Myths & Facts about Hypnosis:
You may have seen a Stage Hypnosis show, or seen representations of Hypnosis on TV or in a Movie. I think Stage Hypnosis is great, because it offers exposure to the world of Hypnosis, and gives some idea of the Power of the Unconscious Mind. Hypnosis on TV or in the Movies is most often a complete mis-representation of what Hypnosis is and how it actually works.
The most common thing I hear from a Client after our first Hypnosis Session is, “That didn’t feel like I thought it would.”
The most common thing I hear from a Client after our first Hypnosis Session is, “That didn’t feel like I thought it would.”
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring Trance State where the attention is sharply focused, the Conscious Mind becomes relaxed & passive, and that allows direct access to the Unconscious Mind.
The truth is, everyone goes into and out of trance states at various times throughout the day.
The brain doesn’t easily differentiate between what we imagine/remember, and what we are experiencing in our immediate environment. If you’ve ever vividly recalled a previous argument, and felt angry all over again, you were in a trance state. The argument wasn’t happening in the present moment, but the act of vividly remembering it triggered the emotional reaction all over again.
It’s the same when watching a film or television. If you’ve ever had an emotional experience while watching TV or a movie, you were in trance. Nothing at all was actually happening to you. You were watching images on the screen and hearing sounds, but you were mentally identifying so closely with what you were seeing and hearing, that it evoked an emotional response. That too is a trance state.
Gamers experience this phenomenon even more acutely. They become so immersed in a game that they can completely lose track of time. After gaming for hours on end, they come out of their trance, hungry, stiff from sitting in one position for too long, and needed to visit the bathroom urgently.
Hypnosis is intentionally taking these naturally occurring trance states, and deepening them to gain direct access to the Unconscious Mind. Once we have access to the Unconscious Mind, we can discover the cause(s) of undesired states (fear, worry, anxiety, etc.), release & resolve them, and replacing them with desired states.
At it's core, Hypnosis is collaborative. The Hypnotherapist facilitates the Trance State and helps the Client (You) move in the direction you want to go.
The truth is, everyone goes into and out of trance states at various times throughout the day.
The brain doesn’t easily differentiate between what we imagine/remember, and what we are experiencing in our immediate environment. If you’ve ever vividly recalled a previous argument, and felt angry all over again, you were in a trance state. The argument wasn’t happening in the present moment, but the act of vividly remembering it triggered the emotional reaction all over again.
It’s the same when watching a film or television. If you’ve ever had an emotional experience while watching TV or a movie, you were in trance. Nothing at all was actually happening to you. You were watching images on the screen and hearing sounds, but you were mentally identifying so closely with what you were seeing and hearing, that it evoked an emotional response. That too is a trance state.
Gamers experience this phenomenon even more acutely. They become so immersed in a game that they can completely lose track of time. After gaming for hours on end, they come out of their trance, hungry, stiff from sitting in one position for too long, and needed to visit the bathroom urgently.
Hypnosis is intentionally taking these naturally occurring trance states, and deepening them to gain direct access to the Unconscious Mind. Once we have access to the Unconscious Mind, we can discover the cause(s) of undesired states (fear, worry, anxiety, etc.), release & resolve them, and replacing them with desired states.
At it's core, Hypnosis is collaborative. The Hypnotherapist facilitates the Trance State and helps the Client (You) move in the direction you want to go.
What hypnosis isn't:
Hypnosis isn’t “Mind Control”.
You can’t be made to reveal any secrets, like Passwords or Pin Numbers.
You can’t be made to do anything embarrassing or immoral.
You can’t be made to harm yourself or someone else.
You can’t be made to do anything under Hypnosis that you wouldn’t do when you are awake & fully conscious.
You aren’t asleep, or unaware.
You still have a rudimentary awareness of your physical body and environment.
You will still hear the Hypnotherapist’s words, and you can respond verbally.
You can’t go too deep into Hypnosis.
No one gets stuck in Hypnosis.
There are no hospitals with people who are stuck in a Hypnotic Trance & can’t wake up.
Hypnosis is not a cure-all or a magic bullet.
If Hypnosis could cure every problem, no one would be practicing anything else.
Hypnosis IS a highly effective technique for revealing & resolving the causes of our emotional distresses and unwanted habits & behaviors.
You can’t be made to reveal any secrets, like Passwords or Pin Numbers.
You can’t be made to do anything embarrassing or immoral.
You can’t be made to harm yourself or someone else.
You can’t be made to do anything under Hypnosis that you wouldn’t do when you are awake & fully conscious.
You aren’t asleep, or unaware.
You still have a rudimentary awareness of your physical body and environment.
You will still hear the Hypnotherapist’s words, and you can respond verbally.
You can’t go too deep into Hypnosis.
No one gets stuck in Hypnosis.
There are no hospitals with people who are stuck in a Hypnotic Trance & can’t wake up.
Hypnosis is not a cure-all or a magic bullet.
If Hypnosis could cure every problem, no one would be practicing anything else.
Hypnosis IS a highly effective technique for revealing & resolving the causes of our emotional distresses and unwanted habits & behaviors.
"Virtual" Sessions:
As more and more professionals move toward Internet Audio/Video Calls, Mental Health Practitioners are no exception. Even some Medical Doctors are now using Video-Calls to go over Test Results with their patients.
Occasionally, I get asked about why I only facilitate Virtual Sessions. I use Internet Audio/Video Calls for a few reasons:
Convenience
Privacy
Efficiency
Flexibility
Illness
Access for Remote Clients, those with impairments, or those without convenient transportation.
These are only a handful of the many benefits of Virtual Sessions.
Occasionally, I get asked about why I only facilitate Virtual Sessions. I use Internet Audio/Video Calls for a few reasons:
Convenience
- No finding the office, sitting, anxiously counting down the time, waiting for your name to be called. With Virtual Sessions, it’s almost always in the comfort of your own home. You can have your favorite blanket, your special tea or coffee, all the things that make you feel comfortable & at ease.
Privacy
- Not everyone feels comfortable talking about their mental/emotional health with family, friends or acquaintances. Virtual Sessions ensure maximal privacy at all times.
Efficiency
- Time is one of your most precious resources. Commutes can be frustrating & stressful. Unexpected traffic may cause you to feel anxious about being late or missing your session. The last thing you need is one more place to be, an accident, parking hassles, or traffic tickets.
Flexibility
- If you’re overworked or over-committed, Virtual Sessions allow for maximal flexibility.
Illness
- It’s a proven fact that Anxiety & Stress weaken our immune system. During Cold & Flu Season, Virtual Sessions make it safe for you to receive the therapeutic care and attention you need, without risk of acquiring or spreading an illness.
Access for Remote Clients, those with impairments, or those without convenient transportation.
- Not everyone lives in an area where these therapeutic services are easily available. Some have physical limitations, due to illness, injury, or disability. Others simply don’t have convenient transportation. Still others have emotional difficulties, that make leaving their home a challenge. Virtual Sessions make Travel & Geography a non-issue.
These are only a handful of the many benefits of Virtual Sessions.
*Image Attribution: Max Pixel