Hypnosis 101
Here we answer some of the most commonly
asked questions about hypnosis.
What is Hypnosis?
There are as many ways to explain
hypnosis as there are individuals offering the explanations. We prefer to define hypnosis as a natural state
of mind combined with physical relaxation, during which your brain wave pattern changes,
allowing you to access a larger percentage of your own brain power to make
positive
changes of your own choosing.
Metaphorically speaking, it's like driving a car.
During the beta brainwave pattern, the conscious mind (which is very limited) is in control and the
more powerful subconscious mind is riding in the back seat. As you relax into
an alpha brainwave pattern, they trade
places and the subconscious mind takes over, although the conscious mind is still along
for the ride.
This explains why, throughout hypnosis, you remain
consciously aware of everything going on around you - to varying degrees.
It is commonly accepted that "all
hypnosis is self-hypnosis" in
that no one else can take control of your mind or force you to think, feel, or
behave in a way that is unacceptable to you.
As professionals, we teach our
clients how to use self-hypnosis if, and only if, they choose to. We act
only as their guide along the pathway to self-improvement.
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How does hypnosis make people act crazy and do
silly things?
Stage hypnotists make hypnosis seem very
spectacular. They use it to entertain people. The fact is, hypnosis doesn't make anything
happen. It doesn't make anyone do anything (or stop doing anything). Those people who are
barking like dogs or clucking like chickens, have allowed their subconscious minds
to become receptive to
acceptable suggestions.
The subconscious mind automatically accepts
suggestions (as long as they aren't harmful in any way, or conflict with your personal
values). This is the part of the mind that lets you do things easily, effortlessly, even
automatically. So when the suggestion to bark or cluck (etc.) is given, the person who
has accepted it automatically barks or clucks. They know they're not a dog or chicken, however
the response is automatic. It amuses people and everybody has a good time.
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Who invented hypnosis?
No one invented it. Hypnosis is a
natural phenomenon, developed by medical doctors several hundred years ago in Europe. Over many
decades, they discovered the techniques that helped their patients remain more comfortable
throughout treatment and recovery, and actually heal more quickly. They found that it's
possible to achieve total anesthesia using only hypnosis, and countless major surgeries
have been done using no pain killing chemicals whatsoever, only hypnosis.
Secondarily, physicians discovered you can use these
same techniques to help a person change the way they think, feel, and behave. Hypnosis in
this application is often called hypnotherapy.
Entertainers have made our jobs as hypnotherapists a
little difficult in that clients who've seen hypnosis on stage, TV, or in the movies,
expect it to be dramatic. The illusions created by entertainers make it appear that during
hypnosis, you go into a deep sleep, or some mysterious trance, losing all awareness,
relinquishing control of your mind to someone else, and later forgetting everything that
transpired. The fact is, no one else takes control of your mind during
hypnosis. Hypnosis
gives YOU more control; which is why it's easier to change the way you think, feel, and
behave using self-hypnosis rather then through conscious effort alone.
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Can hypnosis be harmful?
In a word - yes. When it is used by someone who is
untrained, poorly trained, or unethical. This is one reason we chose the name "Evergreen
Professional Hypnotherapy" for our business. Sometimes we just call it EPH and we
like to say that coincidentally, "E" stands for ethical, "P" stands
for professional, and "H" for honest - because our goal is to
be all these - and more.
We would caution you to avoid
hypnotherapists who insist upon multiple sessions.
With the passage of time and with regular and repetitive visits, a feeling of
trust can be established to the extent that a client may become more
vulnerable to unethical suggestions.
It is highly unusual for a
client to feel or behave worse instead of better, following a session with a
competent professional. If you have heard of this happening, the most
commonly held explanation is that there are underlying
psychodynamics at play that may
require psychiatric or psychological attention.
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What does it take to become a hypnotherapist?
This varies from state to state. Currently in
California anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist with little or no training. "Certification" means that some training has taken place,
but - how much? From whom? With what standards? It only takes three minutes to
learn how to hypnotize another person! What occurs during the hypnosis is what
makes the difference.
There are hypnotherapists who've read a book or two,
or attended a class or two, paid for an ad or two - and they're in business... playing
with people's minds. There are hypnotherapists with another full time job, who do hypnosis
"on the side" to earn extra income, or just for the fun of it. There are
hypnotherapists who use hypnosis AND sell a product or products. There are hypnotherapists
working without a business license, even without a business location. They invite
themselves into your home, or invite you into theirs. This is actually illegal in some
places, as well as unsafe!
There are hypnotherapists who've learned one
technique and hypnotize everyone precisely the same way, even using predetermined scripts.
Their success is limited because not everyone responds favorably to the same technique, or
to the same suggestions.
These are all reasons to be certain that you are
dealing with a professional who has a formal education in psychology, whose education in
the field is ongoing rather than static, who has active professional affiliations,
and who is
in the business primarily to help people, rather then to just make money. (We always
caution people to be leery of someone whose standard fee is very high OR very low, or who
remains inflexible in considering your circumstances.)
