What is hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a recognised and safe therapy. It is often classified as a form of complementary medicine, but is perhaps better viewed as a branch of psychotherapy. It is designed to work at the subconscious level to facilitate a process in which individuals can release negative patterns and create positive associations. In so doing, it activates the subconscious mind’s amazing, and natural capacity, to "heal itself" (i.e. resolve issues) and create profound changes from within.
Hypnotherapy is widely endorsed as a treatment for habit breaking, stress-related issues, and for a range of long-term conditions. These include but are not limited to: Stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, trauma, insomnia, unwanted habits, negative behavioural patterns, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, fear of examinations or public speaking, and more.
HYPNOTHERAPY & THE SUBCONSCIOUS mind
The subconscious mind is a huge sensory vehicle that allows us to experience the world through senses: sounds, smells, tastes, visuals or pictures, and/or feelings. In trying to understand the way it functions, it helps to compare it to a computer - a vast storage space for memories, learnt emotional responses and behavioral patterns. In computers, faulty wiring, incompatible programs, or viruses can lead to a system’s failure, or losing data that was needed to improve usability (such as reasons for quitting smoking).
The human mind works in much the same. Over time, learnt behaviors, thoughts and physical sensations are ‘encrypted’, forming strong neural pathways that can be difficult to update, or consciously rewire. To reboot the brain’s capacity to learn new more adaptive behaviors and psychological responses (re-wire), we need to access the hard drive (the subconscious mind), to be sure that any changes made will be successful and last the test of time.
All psychological therapies aim to alleviate emotional and psychological pain, but just do so in different ways. By far the quickest route to our brain’s "control center" is via Hypnotherapy. The state of deep relaxation is the key to quieting the conscious mind‘s interfering or self-defeating thoughts, and allowing the therapist to access and communicate directly with the subconscious mind.
When we engage in some form of self-improvement, our instinctive go-to approach is to try to create change at the Conscious level, often through some form of will power, life-style shift, or positive affirmations (to name a few). However, real and long-term change for the better can only truly happen at the level where the problem or negative issue was created; and that is: The Subconscious.
It is the patterns and beliefs, deeply rooted in the subconscious mind, that drive the decisions and behaviours that shape our lives. These include habits and attitudes that we develop as “coping mechanisms”. More often than not, these “coping mechanisms” can be more harmful than the event or belief we are trying to “manage”. Why? Because the two primary roles of the subconscious are to keep you safe, and to keep you happy, and invariably, it will always choose safety over happiness, even if that version of safety is in fact a negative pattern or habit.
IS HYPNOTHERAPY THE SAME AS HYPNOSIS?
First off, to dispel any fears or misconceptions: Hypnotherapy is NOT the same as Hypnosis, especially stage hypnosis where you may have seen a hypnotist make someone do something they had no control over.
In Hypnotherapy, you are NOT unconscious and will NOT be made to do anything against your will.
As a process, Hypnotherapy involves inducing a state of deep relaxation, similar to day-dreaming or being in deep meditation.
By relaxing the mind and body and focusing the attention on the subconscious, the hypnotherapist can guide you to discover the root of an issue, and access your internal resources to modify or eliminate the undesired behaviours or emotions.
HOW WILL IT FEEL?
Hypnotherapy guides you into a very pleasant, relaxed state, in which you are more aware of your internal experience than the world around you. It is similar to that day-dreaming feeling you get when you are driving or in the shower. People’s experiences of it may vary. Some find it deeply, physically relaxing; others feel they are in a serene dream-like state, and while some will feel quite conscious during the session others may slip into a light state of sleep. There is no right or wrong, but most people agree that hypnotherapy is one of the most deeply relaxing experiences imaginable.
DOES HYPNOTHERAPY WORK ON EVERYONE?
Yes, virtually anyone can be guided into a hypnotic state – but only if they want to be. When you enter this deeply relaxed state, you nonetheless retain complete control, and will not do or say anything against your own choice or volition. You are conscious and able to hear the hypnotherapist’s voice.
You can also decide to end the experience at any time should you feel the need. The hypnotic state can only be maintained by mutual co-operation between the client and the therapist. It is important that you be committed to the process and feel that you can place your trust in your hypnotherapist to really benefit from it.
CAN THE HYPNOTHERAPIST CONTROL MY THOUGHTS & ACTIONS?
Only you can change your perceptions, beliefs and ultimately, your behavior. Hypnotherapy does involve the therapist making positive suggestions whilst you are is in a hypnotic state. However, these suggestions are entirely your own, and unique to you. A full assessment before treatment takes place and is vital for the therapist to understand what you are looking to change, be it weight loss, anxiety, or avoidance due to a specific phobia. Behavioral change can only take place if you are willing to alter your thoughts about the problem. Therefore, the unhelpful and self-defeating thoughts maintaining the problem need to be overridden by more effective and productive thoughts.