What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.
A trained and certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides you into this deep state of focus and relaxation with verbal cues, repetition and imagery. When you’re under hypnosis, this intense level of concentration and focus allows you to ignore ordinary distractions and be more open to guided suggestions to make changes to improve your health.
How does hypnosis work?
How hypnosis works isn’t completely understood. However, it’s commonly believed that in the deep state of focus and relaxation that’s achieved with hypnosis:
- Your conscious mind is quieted.
- You’re able to tap into the part of your brain where your thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, sensations, emotions, memory and behaviors originate.
- In this state, you’re more open to gentle guidance from your hypnotherapist to help you modify or replace the unconscious thoughts that are driving your current behavior.
What are some myths about hypnosis?
Myth: Hypnosis isn’t real. It’s a form of entertainment.
- Hypnosis isn’t a stage act or some magical act. Clinical hypnosis is a type of medical therapy that’s often used as part of a treatment plan that includes traditional medical approaches.
Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you’re hypnotized.
- Most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware of who you are, where you are and remember what happened during a hypnosis session.
Myth: You’re under the control of your hypnotherapist when you’re hypnotized.
- Your hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides hypnosis, but hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You can’t be made to do anything against your will. You won’t reveal any information that you wished to remain secret. You don’t lose control over your behavior. Hypnosis makes it easier to experience suggestions but doesn’t force you to have certain experiences.
Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.
- Hypnosis isn’t sleeping. There are some deeper forms of hypnosis that could make you appear to be asleep because your body is very still and quiet, but you aren’t asleep.
What conditions is hypnosis helpful in treating?
Hypnotherapy may help treat any number of medical conditions in which psychological factors influence physical symptoms.
Common mental health uses include:
- Stress and anxiety, especially before medical or dental procedures; panic attacks; and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
- Phobias.
- Behavior control issues, including giving up smoking, losing weight and enuresis (bedwetting).
Common medical uses include:
- Insomnia.
- Asthma.
- Hot flashes during menopause.
- Gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Pain control, including after surgery, childbirth, cancer, fibromyalgia, burns and headaches (migraine and tension).
- Skin conditions, including warts and psoriasis.
- Side effects of cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment, including nausea and vomiting.
- Hypnosis continues to be explored for use in these and many other medical conditions.
Areas of hypnotherapy I deal with
- Addictions
- Alcohol abuse
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Blushing
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Confidence
- Depression
- Drug addiction
- Eating problems
- Exam stress and anxiety
- Fear of flying
- Food addiction
- Gambling addiction
- Gastric band hypnosis
- Insomnia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Low libido
- Low self-esteem
- Obsessions and compulsions
- Pain management
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- PTSD
- Quit smoking
- Reduce drinking
- Relationship issues
- Relaxation
- Sleep problems
- Stress
- Stuttering
- Tinnitus
- Trauma
- Weight loss
What my clients say about me
