Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that we all experience at various times and in various depths throughout the day. The experience of hypnosis has been described in many ways but is often explained as a streamlined state of focused attention.
In hypnotherapy we are able to use this deeply relaxing and usually pleasant state to access and address areas of you which are often difficult in everyday life. In the state of hypnosis it is much easier for everyday resistances to fall away, so we can get work done.
Many people describe hypnosis as feeling similar to daydreaming, when they are neither fully alert, nor asleep. Everyone’s experiences and therefore descriptions of hypnosis will vary because all trance states feel different to different people. Hypnosis is usually associated with a pleasant feeling of deep relaxation and this can be part of the therapy, however not all hypnosis nor Hypnotherapy involves relaxation in the traditional sense.
The Hypnotherapist will use a combination of hypnosis and talking therapy to help the client bring about changes in their thoughts, feelings and behaviours at the subconscious level, where we automatically respond. The beliefs we all hold about ourselves (positive or negative) are stored within our subconscious mind, as are many of our behaviours, patterns and habits. These behaviours can be protective and useful, but where they are unhelpful, a client might want to work with a hypnotherapist because they want to change their deep-rooted, automatic responses and cannot access these alone.
During hypnosis insight can be gained through a new perspective and adjustments can be made to limiting beliefs that have influenced or directed the client’s life, sometimes resulting in radical change or gentle differences that increase positively over time.
Therapeutic techniques applied during hypnosis are usually quicker than the traditional forms of psychotherapy or counselling due to accessing the subconscious, consequently hypnotherapy is becoming increasingly popular.