What is Hypnotherapy?

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Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes.  It can help with fears, phobias, unwanted habits, anxiety, stress, lack of confidence, low self esteem, addictions like smoking, drinking, overeating, nail biting, etc.

So, then, what is hypnosis?

A definition might be: hypnosis is a state of mind, enhanced by physical and mental relaxation, in which our subconscious is able to communicate with our conscious mind.

A hypnotic trance is, therefore, an ‘altered’ state of consciousness. It is a perfectly natural state which we all go into every day. Although the word is derived from the Greek ‘hypnos’ meaning sleep, a hypnotic trance is not really like sleep.

If you drive a car, have you ever been on a journey and suddenly realised that you can’t remember the last few miles? I’m sure you have! Clearly, you weren’t asleep because you navigated the car perfectly well and yet you can’t remember those miles.

Have you ever been concentrating on something and someone has spoken to you? You realise it and you’ve said, “Sorry, I was miles away!”, or “I was on autopilot.”

These are examples of a trance we put ourselves into every day.

Many people have a misconception about the nature of hypnosis. Not surprising, given that their only experience of it is likely to be through TV or stage hypnotic shows where members of the audience are apparently made to act like chickens or other horrors. In reality, these volunteers are carefully screened, not only for their ease of going into a trance but also their keenness to go on TV – many will do anything to be on TV and therefore don’t mind acting like a chicken! It makes for good television but gives the wrong impression about hypnosis.

Hypnosis is not something that someone does to you,  it is something someone encourages you to do to yourself.

Here are some facts about being under hypnosis:

• You do not surrender control at any time.
• You can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to do or that goes against your beliefs or principles.
• You can’t be made to reveal any secrets.

So, how can going into a trance have a therapeutic purpose?

With the client in a hypnotic trance, the therapist can communicate more easily with the their subconscious mind. The conscious mind can only take in about six or seven things at once but your subconscious can store many thousands. It is the seat of your emotions, skills and habits, good and bad. In communicating with the client's subconscious, the therapist can access their inner resources to make beneficial changes in the way they think and feel.