Q – What is Hypnosis?
A – Hypnosis is a natural state of heightened inner awareness and attentiveness, naturally induced by the help of suggestion. Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic approach unlike that shown for entertainment or Stage Hypnosis.
Q – What is NLP?
A – NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a study of how language, both verbal and nonverbal, affects our nervous system. It offers specific methods which can be applied effectively in any human interaction. It is used to rapidly create lasting changes. It can also be taught to clients to enable them to alter their lifestyles and change unwanted or undesirable habits.
Q – What can I expect from a session?
A – Hypnosis induces an altered state of awareness, commonly known as trance. Trance is a natural state of deep relaxation and concentration. In trance, the mind turns inwards, where it focuses on memory, thoughts, fantasy, plans, etc.
One client described her experience: “When we do trance work I know I’m in control of what’s happening. I’m not asleep but feel in such a very comfortable state. I feel in control even when I could be quite vulnerable. The positive changes I’ve made have had beneficial effects on my family and my colleagues”.
You are not asleep and nothing can happen without your consent. You can hear everything being said and afterwards will usually remember all that has happened and will definitely remember all that you want to. It is not unusual for people to believe that they were not properly hypnotised because they remember “thinking” during the session, and can remember much, or all, of what happened. You will remember everything that you want to remember. If you are a bit apprehensive, and most people are at their first session, you will probably remember everything. Once you are used to being in hypnosis, you will often “miss” much of what has been said. It’s like a car journey, you will remember the journey, but don’t normally remember every lamppost you pass. It doesn’t really matter because your unconscious mind has heard every word!
It has been found that virtually everyone can be hypnotised. Success at going into trance, however, depends on the person’s willingness to be hypnotised at the time. This willingness will itself depend upon a number of factors, including the strength of the person’s need and their trust and confidence in the therapist.
The actual level of trance obtained does not relate to the beneficial results that might be obtained. In practise this means that even where a person thinks they have not been hypnotised, given time, the goal of therapy may still materialise. If the right ingredients are present, if the time is right, and if the client has a therapist with whom he or she is willing to work, then all of their (realistic) goals are achievable. The matter of time is especially important in our current society, which has in many respects the belief that the fulfilment of every desire should be instantaneous.