Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hypnosis Dangerous? Hypnosis is a completely natural state to experience. It is where a professionally trained therapist helps a client go safely into this state, at which point therapeutic intervention can be more effective. With a professionally trained therapist there are no dangers in hypnosis. It is impossible to get 'stuck' and although there is a common belief that 'secrets' will be divulged, this is not true. The therapist has no power to control the client and the emphasis is on guiding the client during therapeutic work.
Who can be hypnotised? I believe anybody can be guided into a state of therapeutic hypnosis, as long as:
- The therapist has sufficient skill
- The client has sufficient motivation to enter
the state (ie wants to be hypnotised) - The client is an appropriate candidate for
hypnosis.
All that is really needed from the client is the ability to concentrate and the willingness to work with the therapist.
What is it like to be in hypnosis? There are no specific feelings that let you know you are in hypnosis, however, generally people feel deeply physically relaxed. Although the body is deeply physically relaxed, the mind is generally more alert and sensitive and the individual is aware of what they experience. Almost everyone has experienced an involuntary hypnotic trance. Here are some examples:
- You are driving and you can't remember the last few minutes or you pass through some traffic lights before wondering if you really looked to see if they were green.
- Someone snaps their fingers or waves their hands in front of you to bring you back to full conscious attention because you are entranced by a book or film.
- You daydreamed and wondered where your time went.
- Daydreaming while performing a repetitive task such as mowing the lawn.
- You locked a door but had to go back and check because you don't remember actually doing it.
- Your mind was elsewhere.
- You're enjoying a drink that you don't remember
making.
All of these are examples of natural trance states. A hypnotherapist induces this pleasant, relaxed state deliberately for therapeutic gain. In this heightened state of awareness you become very focused and able to concentrate only on the things that will bring about solutions to your problem.
Is it like stage Hypnosis? Therapeutic/Clinical Hypnosis is completely different from stage hypnosis. Stage hypnosis is used for entertainment purposes and is for the benefit of the audience, whilst Therapeutic/Clinical Hypnosis is used to help people with a wide range of problems in a way that is safe and appropriate, for their benefit.
Examples of how it works. A smoker can consciously know smoking is harmful and yet find themselves compelled to smoke. For many people, conscious knowledge of government health warnings, increasing social unacceptability, the cost, smell and taste etc, do not override the powerful unconscious habit. Hypnotherapy tackles the unconscious desire to smoke. An overweight person may be overeating or eating bad foods despite consciously thinking it is unhealthy and wanting change. The unconscious mind has different ideas but these are hidden from view. The person cannot understand why they yo-yo diet. This is because the unconscious desire to eat unhealthily keeps silently pestering despite the conscious efforts to stop. Hypnotic suggestions to eat healthily can change this.
