Questions and Answers about Hypnotherapy What is hypnotherapy? What is hypnosis? How does it work? Why use hypnosis? Hypnosis - A brief history How is hypnotherapy different from hypnosis? Are all types of hypnotherapy the same? What is the subconscious mind? What is the role of the subconscious mind? The power of thought The difference Can everyone be hypnotized? What can hypnotherapy do for me? What kinds of problems respond well to hypnosis?? How long does hypnosis last? What does it feel like? Will I be asleep during hypnosis? When in hypnosis you are asleep or unconscious? Will I be under the hypnotist's power? Will I reveal secrets in hypnosis? Can I be made to do something I do not want to do? Exactly what happens during the first session with a hypnotherapist? How do I choose a good hypnotherapist? Hypnosis can only be induced by a hypnotherapist? Is hypnosis dangerous? Facts you should know Are past lives real? Children & hypnosis What is Hypnotherapy? Hypnotherapy produces a state between sleep and waking where the consciousness remains clear. In the trance state, clients feel truly comfortable and relaxed. And their memory, intuition, and concentration increase. Relaxation through hypnosis brings many benefits such as stress reduction, accelerated healing, controlled pain, better sleep, and increased suggestibility. ----Back to Headline List---- What is Hypnosis? As long as there has been human beings, there has been hypnosis. We use this commonly occurring ,and natural state of mind, unknowingly, all the time. It is just natural for us. For example, if you have ever watched a television program or movie and become really absorbed into the program, you were probably in a trance. This trance is what caused you to not hear your mother calling you to dinner, until she raised her voice for the third time. (Advertisers understand this. They use television programs to induce a hypnotic trance and then provide you hypnotic suggestions, called commercials!) Another common example of this naturally occurring state of mind is when you are driving down the road, with your mind focused on some other task (a day dream perhaps), and next thing you know, you have passed your next turn. That is called "highway hypnosis". The U.S. government defines hypnosis as having two parts: (1) the bypass of the critical factor, and (2) the establishment of acceptable selective thinking. This seems to be a useful and accurate definition of hypnosis. This "bypass of the critical factor" simply means the release of limiting beliefs. For example, the use of hypnosis for anesthesia has been accepted by the American Medical Association since 1958. It is well established to be a fact that hypnosis is useful for creating anesthesia. However, if you have the limiting belief that the mind cannot create a powerful anesthesia, you will be unable to do so. However, in hypnosis, this limiting belief can be bypassed, and hypnotic anesthesia can be quickly created. "The establishment of acceptable selective thinking," the second part of the definition, refers to the process of guiding someone into hypnosis by using a hypnotic induction. The establishment of selective thinking creates the mental environment or state of mind that enables you to reject limiting beliefs (that you picked up by living in our society), so that you can accept new more empowering ones. The hypnotic state is an optimum state for making changes in your life because you can set aside limiting beliefs that may have been preventing you from moving toward a more healthy, and happy you. So now you know that you can be hypnotized. You have done it literally thousands of times. You did it yourself when you were daydreaming and missed that turn (self-hypnosis), you have been hypnotized when you enjoyed a television program (being hypnotized by someone else), and you have followed hypnotic and post-hypnotic suggestions when you preferred some brand name that you saw repeatedly on television (hypnotic compounding of suggestion). .... in Summary All of us have experienced hypnosis. Several times a day we enter a self-induced trance state. This is a part of the natural activity-relaxation rhythm of the body known as the ultradian rhythm. We conventionally experience this as "spacing out." It is also the state in which openness to learning is most likely to occur. Hypnosis is the focused use of the trance state in order to reprogram self-limiting unconscious patterns. However, we've learned that the unconscious cannot be commanded into a state of well-being. The old authoritative hypnotist approach, "When you look at that ashtray, you will stop smoking," has been replaced by a more sophisticated and successful method pioneered by Milton Erickson, M.D. Erickson reasoned that the unconscious is not an evil force trying to thwart our best intentions. Instead, each individual has all the resources necessary for change already residing within. The hypnotherapist helps the client awaken these latent potentials. He/She conveys options to the client which were formerly unperceived. In order to do this, the hypnotherapist uses a variety of techniques. The therapist may dialogue with the unconscious, tell anecdotes and metaphors, stimulate memory recall, utilize age regression, help the client recall, reinterpret, or reparent the original childhood