Common Applications:

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis can be described as a natural state our brain enters throughout the day such as right before falling asleep or directly upon waking; we can also enter hypnosis while driving, watching movies, reading books, or watching social media. As the frequencies of our brain waves slow, it opens the door to the subconscious mind that is usually protected by the critical, conscious mind that filters information.

When the critical mind is disabled, the subconscious mind is open to receiving new information. Without awareness, we easily take in suggestions in this state— for good and for ill. Great storytellers can weave in positive virtues that stay with us for life. Likewise the media we consume can also send us negative subliminal messaging.

Our subconscious makes up the majority of our mind (~90% or more) and these “knowns” and habitual patterns dictate our behaviors. Sometimes our conscious mind (only 5-10%) wants to change and do something new but our subconscious mind is unfamiliar with that reality. To the mind, unknown = pain and will avoid it at all cost.

A hypnotherapist is trained to listen to you and the way that you desire to live your life, what goals you have for yourself and how you would like to create positive change in your life. They learn techniques to induce the state of hypnosis in order to speak directly to your subconscious mind and can give you new “knowns,” making them familiar to you. Hypnotists will speak to your mind in the form of imagery, the language that the brain can understand, so that it can easily take in these suggestions that you would like to integrate into your life.

Under hypnosis could you make me do anything I dont want to do?

No. Many people are familiar with stage hypnotists— these are entertainers. They seek people in their audience who are very easily hypnotizable and ask them to be part of the show and play along in order to have fun. The audience member has made an agreement to essentially suspend their own reality and allow themself to be hypnotized for the purpose of entertainment. In a hypnotherapy session, any suggestions given would be only for your benefit with the intentions that you set before starting therapy.

Can anyone be hypnotized?

I think, yes. If you are coming to a hypnotherapist it is because you are a willing participant, so your mind will be accepting and open. Some people are more suggestible or hypnotizable than others and different depths can be reached for different purposes. Everyone takes in information in different ways. The effectiveness of the hypnotic inductions and suggestions has a lot to do with how well the hypnotist can get to know you and how you can best receive information.

About Hypnotherapy sessions:

A hypnotherapist is not a psychologist, psychiatrist or a doctor and hypnosis is not a substitute for medical advice/care. A hypnotherapist does not diagnose any condition or illness and if the client has any existing mental or physical diagnoses a referral may be required before starting hypnotherapy. It can be an effective complement to traditional therapy or medical treatment if approved by healthcare providers.

Confidentiality:

All sessions and client information are confidential. Any clinical notes taken and stored are done so in accordance with HIPAA policies and standards to protect the identity of the client.