What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of focused attention and profound relaxation. We have all experienced a “trance-like” state. When we are doing something that we really enjoy, we are intently focused on it. We can answer questions without remembering what we were asked or what we answered. Time has no meaning and passes so quickly that we are amazed at how long we have been doing the thing we enjoy. All of these are components of a “trance” state. In a hypnotic trance we are focused on or within ourselves.

Hypnosis, like meditation, is not a “sleep state.” Brain waves in hypnosis and meditation are seen in Theta (4-8 Hz) brain waves which indicates deep relaxation but not in Delta (1-3 Hz), the brain waves of sleep. Meditative and hypnotic states are similar but the practice of hypnosis is driven by suggestions for specific purposes while meditation is meant to quiet the mind to allow an opportunity for insight.

In today’s often frenetic world we are constantly bombarded with messages, demands, requests and advertisements. As the pace accelerates, we often look outside ourselves for answers yet the answers are more accessible within ourselves. A hypnotic trance allows us to block out all of the “noise” in our lives and to focus within ourselves where we can access our inner “wisdom” to accelerate healing, improve health, relieve pain, change behaviors and reach desired goals.

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What is Self-Hypnosis?
Self-Hypnosis happens when we are able to reach a hypnotic state by ourselves. The technique can easily be learned because hypnosis is a natural state and our mind finds comfort when it is quiet. Our mind enjoys the movement toward the pleasurable feeling of serenity found in hypnosis.

Self-Hypnosis, like hypnosis in general, is a skill that becomes easier the more we practice. Do you remember when you first learned how to tie your shoe or ride a bike? At first it took all of your concentration but after you became proficient, it required very little thought. When learning self-hypnosis the mind may continue to interrupt with background “chatter” making it difficult to focus on quietness but with practice our mind finally cooperates and becomes less noisy.

With training and practice, clients can learn how to put themselves into trance easily and quickly. Hypnotherapists encourage their clients to learn and practice self-hypnosis for a variety of benefits, the most important of which is stress reduction. A prolonged stress state is destructive to our mind and body. It interferes with all the body's natural processes such as sleep, digestion, tissue repair and disease prevention. Self-hypnosis can support and reinforce the work that a hypnotherapist is doing to help you reach your goals.

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What is Hypnotherapy?
A trained hypnotherapist combines the state of hypnosis with therapy to help you accomplish the goals you have chosen. The hypnotherapist becomes your guide showing you how to access your inner resources and unlock the information you need to achieve your goals. In our conscious mind we may not understand what is “blocking” us from accomplishing our goal. Our subconscious mind understands the blocks and can communicate that knowledge to our conscious mind in hypnosis. By accessing this powerful resource we can make meaningful changes in our lives that improve our health, our relationships and our well-being.

Who can be hypnotized?
Anyone with normal mental faculties who wants to be hypnotized can be hypnotized. Clients with underlying psychiatric disorders require specialized considerations and are best treated by a hypnotherapist who is also a licensed mental health specialist.

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There are a variety of hypnotic states from light and medium to degrees of deep hypnotic states. Very deep hypnotic states can be used for surgical or dental anesthesia when a client has been trained by a professional hypnotherapist however a light or medium hypnotic state is perfect for most of the goals that clients want to achieve. Clients are often surprised that in a light or medium state they can still hear the sounds in their environment including the voice of the hypnotherapist. They can also participate by verbally relating what they are learning in their subconscious mind to their hypnotherapist. 

The “conscious” mind may continue its “incessant chatter” making the client doubt whether they are in hypnosis at all. However, when the body is totally relaxed, the subconscious mind is open to accepting the client’s positive intentions. With training and practice, the chatter of the conscious mind lessens as the client becomes more proficient accessing their inner resources. Hypnosis is a skill that becomes easier, more efficient and more effective the more we use it.

All that is required for a person to be hypnotized is a willingness to cooperate with the process. A person does not even need to believe in hypnosis to be hypnotized, they just need to be willing to relax and open their mind to the possibilities.

