Hypnosis

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is often described as a meditative or trancelike state of heightened awareness or suggestibility. The person under hypnosis is not asleep. A trance in hypnosis is a state of complete mental absorption. This is very similar to the experience when one is very focused, really concentrating or in a daydream. When you focus on something, you strengthen your awareness of it. Hypnosis focuses on and increases a person’s strength with the goal of wellness.

The key to success in hypnosis is your desire to change. Hypnosis alone will not be effective without your desire.

Your well-being is the most important focus during a session. You decide what the session will be about. Most importantly, you can end a session at anytime just by opening your eyes.

What is a suggestion?

• A suggestion is a pre-agreed upon thought or idea. It is discussed and agreed upon prior to the start of the session.
• The suggestion is what helps you to create the desired change such as eliminating a habit or addiction, losing weight, reducing the experience of pain, or reducing anxiety just to name a few of the goals.
• Suggestibility is an openness to accepting new ideas and a willingness to absorb new information or perspective
• A focused capacity to transform new ideas into the suggested responses.

“When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change”

Wayne Dyer, author and motivational speaker

What is self-hypnosis?

All hypnosis is considered to be self-hypnosis. Some examples of self-hypnosis are:

• Driving in your car to go somewhere other than work and end up driving to work
• Driving to a familiar place and don’t remember in detail how you go there
• Watching a movie or reading a book and feels like the time went by in an instant
• Watching a movie or reading a book and unaware of other things going on around you

THE MIND

In a hypnotic or meditative state, your conscious mind relaxes its guard to allow for an easier connection to the subconscious mind. Your conscious mind is always reviewing, editing and, judging your thoughts. Your subconscious mind is like a sponge waiting to absorb whatever thoughts or ideas you would like to give it. Hypnosis helps to reprogram the subconscious mind to help you create the desired change.

• It is believed by some that a person who experiences hypnosis slows down his or her brainwaves from BETA to ALPHA, and that perhaps even enter the THETA stage
• In this ALPHA state the conscious or “chattering” part of our mind or thoughts has a chance to relax and be still. In this quiet or meditative state a pre-agreed upon suggestion is offered, providing the opportunity for the you to change a perception
• Conscious Mind – The conscious mind has the ability to analyze things, to reason, and to make judgments as to what is right or wrong. The conscious mind ultimately decides what it is possible to do and what is not possible to do, and these decisions are usually based upon belief systems, personality, and also our largely unconscious past experiences
• Subconscious Mind – The subconscious mind (some will also refer to as unconscious mind) is the place where our habits and unconscious actions reside.

Illustration of Brain Waves

.

http://zatma.org/Dharma/zbohy/Literature/AssaultSummit/brainwaves1.jpg (Oct. 15, 2010)

What happens during a hypnosis session?

My role during hypnosis is that of a guide or facilitator.

1. I will talk with you about your goals for hypnosis and together we discuss what suggestion is desired.
2. I normally have a client lay on a massage table (fully clothed) or seated in a chair.At no time will I touch you during a hypnosis session.
3. The session begins with what is called an induction. Most often I use a verbally guided progressive relaxation technique. This technique induces a relaxed state of mind. Most clients will have their eyes closed.
4. Next, the agreed upon suggestion is embedded in a verbal explanation. Sometimes I may ask you questions during the session. You will remain in a hypnotic state and can fully answer any question.
5. Once the session is complete, I guide you back to full awareness and opening your eyes if they were closed
6. A discussion takes place as to what may have occurred during hypnosis and to answer any questions
7. Sometimes one session will be all that is needed. Sometimes more than one session is needed, especially with habits or experience that been present for a long period of time.

Note: You can end the session at anytime just by opening your eyes.

How does hypnosis feel?

• Hypnosis is considered to be a natural state of mind. You will hear every word I say. Some people say they feel very relaxed similar to the way they feel sitting in a comfortable chair reading a book or laying on a sofa watching a good movie.
• Some people describe physical sensations as feeling very light or heavy as if sinking in a chair
• In a very light state of hypnosis it is very possible that you might feel as if you were not hypnotized.
• Some abilities may be enhanced during a hypnosis session
• The ability to imagine
• The ability to remember
• Creativity
• Responsiveness to suggestions

Some of the reasons for hypnosis?

• Smoking Cessation
• Weight loss
• Stress reduction
• Pain – pain is an important message from our body that something is not right. Obtain medical care and attention before seeking hypnosis for pain.
• Regression – past life regression can be helpful to understand challenges that continually come up in a client’s life that don’t seem to resolve. Note: I do not use regression for any mental or emotional issues that would require psychological assistance.

What hypnosis is not?

• A substitute for any kind of medical or therapeutic care
• A technique that will create change without desire from client
• A technique to be used to cause or provoke criminal or anti-social behavior. Note: a client would not accept a suggestion to perform these types of behavior unless already inclined to do so.

My training:

I completed two separate training in-person training programs through Barry Gordon, LMFT in 2004 and Madelaine Lawrence, PhD in 2005 passing examinations in both courses . I am registered with the State of Connecticut (Registration HYP.0000317) and a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists.