Hypnosis is a state of human consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness and an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion. The term may also refer to an art, skill, or act of inducing hypnosis.
Theories explaining what occurs during hypnosis fall into two groups. Altered state theories see hypnosis as an altered state of mind or trance, marked by a level of awareness different from the ordinary conscious state. In contrast, Non-state theories see hypnosis as a form of imaginative role-enactment.
During hypnosis, a person is said to have heightened focus and concentration. The person can concentrate intensely on a specific thought or memory, while blocking out sources of distraction. Hypnotized subjects are said to show an increased response to suggestions. Hypnosis is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction involving a series of preliminary instructions and suggestion. The use of hypnotism for therapeutic purposes is referred to as “hypnotherapy”, while its use as a form of entertainment for an audience is known as “stage hypnosis”.
What is hypnosis?
Many people believe that a person in Hypnosis is unconscious and under control of the hypnotist. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In Hypnosis, you are deeply relaxed physically, yet many times more mentally alert than in your normal state of awareness. You hear and respond to everything and you are an active participant in each session. You have great control over what you will or will not do and can instantly reject any uncomfortable suggestions.
When a hypnotized person likes and wants the suggestions given, they allow the suggestions to enter into their subconscious mind. This subconscious is like a computer and responds to what is allowed to go into it.
The programming controls what our subconscious mind perceives us to be. If our mind views us as fat, we become fat. If it perceives that we smoke, we smoke and so on. Yet, if our mind perceives that we are a non-smoker or slim, we become that which we perceive ourselves to be.
Using Hypnosis, we are able to access the subconscious computer in our mind and re-program ourselves to be whatever we desire. Just imagine all the wonderful things you could do and be if you could control the power of your subconscious mind.
Hypnosis is a commonly occurring state of mind we may experience many times a day. People, whether they know it or not, move in and out of trance- like states frequently. Daydreaming while driving or in class or at work can be considered a state of hypnosis. You are not asleep while in hypnosis. Hypnosis is a relaxed state between sleep and consciousness which is especially useful for learning.
Is hypnosis right for you?
Is there some aspect of your life, or how you presently feel, that is not satisfactory? You have the resources within yourself to eliminate the things that are keeping you stuck. You deserve to feel better. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by exploring whether Hypnosis is right for you. In order for you to feel completely secure about your decision to use Hypnosis and make an appointment now, review the following FAQ’s.
What can hypnosis do for me?
Many things such as instant learning and photographic memory are based on hypnosis. Champions in many sports such as Evander Holyfield, Larry Bird, and Tiger Woods all use self-hypnosis to achieve amazing and consistent results in their fields. You can learn to overcome unwanted and undesirable habits such as smoking, overeating, or drinking. You can boost your self-confidence and realize that success is within easy reach of an active mind, and erasing harmful emotions leads to a happier and healthier life.
Who can be hypnotized?
Hypnosis is a natural state of mind. We enter into some form of hypnosis several times each day without any sense of awareness. Perhaps you can remember a time when you were driving and completely missed your turn-off, only to realize it minutes later. This “highway hypnosis” is an example of a naturally occurring trance that we’ve all experienced.
ANYONE can easily enter hypnosis providing you have the following two conditions:
– You must have a desire to be hypnotized. No one can hypnotize you against your will.
– You must not have any fears or misconceptions about hypnosis or how it works.
Anyone who can temporarily surrender control, has an open mind, reasonable intelligence, and the ability to concentrate can enter a state of hypnosis.
Can I be hypnotized against my will?
Hypnosis is a state of 100% consent. If at any time you want to emerge from that state, for any reason, you will instantly and naturally open your eyes and become fully alert. No one can keep you in Hypnosis against your will.
No one is able to be hypnotized against his or her will. If people were, hypnosis would be the most closely guarded secret on the planet. Entering hypnosis requires the consent of the client. The hypnotist assists the client, who then hypnotizes him/herself.
What if I can’t be hypnotized?
A lot of people have this concern. The underlying fear is often about giving up control. The opposite is actually true. You are exercising a more powerful form of thought control than at other times by accepting the suggestions given. The only thought to prevent you from going into hypnosis is the thought “I can’t be hypnotized.”
What does it feel like to be hypnotized?
You will be able to hear, remember, and experience everything that is going on around you. Hypnosis is a pleasant feeling of physical and mental relaxation. It is similar to that moment between being awake and going to sleep. Sometimes when people are in hypnosis they realize their mind is active: they hear every sound in the room, they realize they can resist the suggestions if they choose to, they can feel they are not asleep, and they are able to remember everything perfectly. These factors lead people to believe that they were not hypnotized, when indeed they were. Some people then give up on hypnosis after a few sessions because they were disappointed in their reactions, believing they are not suitable subjects. Some people believe they will go through something different, new, and spectacular in the hypnotic state. It’s helpful to recognize your expectations and remember that they may be very different from what happens. What’s important, after all, is whether changes occur that make your life better.