trauma, or even assist in altering the original birth experience. Some esoteric hypnosis seeks to connect the client with past life events. Few good hypnotherapists utilize only hypnosis in treatment. Many use insight-oriented and behavioral techniques as well. The problems treatable through hypnosis are equally diversified. Although hypnosis is commonly associated with habit cessation (losing weight, quitting smoking, etc.), almost any area which responds to conventional therapies can be treated with hypnosis. The well-trained clinician using hypnotherapy can help clients suffering from depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, stress, insomnia, substance abuse, phobias, memory loss, panic attacks, and more. Even forms of schizophrenia and multiple personality have been cured through hypnosis. The medical applications range from pain control and anesthesia to the more generalized use of stimulating the overall healing process. Each client may experience hypnosis differently relative to the technique being used and the psychology of the client. For some, it is a heightened awareness; for others, a profound relaxation. Sometimes the client hears every word the hypnotist says, and other times the voice fades in and out or becomes completely inaudible. In Ericksonian work, the client is never put under the "control" of the hypnotist. The client is always free to alter the hypnotic experience or awaken at will. Therefore, hypnosis is not an artificial condition imposed upon a "subject," but rather a skill to be learned by the client to correct an existing symptom or problem. It's not magic; all clients must work cooperatively with their therapists. However, when used by a competent and well-trained professional, it is an effective and dynamic therapy ----Back to Headline List---- How does it work? This is an area that needs more research, as there are a number of views as to how hypnosis works. Although a person may seem to be asleep when they are hypnotized, EEG brain wave readings show that their mind is in an awakened state. It could be that in this hypnotized state we are directly utilizing parts of the brain that we are not consciously aware of. In fact hypnosis may be seen as directly speaking to the unconscious to facilitate a certain state or change. Ultimately the most important thing for those being hypnotized is not how it works but rather simply that it does work. ----Back to Headline List---- Why use hypnosis? Nearly all humans feel at sometime the desire or need to improve or change themselves. Genuine, legitimate improvement is never easy, but hypnosis is the easiest, and in many cases, the only way. Using hypnosis, you can harness and direct the boundless power of your mind. The reason most problems are difficult to solve is because the answer is in the subconscious mind. If the answers were in the conscious mind, you would have taken care of the problem earlier. So, we are here to help you gain access to your subconscious mind so you can permanently change the information stored there. ----Back to Headline List---- Hypnosis - A brief history Hypnosis was known and practised under various names thousands and thousands of years ago. In the third century BC, Plato stated that "the cure of the part should not be attempted without the treatment of the whole, and therefore if the head and body are to be well, you must begin by curing the mind". All dis-ease originates in the mind and when the conscious and subconscious minds work together, the Law of Harmony operates in the mind and body. The ancient Egyptians knew of the mind-body connection and believed in the power of self-healing, given adequate rest. In order to facilitate healing, sleep temples were visited by people until any turmoil in their conscious mind ceased: miraculous healings through hypnosis were recorded. In ancient Greece, healing shrines operated under the same principle. The belief in the mind-body-spirit connection has been held by many cultures, from India yogis to tribal shamans in Africa, the Americas and the Antipodes. The story of modern hypnosis begins back in the days when humans were becoming more and more fascinated with the properties of electricity. There, a man by the name of Mesmer began experimenting with the "electricity of the body," as a way of curing illness. As magnets were used in the production of electricity, Mesmer thought the same could be applied to the body. That is, the "magnetics" inside the body were wrong and this was the cause of the illness. So he set about fixing our magnetic points by rubbing a magnet in one direction up or down the body. This he would do for hours, and would notice the changes in his patient's states and some of them were cured by this method. Later it was found that he didn't need the magnets at all because it wasn't the magnets, but the repetitive stroking that was causing the changes. Hence the term mesmerized. From there it was discovered that it was not even the stroking, that people just had to concentrate on something repetitive to induce a hypnotic state. Which is where the common perception of the swinging watch comes into the scene. Today we have progressed to the point where magnets, stroking, watches and other devices are no longer needed. The voice of the hypnotist is enough to allow someone to enter