You may have come across some odd ideas about hypnotherapy, or at least hypnosis. Most of them are myths and exaggerations, so let me set you straight.
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What is hypnotherapy?
Firstly, let’s say that although different people experience hypnosis differently, it is not a psychedelic, weird or ‘trippy’ experience. It’s not like being ‘under a spell’, out of control or feeling compelled to do anything you do not wish to do. There is more about this on the FAQ page. Hypnosis is not quite the same as relaxation or meditation. However, they have some things in common, and relaxation is often a part of your therapy.
It’s easiest to think of hypnosis as a state of concentrated attention. A bit like when you are completing a task that you need to focus on. Some people liken it to being engrossed in a film, video game or book. You set aside the critical voice that tells you it’s not real, and respond to what’s going on in as if it was actually happening. For others, it’s like driving a familiar route and suddenly realising that you are further towards your destination than you remember being.
In all these situations, you’re aware of your surroundings – if someone shouted “Fire!” you’d be out the door! But assuming this doesn’t happen, you may not take as much notice of what’s going on around you as usual – so you feel as if you’ve missed part of your route, or if someone speaks you may not register exactly what they say.
Hypnotherapy for change
We are all susceptible to suggestions to some extent. There’s a multi-million-pound advertising industry built on that very fact. Hypnosis is used for therapy because, in this focused state, you are thought to be more suggestible than usual. So, when I give you suggestions that (for example) your anxiety will fade away, your mind is ready to act on them.
Having said that, when you are in hypnosis you remain in control of your own thoughts and actions. You can reject suggestions if that seems like the best idea. If I suggested you gave away your life savings or jumped out of an aeroplane without a parachute, you wouldn’t do it. This is why successful hypnotherapy depends on you being willing to make different choices from those you’ve made in the past.
Of course, willingness to change and knowing how are not the same. Learning how to change is exactly why people come to therapy sessions.
More information about hypnotherapy
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