Do people have trouble coming out of a hypnotic state?
A person might choose to stay in hypnosis after the hypnotherapist signals to them to come out of it. The hypnotic state is such a relaxed feeling of enjoyment that some people prefer to stay hypnotized a while longer. Even if the hypnotherapist were to leave, the person would simply drift out of hypnosis or into a natural sleep to awaken at a more personally convenient time. There has never been a documented case of someone being unable to come out of hypnosis.
Can hypnosis hurt you? Is it dangerous?
In over two hundred years of recorded Hypnosis history, there is no documented case of injury caused by Hypnosis. Hypnosis can only be used for good. If anyone tries to give you suggestions against your morals, values, religious beliefs, or ideals, you will instantly emerge from the hypnotic state on your own.
Despite some anecdotal stories and urban myths, there has never been a documented case of harm coming to anyone from the therapeutic use of hypnotism. As early as the 1950s, both the AMA and the BMA approved of the use of hypnosis and deemed it “to not cause detrimental harm to the general health,” but warned the practice of hypnosis should be used with caution and care for the patient.
How exactly does hypnosis work?
Everything you have ever learned is stored in your subconscious mind along with unwanted habits such as smoking or overeating. Some learned activities such as playing tennis, biking, or playing chess you want to keep and perhaps even improve upon, while others such as smoking or overeating you may want to reduce or eliminate. Hypnosis gives the subconscious mind suggestions for change or improvement. Entering a state of deep relaxation and connecting with the subconscious allows hypnotic suggestions about your goals to be taken in much more deeply. Success depends on the motivation of the client and the commitment to hypnosis a person is willing to make. Some goals are reached immediately; others take more reinforcement. Each individual is different.
How many sessions will I need to stop smoking?
There is only one requirement to stop smoking: you must honestly want to give up the smoking habit. When you make your first appointment, you will be asked a series of questions to determine whether you are a habitual or an emotional smoker. We use different approaches depending on which type you are. For habitual smokers, only one session is required. If you use smoking to cope with emotional feelings such as stress or anger, you will need about three sessions to overcome your smoking habit.
How about weight loss?
For successful weight loss, usually 4 to 6 sessions are required. Being over weight isn’t mainly about what you’re eating it is more about what is eating at you. It’s about old habits and the feelings and emotions that trigger you to eat or snack even when you are not hungry. Food is often used as a distraction for feelings and emotions that that are uncomfortable for you. Once these feelings are resolved, then that former way of eating is no longer attractive. As a result, you will be able to get rid of the weight permanently and start feeling good about yourself. There are no successful weight loss diets because diets afford only temporary change. A televised “Dateline” study found that hypnosis for weight loss was the only method that proved to be successful. It really works!
Does hypnosis work for anxieties and fears?
Anxiety and fears are based on thoughts created in our mind. Anxiety represents anticipation about future events, characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and worry that become stronger over time, interfering with one’s daily living. These emotions manifest it self physically; often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue and problems in concentration, IBS, pain, sleeplessness, and so much more.
Anxiety is an over reaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing with unpleasant feelings over anticipated events. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; whereas anxiety is the expectation of a future threat.
Hypnosis helps you learn how change those anticipated thoughts and change the feeling within you. Redirecting your thoughts help you feel better on the inside and view situations with a better perspective.
What are Energy Therapies?
Based on impressive new discoveries involving the body’s subtle energies, Energy Therapies have proven clinically effective for traumas, abuse, stress, anxiety, fears, phobias, depression, grief, addictive cravings, and hundreds of physical symptoms including headaches, body pains and breathing difficulties. Energy Therapy is a missing piece to the healing puzzle. Fortunately, Energy Therapy techniques can be taught to anyone, and they can be self applied. These powerful and easy-to-use techniques are a wonderful adjunct to Hypnosis.
Does hypnosis weaken the will? Are only weak-minded people able to go into hypnotic states?
No. Using hypnosis actually strengthens the will because it requires willingness to do it. The more intelligent and strong-willed you are, the more effective hypnosis can be for you.
What is self hypnosis and how does it work?
Self Hypnosis can help you take control of your life instead of letting life control you. You will learn how to become your own Hypnotist by programming yourself to reach your desired outcome. This is a skill you will be able to use for the rest of your life. If you have a problem or there is an area in your life you’d like to improve, Self Hypnosis is an easy, effective way to achieve great results. In your session you will be taught Self Hypnosis tools to help you receive more profound changes.
Techniques exist for clients to learn how to hypnotize themselves in order to induce a deep level of relaxation and benefit from the increased openness of the hypnotic state.
How do I know if I have the right hypnotherapist?
When we choose a doctor, hairdresser, or car repair person, we look for someone that we feel we can trust, have rapport with and will help us meet our goals. Finding a hypnotherapist is the same.