What is Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis
Hypnosis is often misunderstood. Most of the misconceptions that surround hypnotherapy come from people’s ideas about stage hypnotism. Stage hypnotism and what you see in movies has nothing to do with hypnotherapy and is absolutely nothing like it.
Hypnosis is a state of highly focused concentration, and deep relaxation, which allows you to have heightened suggestibility. While in this deep state of relaxation you are able to access your subconscious mind where your habits, beliefs and memories are stored.
When going in to hypnosis, you are essentially changing your brain wave state. When awake you are in a Beta Brainwave. We spend around 95% of our waking time in this state, and this is where stress, anxiety and fear often occur, and where cortisol (the stress hormone is released). During hypnosis, the brainwave changes to Theta. This state resembles sleep, with the mind becoming highly focused and responsive to suggestion. The hypnotherapist can use suggestion to explore memories held in the subconscious and then to reprogram the mind to be open to new habits, beliefs and ideas, thereby allowing them to make the changes that they desire.
There are two things that I like to assure my clients of. Firstly, not to worry and think about whether or not they are hypnotised, but just to allow the relaxation to happen. Secondly, I let them know that they are always in complete control of themselves and would never do or say anything they don’t want to. The client will remember everything we talk about afterwards. During hypnosis the brain's cognitive systems are working and are able to interpret communication.
The most frequent issues I see clients for are overcoming anxiety or depression, sleep issues, stress, and overcoming success blocks (love, happiness, money). There are many applications and uses and it is a powerful tools for quickly and easily making improvements in one’s life. Some might find it hard to trust or understand, but hypnosis is scientifically proven and based on neuroscience.