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What happens when I am hypnotized?
In a hypnotic state the physical body is profoundly relaxed and the mind is “open” to enhance the understanding between the conscious and subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is full of resources that are available to us when we go within to access them.

Many clients experience a pleasant sense of floating and a feeling of being “free.” They often have a distorted sense of time and may think that they have been in hypnosis for only a few minutes even when they have been in a hypnotic state for 30-90 minutes. They awaken feeling refreshed, peaceful, relaxed and calm. They often say that it feels like they just had a whole night’s sleep.

After a hypnosis session, clients often have more clarity about an issue that has been plaguing them. They have more confidence that they can accomplish a goal or overcome an emotional block. As a hypnotherapist, I am always amazed to see the difference between when the client comes into the office and when they leave. After a session they radiate confidence, their faces and bodies are visibly relaxed and many chronic pain patients awaken pain free.

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What do I need to know about being hypnotized?
It is important to know the truth about many myths that surround hypnosis. One myth about hypnosis is that a person can be “stuck” in hypnosis. Although it is true that the hypnotic state is so pleasant that many clients want to spend more time there, the client is always capable of coming out of the hypnotic state whenever they want to return to the fully conscious state. 

The hypnotized client is always in control. Hypnosis is not something that is “done to us” and the hypnotist is not “in control of the client.” Rather than being “out of control” the client is actually gaining greater control over their own mind and their actions. Hypnosis continues only if the client is in agreement with what is being said and done. If the client is not in agreement, they will automatically come out of the hypnotic state.

A client will never reveal anything about themselves that they don’t want to reveal. Our subconscious mind has one over-riding duty which is our safety and survival. The subconscious mind perceives all events in our lives and separates them into two categories - “safe” or “not safe.” In fact, hypnotized individuals can lie while in hypnosis and may do so if they think that the “truth” puts them at any kind of risk. In hypnosis, the client is always in control and because the client is “always in control” they will not offer any information that they believe could be dangerous or incriminating to them. They also won’t access information that would overwhelm them until they are fully ready to process it.

A client will never do anything that is against their moral code or which would cause them significant embarrassment. For many people the only thing they know about hypnosis is what they have seen in a stage performance. Stage hypnotists know how to choose the people who will give them the “best performance.” They put volunteers through a series of “tests” prior to the performance that weeds out those individuals who would be greatly embarrassed by doing silly things on stage. Anyone who would be caused embarrassment will not do what the stage hypnotist asks them to do which would cause the stage hypnotist great embarrassment.

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Is hypnosis safe?
Hypnosis was approved as a credible modality by The British Medical Association, The American Medical Association and The American Psychiatric Association in 1958. It is currently being used, taught and researched at many prestigious medical and teaching institutions in the USA including The Mayo Clinic; The University of Washington, Stanford University School of Medicine; and Beth Israel Medical Center.

Hypnosis is very safe. No long term harm from hypnosis has been documented. There have been thousands of research articles written on the benefits of hypnosis and no injuries have been reported.

While physical injury has not been reported, it is possible to be hurt by an inexperienced or poorly trained hypnotherapist.

• These individuals may give false information that is not supported by research or fact.
• They may agree to treat a client who is not within their scope of practice.
• They may fail to hypnotize the client, telling the client that they cannot be hypnotized and making them believe that hypnosis is not available for them.
• They may stir up emotionally upsetting reactions without understanding how to help the client work through the emotions to clear and resolve the issue.

A good hypnotherapist knows how to keep the client in a space of safety and comfort while guiding them to resolve difficult issues and conflicts to reach the client’s intended goals.

How do I find a well qualified hypnotherapist?
A qualified hypnotherapist will be certified with a national organization such as the International Board of Hypnotherapy. In addition, he or she will have registered with the state in which they practice in accordance with their state’s regulations. A good hypnotherapist continually adds to their knowledge, understands their scope of practice and has a high standard of moral integrity and a strong foundation in a code of ethics.

Please see the consumer safety warning developed by the International Board of Hypnotherapy and visit their website for more information and for a list of qualified practitioners.

http://internationalboardofhypnotherapy.com/consumer.htm

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