WHAT IS
HYPNOTHERAPY
Hypnotherapy is a flexible tool for solving mental and physical health problems. It can treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. It can relieve chronic and acute pain. It's also effective against physical problems like irritable bowel syndrome and dermatological conditions.
On this page you can find the following information:
What is Hypnosis?
What is not Hypnosis?
What is Hypnotherapy?
Applications of Hypnotherapy
Why use Hypnotherapy?
Besides being a certified NLP Master Practitioner I am a Student of the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (NCHP) and a Student Member of the National Society of Talking Therapies (NSTT).
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is the act of guiding someone into the trance state. Different experts define the trance state differently, but they almost always refer to:
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A state of mental, physical and emotional relaxation.
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Hyperfocus and concentration.
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Increased suggestibility.
If that sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Trance is a natural state most of us go in and out of several times each day.
If you’ve ever zoned out while on your daily commute, fell into a daydream while listening to music, or found yourself immersed in the world of a book or movie, then you’ve been in the trance state.
The only difference between hypnosis and these everyday trance states is that, in hypnosis, someone guides you into the trance state. Hypnosis is a skilled communication aimed at connecting with the unconscious / subconscious mind of a person.
What is not Hypnosis?
What about the part where the hypnotist tricks you into quacking like a duck or doing their bidding?
The idea that hypnotists can take over the mind of somebody and control their actions is a show act which has taken away from the credibility of hypnosis. In the trance state, you cannot be forced to do something against your will. Stage hypnotists carefully select their subjects by checking who would be willing to be on stage and follow instructions. If they wouldn’t be willing to follow the suggestions of the stage hypnotist, no force in the world could make them do what they are being asked to do.
While in trance, there is always a part of us still conscious and checking that everything is still OK. We only do what we want to do and we only say what we are willing to say. We stay in control while being in trance.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Think of hypnosis as a tool and hypnotherapy as the use of that tool for therapy. It is the clinical application of hypnosis, which assists clients in resolving issues arising from emotions, behaviour or thoughts and/or to maximise their potential. In a typical session, the therapist and client discuss the therapeutic goals desired and the therapist works with the client to achieve those aims.
Applications of Hypnotherapy
The hypnotic trance state is a remarkably flexible tool for solving mental and physical health problems. Here are just a few ways hypnotherapy can be used:
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Uncover and treat the root causes of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction.
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Accessing the mind-body link to relieve chronic and acute pain, including during surgery and childbirth. Hypnotherapy has also proven effective against stubborn physical afflictions like irritable bowel syndrome and dermatological conditions.
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Helping people quit smoking or reduce overeating by focusing their minds and suggesting healthier behaviour.
Why use Hypnotherapy?
Have you ever tried to change a habit, become more self-motivated, overcome a fear or an anxious reaction, only to find your unconscious / subconscious mind resists?
Because the unconscious mind has such a power over what we do and how we behave Hypnosis is often the fastest and best way to communicate with the unconscious mind and to bring the desired change.
Why is it often so difficult to accomplish seemingly simple goals and objectives through willpower? The acceptance of any new habit requires unconscious cooperation. Otherwise, your conscious decision to make the desired change is undermined by your own unconscious resistance.
There is a basic law of the mind at work here:
Whenever your conscious and unconscious mind are in conflict, your unconscious mind invariably wins.
It can also be stated in another way: Whenever imagination and logic are in conflict, imagination usually wins.
It has been proven repeatedly by smokers wanting to stop smoking, people wanting to lose weight or outgoing people suddenly getting stage fright when speaking in public.
Willpower doesn’t have a very good track record with changing habits and behaviour. We must be motivated at an unconscious level in order to change a habit permanently.
Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are both proving to be effective ways to facilitate change at an unconscious / subconscious level.
