According to Mayo Clinic, hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion, is a trance-like state in which you have heightened focus and concentration. Hypnosis is usually done with the help of a therapist using verbal repetition and mental images. When you’re under hypnosis, you usually feel calm and relaxed, and are more open to suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain, for example. It’s important to know that although you’re more open to suggestion during hypnosis, you don’t lose control over your behavior.
You don’t need any special preparation to undergo hypnosis.
Your therapist will explain the process of hypnosis and review your treatment goals. Then the therapist will typically talk in a gentle, soothing tone and describe images that create a sense of relaxation, security and well-being.
When you’re in a receptive state, the therapist will suggest ways for you to achieve your goals. The therapist may also help you visualize vivid, meaningful mental images of yourself accomplishing your goals.
When the session is over, either you are able to bring yourself out of hypnosis or your therapist helps you end your state of relaxation.
Contrary to how hypnosis is sometimes portrayed in movies or on television, you don’t lose control over your behavior while under hypnosis. Also, you generally remain aware of and remember what happens during hypnosis.
How hypnosis works within your mind…
Your life is driven by the two parts of your mind: your conscious mind and subconscious mind. Generally speaking, our emotions “live” in our subconscious mind and are protected and rationalized by our conscious mind. The conscious mind is the “thinking” mind and the subconscious mind is the “feeling” mind. Willpower requires thinking and is sourced from the conscious mind. The problem with this, is that true, lasting change can only take place at the feeling, subconscious level.
Hypnosis works by tapping into the power of your subconscious mind, and directing that energy towards achieving your goals. Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxed focus that allows you to access that deep, inner part of you – your subconscious mind.
Think of your subconscious mind as a powerful, go-getter within you that will achieve the goals you set for yourself, if given the appropriate directions and motivation. Imagine your subconscious as a GPS, which when given the appropriate “destination,” will help you get there step by step. Collaborating with the subconscious mind allows us to maximize our true potential and perform at a higher level than engaging the conscious mind alone.
Simply stated, hypnosis empowers you to change your unconscious thoughts. And that, in a nutshell, is how hypnotherapy works. Through hypnosis, we use suggestion to train the mind to respond differently – to create a new reality. When we reach hypnosis, we’re able to disassociate our behavioral controls and critical thoughts. In other words, we can hear suggestions and follow them without questioning why we’re following them. Ultimately, it’s the power of suggestion that enables us to reshape and reframe our perceptions.
Hypnosis enables us to overcome and dampen uncontrolled thoughts. And that’s where the power lies: Hypnosis empowers us to believe suggestions that best serve us to be true. This, in turn, enables us to alter our behavior.
Hypnosis is undoubtedly one of the most effective means of bringing about permanent behavioral and emotional changes, even if we are not immediately aware of it.
Be Well, Stay Healthy
Change your Mind ~ Change your Life.
Kenda Summers, the Hypnotherapist of choice for people seeking a better life today!
(Sources include: Mayo Clinic, SelfHypnosis.com, and fellow Certified Hypnotherapists at Hemisphere Hypnotherapy, & Grace Space Hypnosis)
