What is hypnotherapy and how does it work?

Almost anyone can be hypnotised, 95% of the public can be placed in at least a light hypnotic trance. The ability to concentrate is all that is required to enable hypnosis to be successful. Children make excellent patients because of their imagination, especially aged between 8 – 16, younger children are less responsive.

Here are some common fears and fallacies about hypnosis:

No one can be placed in a trance against his or her will. A hypnotherapist cannot force you to go into hypnosis against your will.

No secret will be revealed unless the patient wants it revealed. Your subconscious will protect you. You cannot be made to say or do anything against your normal moral code.

You cannot remain in a hypnotic trance; it is a natural state of mind. If the therapists left the room or stopped talking you would be aware within moments, and open your eyes.

There’s nothing magic about hypnotherapy. We go into light hypnotic states more often than we think. When we daydream, get absorbed in a book, listen to music, watch television, dance or are involved in some repetitive sport, we are mildly hypnotised.

Hypnosis is a natural phenomenon that occurs in a cyclical rhythm throughout the day. It is a completely different state from sleep and has very different actions on the mind.

	Our conscious mind is the part that works within our awareness. We have control; we know what is happening and make decisions of our own choice.
	Our unconscious mind consists of all our experiences, habits and memories. Some people find difficulty controlling thoughts or behaviour arising from this part.
	Our feelings and emotions are represented in different parts of our body at times and these too are difficult to control.

Hypnotherapy as a treatment for any psychosomatic problem is not a miracle cure: you don’t go into a trance, get instructions from the hypnotist and then go away with all your fears eliminated. A hypnotherapist, as the name implies, is a therapist as well as a hypnotist. We employ similar techniques to counsellors and therapists

When you are in a light trance, you are at the same time usually mentally alert and can recall the session afterwards; you probably won’t feel that you have been hypnotised, but the treatment is still effective. The second level called medium trance, in this level you are more completely relaxed and able to accept suggestions more quickly. The last level deep trance you will not remember what you have heard unless told to remember on awakening. Even at this very deep level, however you cannot be told to do or say anything that is against your moral or ethical code. You are always the one in control. When you are under hypnosis, you are also deeply relaxed and open to new ideas that bring about change.

 Applications

Below are some of the many conditions that benefit and are resolved by hypnosis:

Eating disorders	Overcoming bereavement	Compulsions	Smoking
Insomnia	Pain control	Migraine	Blushing
Phobias	Improved sporting performance	Improved memory	Panic attacks
Increased relaxation and elimination of tension	Exam nerves/Tests	Dental fear	Self-esteem
Increased and focused concentration	Increased self-confidence	Increased motivation	Improved interpersonal skills
Past life regression	Eliminating anxiety and depression, negative tendencies	Eliminating habits, nail biting, stammering.	Stress management programme