into a hypnotic state. Now there are various ways in which the voice and particular words can be used to generate a hypnotic state. The great pioneer in modern hypnosis was Milton Erickson. His form of hypnotic procedure met with huge success. ----Back to Headline List---- Can everyone be hypnotized? Most people who are able to focus and are intelligent enough to understand the process can be hypnotized. People who are overly analytical or who have issues of control may take a longer time to learn how to enter into the state of hypnosis. The individual who is sincere and serious about creating a positive change will have results. ----Back to Headline List---- Are all types of hypnotherapy the same? Whether you are interested in looking for a hypnotherapist or a psychologist / counsellor, I strongly recommend that you make an initial inquiry about what approach is used and whether this method will suit you. It's a bit like shopping around first. You may wish to try, but you don't have to buy. You have the right to choose what suits you best. For instance if you believe that your dreams are playing a role in what you want discussed, then make sure that your therapist understands this and can interpret your dreams. Otherwise you may end up with someone who's training has taught them that dreams aren't important, and consequently place less value on their significance. There are a wide range of texts that provide excellent summaries on the different types of therapies. ----Back to Headline List---- How is Hypnotherapy Different from Hypnosis? Hypnosis is the process of inducing trance. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for the purpose of self-improvement or for therapeutic goals. Hypnotherapy speaks directly to your subconscious mind, an immense reservoir of potential. It's a safe, natural experience, and it's the key to successful behavior modification. It is gentle way to get faster results than most traditional techniques. ----Back to Headline List---- What is the Subconscious Mind? The subconscious-mind, also known as the "unconscious", "inner" or "feeling" mind, holds the life-record of all our human experiences and learnings and is our creative, intuitive and emotional centre. It is responsible for habitual or "programmed" actions and feelings both positive and negative. Sometimes an emotional response pattern (which may have been quite appropriate at one stage in a person's life) continues to be triggered and results in a pattern of symptoms that is dysfunctional. Such responses can sabotage the person's conscious efforts to reach his or her goals. ----Back to Headline List---- What is the role of the Subconscious Mind? Your mind therefore has two components, each with separate functions. The conscious mind is estimated to be only 12% of our mind, and the subconscious is the other 88%. The subconscious mind is important because it has the ability to record and remember every incident that it experiences. This is called "conditioning". It forms part of the way we learn and it enables us to perform actions habitually (without thought). If you experience enthusiasm, happiness or love when meeting a person, this mechanism will record those feelings and associate them with that person. Feelings of frustration and stress are associated in the same way. When you next see that person (or even just think about them!), the subconscious mind automatically recalls the previous feelings, and they are re-experienced. This is why thinking of happy memories can make you feel good, and how the mere thought of a person can make you feel angry. This mechanism is a system designed to protect us by emotionally recalling the last experience. This is in anticipation of a subsequent similar situation. However, it is also the reason we can continue to experience a lot of other complex emotional conditions such as depression, fear, anxiety, anger, procrastination, and lingering grief, which can express themselves in other forms such as weight gain, sleeplessness, smoking and general ill health. Recent major scientific discoveries enable us to understand and control this mechanism so we can change these conditions. Your conscious mind can actually program the subconscious mind for new behaviours and habits, in order to react more appropriately to the different situations that we experience. This ability is built into us. Nobody taught us how to walk or how to talk. These miraculous feats of "self-education" were accomplished through an intuitive process of observation, imitation and repetition at a very early age. Unfortunately, as we grow older, many of us get stuck in old behaviours that no longer serve us, and our self-education ability appears to be forgotten. ----Back to Headline List---- The power of thought The subconscious mind is the book of life. It is the seat of all emotion and of behavioural problems. It is also very literal: all experiences, events, conditions and acts are the reaction of the subconscious mind to thoughts. Negative, destructive thoughts work negatively in the subconscious mind and in due time will come into an outer experience which corresponds with them. Every thought is a cause and every condition is an effect. ----Back to Headline List---- The difference Many forms of therapy are carried out at a conscious level. However, the will power