About Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

While there isn’t really an exact description of hypnosis, lately ‘a focused state of attention’ seems to be the popular way.  Being in hypnosis helps to drown out the external noise we often carry in our mind allowing us to far more fully concentrate on the issue at hand. 

​

Hypnosis is also commonly a very relaxed state.  Commonly held beliefs such as a person blacks out or falls asleep or will divulge all of their secrets are false.  In fact, a client will always be aware of their surroundings, and will only share what they want to share or do what they want to do.  

​

Hypnosis cannot surpass deeply held beliefs and morals.

​

It isn’t possible to get stuck in hypnosis, despite what the media likes to portray.

While in hypnosis it is always possible to move, cough, talk, and it won’t bring you out of hypnosis.

​

Should an emergency occur, you will come back to the room from your relaxed state and be able to act accordingly. 

Only the willing enter hypnosis, and therefore, since they willingly entered hypnosis, they can willingly leave as well.

​

Interestingly, almost all, if not all of us, have found ourselves in a state of hypnosis many times before.  For example, Highway Hypnosis is the phenomena whereby one arrives at a destination having driven there but without much memory of it all.  During this, we were operating on automatic pilot, or in other words, our subconscious was in control of the drive, while our conscious mind was thinking about something else such as what we’re planning for dinner that night, or the promotion we received at work that day, etc. 

​

Hypnosis speaks to the subconscious mind so that renewed behaviours become automatically piloted, such as no longer nail biting, or feeling excessively nervous, or sleeping better.

​

It is really important to know that while hypnosis cannot cure medical conditions, it can beautifully ease some of the symptoms and support therapeutic change. 

So Hypnotherapy then, is a talking therapy which uses hypnosis to facilitate change in thoughts, behaviours and habits. 

Sessions are collaborative, and the suggestions that are presented by the therapist during the hypnosis are accepted by the client willingly, but can always be rejected if they don’t resonate, and therefore the client is always in control of their therapy.