Can anyone be hypnotised?
Yes, anyone can be hypnotised as long as they want to be. A hypnotherapist can not force you to go into hypnosis against your will. Will I know what is happening? Yes, in fact if anything you can be more aware of what is happening. Although your eyes are closed your other senses can increase their awareness and sensitivity. Will I remember what happened during hypnosis? Yes and No. You will remember some things but not all. This is the way our memory works normally. For example when you listen to a speech or talk you may have started off listening to the person speaking but you never remember everything that has been said. Some scientists say we only retain about 30% of what we hear unless we take written notes to aid our memory. Will I lose control? No. You remain in control at all times. The hypnotherapist does not have control over you and if you decide to get up and walk out, then you will.
No, you are perfectly safe as hypnosis is a naturally occurring process anyway.
What is being in hypnosis like?
It is quite an ordinary experience. In fact you will have already experienced what hypnosis is like in your everyday activities. Daydreaming is hypnosis. When you are reading a book on a train and are oblivious to other noises and passengers, that is hypnosis. We experience hypnosis throughtout our day whether we are aware of it or not.
Will I be forced to accept suggestions?
No. Your mind is very protective of you and you will not accept any suggestions that go against your morals or beliefs and certainly a professional hypnotherapist will not make any suggestion that could be seen as unethical.
So what is hypnosis ?
Hypnosis is that time when we may be working at the office but our mind is elsewhere. Often when a colleague or friend sees you like this they will say ' Hey, wake up you're in a trance'! Now although this is a saying which we use without necessarily thinking about it, the phrase 'in a trance' is actually very accurate.
How many sessions will I need?
This all depends on the problem or change that you want to make. For stopping smoking it is usually one or two sessions lasting about 90 minutes, but further top up sessions may be needed. For anything else it can range from 1 to 10 sessions.
What is the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis is the state that a person experiences. Hypnotherapy is using that state for beneficial purposes.
So how can being in hypnosis help resolve a problem?
When we are in hypnosis we are more relaxed, physically and mentally. When this occurs our mind operates more efficiently and effectively. An example of this is when you try and remember someone’s name. Its on the tip of your tongue but you just cant get to it. After you stop trying and may be five minutes later the name comes back to you. The difference here is that you were putting your mind under tension trying to force it to remember. However when you stopped and thought of something else, you allowed your mind to relax and the name came to you. When the mind and body are relaxed we have better access to our memories. We are a product of our memories and past experiences. Sometimes we need to return to a memory in order to resolve what happened for our peace of mind before we can move on in the future.
How long does a session last?
Usually it will be for 60 minutes. A stop smoking session will normally take 90 minutes.
How often will I need to see the hypnotherapist?
This depends on the type of problem and on the progress made. If you require 3 or more sessions the hypnotherapist will normally see you once a week. However some clients see the hypnotherapist once a fortnight or even once a month depending on their circumstances.
How can I find out more before committing myself ?
Please feel free to phone for an informal chat about hypnotherapy and how it may be used to help your specific problem or simply to clear up any lingering doubts you may have.
