About Hypnosis

Hypnosis is the process of relaxing the conscious mind and speaking to the subconscious mind while in a state of focused attention.

Your conscious mind is the thinking mind, a person’s awareness and problem-solving mind. For the sake of simplicity, the subconscious mind is everything else. It’s home to emotions, memories, beliefs, habits, dreams, imagination, instincts and intuitions.

Hypnosis is effective because it taps into the subconscious mind, where deep-seated beliefs and behaviors reside. By bypassing the conscious mind’s resistance and working directly with the subconscious mind, hypnosis allows people to transform their thoughts and habits to make powerful and lasting change.

In 1985, hypnotherapy was approved by the American Medical Association. It is employed in numerous healthcare facilities worldwide, including the Mayo Clinic, and is recommended by the American Cancer Society and the National Institute of Health.

Misconceptions about Hypnosis

Scientific studies have shown that hypnosis is an effective therapy, and many organizations in the medical and psychological fields acknowledge this. Imaging scans of the brain taken while a subject is hypnotized indicate altered activity in areas of the brain related to pain perception, focus and attention.

However, many misconceptions persist. The most prevalent include:

Mind Control

This is the most widely held misconception about hypnosis. Hypnotized individuals are always aware of their surroundings and cannot be forced to do anything against their will. While under hypnosis, a person has complete control and can choose to end the session whenever they like.

Getting Stuck in Hypnosis

There are those who believe that if a hypnotist were to place someone in a hypnotized state, they could stay hypnotized forever. The fact of the matter is that if a hypnotized individual is left alone, they will come out of hypnosis on their own.

Revealing Secrets

Some people think that a hypnotist can make someone reveal secrets. People under hypnosis are always aware of their surroundings and have the option to remain silent. Remember, people under hypnosis are in full control

For Naive or Weak-minded People

Another misconception is that hypnosis is only effective for naive or weak-minded people. Being hypnotized really depends on how motivated a person is and how open they are to the idea. Many professional athletes and Olympians practice hypnosis regularly. These are people that want results.

Same as Sleep

Despite popular belief, hypnosis is more like a state of deep concentration rather than sleep. Although a person in hypnosis usually experiences profound relaxation, the focused attention differentiates it from sleep.

Dangerous

There is a misconception that hypnosis can be dangerous or cause harm. When conducted by a trained professional, hypnosis is safe and often used as a therapeutic tool. Hypnotherapy was approved by the American Medical Association in 1985. It is recommended by the American Cancer Society, the National Institute of Health and is used in many healthcare facilities around the world, including the Mayo Clinic.

Stage Hypnosis vs Therapeutic Hypnosis

Often exaggerating the effects of hypnosis for entertainment value, stage hypnosis creates misleading perceptions of what hypnosis is like in a therapeutic environment. Clinical hypnosis is more subtle and focused on achieving specific therapeutic goals. The biggest difference is in the intent.

To sum up, hypnosis is a powerful tool for healing and personal development that has scientific support. A person can change their ideas, actions, and emotions by bypassing their conscious mind and focusing their attention through various techniques.

Traditional Process

If you are new to hypnosis, this traditional process will usually be followed for the first few sessions.

1. Induction: This is the process by which a person is guided into the hypnotic state. Techniques widely vary but can involve focusing on a specific object, listening to repetitive words, or engaging in guided relaxation exercises.

2. Deepening: Once in a light trance, the hypnotist may use additional techniques to deepen the state of hypnosis. This may involve more guided imagery, progressive relaxation, or other methods to increase focus and suggestibility.

3. Suggestions: In this state, the hypnotist provides suggestions that can help change thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or perceptions. These suggestions are more readily accepted by the subconscious mind because the conscious critical mind is relaxed.

4. Return to Awareness: After the therapeutic work is done, the hypnotist will guide the person back to a normal state of awareness. This process is usually gentle and gradual.