Frequently asked questions about Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis

If you're like many people, then your perception of what hypnosis is, may have come from TV, Films or the stage, and as such, you may have some questions you want answering.

Below are the answers to some of these questions, should you have a question not listed or would like to discuss how I can help you, please email me or phone me on 01772 499046 because "it's good to talk"

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a pleasant relaxed state of consciousness, which opens up your imagination and increases your mental awareness. Memory retention and suggestibility are also increased.

Most of us use between three and five percent of our mental capacities and through Hypnosis, we begin to use more of our mind, to accomplish personal goals.

In Hypnosis, we can allow positive, life affirming and healthy suggestions to enter the subconscious mind which will lead us toward positive life changes, such as stop smoking, lose weight or increase our feelings of wellbeing.

All hypnotic suggestions are accepted or rejected by the client, at their personal discretion.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that enables a client to enlist the help of his unconscious mind to bring about therapeutic changes. A therapist will help you to access your inner resources to achieve realistic goals. He will normally do this by inducing a 'hypnotic trance', which is simply a state of altered awareness, not sleep or unconsciousness. Trance may be described as a 'natural learning state'.

What is EFT?

EFT is a technique that uses the energy meridians in our body to release and let go of negative emotion. The basic principle of EFT is that the cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system

When we think of an uncomfortable thought or memory, it disrupts the body's energy system, creating a blockage and negative emotion. Many ailments and illness's have been attributed to this blocked energy, and so by releasing the trapped negative energy, we can let go of the pain also.

You could consider EFT to be a physical version of Acupuncture

What is Regression Hypnotherapy?

From a hypnosis stand point, many issues can be dealt with through direct suggestion, and this is most people’s initial idea of what hypnosis is. Direct suggestion hypnosis can be very effective with helping someone overcome certain habits and beliefs, and typical examples would be with smoking and weight loss.

But sometimes these problems run deeper than simply a bad habit, and this is where we look at other ways of getting to the root, and to release the emotion that’s driving the behaviour, and creating the problem.

Most of the problems which trouble people can typically be traced back to feelings such as guilt, fear, anger, sadness or feelings of loss, and these feelings are almost always connected to past experiences where the negative belief or behaviour started.

These are memories and beliefs that if we think about them may make us feel bad, because they still have an emotional charge.

Through the use of hypnotherapy, we work together to uncover the deep subconscious blocks that may not be apparent with traditional therapeutic techniques, we then release, cleanse and neutralise these uncomfortable emotional anchors.

Once these blocks are cleansed and neutralised, your conscious and subconscious mind will then be an open fertile ground for accepting new positive suggestions for change through direct suggestion.

Can I be Hypnotised?

Everyone can be Hypnotised. We experience this relaxed mental state every day, just before waking in the morning and just as we enter slumber at night. For hypnosis to take place you have to want it to happen, expect it to happen and allow it to happen.

What does trance feel like?

As there is no specific hypnotised feeling, everyone experiences trance differently. Most people experience a very relaxed, lethargic and pleasant state of mind, similar to that 'miles away' feeling you probably find yourself in from time to time when you let your mind wander and are surprised at how “normal and natural” hypnosis feels. It's an entirely natural state; every time you get absorbed in a book or a TV programme you are in trance. For some of my clients, it’s the most relaxed they have felt for years.

What Can Hypnosis Do?

Hypnosis can allow us to speak to our deepest inner self, or allow the inner self to speak. It allows us to make beneficial, life affirming positive suggestions directly to the sub-conscious mind for positive change.

What Can't Hypnosis Do?

Hypnosis cannot cause us to act in a way that would contradict our moral or ethical values. Hypnosis will not cause us to reveal secrets, betray confidences or act in an irrational or immoral manner.

Will I be able to move?

Yes. It is important that at any time during hypnosis you may do anything that will help you to feel more comfortable - for instance you may need to move position or cough, that is perfectly OK, just go ahead.

Will I lose control?

No, absolutely not. You are always in complete control.

Will I get ‘stuck’ in the hypnotic state?

No. Nobody has ever got stuck in a hypnotic state. Even if you fell asleep your natural body clock would wake you.

Is it confidential?

The information disclosed to the therapist within the sessions is confidential. Information will usually only be passed to a third party if it is part of an agreed referral to other health professionals that will help the client. However, there may be a legal obligation on the part of the therapist to pass information to the relevant authorities concerning criminal activities or if there is a concern about potential harm to others.

It should be borne in mind that therapists have a responsibility to the community at large, as well as to individual clients. Call me on 01772 499046 or email me by clicking "here" if you would like to discuss any of these points or have any unanswered questions about hypnotherapy, my services and how I can help you achieve personal positive change.