Hypnosis is an entirely natural state which is pleasant and relaxing, similar to the drowsy state experienced prior to sleep, where the physiological relaxed state is present. A better description of Hypnosis is conscious relaxation. Self hypnosis often occurs when we become engrossed in our reading, watching television, listening to music etc.

The role of the hypnotherapist is to help the client to switch into this natural mind state, rather than having it occurring by happenstance. People are often surprised, or at times disappointed, at how natural hypnosis feels to them. Such reactions arise because hypnosis is a natural mind state. Some people expect to be completely unaware of what happens or have no memory of the events following a hypnosis session. Indeed, that can occur, but in most cases the experience is vivid and real.

While the mind is relaxed, strong positive suggestions are given to the patient which influence the subconscious part of the mind for dynamic positive change, being particularly beneficial in providing skills to promote a greater feeling of confidence and well-being, producing long lasting habit change.

Much harm has been done to the concept of hypnosis as a therapy, by performances such as stage hypnosis. This should be seen as it is – a form of entertainment with audience participation. What is particularly worrisome is that such perfomances produce false negative perceptions, thus discouraging people from using hypnosis as a genuine and effective therapy which, more often than not, produces surprisingly startling results.

Since the mind controls both itself and the entire bodily system, the range of potential benefits are too numerous to calculate. Indeed, although no universal panacea, holistic hypnotherapy is probably the biggest medical breakthrough ever – and is often of great assistance when conventional medicine can offer little or no help at all.

 

Self-hypnosis involves becoming highly focused and absorbed in the experience while giving yourself positive suggestions about ways to reach your goals. Self-hypnosis is an individual practice, unlike when you are working with a therapist. It can be a most empowering practice as you learn to have better control of your thoughts and reactions while enjoying the physical and emotional benefits of the relaxation that is typical of self-hypnosis techniques. 

Author of Subconscious Power: Use Your Inner Mind To Create The Life You’ve Always Wanted and celebrity hypnotherapist, Kimberly Friedmuttter quotes, “Reportedly, hypnosis has a 93% success rate with less sessions than both behavioral and psychotherapy, according to research studies.

When you are in a trance, you have an observer self, the “protective part of mind” that is always aware and watching out for you. This protective part of the mind always remains in present and keeps us safe, even when asleep. During hypnosis you can trust that your protective part of the mind will watch over you. During a hypnosis session you would instantly get up and leave the room if it caught on fire, even if it had previously felt like your arms and leg were too heavy to move.
Hypnosis is a relatively safe modality, and side effects are uncommon. Its effectiveness has been backed by thousands of studies focusing on issues ranging from pain control to smoking cessation to weight management.

Absolutely not. Protective part of mind is always on guard and will immediately stop you from doing anything, or accepting any suggestion that is unethical by your own moral standards. As a hypnotherapist, I can’t make you say or do anything you don’t want to. If that was possible, all the hypnotherapist in the world could make you go rob the banks and bring back the money. We would be rich and rule the world. Obviously, this is not the case. This is probably the biggest myth of all propagated by movies, television and stage hypnosis shows, which more often than not are scripted.

Not at all. You will not divulge any information that you would not ordinarily divulge.

No one has ever got stuck in a trance. It simply cannot happen. If the hypnotherapist left the room, either your subconscious mind will detect that there is no voice guiding you and bring you out of trance to conscious awareness, or you would fall asleep and wake up naturally. People who cannot “exit” trance state are usually the ones who are unwilling to emerge, as they are feeling extremely good, and are not because they are unable to.