What Is Hypnotherapy?

Many times, we know what needs to be changed to make our lives better and more fulfilling. Yet we tend to struggle with our old patterns of unhelpful thinking. The reason for this is even though our conscious mind knows what we want and what needs to be changed, does not mean that we are able to translate this knowledge into action. For a long-lasting change, our subconscious mind needs to show the willingness for change. Once our subconscious mind is on board, a long lasting and sustainable change is possible. Hence, hypnotherapy is the process through which our subconscious mind is convinced that change is a good thing and is possible.

When a qualified hypnotherapist is hypnotizing a patient, they are trying to take you in a state of trance or relaxation, where you can access your subconscious mind. When the individual is in the state of hypnosis, they are more likely to remember positive and resourceful events, focus on qualities and strengths they already have, and be able to find new solutions to their challenges.

Most importantly, we need to know that hypnosis is safe and you are completely aware of the words being spoken to you by the hypnotherapist. Being hypnotized is not dissimilar to being sleepy or daydreaming. Hypnotherapy is simply a method to put your trance state to work and solve your problems.

Difference Between Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is a state of mind which is deeply connected to increased suggestibility, deep relaxation and narrowed focus. Between sleep and wakefulness, hypnosis is an intermediate state. On the other hand, hypnotherapy is the hypnosis used for therapeutic purposes. It applies the techniques of hypnosis to encourage your subconscious and unconscious mind to find solutions to your problems. Hypnosis is a state of consciousness and hypnotherapy is a therapy. It is important to distinguish that hypnosis itself is not a therapy. The therapy part of a hypnotherapy session occurs after hypnosis has been used to induce your trance. Then, the hypnotherapist makes suggestions that help your unconscious and subconscious mind to achieve your goals or remove your problems.

During hypnosis, your body is relaxed but your thoughts become very attentive. During the hypnotherapy session, your focus is at an enhanced level and what you are focusing is on the therapist’s suggestions. This is where the therapy part begins. For example, if your problem is to manage stress and negative thoughts, the therapist will give you suggestions on how to manage the stress.

What Does Slide Into a Trance Mean in the Process of Hypnotherapy?

As a certified hypnotherapist, I often have clients ask me, what does a state of trance look like? In simple terms, trance is a set of minds which involves selective focus of attention. Throughout our day to day lives, we are in a natural state of trance, usually when we are relaxing.

Some of the examples are listed below:

• Being fully involved in watching a movie or reading a book
• Going window shopping at your favorite stores
• Zoning out while exercising
• Becoming anxious or fearful about an upcoming event
• Fantasizing about a love interest

Trance states often occur naturally and consistently. Hypnosis uses these states to access your unconscious mind to help you easily achieve your goals and solve problems.

Misconceptions Related to Hypnotherapy

You are under the power of hypnotherapist

This misconception is many times related to those who believe that hypnosis is magical and mystical. All of us have seen stage hypnotists who appear to have power over those they hypnotize. It is important to know that people who participate in stage hypnosis acts are those who choose to join in even if they appear not to. It is simply not true that a hypnotist has any control over you. No hypnotherapist can make you do anything that you don’t want to do.

Hypnosis is dangerous

Hypnosis is not dangerous. You have the full autonomy and control to come out of trance whenever you feel like. Hypnosis for certain mental health conditions like severe trauma of any kind, need to be conducted with caution given the painful triggers that may come up.

Hypnosis makes you cluck like a chicken, and you lose control

Clinical Hypnotherapy has a very clear goal of helping you solve your problems and the clinical hypnotherapist is committed and serious about working on your problems. Unlike, stage hypnotherapy whose purpose is entertainment and to make people laugh. In clinical hypnotherapy, each client is treated with respect, care and provides a safe environment, unlike a stage hypnotist.

Hypnosis is therapy

Hypnosis is a therapeutic technique and not therapy. It can be used as a tool for various types of therapy and counseling. Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic aspect of hypnosis. Due to which, hypnotherapy can be combined to work very powerfully with a range of counseling approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Somatic Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

You may not wake up from trance

What wakes you up in the morning? If you said, ‘My alarm clock’, you are missing the point. You always wake up from each night’s sleep, even when your alarm clock doesn’t ring. Similarly, you always awaken from the trance. Remember, trance is not like being in a coma and not sleeping. Trance is a natural state that you enter several times a day while you daydream, exercise or focus intently on a problem at work. You return to a ‘normal state’ of non-trance after each trance state. Therefore, if you think about it, you have a daily practice of awakening from trance states, several times a day.

Who Can Benefit From Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy can be helpful with a variety of conditions such as: 

• Anxiety and Fear
• Stress management
• Improving self-esteem and self-worth
• Long term issues related to health
• Increasing sexual libido
• Pain management
• Obsessive Thinking
• Guilt Release

It is important to know that people who are good with relaxation and meditation, often find hypnotherapy more successful. Also, hypnotherapy is not used as a sole intervention, but it is often combined with other therapeutic approaches such as CBT or ACT. Hypnotherapy unlike other therapeutic interventions is a short-term form of psychotherapy which is usually between 4-5 sessions.