What is hypnotherapy? ...

Hypnotherapy is the term used to describe the use of hypnosis (trance) to address various psychological, emotional and physical issues.

Hypnosis works by accessing the subconscious mind. What we do in hypnosis is create a state of deep relaxation where the conscious mind becomes less active. This allows the subconscious mind to become more open and receptive to the positive suggestions that we make. Such suggestions will be that the client feels happy, well, calm and confident and able to cope effectively with whatever challenges are presented to them. The suggestions we make are what the client actually desires, so they are happy to take the suggestions on board.

Hypnosis is a very pleasant sensation but everyone’s experience will be different. The client may feel heavy, like they’re sinking into the couch, or they may feel light and floating. They may have bodily sensations such as tingling limbs.

Some people believe they won’t be able to go into trance. Others worry that they could get stuck in trance. Well, trance is an ordinary occurrence and we go into trance naturally many times a day, for instance when we’re watching television, out for runs etc. It happens when we’re completely focused on one thing and we become unaware of what’s going on around us. When we’re daydreaming, we’re in trance. And how often have you driven home from work and had no recollection of the journey? Well, you were in trance. As for getting stuck in trance, it can’t happen. If you were driving and were in trance and someone stepped out in front of the car, you would immediately come out of trance and apply the foot brake.

And, unfortunately, as a result of stage hypnosis, one of the misconceptions people have is that they may be made to do something embarrassing or inappropriate against their will. I’d like to set the record straight. 

Stage hypnotists choose their subjects carefully and have them carry out a number of suggestibility tests to find the most promising, 'cooperative' participants for a successful show. Volunteers are by nature exhibitionists, who participate with certain expectations of themselves and they also don’t want to disappoint the audience. In addition to this, a major factor is that if the imagination becomes engaged with a specific task, the body will in fact respond to it.

This is what makes hypnosis so fascinating. It means that if we put our minds to it, we can create new thought patterns and positive behaviours. However, hypnosis can’t make anyone do something that is out of their normal code of behaviour or against their will, because the brain has a very effective defence mechanism that will prevent this from happening. Stage hypnosis works because the volunteers want to participate, so they are open to the suggestions put to them by the hypnotist.