It is no wonder that a very common question when talking about hypnotherapy, is that some people have a preconceived idea that hypnotherapy involves the hypnotherapist making a suggestion for the client to run around like a chicken at the click of his/her fingers, as seen in stage shows. It really can appear that the hypnotists are in total control of the person’s mind. This seems to suggest that the person is not in control at all, which simply is not true. There has to be some kind of compliance before the person actually gets up on stage. They have given that permission when they volunteer, so they will accept the suggestions given to them on the stage.
Hypnotherapy dates back as far as recorded history. It has been used all over the world and still is.
The hypnotic trance is “an altered state of awareness”, that can easily accept positive suggestions, allowing access to the subconscious mind, without the interference of the rational processes of the conscious mind.
The hypnotherapist can change the “state” of the conscious mind, and make the mind and body so relaxed that it goes into a trance-like state, which can make the client appear asleep. The client can still hear clearly, and it’s often described as like being in a daydream or being engrossed in a television programme, but still being able to listen to someone talking in the background.
Hypnosis is not being asleep or unconscious as some people may think it is. The subconscious mind hears and can react to suggestions whether by touch, smell, sight, or speech. Within the hypnotic state, the client can focus on the hypnotherapist’s voice, and can also ignore distractions, but will be completely aware of them. So if a fire alarm were to go off they would be totally aware of it and could react to it.
Hypnosis is not something you can get trapped in. The client can bring themselves out of hypnosis if need be, or if the client wants to. A hypnotic trance will only be achieved with compliance and co-operation in response to the suggestions put to the client. If the client resists the suggestions then the hypnotic trance will not be achieved.
Hypnosis is not a miracle cure, as some people may think. A hypnotherapist cannot just simply make suggestions and it works in one session every time. Sometimes it can, but mostly it takes some extra work, and sometimes the client is given homework to practise and work on.
Hypnosis can be a very influential tool over the human mind. This can be shown through clinical hypnotherapy research and its results. A client who is in a hypnotic trance can use their thoughts, talents and experiences in ways not usually available when we are in a conscious state. It allows the client to make wanted and desired changes in their thoughts, feelings and behaviourswith the help of the hypnotherapist’s voice. And for reasons not known yet, the hypnotic state allows intentional suggestions for change to happen ‘automatically’, when these changes could not normally be changed consciously.
No hypnotherapist can guarantee 100% success. People vary in how they respond to hypnosis. Full commitment from the client is needed for it to work, but what I can guarantee is that I will give 100% effort.
