A lot of people confuse and conflate stage hypnotism with hypnotherapy. Tabloid sensationalism and media mythmaking has fostered scorn and suspicion by making people think that hypnosis involves making people bark like a dog or being forced to act against their own volition. This is, of course, completely untrue.
Hypnosis vs. Hypnotherapy: What’s the Difference?
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy both involve being guided into a trance state. This means that you control all of your actions, hear everything around you, and, most importantly of all, you cannot be forced to do anything against your will.
How Hypnotherapy Works
When a client is participating in a hypnotherapy session, they are induced into a deep state of relaxation, hyper-focus and increased concentration, and increased suggestibility. That said, there are those who say that they cannot be hypnotised; as long as you follow instructions and consent to “going under”, then you can be hypnotised. This is precisely why you cannot be hypnotised against your will – you have to “let go” and surrender to it.
Have You Already Experienced a Trance?
Chances are, you have been in a trance state before.
Have you ever been “on autopilot” driving home from work?
Been lost in a reverie whilst listening to a favourite piece of music?
Been totally immersed in a book, film or video game and totally lost track of time?
If the answer is “yes”, then you were in a trance state.
To learn more about trance and its inducers, you can read my blog here.
The Power of Suggestion in Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis harnesses the power of suggestion, yes, but advertising, music, films, and books routinely plant suggestions into our unconscious minds. Language and communication are saturated with suggestion. Hypnotherapy, therefore, can use this power of suggestion and the potency of the unconscious mind to help you to overcome a mental or physical ailment by utilising the practice of hypnosis for therapeutic purposes. Its many uses include:
- Quitting Smoking or Weight Control: Hypnotherapy can help redirect your behaviors toward healthier choices.
- Pain Management: By accessing the mind-body connection, it can assist with managing chronic pain or pain during childbirth and post-surgery.
- Addressing Anxiety, Addiction, PTSD, and Depression: The trance state helps uncover deep-seated causes of these conditions, which may be hidden from the conscious mind.
The Unconscious Mind: Your Inner Hard Drive
The unconscious mind is like a computer’s hard drive, storing all experiences, thoughts, and emotions. Through hypnotherapy, a therapist can help you access these memories, especially those repressed or buried, to understand the root causes of your issues.
Overcoming Unhealthy Behaviours
Hypnotherapy allows you to trace back the events that led to unhealthy behaviours like smoking, overeating, or substance abuse. By uncovering these memories, hypnotherapy helps replace old, unhealthy patterns with healthier alternatives.
Ready to Try Hypnotherapy?
If you feel that hypnotherapy could help you overcome a challenge or improve your life, it’s time to book a session and experience the benefits for yourself. Book Now.