Hypnotherapy = a state of mental focus.
“Hypnosis cannot create new abilities within a person, but it can assist in a greater and better utilization of abilities already possessed, even if these abilities were not previously recognized.”
-Milton H. Erickson (In erickson, 1980, Vol. IV, chap. 28, 263)
Hypnotherapy helps to activate the imagination that we all possess, to make changes in the deeper “programming level” of the mind.
Hypnotherapy then is a powerful tool to help us overcome psychological and physical problems, change mood and overcome unhelpful habits and phobias.
It can also be helpful with fertility issues (including IVF treatment), pregnancy and childbirth and post-natal issues.
It’s also a great way to enhance our performance skills in any environment.
It’s tragic then that something so useful to us and having been around for thousands of years has become more widely accepted as trickery or just entertainment.
I guess hypnosis has always a bit of mystery around it with many people mistakenly believing it to be a form of mind control.
In direct contrast Hypnosis is a collaborative process between therapist and client so you cannot be made to do anything you don’t want to do under hypnosis. Your unconscious mind would simply dismiss the idea. However, if a skilled therapist is able to offer suggestions for change that MAKE SENSE to that unconscious mind then your mind readily accepts the new learning and makes it your template for future reality.
In order for these changes to take place a state of relaxation is created where the brain wave pattern becomes very similar to when we enter rapid eye movement sleep at night. Research has shown us that new learning can rapidly take place when we are in this particular brain wave pattern. However hypnosis is not about being asleep as it is a requirement that a certain amount of attention is given to the words spoken.
Clients have described this state to me as,
“ I felt so incredibly relaxed and couldn’t be bothered to move yet a part of my mind felt incredibly active and alert”
This is the state of mind and body we are looking to create to enable positive changes to be made.
Clinical hypnosis is gaining in credibility and now has a solid scientific evidence base to support it. To support this there have been many developments in brain imaging over recent years. These have provided a useful tool for obtaining actual evidence of clear observable changes in a subject brain function.
I would be happy to answer any questions you may have on Hypnotherapy.