What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is an effective way to access your subconscious mind in order to create changes in your life. Most people try to create change from the conscious parts of their minds and are often frustrated by their difficulties in changing patterns and habits. What is often happening is that the powerful messages stored in the subconscious parts of the brain are overriding what they are consciously wanting to change or create. Hypnotherapy is a simple process that allows you to get into a relaxed state so that your brain can receive some change oriented messages or suggestions to move you towards your desired goals.
What can you expect from hypnotherapy?
The therapist helps you to get into a relaxed state by suggesting some simple visualization exercises. These exercises help create a state of relaxation and serve to distract you from your more conscious part of your mind. In this relaxed state, your mind is susceptible to receiving suggestions. This hypnotic state or “trance” is similar to the state your mind is in just before you fall asleep – aware of what’s going on around you but slipping into unconsciousness. You may also have experienced a trance state when driving and not remembering how you got to your destination. In hypnotherapy you are aware of what is going on around you. You can hear the suggestions being given to you by your therapist, can respond to the hypnotherapist and can decide to open your eyes at any time in the process. You are never “under” someone else’s control and no messages can be programmed into your mind without your permission. It is similar to the therapist throwing you a ball and you deciding if you would like to raise your hands to catch it. Most people report feeling relaxed and calm after being in a hypnotic trance – similar to meditation. Often times people question if they experienced a hypnotic state because they were fully aware of the stimuli in their external surroundings. This is likely due to misconceptions that being in a “trance” is being unconscious. Hypnotherapy is not a psychedelic experience – but rather a very relaxed state of mind.
The following issues are often resolved by hypnotherapy:
- fears and phobias
- self esteem
- performance anxiety
- goal setting and life planning
- habit changes
- obsessions and compulsions
- Sleeping Difficulties
- Stress Management
