10 Facts about Hypnotherapy that you Never Knew
In my hypnotherapy blog I mostly focus on the things I feel comfortable using hypnotherapy to help. I also think it is important to help give an understanding of hypnotherapy and how it works. Here you will read ten facts about hypnotherapy. I love my work and I enjoy sharing stories and interesting information. I hope you learn something new when you read the following facts about hypnotherapy.
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There is no hypnotised feeling
Before I start using hypnosis I ask my clients whether it is something they have done before. A common answer is, “yes but I don’t think I was hypnotised”. The expectation is to feel hypnotised but what does hypnotised feel like? There is not a hypnotised feeling. During a hypnotherapy session most people feel calm and relaxed, however you are not asleep, and the feeling is one you will experience every day and notice more when you become familiar with it.
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There are lots of hypnotised feelings
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There are some common experiences of hypnosis that occur for some people, some of the time. Time distortion is popular. It’s not unusual for me to notice someone sneakily checking their watch as I send them out of the door. Despite wishing to check discretely the exclamation, “oh my goodness is that the time” isn’t so! Time can pass very quickly in hypnosis.
Some people report feeling a dizzy spinning sensation, a little like a drunk feeling. Others feel heavy or notice a change in temperature. Many people feel focused with a greater ability to visualise and feel in control.
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Hypnosis is…
Hypnosis is an everyday state of mind that might feel quite normal to you. It is a state of mind in which you have intense focus. The American Psychological Association write a definition of hypnosis as, “a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion.” (APA, 2014). You might find yourself in the same state of mind when you watch TV, feel engrossed in an activity, scroll your phone, or when driving a familiar route.
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Hypnosis does not programme the subconscious mind
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It is relevant to note that neuroscience does not understand consciousness, so it is challenging to interpret the subconscious! Whilst we don’t even know where our thoughts come from, many people choose to call the part of our thinking we have an awareness of the conscious mind and the part that we don’t the unconscious or subconscious.
A hypnotist cannot re-programme your subconscious, neither can we access your subconscious. Hypnosis does however help you to focus your mind and come out of an anxious state so that your brain functions optimally. Many people find it easier to visualise when in the hypnotic state of mind so re-programming your own thoughts and taking control of your reactions is easier.
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Hypnosis puts you in control
Hypnosis helps your brain function in the way it should. The default state of mind is a calm state. Due to an unnatural way of life for some, or trauma for others, many of us spend much of life in a heightened state of mind. This is not efficient, and it explains many health problems – physical and mental. It also restricts feeling in control and therefore prevents considered reactions. When you use hypnosis, you take back control of your mind and body. The meditative state of hypnosis lets you think properly so that you can make choices about how you behave.
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Hypnosis is not the therapy
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Hypnosis is a wonderful tool. Much like meditation, when you use it every day you help your body to maintain homeostasis. You feel present in the moment, calm and in control. When you learn self-hypnosis you can use it to help yourself. Some people do not have a specific issue, they know that they don’t feel quite right and seek support. In this instance learning hypnosis / meditation might be enough.
However, hypnosis is not the therapy. If you seek hypnotherapy to help with a specific problem your hypnotherapist will incorporate a therapeutic modality into the session to help you with the changes you want to make.
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Hypnotherapy is not a regulated profession
Unfortunately, hypnotherapy is not regulated. Anyone can call themselves a hypnotherapist without any training, qualifications, or checks. In addition to this anyone can set up a hypnotherapy training school and hypnotherapy association. Most training schools do set up an association for their ‘graduates’ to join. This does not mean they are reputable or beneficial.
When you look for a hypnotherapist read everything you can find about their training and experience. If they belong to an association, check what requirements they must meet to maintain membership. There should be the option for you to contact the hypnotherapist before you book a session so you can ask them directly about their experience.
Of course, more qualification is not always better. A hypnotherapist may be primarily self-taught but have a specific expertise. Explore the options available to you and go with what feels best to you.
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There are many forms of hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapists work in different ways; therapy is personal to the client and depends on what modality the therapist uses. The experience could be similar from one hypnotherapist to the next, but it might also be very different. It is important to choose a hypnotherapist that aligns with you and to change if something does not feel right. If hypnotherapy does not work for you, please don’t write it off completely – try with a different hypnotherapist and explain that they previous therapy used was not effective.
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Hypnosis is an effective form of analgesia.
Studies show hypnosis is an effective analgesic and for 75% of the population hypnosis provides substantial pain relief. One anaesthetist, Professor Marie Elizabeth Faymonville, uses hypnosis in conjunction with sedatives and local anaesthesia. This reduces the need for conventional anaesthesia, so recovery is faster. Hypnosis is also used in dentistry, to help with fear and surgery. There is a well published story of a 73-year-old who underwent brain surgery using hypnosis instead of anaesthetic. Doing so mitigated all the negative side effects of anaesthetic such as the sedative effect of anaesthesia leading to distorted results.
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Stage hypnosis is fake.
This is not true! Stage hypnosis is an incredibly skilful collaboration between hypnotist and hypnotisee. The person on stage does not have conversations with the hypnotist prior to the show, neither are they planted there. Whilst some say that the hypnotist will scan the audience for someone they believe susceptible, you will also find stage hypnotists showing off amongst friends in the pub. The stage hypnotist is an inspiration to watch, they know exactly what to do and exactly when to do it. One stage hypnotist once said to me that he never fails because he never has any expectations.
So there you have it, 10 facts about hypnotherapy. Please continue to read my blog and website to learn more things about me, how I work and the sort of things I can help you with. Somewhere hidden away you might find more facts about hypnotherapy!