Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that we all go in and out of many times every day. When you are enjoying a good movie or driving a route that you've done many times before, for example, you are likely to be in an altered state which can be called a hypnotic trance. It is different from sleep and you are likely to be aware of everything going on around you, but you may have a narrower focus of attention.
In this state of hypnosis you are more easily able to access your unconscious mind. The conscious mind is what we are aware of; the unconscious or subconscious is all the rest. The unconscious is the most powerful of the two and directs most of our behaviour.
A person has to allow themselves to go in to a hypnotic state. Therefore, even if someone else is guiding you in to a trance, really all hypnosis is self hypnosis.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is any type of therapy done in a hypnotic state. Since the unconscious mind is more easily accessible in a hypnotic state, it is more easy to make the changes you desire. Even for people who do self hypnosis, hypnotherapy is useful for more complex issues or ones where change hasn’t yet been able to be made on one’s own.
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that we all go in and out of many times every day. When you are enjoying a good movie or driving a route that you've done many times before, for example, you are likely to be in an altered state which can be called a hypnotic trance. It is different from sleep and you are likely to be aware of everything going on around you, but you may have a narrower focus of attention.
In this state of hypnosis you are more easily able to access your unconscious mind. The conscious mind is what we are aware of; the unconscious or subconscious is all the rest. The unconscious is the most powerful of the two and directs most of our behaviour.
A person has to allow themselves to go in to a hypnotic state. Therefore, even if someone else is guiding you in to a trance, really all hypnosis is self hypnosis.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is any type of therapy done in a hypnotic state. Since the unconscious mind is more easily accessible in a hypnotic state, it is more easy to make the changes you desire. Even for people who do self hypnosis, hypnotherapy is useful for more complex issues or ones where change hasn’t yet been able to be made on one’s own.
Myths about Hypnosis
Many people have misconceptions about hypnosis, often because their only experience of hypnosis is seeing a stage show. This can cause apprehension and lead some people to miss out on the benefits they would achieve with hypnotherapy.
Myth 1: Hypnosis involves the hypnotist’s will dominating the subject
There is no domination and no submission in hypnosis.
Hypnotist helps the subjects to release and express their own latent or hidden abilities
All hypnosis is self hypnosis – you allow yourself to be led in to an altered state.
Myth 2: In hypnosis, people may reveal their deep, dark secrets
If someone talks about things in hypnosis, that they don’t do in normal conversation, it is no more than they would reveal when feeling relaxed, calm and open to new views and approaches. People remain aware of what they are saying and the conscious mind is always a watch-dog monitoring in the background.
Myth 3: A person may be unable to wake up after hypnosis
There is not the slightest danger of this. Even if you went in to a very deep state when doing self hypnosis, you would eventually go to sleep and wake feeling very refreshed. Occasionally there have been cases where schizophrenics have wanted to stay in the state and refuse to come out – they will sleep and wake as normal.
Myth 4: Hypnotherapy requires a deep trance
The results do not depend on the level of trance. A person can accept suggestions in even the lightest state of trance. This may feel no different to feeling relaxed. This leads some clients to doubt that they have been hypnotised at all, until they are surprised by they positive changes they make. Some techniques, such as pain relief, may need deeper states.
Myth 5: Hypnosis may be dangerous
Hypnosis is a natural state that we go in and out of many times every day. Therefore a hypnotic trance-state is a healthy and generally enjoyable state to be in. Every day we are being bombarded by suggestions from advertisers and others, who know how to influence us, and some of their suggestions can be less than positive, e.g. if you don’t look a certain way ,you can’t be happy. The more you know about hypnosis, the less likely you are to be influenced by such manipulative messages.
Marianne is an Associate member of the New Zealand Association of Professional Hypnotherapists, listed on their database of practising hypnotherapists.
Myth 1: Hypnosis involves the hypnotist’s will dominating the subject
There is no domination and no submission in hypnosis.
Hypnotist helps the subjects to release and express their own latent or hidden abilities
All hypnosis is self hypnosis – you allow yourself to be led in to an altered state.
Myth 2: In hypnosis, people may reveal their deep, dark secrets
If someone talks about things in hypnosis, that they don’t do in normal conversation, it is no more than they would reveal when feeling relaxed, calm and open to new views and approaches. People remain aware of what they are saying and the conscious mind is always a watch-dog monitoring in the background.
Myth 3: A person may be unable to wake up after hypnosis
There is not the slightest danger of this. Even if you went in to a very deep state when doing self hypnosis, you would eventually go to sleep and wake feeling very refreshed. Occasionally there have been cases where schizophrenics have wanted to stay in the state and refuse to come out – they will sleep and wake as normal.
Myth 4: Hypnotherapy requires a deep trance
The results do not depend on the level of trance. A person can accept suggestions in even the lightest state of trance. This may feel no different to feeling relaxed. This leads some clients to doubt that they have been hypnotised at all, until they are surprised by they positive changes they make. Some techniques, such as pain relief, may need deeper states.
Myth 5: Hypnosis may be dangerous
Hypnosis is a natural state that we go in and out of many times every day. Therefore a hypnotic trance-state is a healthy and generally enjoyable state to be in. Every day we are being bombarded by suggestions from advertisers and others, who know how to influence us, and some of their suggestions can be less than positive, e.g. if you don’t look a certain way ,you can’t be happy. The more you know about hypnosis, the less likely you are to be influenced by such manipulative messages.
Marianne is an Associate member of the New Zealand Association of Professional Hypnotherapists, listed on their database of practising hypnotherapists.