of the conscious mind is very small against that of a learned response from the past. Such responses and emotional reactions are like computer programmes which keep running and running, causing the same unpleasant effects, until they are dealt with. As hypnotherapy works on a subconscious level, beneficial changes can be made to help you break free of any destructive thought patterns and responses that are affecting the quality of your life. ----Back to Headline List---- What can Hypnotherapy do for me? By facilitating change, discovering and accessing creative, unlimited potential, by releasing negative or limiting habits, identifying the stressors that trigger negative behavior or feelings; and by managing the internal processing of stress and releasing it's negative effects. During hypnosis, while the conscious mind is inhibited to such a great extent, we can allow the truth to go directly to the subconscious without conscious censorship. So, hypnotherapy works almost like reprogramming our mind, or upgrading a software. Through hypnosis, we can control the subconscious mind with positive, life-affirming suggestions of your own choosing. And that is what hypnosis offers you. As another example, if you are afraid of public speaking, a hypnothrapist would deeply relax you through hypnosis. Then you may be guided to visualize yourself talking to public, which you fear. You would gradually neutralizes the fear by establishing a new attitude toward it through this imagination and by positive corrective suggestions. By mentally imagining yourself talking to public, you reduce or neutralize the phobia. The treatment by hypnotherapy will de-condition fear. Behavior is built on suggestion, and reaching the subconscious mind with new, powerful, positive concepts is the fastest and easiest way to overcome past programming. ----Back to Headline List---- What kinds of problems respond well to hypnosis? Hypnosis is very good at reducing stress because hypnosis is so profoundly relaxing. Hypnosis is very effective at elevating and strengthening self-confidence and self-esteem. It is highly successful in helping people overcome fears and phobias, (fear of flying, anxiety/panic attacks, public speaking anxiety and claustrophobia). Hypnosis is tremendously successful in helping people get control of their eating habits and lose weight. Motivational hypnosis can help people stop procrastinating, begin exercising or increase sales. Thousands and thousands of people have successfully stopped smoking using hypnosis. Hypnosis is also particularly good at helping people stay calm and focused when taking stressful exams, (state licensure exams, certification exams, professional exams as well as SAT's and GMAT's). Today, the field of "sports hypnosis" helping athletes enhance their performance through heightened mental focus is growing exponentially! ----Back to Headline List---- How Long Does Hypnosis Last? Some individuals retain the suggestions of their hypnosis for the rest of their life. Others need periodic reinforcement. ----Back to Headline List---- What does it feel like? You already know what hypnosis feels like, because you have experienced natural hypnotic states every day of your life, when daydreaming or driving or watching TV. These are those pleasant, dreamlike states where we "drift off". I use during your sessions is entering these same, natural states deliberately and with awareness. It is a systematic method that allows you to enter these "dreamlike states" and communicate directly with your subconscious and issue new suggestions or instructions. These suggestions are tailor-made for your individual needs, and will be made for you by your hypnotherapist. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the experience! ----Back to Headline List---- Will I be asleep during hypnosis?? No. In fact, your senses become heightened during hypnosis and if for any reason the need arose, you could simply open your eyes and get up. ----Back to Headline List---- Will I be unconscious during hypnosis?? Everyone of us enters this state of focused concentration, or hypnosis many times each day. When you become so absorbed watching sport, a movie, a TV show, or listening to music, or reading a good book that you lose track of time or awareness of your surroundings, you are in a state of hypnosis. Motorway hypnosis is another example you may be familiar with. While driving you lose track of time and then wonder how you got to your destination, even though you were wide awake the whole time. Similarly, while day-dreaming you are focusing on a person, place or event and you are not concerned about your surroundings or distracted by the events near you. In all of these cases your concentration is focused on whatever you are doing and you are not asleep or unconscious. Other examples of hypnosis that you experience every day include the time just before you go to sleep and the beginning stage of waking up from a natural sleep in the morning. ----Back to Headline List---- Will I be under the hypnotist's power? No. You are in charge. You cannot be made to do anything and you cannot be taken into hypnosis against your will. It is your experience. ----Back to Headline List---- Will I reveal secrets in hypnosis? It is a common concern that people believe they will be totally under the