FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Hypnosis?
What is Hypnotherapy?
What can’t be treated with hypnotherapy?
Will I bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken?
Will I lose control?
My friend tried hypnosis to quit smoking and it didn’t work.
How much does hypnotherapy cost?
Isn’t Hypnosis dangerous?
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is simply an altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxed focus. It’s a natural state, in fact, each of us enters these various kinds of “trance states” many times every day. Your deepest natural trance states occur when you are falling asleep and waking up. It’s that kind of fuzzy, timeless state between dreaming and awake.. However, when ever you aren’t fully conscious present… like when you’re day dreaming or remembering something, you are also in an altered state of consciousness.
Most people find hypnosis to be a very enjoyable and relaxing experience. During the hypnosis portion of a session, some of my clients prefer to let their mind drift off while others prefer to listen to every word that is spoken. Either way is fine for the process as the unconscious mind listens to every word regardless of what your conscious mind is doing.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy used to create unconscious change in the patient in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors or feelings. It is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.
A person who is hypnotized displays certain unusual characteristics and propensities, compared with a non-hypnotized subject, most notably deep relaxation, heightened suggestibility and responsiveness.
In fact, there are many other times during your day that you enter into a natural state of trance. Driving, watching TV, listening to music and other situations where you mind drifts elsewhere for a moment…these are all “altered states of consciousness,” and all are various levels of trance. Trance is normal, natural and common in everyone.
What can’t be treated with Hypnotherapy?
Serious psychiatric or mental health problems are referred to a qualified psychotherapist or psychiatrist. Medical problems with the physical body also should always be treated by a physician however hypnosis has been shown to be an affective adjunct to treatment by an MD for pre-operation preparation and post op healing. Hypnotherapy can also be effective in helping deal with chronic pain related to some physical conditions.
Will I bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken?
The short answer is “only if you want to.” Hypnosis can’t make you do something that’s against your morals or ethics. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, and no hypnotist can make you do something that you really don’t want to do. That’s why some people can be hypnotized to stop smoking or lose weight yet they still smoke. If you want to make a certain change in your behavior then hypnosis is an excellent tool for making that change faster, easier and more completely.
Will I lose control?
You always are in control when being hypnotized which is why you can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to do under hypnosis. During hypnosis, the hypnotherapist guides you, he doesn’t control you.
Someone I know used group hypnosis to quit smoking and it didn’t work.
I recommend that, particularly with smoking cessation, you stick with individualized sessions one-on-one with a hypnotherapist instead of using CD’s or group sessions. Your reason for smoking is different than another persons and you’ll fare a lot better with an approach that is specific to your unconscious mind’s strategies than using a generic approach.
There is more to changing a serious habit like smoking than just a few hypnotic suggestions. The more ingrained the behavior, the more important it is that the Hypnotherapist be able to help you discover the core strategies behind the behavior so they can be properly redirected. However, while not 100% effective, if you want to quit smoking, hypnosis is great as a stand-alone method or as a compliment to any other method.
Isn’t Hypnosis dangerous?
Hypnosis is a safe and beneficial procedure when facilitated by an ethical and trained professional. Hypnosis has been shown to be safe, even when performed by less qualified and experienced practitioners.
How Much Does Hypnotherapy Cost?
We are very transparent about our pricing. Please click here to be taken to our Fee Schedule
What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?
Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a psychological approach based upon the premise that the unconscious mind operates based upon a set of principals, beliefs and modalities and based upon these controls the emotions and much of our behavior. Gaining an understanding of these underlying principals, beliefs and modalities creates the basis for then modifying one’s behavior by reframing these fundamentals of our being.
The unconscious mind has the ability to learn new behaviors and to let go of negative emotions very quickly given the proper techniques. NLP techniques are mental exercises specifically designed to reprogram the unconscious mind quickly and comfortably when done correctly. It’s recommended that these techniques are conducted with a trained NLP Practitioner.
What is a hypnotherapy session with you like?
Most, but not all, of my sessions follow this order. I start with a discussion with the client to determine the issues to be worked on and to uncover the unconscious strategies and beliefs behind those issues. That can take between 15 minutes and half an hour or more. Then we begin the reprogramming and updating the unconscious mind with some NLP techniques.
Finally, you get to relax and enjoy the actual hypnosis session. The hypnosis portion itself lasts for about 20 minutes. I record every hypnosis session and burn a CD for you to take home with you to reinforce the changes you have made during the session. I recommend you listen to the CD at least once every day for two weeks… preferably longer. Virtually everyone experiences positive changes during a session and leaves feeling significantly better than before the session.
NOTE: I don’t believe that wailing and sobbing and other forms of gut wrenching catharsis are necessary to accomplish the changes you want… so most sessions are comfortable and even enjoyable and enlightening.
IMPORTANT: Always keep in mind that hypnosis is not a treatment or cure for mental illness and people suffering from psychosis, suicidal depression, or that are on medications for psychological stability should only be hypnotized by their doctors or psychiatrists or by an experienced hypnotherapist with the client’s doctor or psychiatrist’s approval.