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ABOUT
HYPNOTHERAPY
WHAT IS
HYPNOTHERAPY USED FOR?
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The aim
of Hypnotherapy is to bring about beneficial changes to certain problems which
have their origins in the mind.
There are
many branches of hypnotherapy and hundreds of uses.
Probably
the most widely known use is to help people to stop smoking. However,
hypnotherapy is also used to break many other habits, and to strengthen
self-control.
Hypnotherapy is used to overcome stress – and stress related ailments.
It is very
useful for calming nerves, and overcoming fears and phobias – and it is
wonderful for general confidence boosting.
Where the
problems are more complex and there are deeper psychological indications,
Hypnotherapy can be used in an analytical capacity, to give an insight into the
subconscious triggers which can cause many unexplained symptoms.
More
specialized branches can even deal with pain relief. You may have heard of
Hypnosis being used as a natural anaesthetic in surgical operations, or to
help with childbirth.
Most
Hypnotherapists cover a wide range of subjects, but Individual therapists will
supply you with a list of the specific problems they treat.
Occasionally individual
therapists may specialise in certain areas which are of particular interest
to them.
If you
contact a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention
that you obtained their details from HypnothrapistRegister.com
WHAT IS
HYPNOSIS ?
Hypnosis (hypnotic trance) is an altered state of consciousness in which it is
possible to communicate with the subconscious mind.
You may be
surprised to know that it is a very common state which everybody automatically
drifts in an out of from time to time.
You know
how it is when you get thoroughly lost in a beautiful piece of music, or a good
book, or a daydream. Your attention is completely captured and everyday
reality fades into the background as your mind carries you away to a different
world of the imagination.
You are
still conscious, but your consciousness is temporarily altered. Well believe
it or not, that is a form of trance.
In fact we
all go through a similar phase just before we go to sleep.
When you
are being hypnotised, you are guided by the Hypnotist into this same kind of
trance state somewhere between being asleep and being awake, and this is
called a hypnotic trance. It is a very pleasant feeling of calmness and deep
relaxation.
Contrary
to popular belief, when you are hypnotised you are not asleep or
unconscious. You will normally have your eyes closed, but you can still hear
and feel and even speak. Indeed, your concentration and awareness actually
become heightened.
Different
people can experience hypnosis in slightly different ways. Some people may
notice that they feel rather heavy, whilst others may feel light and
‘floaty.’ Often the closed eyelids can flutter a little here and there, or
there may be a slight tingling sensation in various parts of the body. However
some people experience nothing at all, other than a feeling of deep relaxation.
The experience of hypnosis is a very personal thing, but basically, it is just
a very calm and pleasant feeling – rather like being in a daydream
The main
requirement to enter hypnotic trance is relaxation, and for most people this is
a very gradual process.
For some
people, entering hypnosis can be rather disappointing because they expect to
suddenly ‘go under’ some strange spell and feel extremely weird - but
it isn’t like that at all.
For most
people, there is no sudden feeling of ‘going under’ hypnosis.
Sometimes
individuals may doubt that they are actually being hypnotised at all because
they do not experience the sudden loss of consciousness they expected.
It is
quite important that your expectations of hypnosis are realistic, and you
understand that it is a gradual, drifting process. It is important you should
understand this because during the induction into hypnosis, if you are
mentally interfering all the time by constantly thinking that you are not ‘going
under’, this in itself can disrupt the whole process of gradual relaxation.
All you
need to do, is to let yourself go, and concentrate on your Hypnotherapist’s
voice so that he or she can help you to relax.
When the
body and the conscious mind have been sufficiently relaxed, the normal barriers
to the subconscious part of the mind also become relaxed, and the subconscious
becomes receptive to positive suggestion.
The Roots of
Hypnosis - an interesting article by David Reeves
If you contact
a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention that
you obtained their details from HypnotherapistRegister.com
WHAT IS
POSITIVE SUGGESTION?
A
positive suggestion is a positively worded statement or command, which is given
(or suggested) to the subconscious mind.
In the
relaxed state of hypnosis, the subconscious mind becomes receptive and can
accept and store the positive suggestion, and subsequently act upon it.
For
instance, a smoker can have it suggested to him that he is now a non-smoker,
and that suggestion is then left in the subconscious mind, so that the person
no longer wishes to smoke.
However,
for the suggestion to be properly accepted into the subconscious mind, it is
important that the smoker really wants to give up the habit.
In brief,
positive suggestions can re-programme the mind to bring about beneficial
changes.
If you contact
a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention that
you obtained their details from
HypnotherapistRegister.com
WHAT IS THE
SUBCONSCIOUS (sometimes called the UNCONSCIOUS) MIND?
That is a big question –and this
is a very brief answer.
