Frequently Asked Questions
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis (hypnotic trance) is an altered state of consciousness in which it is possible to communicate with the subconscious mind.
You may be surprised to know that it is a very common state which everybody automatically drifts in and out of from time to time.
Have you ever been thoroughly lost in a beautiful piece of music, or a good book, or a daydream? You become completely focussed and everyday reality fades into the background as your mind carries you away to a different world of the imagination. You are still conscious, but your consciousness is temporarily altered. In fact we all go through a similar phase just before we go to sleep.
When you are being hypnotised, you are guided by the Hypnotist into this same kind of trance state, somewhere between being asleep and being awake, and this is called a hypnotic trance. It is a very pleasant feeling of calmness and deep relaxation.
Contrary to popular belief, when you are hypnotised you are not asleep or unconscious. You will normally have your eyes closed, but you can still hear and feel and even speak. Indeed, your concentration and awareness actually become heightened.
Different people can experience hypnosis in slightly different ways. Some people may notice that they feel rather heavy, whilst others may feel light and ‘floaty.’ Often the closed eyelids can flutter a little here and there, or there may be a slight tingling sensation in various parts of the body. However some people experience nothing at all, other than a feeling of deep relaxation. The experience of hypnosis is a very personal thing, but basically it is just a very calm and pleasant feeling – rather like being in a daydream
The main requirement to enter hypnotic trance is relaxation, and for most people this is a very gradual process.
For some people, entering hypnosis can be rather disappointing because they expect to suddenly ‘go under’ some strange spell and feel extremely weird - but it isn’t like that at all.
For most people, there is no sudden feeling of ‘going under’ hypnosis.
Sometimes individuals may doubt that they are actually being hypnotised at all because they do not experience the sudden loss of consciousness they expected.
It is quite important that your expectations of hypnosis are realistic, and that you understand that it is a gradual, drifting process, because during the induction into hypnosis, if you are constantly thinking that you are not ‘going under’, this in itself can disrupt the whole process of gradual relaxation. All you need to do is to let yourself go and concentrate on your Hypnotherapist’s voice so that he or she can help you to relax.
When the body and the conscious mind have been sufficiently relaxed, the normal barriers to the subconscious part of the mind also become relaxed, and the subconscious becomes receptive to positive suggestion.
How is hypnotic trance induced?
There are several ways to induce hypnosis, and different Hypnotists will use their own favourite methods. Hypnotherapists may employ different methods than Stage Hypnotists.
Some Hypnotherapists like to start with some form of fascination. They may ask you to concentrate on a revolving spiral or some other object. But don’t be disappointed if this technique is not used, as it is just one method and not a necessity. Nowadays, not many people ask you to gaze into their ‘piercing eyes,’ or stare at a swinging watch. That sort of thing has more to do with old-fashioned Hollywood movies than modern Hypnotherapy.
Most Hypnotherapists use relaxation techniques, and you are also likely to be asked to concentrate on certain things. For instance, you may be asked to focus your attention on your breathing, or to imagine various things.
During the induction, the therapist is likely to speak to you in a particular way, and at a particular tempo, which is designed to gently slow down the brainwaves. This will help you to gradually drift into the pleasant state of hypnotic trance, in which you will experience feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Words like “relax,” “deeper,” and “sleep” or “sleepy” are often used in the induction. However, these words are not intended to send you to sleep. They are merely calming words which send special messages to the brain to help you to become very relaxed and tranquil.
Hypnosis is not a state of being unconscious, but merely of having your consciousness altered – indeed your mind remains clear and focused, and you are likely to remember most of what was said to you.
Some people are very easy to hypnotise, whilst others take longer.
Most people remain in a fairly light state of hypnotic trance, whilst a very small percentage naturally go to much deeper levels. Sometimes people drift in and out of lighter and deeper states. All this is perfectly normal.
Deep states of hypnosis are not required for successful therapy.
Could I be hypnotised against my will?
No - your co-operation is required.
Can anybody be hypnotised?
The people who respond best to hypnosis are those who are capable of concentration, imagination and mental dexterity. Most people can be hypnotised. The exceptions are those who are mentally subnormal, young children, or those who are ‘high’ on drugs or alcohol. Everybody else (who properly co-operates with the process) can be hypnotized.
Obviously, if somebody cannot understand what is required if them, or if they are resisting for some reason, they will have difficulty entering into hypnosis.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is the clinical use of hypnosis, in which the subject’s powers of consciousness are mobilized and subconscious memories and perceptions are brought into consciousness. Analysis of the presenting problem(s) and the subsequent healing are carried out under hypnosis.
How does hypnotherapy work?
Under hypnosis you have a heightened responsiveness to suggestions and commands. That is why it is important that you are comfortable with, and trust, your Hypnotherapist. Just like in a dream state, one's perception is altered and the logical, judgemental part of the mind is bypassed. Long-term memory can be accessed and involuntary responses can be used to overcome conscious barriers to understanding.
For example, a patient who consciously wants to overcome their fear of water may try everything they consciously can to overcome it, but will still fail as long as their subconscious mind retains this terror and prevents the patient from succeeding. Progress can only be made by reprogramming the subconscious so that the causes of deep-seated emotional traumas are uncovered and beliefs are removed or altered, perhaps through the use of positive suggestion.
What is positive suggestion?
A positive suggestion is a positively-worded statement or command which is given (or suggested) to the subconscious mind. In the relaxed state of hypnosis, the subconscious mind becomes receptive and can accept and store the positive suggestion and subsequently act upon it.
For instance, a smoker can have it suggested to him that he is now a non-smoker, and that suggestion is then left in the subconscious mind, so that the person no longer wishes to smoke. However, for the suggestion to be properly accepted into the subconscious mind, it is important that the smoker really wants to give up the habit.
In brief, positive suggestions can re-programme the mind to bring about beneficial changes.
What is the SUBCONSCIOUS?
Your mind consists of two parts: the CONSCIOUS and the SUBCONSCIOUS. The CONSCIOUS mind inhabits the surface level. This part of the mind is where you do all your everyday conscious thinking.
At a deeper level we have the SUBCONSCIOUS mind. This part of the mind deals with your unconscious actions – the things you do automatically. In the subconscious you keep your habits and also your habitual fears - and from here all your automatic responses are triggered .
The subconscious also stores your memories and all the things that have made you what you are today.
What can Hypnotherapy help with?
Hypnotherapy can help treat a wide range of problems including:
stress, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, depression, phobias, obsessions, recurring relationship problems, nightmares, blocked feelings and unexplainable physical pain, weight loss, stop smoking, confidence building, self-esteem, assertiveness, insomnia, endometriosis and migraines, allergies, asthma, sexual problems, anger management, and many more.