Demystifying Hypnotherapy

I felt the need to write this blog post after two people expressed common misconceptions about hypnotherapy over the past week.

The first person asked me, “How long do you put people under for?” I replied, “I don’t put people under.”  That is a common misunderstanding about hypnotherapy which is nothing like stage hypnosis neither is it like receiving a general anaesthetic. There is no “going under.” In fact, I use hypnosis to guide a person into trance which is a state of focused awareness and deep relaxation. In this hypnotic state a person’s subconscious mind is more likely to be receptive to the suggestions that I make which are based on a client’s personal goals or desired outcome. I do not put a person to sleep although if a person is feeling tired and deeply relaxed then they may drift into a gentle sleep, in which case I would notice this and bring them back into wakefulness.

Hypnotherapy is not mind control

The second person said, “I need you to change my mindset because I can’t do it myself.” Can this be done? Well, yes and no. To be clear, hypnotherapy is a talking therapy that requires a collaborative relationship between the client and the therapist. You may want me to change your mindset but I cannot control your mind. Hypnotherapy is not mind control. Certainly not by the hypnotherapist, but most certainly by you, for yourself. I would be wary of anyone who says they can control your mind. Even if they could, would you really want them to? Really, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, because you must consent to changing your mind and/or your behaviour at some level, both consciously and subconsciously. No therapist can do that for you.

Throughout trance the client is in control. They will be aware of everything being said whilst in a calm and relaxed state. In this state, with their consent, I can enable them to form new beliefs about themself and their capabilities, effectively helping them to “rewire” their brain. Hypnotherapy can be enormously empowering and life changing.

I am professionally trained in solution focused hypnotherapy and the solution focused approach is based upon the idea that the client is the expert in their own life. Indeed you are the expert in your own life. You know yourself better than anyone else. I cannot be an expert about your life because I do not walk in your shoes. I do not inhabit your inner world.

Solution focused hypnotherapy is a wonderfully effective form of psychotherapy that can be used for a wide range of problems but it does not work for everyone. A lot depends upon the individual client, their personal circumstances, the level of rapport established between them and the therapist, their openness to receiving therapy or whether there is some degree of internal resistance to therapy and change. I cannot promise a cure for your woes. I do not have a magic wand, so I cannot make your problems vanish but I can educate, support and enable you to make positive changes for yourself.

Therapy is a process

Therapy is a process and the length of time needed for each client can vary enormously. I have had some clients who have experienced transformational change in just one or two sessions whereas other clients have needed many more sessions and seen me over a period of several weeks or months. Often it depends on how serious and deep rooted the problem has become. Let’s face it, if a problem has persisted for many months or even years, it is unlikely to be resolved in a matter of just a few sessions.

For instance, a young woman with a long-term anxiety problem about her appearance and related feelings of lack of self-confidence is not likely to lose those feelings and stop worrying about how she looks after just a couple of sessions. This is because her negative thoughts and feelings have become  “hard-wired” in her brain. This notion of the brain becoming hard-wired is based upon neuroscience which is the study of how the brain works. Within this woman’s brain a strong neural connection has formed so breaking down this pathway and replacing it with a new one that involves not persistently worrying about her appearance and feeling okay about herself is going to take time.

When the magic happens

Nevertheless, positive shifts may begin to happen after just a short period of time. A person may find a renewed sense of hope and optimism, a change in their outlook and over the course of a few sessions a noticeable change in their mindset, thoughts, habits and behaviour. I generally observe steady, incremental changes in most of my clients as well as increased self-confidence, participation in more activities that lift their mood and a regained sense of “feeling more like my old self,” which is a term many clients use. Now that is magical ! It’s truly a “sparkling moment” when a client reports positive change and a sense of being in control of their life.

If you’re considering hypnotherapy and you don’t want a “snake-oil salesman” approach but a professional, ethical and integrated therapeutic approach that can potentially lead to sustainable change and enable you to write a new chapter in your life, then feel free to get in touch in with me.

© Tracy Daniels