Why Hypnotherapy Isn’t Scary
Most people at some time have seen a stage hypnotist getting volunteerssup on stage and getting them to perform ridiculous tricks to the amusement of the audience. There is also an image lurking in some people’s minds of a terrifying looking, usually man, with some kind of energy coming out of his fingers, overpowering the poor client in front of him.
Understandably, both of these might deter someone from trying Hypnotherapy for a problem they are grappling with.
The second one bears no relation to the reality of Hypnotherapy, but is a great cartoon character in comics.
Stage Hypnotists have various methods of screening their audience for people who will be good subjects, i.e. they will fall into a trance very easily. Secondly, they may well have carried out some pre-programming with them beforehand. Also, and most importantly, these people are volunteers; willing participants in a show where they know they might make a public show of themselves.
CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY
The reality of a session of Hypnotherapy, as I practise it, is very different.
The aim of Hypnotherapy is to induce a trance state in the client, so that we can reach the subconscious mind which is actually in control of most of what we feel and do, thus being able to effect real change in their life.
A trance state is part of our everyday existence. All of us. Many times during the day, maybe sitting on public transport, or looking up from a screen for a moment, we switch off. Like short periods of daydreaming which we indulge in when we feel safe to do so. You probably do this more than you realise.
Hypnotherapy utilises this very natural, familiar state and deepens it. This takes place in a space where it is completely safe for you to let go and with someone who is very experienced and is totally committed to your well being.
If we go back to you daydreaming while you look up from your laptop, you will realise that you are in control; you can snap out of it at any time you want or need to. This is a very important point; even someone like me (I am an ‘excellent’ hypnotic subject and I enter a trance state easily and very quickly) is always in control. Even when in a deep trance, if you felt unsafe or uncomfortable, you could easily bring yourself out of it. Furthermore, were I to make a suggestion which was in any way damaging to your wishes and well being, your subconscious mind would simply reject it immediately.
A SAFE AND GENTLE PROCESS
When I am working with someone who has never experienced Hypnotherapy before or who may be feeling nervous, we of course always start with a thorough explanation of what we are going to do and follow that up with a simple relaxation practice. For many people, this alone is a revelation; the levels of stress that we are all living under these days means that a lot of us have lost the art of deeply relaxing. Once they feel ready, I take them gently into a deeper trance state, where we can begin to do the real work of healing whatever is preventing them from moving forward with their lives and creating the changes they want to experience.People come out of the experience feeling calm and relaxed.