1. What is hypnosis?
Simply put, hypnosis is a state of relaxed focus. It occurs naturally for everyone five seconds before going to sleep and five seconds after awakening, when we are expressing emotions, or when we are thinking about the past. If you’ve ever been able to watch television in a noisy room and tune out the commotion, you were hypnotized. If you’ve ever been driving and so focused on your own thoughts that you missed your turn, you were hypnotized. It is not an eerie trance state and it is not mind control.
2. What is hypnotherapy?
It is the utilization of hypnosis for the purpose of healing.
3. What is the difference between the conscious and subconscious mind?
Our conscious mind is logic and reasoning and comprises about 5% of our thinking. It acts like a big filter to information coming into the brain. Our subconscious mind comprises about 95% of our thinking. It has many jobs such as the regulation of our digestion and breathing. It also controls cell physiology, and holds memories of everything it has been exposed to from conception to present. Perhaps most importantly, it holds our belief systems.
4. Why is it important to understand that our subconscious holds our belief systems?
Let’s say we’d like to lose some weight. Most of us know that we have to eat healthfully and get some moderate exercise in order to maintain our optimal weight and good health. But what if our subconscious mind holds a belief that it has to hold on to weight? Perhaps at some point we were told by our mothers that slim people are unhealthy. Since our subconscious mind regulates our physiology, it stops our bodies from releasing weight. It can do this by slowing our metabolism, injuring parts of us so that we cannot exercise and might even go so far as to create hunger and cravings so that we eat more than we need to. Even if we manage to eat right and exercise, the weight might stay right where it is until the belief systems in the subconscious mind are reprogrammed.
5. How does hypnotherapy help?
During hypnosis, the conscious mind is temporarily shut down so that the subconscious mind is able to take in information without the filter of the conscious. Since the subconscious has no filters, it is able to hear what we tell it and then make it true for us. For example, we can tell it that we eat healthy, exercise and naturally lose weight. The newly reprogrammed subconscious mind then sets about making this true for everything that it regulates, making it possible to eat healthfully, exercise and lose weight easily and naturally.
6. Can everyone be hypnotized?
Yes – Hypnosis is simply a state of very relaxed concentration. It is completely normal and natural and we cycle through it many times each day. If you are able to close your eyes and focus your attention, you can be hypnotized.
7. How can I tell if I was hypnotized?
There are many signs of hypnosis including: slowed swallowing, feelings of heaviness or floating, time distortion, red eyes, slowed breathing and/or pulse rate, tingling or numbness in the extremities, feeling very relaxed, increased ability to recall the past, and a heightened sense of smell or hearing. A person may experience all, some or none of these signs during their session.
8. Is hypnosis safe?
Yes – At all times, you will feel that you are completely in control, in fact, since hypnosis is so natural, you may not even feel as if you are hypnotized. There is no more danger to you being in hypnosis than there is being asleep. During the session, if you feel uncomfortable or there is an emergency, you will simply be able to bring yourself out of hypnosis and take care of whatever you need to.
9. What if I fall asleep during a session?
No need to worry, your subconscious mind is always awake and listening. You will still receive the full benefit of the session.
10. How many sessions will I need?
This will depend on your goals, expectations, and motivation for change. Usually there are between 5-6 sessions but we am committed to getting you the results you are looking for and will work with you until this is accomplished.
11. What about stage hypnosis?
Stage hypnosis is very different from what we do. In stage work, the hypnotist is looking for people who are comfortable entertaining others. This is because you will never do under hypnosis anything that you wouldn’t ordinarily do. You’ve probably seen people being sent back to the audience after being initially chosen and this is because their subconscious was not willing to do what the hypnotist has asked. In hypnotherapy, you won’t be asked to do anything that is not related to your goal. You will be aware enough through the session to hear everything being said to you.