control of the hypnotherapist and will end up revealing secrets they do not wish to reveal. You cannot be hypnotised against your will. During hypnosis you are in control of what happens, what is said and revealed during that time. Nobody can make you say or do anything you do not want to do and in hypnosis you will not act against your ethical or moral codes. You can accept or reject the suggestions as you choose, and can come out of hypnosis at any time you desire. ----Back to Headline List---- Can I be made to do something I do not want to do? Hollywood movies and sensational television depictions of hypnosis have left the public with the impression that a hypnotist or hypnotherapist can force you to do something you do not wish to do. Because on some level your conscious mind is aware, you cannot be made to do anything you are morally opposed to. ----Back to Headline List---- Exactly what happens during the first session with a hypnotherapist? First, we take a half hour to talk and look closely at what areas we want to focus on. Then, the client sits back in a very comfortable recliner chair and is asked to simply listen to the hypnotherapist's voice. In about twelve minutes a pleasantly relaxed state of hypnosis has been achieved and the client is given specific suggestions to help him or her achieve their goal. The client is awake at all times (though very relaxed) and hears and remembers everything that is said. At the end of the on-hour session, the client opens their eyes feeling refreshed, and often a bit serene. Some clients use the word "mellow" to describe how they feel after hypnosis. Usually, clients get immediate results, immediate improvement the very first week. ----Back to Headline List---- How do I choose a good hypnotherapist? It is very difficult to say from an advert who is a good hypnotherapist. Recommendations are ideal, but many people who have undertaken therapy are reluctant to admit they have done so, especially for very personal problems. How do you know who is a good dentist, doctor etc? What suits some does not suit others.Its your own experience that will finally decide. Meet or phone the therapist and see if you feel comfortable with them. Ask questions and be happy with the answers. If not, ask again. Don't commit yourself unless you feel at ease, go away and think about it. Contact the therapist again. Ask more questions. No competant therapist would push you into therapy if you were not 100% happy. ----Back to Headline List---- Hypnosis can only be induced by a hypnotherapist? Hypnotherapists are just individuals who are professionally trained in using the tool of hypnosis in a therapeutic situation. They have no special powers. ----Back to Headline List---- Is hypnosis dangerous? Hypnosis is a safe and beneficial procedure. The AMA (American Medical Association) has declared thatHypnosis is a safe procedure, helping millions in the process. It is a normal and natural focused state of mind, which you use several times each day. With a trained therapist, hypnosis can be used very effectively to find the source of problems, resolve them and allow you to heal. ----Back to Headline List---- Facts you should know Hypnosis is pleasant state of mind, similar to daydreaming, in which you become very receptive to proper suggestions. The effects are feelings of calmness, tranquility and profound relaxation. You will not actually be asleep or unconscious.  You will always be aware of your surroundings, but you'll easily disregard the normal elements in the environment. You will always remain in control and be able to awaken yourself at any time. You will reject any inappropriate suggestions. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis.  If you are left alone, the absence of the hypnotist's continued dialog will cause you to come out of it. The depths of hypnosis can be divided into three levels: light, medium and deep, and varies with each person.  The lightest level is sufficient to break most habits.  The most important factors are your motivation and ability to accept and follow the suggestions. Anyone of average intelligence can achieve a state of hypnosis.  If you can focus your attention and use your imagination, hypnosis will probably occur immediately.  For varying reasons, some people do require some additional time and practice. You cannot be hypnotized against your will. If you do not want to experience hypnosis - you won't. Because hypnosis is a familiar and natural state of mind some people experiencing hypnosis are not sure if they were hypnotized or not. A person that expects to be unconscious might think s/he was not hypnotized because s/he retained awareness of the surroundings.  