Your mind
consists of two parts; the CONSCIOUS and the SUBCONSCIOUS.
The
CONSCIOUS mind inhabits the surface level. This part of the mind is where you
do all your everyday conscious thinking.
At a
deeper level, we have the SUBCONSCIOUS mind, and this part of the mind deals
with your unconscious actions – the things you do automatically.
In the
subconscious you keep your habits, and also your habitual fears - and from here
all your automatic responses are triggered .
The
subconscious also stores your memories – and all the things that have had a hand
in making you what you are today.
If you contact
a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention that
you obtained their details from HypnotherapistRegister.com
HOW IS A
HYPNOTIC TRANCE INDUCED?
There
are several ways to induce hypnosis, and different Hypnotists will use their
own favourite methods. Stage Hypnotists and Hypnotherapists may employ
different methods.
Some
Hypnotherapists like to start with some form of fascination. They may ask you
to concentrate on a revolving spiral, or some other object. But don’t be
disappointed if this technique is not used, as it is just a variation,
not a necessity.
Honestly,
not many people ask you to gaze into their ‘piercing eyes,’ or stare at a
swinging watch these days. That sort of thing has more to do with old
fashioned Hollywood movies than modern Hypnotherapy.
Most
Hypnotherapists use relaxation techniques, and you are also likely to be asked
to concentrate on certain things. For instance you may be asked to focus your
attention on your breathing, or to imagine various things.
During the
induction, the therapist is likely to speak to you in a particular way, and at
a particular tempo, which is designed to gently slow down the brainwaves.
This will help you to gradually drift into the pleasant state of hypnotic
trance, in which you will experience feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Words like
“relax,” “deeper,” and “sleep” or “sleepy” are often used in the induction.
However, these words are not intended to send you to sleep. They are merely
calming words which send special messages to the brain to help you to become
very relaxed and tranquil.
Hypnosis
is not a state of being unconscious, but merely of having your consciousness
altered – indeed your mind remains clear and focused, and you are likely to
remember most of what was said to you.
Some
people are very easy to hypnotise, whilst others take longer.
Most
people remain in a fairly light state of hypnotic trance, whilst a very small
percentage naturally go to much deeper levels. Sometimes people drift in and
out of lighter and deeper states. All this is perfectly normal.
Deep
states of hypnosis are not required for successful therapy.
If you contact
a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention that
you obtained their details from HypnotherapistRegister.com
COULD I BE
HYPNOTISED AGAINST MY WILL?
No, your
co-operation is required
Tell
everybody about HypnotherapistRegister.com
CAN ANYBODY
BE HYPNOTISED, OR DO YOU HAVE TO BE WEAK MINDED?
On the
contrary, you need a reasonable amount of intelligence in order to be
hypnotised. The people who respond best to hypnosis are those who are capable
of concentration, imagination and mental dexterity.
Most
people can be hypnotised. The exceptions are those who are mentally
subnormal, young children, or those who are ‘high’ on drugs or alcohol.
Everybody
else (who properly co-operates with the process) can be hypnotised.
Obviously, if somebody cannot understand what is required if them, or if they
are resisting for some reason, they will have difficulty entering into
hypnosis.
WILL I LOSE
CONTROL OF MYSELF and COULD I BE MADE TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING AGAINST MY WILL OR
NATURE?
No. You
will know what is going on and you will retain your intelligence and your
self-control.
Hypnotherapy requires the client and the therapist to work together in a spirit
of co-operation, in order to help you to control your own mind.
For
Hypnotherapy to be successful, you need to be comfortable with what is going on
in the session.
If any
suggestion was given to you with which you did not agree, you could reject
it. If anything was suggested to you that went against your beliefs or moral
code you would be shocked out of hypnosis.
IF YOU DON’T
LOSE CONTROL, WHAT ABOUT THOSE STAGE SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE DO ALL SORTS OF SILLY
THINGS?
Successful
stage hypnosis requires willing volunteers.
These
people obviously have a desire to join in the show and perform, or they wouldn’t
volunteer to go on stage in the first place.
Hypnosis
merely helps them to lift the inhibitions which they may ordinarily have against
performing.
Please do not confuse
Stage Hypnosis
and Hypnotherapy. The aims are very
different.
IS HYPNOSIS
DANGEROUS and ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Hypnotherapy is not dangerous. In skilled
hands Hypnotherapy is a proven therapeutic aid. NO drugs
should ever be used, and there are no unwanted side effects.
We hope
that you now have a clearer understanding of Hypnosis and it’s uses.
In
addition to the information we have given, most therapists will be able to
provide you with their own informative material when you contact them, and
should be able to answer any additional questions you may have.
If you contact
a Hypnotherapist listed on this register, please mention that
you have obtained their details from HypnotherapistRegister.com
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