We also suggest that you stay far away from any
hypnotherapist who claims to "heal" others or "make" others lose
weight or stop smoking or become more self-confident, etc. This is clear
indication of a misguided ego. A good hypnotherapist will give you full credit for your
own self-improvement, and will feel privileged that they've been allowed to guide you
through the process of positive change.
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What if I can't be hypnotized?
Personally we find it amusing when someone says,
"I can't be hypnotized, I'm too strong-minded." What we're working with during
hypnosis IS the mind - the more strong - minded you are, the better
- as long
as you are willing to cooperate and follow the hypnotherapist's instructions, in order to
use
your mind for self improvement.
Anyone of normal or above normal intelligence can be
hypnotized. We've even had success with mentally handicapped individuals, whose high
motivation for change far outweighed their below normal IQ.
High intelligence can also work against
you -- if you are so comfortable using your intellect
that you are unwilling to leave that
comfort zone and use your mind in a different, more creative way ... imagining and
pretending rather then analyzing and criticizing. There are specific techniques that can
be used very effectively with intellectuals, as long as they are willing to
simply stay still and listen.
Some clients say, "I can't relax! Guess I can't
be hypnotized..." We say, "Everyone can relax. We're born knowing how to relax." Sometimes it
just slips our minds. So we re-mind you, and help you, by just using our voice and a few
techniques that have never failed. Sometimes "uptight"
clients are absolutely amazed at themselves, and thrilled to discover how good it feels
when they do relax.
Understand, relaxation isn't the only way to go from a beta brain
wave pattern into alpha, but it's by far the most pleasant way. It isn't always necessary
to spend a long period of time going through progressive relaxation. Relaxation can happen
very quickly. And with some techniques, it isn't even a prerequisite!
Deep relaxation
isn't an essential component of hypnosis, but because there are things that ONLY happen
physiologically, neurologically and psychologically DURING total relaxation, there is a
bonus -- a benefit that is missed if other techniques are used instead of relaxation.
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What if it doesn't work?
Hypnosis doesn't work - you do. If you have a job to
do -- stop
smoking, stop biting your nails, start exercising, stay away from sweets, etc.
-- you are the one who does the job, not hypnosis. Hypnosis is a tool. Imagine trying to
cut down a huge tree with a handsaw... slow, discouraging, difficult, perhaps impossible.
Now Imagine cutting down a huge tree using a power saw! This
makes the job doable! You can get it done faster, easier and better! This is the
difference between making changes with or without hypnotherapy. Either way, you're
the one
who has to do the job.
When suggestions are based on information you've provided - as
long as you are being honest with yourself and with the hypnotherapist - they are readily
accepted by your subconscious mind during therapy and your new behavior will reflect the
positive changes in your mind.
If changes don't occur, it simply means that additional
information is needed. Sometimes there's more going on subconsciously then we realize.
Smoking, for example, may be simply a wasteful, annoying habit; or there may be some
underlying psychodynamics going on which need to be addressed. Hypothetically, a young boy
whose father smoked, who has been abandoned (actually or emotionally) by that father, may
have more than a habit. For him, smoking may be a way to feel connected to his absent
father. This is an example of underlying issues.
Overeating may just be a matter of routinely making unhealthy
choices, or there may be more to it. (A classic example is a women who gains weight to
keep herself at a safe distance from men because of some sexual abuse in her past. Even
though she may consciously want to loose the weight, the feelings held in her subconscious
mind won't let her until the abuse is addressed and resolved.)
When someone asks our success rate we say "100% - with
clients who are honest, open, willing, cooperative, truly motivated to change, and willing
to follow recommendations -- including the use of a reinforcement CD, additional sessions if called
for, or perhaps help from another professional."
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How long does it take to make a change?
We always encourage a client to expect to notice
positive changes as a result of their first session. As long as they are happy with the
results, they can "keep the change" and we never need to see them
again!
Sometimes you make a change and you're so
comfortable with it, it becomes self-perpetuating. Other times, in time, you notice
yourself picking up your old way of thinking, feeling, or behaving. (There is a scientific
explanation for why this sometimes happens, which is no reflection on you or the
hypnotherapist - sometimes it just happens. For more details, feel free to contact us.)
Some hypnotherapists will insist "up
front" on seeing a client 4 times, or 10 times, or whatever. In our opinion, this is a
way of generating more income, but it is unfair to those who only need one session. We also
feel it's important for a client to accept responsibility for their ongoing success, and
to call the office if and when they decide they need more help. Another private session is always an
option.
Additionally, we can make a
personalized hypnosis CD for you to use as reinforcement.
We leave these options up to you, since everyone has their own financial concerns and preferences. Some
can't afford ongoing sessions. Some simply prefer a recorded CD to use on
their own.
There is also always the option
of attending our FREE peer support group that meets weekly to address problems
and goals. (See Rising Tide
page on this web site.)
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How does it feel to be hypnotized?
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