Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Common utilization of hypnotherapy:

• Weight management
• Smoking cessation
• Pain management
• Dealing with insomnia
• Facing procrastination
• Working on self improvement
• Skin problems (e.g., warts)
• Preparation for childbirth

What is trance and can I experience it?

The word hypnosis originates from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep. However, researchers have demonstrated that hypnotic state sometimes looks like being asleep, but has nothing to do with actually being asleep. A lot of times we are experiencing the hypnotic state or trance during our daily life without really noticing it.Did you ever get home in your car without remembering how you got home? Did you ever watch a movie so absorbed by it that you started to cry or laugh along with the movie characters? Or may be you watch a sport game imagining yourself being on a field with football players? All of the above are phenomena of trance.'

During these times, we become less aware of the separation between our mind and our body or between our thoughts and our feelings. This situation allows the hypnotherapist to engage in a simultaneous conversation with your body and your mind or rather facilitate a dialogue between your mind and your body. Thus, trance can be characterized is a state of an increased responsiveness to an idea or a set of ideas. It is a special relationship that you are about to explore with yourself and with your therapist.

Can I be manipulated during the hypnosis?

Some people are afraid that they will be manipulated during the trance to experience something that they don’t want to experience. However, in order to engage in relationship both parties (you and your therapist) have to be in agreement and willing to explore different possibilities. Prior in engaging in hypnosis, your therapist will explore with you your understanding of the process, your fears, your ideas, and your expectations from the hypnotherapy. Do not hesitate to ask any questions. It is essential to develop a relationship of trust with your therapist. Without you being curious about what hypnosis and your hypnotherapist have to offer hypnosis might be useless as any other modality of psychotherapy.

What is the different between individual hypnosis sessions and pre-set solutions such as commercial video and audio tapes?

Hypnosis becomes a hypnotherapy when you and your therapist utilize the connection between your body and your mind in order to introduce change in your relationship to your problem. The difference between an audiotape used to induce somebody into trance and a therapist is that therapist will first explore your understanding of the problem and your ways of dealing with it in order to come up with personalized solutions in form of post-hypnotic suggestions based on your strengths and resources. Your therapist will also teach you how to utilize your resources between the sessions and after the sessions by instructing you how to engage in self-hypnosis.

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