So what exactly is hypnotherapy, I hear you ask? Good question! Hypnotherapy is an extremely effective, drug-free method of treating a range of common issues, including insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression, phobias, destructive habits/addictions and self-esteem issues.
When most people think of a hypnotist they have an image of a guy (it’s usually a guy, right?) swinging a watch and saying something along the lines of, ”You’re getting sleepy…”
Some people even think of being made to cluck like a chicken or imagine they are laying a square egg (ouch!). And, yes, that’s the kind of thing stage hypnotists do. They are generally pure entertainers, stage performers.
But what hypnotherapists do is use hypnosis – that is, guiding someone into a hypnotic trance – to bring about positive changes in people’s lives.
A hypnotic trance is a natural state that everyone (yes, even you) has experienced. Have you ever driven a car somewhere and become so absorbed in other thoughts that you stopped concentrating on your driving? Then you suddenly realised you were further up the road than you thought you were? That’s a form of hypnosis and your subconscious mind actually took over your driving.
Perhaps you’ve been completely absorbed in a book, movie, music, or even your own thoughts. That’s also a naturally occurring form of hypnosis.
Trained hypnotherapists guide the person they are working with into a hypnotic trance, an enjoyable, deeply relaxed state. And, in this state, the subconscious mind is safely accessed so unhelpful behaviours and thought patterns can be changed.
In this deeply relaxed hypnotic state, your attention is focussed completely inward to find the powerful natural resources deep within yourself. This allows you to make changes and regain control in those areas of your life that are causing you problems. Sounds great, right?
