What is hypnosis?

Knowledge is learned. Wisdom is remembered.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind or altered consciousness level that one can enter (with or without the help of a hypnotherapist).

In this state of relaxation, the subconscious is more receptive to external suggested changes in belief or

subjective experience, which can lead to beneficial changes in the way we think, feel and perceive our lives.

​

A hypnotist has the knowledge to guide the client into an introspective state of conscious focus using a variety of techniques. It is important to emphasise that the hypnotist does not have any power over you.  Any hypnosis session is in essence self-hypnosis and you are always in control. If you were to experience anything too intense, your subconscious mind would “wake” you up in the same way it does during an intense nightmare. The role of the subconscious mind is to protect you and it will do that under all circumstances.

​

Hypnosis is a “nominalisation” of something that happens inside our heads (i.e. we have given a name to something that isn’t tangible or physically concrete). As an analogy, when we are asleep and have a dream, we can agree that dreams are real, but if asked to show it or grab it or alter it physically, it is impossible. In a similar way hypnosis is intangible, but it doesn’t mean it does not occur. It is a natural state which under ordinary circumstances occurs twice daily; the moment just before we drift off to sleep and the moment just before we become consciously awake. Other everyday examples include day-dreaming, or when we are fully focused on an activity that renders us oblivious to our surroundings.  For example, when playing music, driving, reading a good book or doing any artistic project.

​

​Advertising and marketing organisations use techniques based on this phenomenon to influence our subconscious mind, making us want to buy the products or services that they promote. If we find ourselves craving an ice-cold coke, we may not consciously remember that split second of bright, red logo and catchy song as we flicked TV channels at breakfast time, but they would certainly have imprinted that desire into our subconscious mind.

​

The aim of a hypnosis session is to harness this natural state, directly and consciously. Not to sell a product, but to identify the subconscious programmes or ideas that have been imprinted onto our minds since we were born, as a consequence of our social interactions, family upbringing, cultural beliefs, or even traumatic personal experiences. These programmes or patterns of behaviour are potentially restricting us from becoming the people we want to become - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually – but they can be released or re-framed during the hypnosis session.

Whether you know what hypnosis is, or whether you believe in it or not, it still exists (just like the dreams previously mentioned) and can be utilised successfully for your benefit and growth. However, as with anything in life, if you believe in something it will have a tendency to happen more rapidly and smoothly as there will be less resistance within yourself.

​

Disclaimer: These complementary techniques and modalities are not offered as a substitute

for Medical or Psychological diagnosis and treatment.