and mental health; physical health and abilities; psychic and spiritual
development; and creative and intellectual development. It is proven to be very effective in improving self-confidence,
self-esteem, concentration, memory, achievement, motivation, and focus. It is extremely beneficial in helping to overcome
addictions, self-defeating habits, eating disorders, insomnia, fears, phobias, and negative thought, emotional and behavior
patterns.
Hypnosis has proven extremely effective in the areas of health
and stress management. The subconscious mind is the controller of our physiology, thus hypnosis has proven extremely
beneficial in dealing with the many issues that affect our health. It can relieve chronic and acute pain by changing a person’s
physiological responses and psychological associations to pain. It can aid in healing the mind and body by working at
the cellular level. It can release stored emotions in the tissues that affect ones health without conscious knowledge.
It allows you to utilize your inner resources for the purpose of healing. Also, it is a powerful tool for the achievement
and maintenance of optimal health.
No matter what the issue may be, hypnosis has proven effective in
giving the tools to aid in healing. Hypnosis allows people to tap into, and harness, their full potential in the areas of
sports, career, art and creative expression. It enhances motivation, and changes negative and limiting beliefs and attitudes.
Automatic byproducts of hypnosis are increased self-awareness, relaxation, and improved stress management.
Hypnosis is an excellent tool for Metaphysical and Spiritual Development.
It can allow access to our “Higher Knowing” or Superconscious. This access supports growth by allowing our
Soul or Spirit to become a guide and powerful source in our life.
What are the benefits of group sessions and workshops?
Groups can provide a sense of connectedness and camaraderie with others who share similar issues, and are an excellent way
to gain support. All groups provide the opportunity for increased self-awareness through self-disclosure and feedback.
Groups support and reinforce accomplishments and personal success. They are an excellent forum for education and training.
Groups are very economical, and can support the work you are doing individually. Many issues such as weight loss, smoking
cessation, and grief recovery can be successfully addressed in a group environment without the need for individual sessions.
What
is the difference between Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy
makes changes to the subconscious mind only when we become aware of, process, and understand the information presented
to us in life by the conscious mind. Hypnotherapy bypasses the conscious mind and works directly with the subconscious
mind. Hypnotherapy is often used in conjunction with Psychotherapy to obtain maximum benefit.
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What
is Hypnosis? Is It Safe?
Hypnosis
is a very relaxed physical and mental state of being, allowing the subconscious mind to become very open to allowing you access
to all the answers to your life questions, as all answers are in you. It also allows the subconscious mind to become
very open to positive suggestions to reprogram any negative or limiting beliefs. It is a natural, altered state of consciousness
occurring when a person is guided, either by another person or oneself through the use of creative visual imagery. It
is your mind’s natural learning state – a state of highly focused and selective attention. Hypnosis is safe, gentle,
fast and effective.
Hypnosis is completely safe
because it is a normal and natural state of mind. In hypnosis, you are not being put to sleep as commonly thought, but
rather being guided into a very deep state of relaxation which allows us to communicate with your subconscious mind for the
purpose of doing work that can positively change your life. You are fully aware and in control. In much of our
work you are an active participant in the process. You are able to verbally communicate and clearly remember the information
that is being revealed.
When in a hypnotic trance, you are in state
of mind that is normal and a natural part of your daily life. The brain is an electrochemical organ that generates enough
electrical power to emit waves that can be scientifically measured. Beta waves are the fastest, and occur when we are
in a fully awake and aroused state. Alpha waves occur when we are relaxed and reflective. Theta waves occur when
we are in a drowsy, daydreaming, and ideating state of mind. Delta brainwaves are the slowest, and occur when we are
in a deep sleep state.
For example, when you go to bed and read
for a while, your brainwaves are likely to be in a low beta to alpha state. When you put the book down, turn out the
lights, and close your eyes, your brainwaves will descend to the theta state, and finally, to the delta state when you fall
into a deep sleep. When in a hypnotic trance, our brainwaves typically are in the alpha to theta range. In trance
you are physically and mentally relaxed. The mind becomes focused, and is very open to visualizations, the formation
of ideas, and the creation of rich sensory experiences.
There are many
times your brainwaves are altered during a typical day, and you go in and out of the trance state. The times you may
find yourself in a trance may include being engrossed in a book, a movie, a work project, watching television, or daydreaming.
When you are engaged in daily activities that are so automatic, such as brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing the dishes,
you can also find yourself in this state. Runners, and other athletes, often report they find themselves in a state
of complete mental relaxation, and are prone to the flow of ideas when engaged in their activity. Activities such as
these become so automatic you can mentally disengage from them. During these times, as with hypnosis, the subconscious
mind engages, and provides you with very beneficial, free-flowing visualization and idea formation.
What does it feel like to be hypnotized?
Being in a trance state is a very pleasant feeling of extreme relaxation. You can experience a feeling of heaviness
or lightness in your body, especially your limbs. Often, a slight change in temperature can be felt. Some common descriptions
include a feeling of floating, a feeling of sinking, a feeling of softening, or a feeling of release. Time distortion
is almost always experienced where an hour session may feel like minutes.
When
in trance you hear everything that is being said to you and you are able to easily speak. When you come out of trance
you will remember what happened during your session.
We all have an observer-self. It is a well-documented, credible aspect, and normal function of our mind. This is the
part of our mind that watches out for us and keeps us safe. Have you ever been on highway and found yourself so engrossed
in your mind you did not recall the last five miles you had driven? Well, this happened because the repetition of the
road induced you into a state of trance. The observer-self was the part of you fully engaged and watching out for you
during this time. During a hypnosis session, your observer-self is active and aware.
Because hypnosis sharpens your senses, it can make you more aware in your day-to-day life. Hypnosis can actually keep
you safer by making you more aware of your surroundings.
Being in a
trance state is normal, natural, very pleasant, and completely safe. You are aware -- you are in control -- and you
are in charge. Note: People with epilepsy should
not be hypnotized and those with serious heart conditions should avoid hypnosis sessions that evoke significant emotions. Can Hypnosis make me do or say something
against my will?
Absolutely Not! Hypnosis is not hocus
pocus or mind control!
This is one of the biggest misconceptions regarding
hypnosis, and one of the main reasons for this misconception is stage hypnotism. Stage Hypnotists appear to have enormous
power over people and can make them do things against their will. In reality, a Stage Hypnotist is well-trained and
very careful in choosing the perfect candidates from the audience. The perfect candidate normally exhibits extraverted
tendencies; will be enthusiastic to participate; and is willing to do silly and outrageous things on stage in front of others.
It is very difficult to put someone in a deep hypnotic trance state in this type of environment. Even if the person
achieves a state of deep trance, they are fully aware and in control, thus they choose to do the things being instructed to
them, and they are fully aware of making such choices. What you actually witness is a Stage Hypnotist’s adept ability
to know how to choose the right type of person to become a part of the act.
Anytime you are hypnotized, you will not divulge any information that you would not ordinarily divulge, unless you choose
to do so. One of the greatest benefits of hypnosis is the ability to learn about things you did not know about consciously.
Hypnosis is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the subconscious mind. It reveals the clues of limiting and negative
beliefs, habits, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. When this information is brought into your consciousness, you can
work on creating solutions, and making new choices and decisions that support your life goals.
Again I want to add, you are always aware and always in control!
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