What is Hypnosis?
Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep. It does involve the induction of a trance-like condition, but when in it, the person is actually in an enhanced state of awareness, concentrating entirely on the hypnotist’s voice. In this state, the conscious mind is suppressed and the subconscious mind is revealed. A therapist is then able to suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations to the patient, the seeds of which become firmly planted. Hypnosis works by altering our state of consciousness in such a way that the analytical left-hand side of the brain is turned off, while the non-analytical right-hand side is made more alert. The conscious control of the mind is inhibited, and the subconscious mind awoken. Since the subconscious mind is a deeper-seated, more instinctive force than the conscious mind, this is the part which has to change for the person’s behaviour and physical state to alter. For example, a person who consciously wants to overcome their fear of spiders may try everything they consciously can to do it, but will still fail as long as their subconscious mind retains this terror and prevents them from succeeding. Progress can only be made by reprogramming the subconscious so that deep-seated instincts and beliefs are abolished or altered.
When might hypnotherapy be useful?
Hypnotherapy is widely endorsed as a treatment for habit breaking, stress-related issues and for a range of long-term conditions, and in recent years has been gaining steam in the medical world after a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognised hypnotherapy as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
While more concrete evidence is needed to support the use of hypnosis in additional areas as an alternative to conventional medicine, many have found the process has been incredibly effective either when used in tandem with traditional treatment or when used independently after other avenues have been exhausted.
Can I be Hypnotised?
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Hypnosis is whether or not everyone can be hypnotised? Some people are adamant that they can’t be hypnotised and are convinced that hypnosis will never work for them. Everyone can be hypnotised in theory, so there’s no physical reason why everyone can’t be put into a hypnotic trance. However, there may be psychological reasons that someone is resistant to being hypnotised which might make it very difficult for that person to relax enough to enter a true hypnotic state. Usually people who are certain that they can’t be hypnotised have a deep seated need for control and think that if they allow themselves to be hypnotised they will be giving up control so they will never allow themselves to relax enough to get to the hypnotic trance. Therefore the want of the person to be hypnotised is key but so too is a fundamental trust in the therapist. If there is any discomfort or mistrust on the part of the person that is being hypnotised he or she will not be able to relax enough to get into the hypnotic state and the treatment won’t work. So when it comes to hypnosis medical experts and psychotherapists agree that everyone can be hypnotised, but not everyone wants to be.
Will I reveal any secrets during hypnosis?
This is a common question asked & the simple answer is No! Hypnosis is not a truth serum. You retain full control over what you say. People in Hypnosis reveal no secrets in the Hypnotic State that they would not reveal (because they want to) in the Waking State.
How many sessions will I need?
In most cases, somewhere between 1 and 6 sessions are all that’s required, but this does depend on the individual and the issue being treated. Simple phobias , for example, most often respond to a minimum of sessions, while more complex, long-standing issues will usually require longer. During your initial consultation, I will assess your situation and give you a realistic appraisal of the number of sessions you are likely to require.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Although the experience is different for every individual, one thing I can say for sure is that hypnosis feels like being very, very relaxed. Other sensations you might experience include some of the following. You might find that you’ll have a feeling of numbness, or a perhaps a tingling feeling in your hands or feet, or arms or legs, and these are perfectly normal and natural responses to hypnosis. Some people, as they relax so deeply, find that they may feel very heavy, like you’re sinking right down into the chair, or perhaps you’ll feel more light, as if you were about to be floating above the chair on your own little cloud. Either way, these also are normal and natural responses to hypnotism. Some people hear every word that I say, or notice the sounds outside, or others may find that actually they almost forget to hear my words and just let their mind wander off to pleasant thoughts and pleasant daydreams, letting their imagination bring pleasant sights or sounds or experiences. Either way is fine. Whether a person hears my words or not, their subconscious mind is listening and will accept everything that is beneficial to them.
