How does Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy work?

How does Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy work?

In its simplest explanation, hypnotherapy works by bringing you into a relaxed state where your conscious mind is quiet and your subconscious is more open to receive suggestions. Your therapist will then repeat positive suggestions to you through a mixture of imagery and imagined situations. Your subconscious mind receives the positive suggestions and learns new habits, thought processes and behaviours which will transfer to your conscious day to day life.

Hypnotherapy can be misunderstood, here we’ve addressed a few common misconceptions.

THE HYPNOTHERAPIST WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE ME DO THINGS I DON’T WANT TO DO.

This is a common mistake between a comedy hypnotist and a professional hypnotherapist. Hypnotists will create elaborate sketches using only certain personality types that can be quickly influenced to perform in this way for comedic effect. 

Attending a hypnotherapy session is very different, it’s a one on one session that is kept private and confidential and the therapist will be using hypnosis as a tool to combat your specific issue. You will be aware and remember the session and can stop at any time if you feel uncomfortable. 

HYPNOTHERAPISTS CAN CONTROL YOUR MIND.

No mind control, just positive suggestions to your subconscious mind, pre-agreed with you on a topic you want to address. Your therapist will discuss your treatment plan with you and agree on the objectives you’d like to achieve from the sessions.

IF I GET HYPNOTISED, I WON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING FROM THE SESSION.

During hypnotherapy you are in a relaxed state, you are not unconscious so your memory will be intact. It’s normal for your conscious mind to wander during hypnosis and you may tune in and out of what the therapist is saying, and this is fine because the main objective is to communicate with your subconscious mind. 

IF I GET PUT INTO A STATE OF HYPNOSIS, I MAY NOT COME OUT OF IT.

If you’ve ever stared into space for a few minutes lost in thought, you’ve experienced a feeling similar to hypnosis. It’s a natural state that we all drift in and out of throughout the day. At the end of the session, the therapist will ‘talk you back’ into awareness but if they weren’t to do that for whatever reason you’d still drift back to awareness on your own.

HYPNOTHERAPY WORKS LIKE MAGIC.

Sometimes when we notice an immediate effect, hypnotherapy can feel like magic. But this is due to the way you’ve received the positive suggestions and not only your therapists’ competence but your willingness to change and feel better. 

ONLY THE “WEAK-WILLED” CAN BE HYPNOTISED.

Incorrect - it takes a level of awareness and focus to enter a hypnotic state. Strong-willed people are usually better hypnotic subjects because of their conviction and determination to make a change. Many famous creators such as Mozart and Thomas Edison used hypnosis to heighten their creativity.

Hypnotherapy is such a widely used treatment method, you’re likely to know someone that’s experienced it. Some sports teams such as the US White Sox baseball team and the Swiss Ski team hire a full-time hypnotherapist to help them reach their full athletic potential. Hypnobirthing has recently become more and more popular after Kate Middleton used the method and Actor Orlando Bloom used hypnotherapy for weight loss.