Could you answer these questions for me?

I recently was asked to answer questions for a young student's Health and Wellness class project.

His E-mail said, "I am supposed to ask an expert about hypnosis. Could you answer these questions for me?"


What is hypnosis?

The function of the brain is to set and fulfill goals. The brain is a goal setting mechanism. Safe and effective, hypnosis creates a special psychological state which allows you to make positive change happen quickly and easily. Hypnosis helps you gain control of responses that are normally controlled by unconscious mechanisms. With hypnosis you easily access the creative part of yourself at an unconscious level where learning and change take place.

The hypnotic state is very pleasant and has no harmful side effects. You already know how to reach hypnotic states because you have been doing it your entire life whether you knew it or not. For example, you reach a state of hypnosis, or trance state, when you daydream, remember an event that happened in the past, drive a car, read a book, watch a good movie, listen to music, or lie down to rest.

Stage hypnosis is for fun and entertainment. Hypnosis used for hypno-therapy involves a deliberate choice to enter this state of consciousness for a goal, focus your concentration, and use suggestion to make changes in your life or to promote healing. Whenever a suggestion is received in this state of suggestibility it tends to go deep into our subconscious and have a powerful effect on our behavior. Once the subconscious mind accepts an idea, it goes to work on making it come true.

Hypnosis may not feel any different than your normal waking state of awareness. During hypnosis, your conscious mind may remain focused on my words, or it may drift off, so you do not track what I am saying.

Hypnosis has many levels that range from light to deep. Depth is just a metaphor used when speaking about hypnosis, as in the suggestion to go "deeper and deeper" into hypnosis. Some people prefer the metaphor of drifting higher and higher. Hypnotic states are part of a continuum of regular consciousness, so you may reach many different hypnotic states during your session.

Some of the work I do with my clients is in an active trance state, engaged in guided imagery, where the client is accessing the Alpha and Theta brain wave states of trance AND is fully awake and aware.

The person in a hypnotic trance is always in control, just as someone who is daydreaming can decide to go on, or stop, at any time.

In my work, I tell my clients that it doesn’t matter what your conscious mind is doing during hypnosis, because your unconscious will be listening to everything I say and you can trust that you will go to the level of trance that is appropriate for you.

After your hypnosis session, you will feel calm, relaxed, refreshed, and ready to bring your full attention to the rest of your day.


Can everyone be hypnotized?

Everyone can be hypnotized, and most people go into a trance multiple times a day. The only difference with hypnosis/hypnotherapy is that you go into a trance state for the purpose of helping you achieve your goals.


What is it used for?

Hypnosis can be helpful in all areas of one’s life. Although it would be impossible for anyone to make a comprehensive list of what hypnosis is good for, here is a list of some of the most common problems that have successfully been addressed with hypnosis/hypnotherapy.

ACCOMPLISH GOALS
STOP SMOKING
LOSE WEIGHT
OVERCOME FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
STOP BITING FINGERNAILS
IMPROVE SPORTS PERFORMANCE
IMPROVE MOTIVATION, MEMORY AND LEARNING
MANAGE AND REDUCE PAIN
IMPROVE SLEEP
ACCELERATE HEALING
GET RID OF OLD HABITS, BEHAVIORS, FEARS, and PHOBIAS
MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES
REDUCE STRESS and ANXIETY
STRENGTHEN YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
RESOLVE GRIEF
STOP REPETITIVE THOUGHTS
GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT
CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
ENHANCE PERSONAL GROWTH
RELEASE EMOTIONAL BLOCKS
BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE
HEAL YOUR EMOTIONS
Diagnosed Medical Conditions require a referral from a doctor.


What is your training? How long did it take?

The credentials to look for when choosing a hypnotherapist would be that the hypnosis training is certified and recognized by the major hypnosis organizations. The State of Washington requires all hypnotherapists to be registered but has no requirements or practice standards.

My master practitioner level work was done in 2001 through a private university specializing in Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Bennett Stellar University, which is recognized by the Professional Board of Hypnotherapy, the National Guild of Hypnotists, and the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Training can take between 100 and 300 hours or more.

When choosing a hypnotherapist, be sure they have training in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) because that provides a critical level of expertise in both verbal and non-verbal communication.

On a regular basis, usually each month, I attend continuing education seminars and presentations provided by professional hypnosis trainers and other experts in the fields of energy medicine, natural health, accelerated learning and personal growth.


What are concerns people have about hypnosis?

Since hypnosis requires your full cooperation, you can never be compelled to do anything that violates your ethical standards, spiritual beliefs, sense of good taste, or personal preferences.
Will I Lose Control In Hypnosis? NO
Will I Get Stuck In A Trance? NO
Can You Make Me Do Something Against My Will? NO


How popular is it?

The use of hypnosis as a viable therapeutic method is becoming more accepted today than ever before. Hypnosis has been clinically proven to provide medical and therapeutic benefits.


How long does it take to help with a problem like smoking?

Most of my clients see improvement after one or two sessions. Although when there are more complex factors involved, it may take more sessions to address what comes up for each individual.

Three sessions are recommended to become a non-smoker for life. You become a "non-smoker" after the first session. You will become aware of your subconscious triggers to smoke before they become a conscious feeling. If you do run into a situation where you have the desire to smoke, we will use it to do specific work on that particular situation where you were "triggered". The follow up sessions work on dissolving the habits attached to smoking to be sure the emotional and physical "triggers" for smoking are all gone. Results are ultimately achieved through the client's own personal efforts at applying these techniques over time.


Do you have a story of someone who was helped by hypnosis?

At Hypnosis Seattle, I have helped hundreds of people solve their problems and achieve their goals. Because of privacy laws I cannot give you a specific example, but I can give you an example from a public testimonial.

“I did not think that giving up smoking could be so easy. One session was all that was needed. I would never have thought that this was possible, especially with me. I had smoked cigarettes for 20 years. I started when I was really young and did not really think hypnosis would work, but I had a new girlfriend that didn't like it that I smoked, so I really wanted to quit. My first hypnosis session was on a Friday afternoon. That weekend, I went out to all the places I usually smoke and it was amazing. I did not have to struggle not to smoke, I just didn't even want to."