Hypnosis is a state of heightened awareness and focus - not a loss of consciousness. You'll remember your hypnosis session. Your attitude about reaching your goal is very important. A good attitude produces good results. ----Back to Headline List---- Are past lives real? Nowadays some television programs frequently deal with past lives and spiritual things in a mysterious perspective. This reflects the fact that many people are interested in life before life. Have we lived before? Do we live again? Many people, religious and nonreligious alike, believe that we do. Some people believe that they can return to those past lives almost at will. They believe that hypnosis can tap an area of the brain that stores all or part of the lives they have lived like a file cabinet stores old tax records. The past life can be easily detected by past-life regression in hypnosis. It is tuning into the subconscious to recall memories of past life incident. It can happen in many ways. Sometimes the experience spontaneously is, prompted by a person, place or event which jogs the memory. Past life reminds us of the theory of reincarnation. Reincarnation is the theory that man's awareness, or soul, survives death and returns to be born again into a new physical body with renewed opportunity to progress and grow in knowledge and wisdom. The purpose of reincarnation is for you to understand and claim your birthright as an evolving unlimited spirit created by and in the image of the ultimate Unlimited Spirit. When we reincarnate, we come into a new world with karma which can be interpreted as the law of cause and effect. It is the meeting of self, the reaping of what has been sown. The purpose of karma is not to punish, but to teach and help us learn to live in harmony with the Universe. Karma is most often spoken of in terms of karmic debt, or in terms of suffering the unpleasant aspects of our lives. However, the common view is that if you caused someone to suffer in a past life, then you must suffer in this one. Past-life therapy as a general term has recently come into being. People have had spontaneous memories of past lives for a long time, but accessing these memories in a therapeutic manner has been attempted only since the 1950s in the U.S.A. The premise that the images which arise in the hypnotic therapy sessions are from an actual past life cannot be proven, though some case studies have been followed on and did reflect historical people. It doesn't matter whether past lives are real or not. The therapy can be done beneficial even when the past lives are seen as metaphors. Past-life therapy can be used successfully in curing diseases, both physical and mental. Most of the diseases successfully treated by past-life therapy are those with "emotional triggers," diseases that react in one way or another to emotional situations. There are diseases such as asthma and some other respiratory problems; many skin diseases such as dermatitis and warts; ulcers, hypertension, headaches, and some gastrointestinal disturbances. ----Back to Headline List---- Children & hypnosis I thought childhood was supposed to be an easy time. Why is it so hard for my kids? Childhood is a time of great discovery and learning. Adults can sometimes forget that life can be very stressful for children. While adults are taking care of major events, they can lose sight of the impact on their children, until there is a problem of some sort. Children grapple with change, learning, loss and their own sometimes unwieldy bodies in the space of a few short years. They deal with new friends and old bullies and unfamiliar class-work and sometimes the comparisons can make feelings of inferiority or depression rise to the surface. How do I know if my child is having trouble? Children show their response to stress, change, grief and loss in many different ways. For some, schoolwork may begin to slide. Your child may lose things or steal them. She may have headaches or stomachaches. He might bite his nails or pull his hair. Children often develop fears of needles, doctors or dentists. Bedwetting may become a problem. Particular health problems like asthma and hay fever may be exacerbated. Stuttering may become more prominent. Your child may not be able to put words to the overall feeling of anxiety or tension. Can hypnosis work with children? Children are great discoverers. With limited life experiences, they are hungry and open to new learning. They enjoy responding to new ideas that are presented in a way they understand. There openness makes them good subjects for hypnosis. What if we want to help our child become more confident and less stressed? Hypnosis is a good tool to strengthen your child¹s confidence in using natural gifts and talents. Simple techniques can be taught so that your child learns ways to help herself in school or performance or competition. Using these tools can make childhood an easier place for your son or daughter. What is a session like for a child? The first session involves the child, the parents, and the therapist. After getting acquainted and establishing some trust, the therapist and the child identify what the problem is and what they want to do about it. Just as with adult clients, it is important that the child wants to change and is willing to work with the therapist. Both parents and child should understand what hypnosis is and what it can do. Only when all questions are answered can the work begin. All work is done with the parent close by. A child may need to be alone in order to tell the therapist what she needs to know, but if the child is more comfortable with the parents in the room, that too can be arranged. When the child is ready to begin the hypnosis process, simple methods are used. The stories, visualizations, and positive suggestions that are used are appropriate to the age of the child. When the session is over, the therapist spends a few minutes with the parents to give them a brief overview of the session.