When most of us think about hypnosis or hypnotherapy, we tend to conjure up an image of magicians putting a person into an unconscious state of mind and making them do silly things.
Clinical hypnosis with a qualified hypnotherapist is actually nothing like that. First, you cannot be hypnotised against your will and you always retain a sense of your conscious self. You don’t need to wait until the hypnotherapist snaps their fingers – you can come out of your hypnotic state by yourself, and at any time.
Clinical hypnotherapy or hypnosis is often described by psychologists and counselors as a naturally obtained but altered state of consciousness which is used to enhance the therapy process.
Hypnosis is actually just a state of deep relaxation or meditation, not uncommon to the way we are when we become very absorbed or focused on a particular activity in our daily lives.
A trained hypnotherapist or hypnotist will enable a process by which you can enter into a deep state of relaxation. Once in a state of hypnosis, you should find yourself feeling calm and centred.
Hypnotherapy works by tapping into your unconscious and thereby making your subconscious thoughts and belief systems more accessible for therapy. It is often thought that the subconscious mind holds not just our memories, but also our emotions, behavioural patterns and most deeply held belief systems. It is these subconscious elements which often hold the key to our behaviour and beliefs.
When you are in a meditative state of deep relaxation your unconscious mind becomes easier to access. This enables a counsellor trained in hypnotherapy to work around your conscious mind and get to the heart of your belief systems. It also enables the counsellor to suggest new behaviours and new ways of thinking, and suggest alternative ways in which you could deal with your problems.
Hypnotherapy endeavours to get past the conscious mind with all its stubborn long-held beliefs and re-program the way that you respond. Because the mind is in a heightened state of suggestibility whilst under hypnosis, hypnotherapy can be extremely effective and fast working. Indeed, it is often described as a form of ‘superlearning’ because it speeds up the process of change.
Many counsellors and psychologists find that hypnosis or hypnotherapy is particularly useful for people suffering from the following issues:
• Stress
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety disorders
• Phobias and fears
• Habits & Addictions such as cigarette smoking, nail biting, grinding teeth, as well as gambling and drug and alcohol addictions
• Pain control
• Weight control
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Lack of self-esteem and confidence.
• Memory and concentration issues
• Releasing angry emotions
• Pregnancy and Obstetrics preparation
• Healing past traumas
Clinical hypnotherapy is often used in conjunction with other therapies, most commonly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). However, hypnotherapy is not for everyone. Hypnotherapy is only one modality used by counsellors and psychologists to treat emotional issues.
Contact our Sydney counsellors and hypnotherapists today to discuss how we can help improve the quality of your life.
