New Year, New You?
At the beginning of every New Year, people's minds shift towards making the coming year one of growth and challenge, setting resolutions and SMART goals for a more balanced life, to improve their health and their happiness - the positive energy is palpable! But sadly, all that resolve and good intention can often fizzle out well before the end of the year or even January with the ensuing sense of disappointment with ourselves and of failure if we slip up. Sound familiar?
Why is that and is there anything you can do to make a difference and stay accountable for the change you want?
Research has shown that as Humans are brains are hardwired for shortcuts because they help us make navigating the world easier, so stopping or starting something is usually hard requiring a lot of willpower to create change.
If you have been finding it hard or even impossible to the create positive change you want in your life, It doesn't need to stay that way.Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis are incredibly powerful tools for change that can help you make the changes you want to make for healthier ways of thinking, new habits and behaviours. I am sure you have questions about them if you have never experienced them before, so let's do a deeper dive in.
What exactly is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy in which a therapist uses Hypnosis to work with their client to help them engage with their subconscious mind for therapeutic purposes and can help improve or resolve a wide range of issues and symptoms. Complementary means that it takes a whole person approach supporting you in an holistic and person-centered way physically, emotionally and even spiritually. The work is tailored to each individual and can cover a single session or multiple sessions. All Hypnotherapists are Hypnotists, but not all Hypnotists are Hypnotherapists. Hypnotherapy is practiced by a hypnotherapist who is professionally trained, accredited and certified. Hypnotherapy is a pleasant experience; it is a time for you to relax, let go and focus on the issues you want to change.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis can really be described as a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility usually accompanied by feelings of very deep relaxation. All Hypnosis is Self-Hypnosis, it is not something done to you. You are always the one in control, you are the one who has the answers.
What does a Hypnotherapist do?
A Hypnotherapist will assist you to achieve this state of Hypnosis by guiding you using word repetition, verbal cues and mental imagery. Once in Hypnosis, you have access to the subconscious beliefs and patterns that drive your behaviour – and also to the strengths and strategies to help you change them. Working with positive suggestions and different hypnotic techniques, Hypnotherapy can help you to break unwanted habits and behaviours, change perceptions and thinking, create new, positive thought patterns, recover from trauma, and move past addictions. It can help improve your physical and mental wellbeing putting you in touch with your own personal solutions to the issues currently limiting your personal freedom. The Mind-Body connection is amazingly powerful.
Is Hypnotherapy Safe?
Yes, it is a safe complementary therapy option approved by the British Medical Association since 1955, a recognition first stated in 1892. It has been recognised by the American Medical Association as a viable scientific modality since 1958. However, it is important to work with professionally trained Hypnotherapists who are certified by at least one of the professional Hypnotherapy bodies as this will ensure a high level of Professional Standards and Ethics
What does it feel like?
It is subjective; some people will experience feelings of lightness and floating, others will experience more embodied feelings of heaviness, and for some people it doesn't feel like anything at all and that is absolutely fine, it is your unique experience. Some people experience light trances, others deeper ones, but generally when you're in Hypnosis, you feel calm and relaxed because Hypnosis is something that feels natural and familiar. Think of how you feel just before you go to sleep or wake up. In fact, you already know what Hypnosis feels like, because you have experienced natural hypnotic states everyday throughout your life; when watching a compelling movie, reading a great book, daydreaming or driving for example.
What happens in a Hypnotherapy session?
When you go into Hypnosis, you relax your conscious mind’s Critical Faculty which is the rational, analytical part of your mind allowing your Subconscious mind, the part of your mind outside of your conscious awareness, to become more receptive to accepting positive suggestions for the change you want to achieve. This is important because your Subconscious mind is where deep, sustainable change happens because your drivers, emotions and life experiences are held within it and these influence your thinking, behaviours and ultimately your decisions.
Before the session ends, you will gradually be brought back to fill awareness ready to resume your normal activities, most people feeling refreshed and relaxed. Think of it as a Spa for the Mind. All you need to do in the session is sit back, relax and listen to the sound of my voice as you are guided through your Hypnotherapy experience.
Will I be asleep?
During your Hypnotherapy session, for most people, the hypnotic state you enter may appear similar to sleep, your eyes may be open or shut but you will not be asleep, you will be in a state of focused attention and deep relaxation. You will be able to move, speak and hear everything that is happening and usually be able to remember as much as you would from any normal conversation. Conversely, for athletes, Hypnosis can be a very energised state.
Will I be in control?
You are fully in control at all times, you are aware of what is happening and where you are. You can only be encouraged to do what you want to do and do not have to accept the Hypnotherapist's positive suggestions if it is not something you want or agree with, Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy work with your will and not against it.
Can I get stuck in Hypnosis?
You cannot get stuck in Hypnosis as you will be guided out of Hypnosis and brought back to full awareness before the Hypnotherapy session ends. You could also emerge from Hypnosis by yourself if you wanted to or needed to for any urgent reason.
Who can be Hypnotised?
Most people can go into Hypnosis as long as they wish to. You cannot be made to go into Hypnosis as there will always be a verbal hypnotic contract where you are asked to and agree to be Hypnotised by the Hypnotherapist. However, Hypnotherapy is not suitable if you have psychosis or certain types of personality or psychological disorders. A client's physical and mental wellbeing is a Hypnotherapist's main priority and this will form part of the intake process.
How long will it take to make the changes I want to make?
This varies from client to client and will depend on the behaviour, thinking, or habit you want to change and your commitment to change and working with the Hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy can often work in just one, two or three sessions, but sometimes it takes longer. If you are interested in Hypnotherapy,it is important to remember to approach the experience with an open mind. Hypnotherapy has helped millions of people all over the world take control of their lives and improve their wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
So, we have looked at what Hypnotherapy is and how Hypnosis works, and how it works with your will and not against you to effect sustainable change. Are you ready to change something in your life?
Please share your thoughts and questions with me below and check out my website for more information about my Hypnotherapy Services, or to arrange a free 15 minute telephone consultation to see how I could help you step into your Personal Freedom.
Comments