So what actually is hypnosis and what does it feel like?

Most people have a natural curiosity about what hypnosis is actually like.  Some  worry it may be dangerous or embarrassing...that somehow their personality will be changed afterwards or they may act in an inappropriate way.  Other people fear they may say something they regret under hypnosis, revealing secrets they don't want to share.  And often people think they 'can't be hypnotised' and it 'won't work for me.'

A qualified hypnotherapist has been trained to work with people in a safe and controlled way.  During hypnosis I do not ask people to talk and I certainly don't make any suggestions to change a client's personality or make you do anything you don't want to do.  However if you think you can't be hypnotised you are partly right.  If you don't want to be hypnotised you won't be.  But if you go into it with a relaxed and open mind you may be surprised at the benefits you discover.

So what actually is hypnosis?

The dictionary definition is 'a sleep like state in which the mind responds to external suggestion.'  I would describe it as a state of deep relaxation, like day dreaming or meditation.  When you are very relaxed in this way you can access your subconscious and strengthen it.  You can change your mindset.  You don't have to have been hypnotised by a professional to have experienced this.  We experience such feelings every day....during a run or swim, even while cooking or driving the car!  It is when our minds have zoned out and entered a state of flow.  This allows our brain some valuable catch up time, to allow our thoughts to develop. 

How often have you come up with an answer to a problem when you have taken a break to get some fresh air or remembered where you put the keys when you have stopped thinking about it and become focused on cooking dinner or gardening?  While your conscious mind has been focused on other things your subconscious has been working hard.  This also happens during our sleep and it happens during hypnosis. 

My experience as a client

I first had hypnotherapy when I was nineteen and had developed a fear around leaving home following the death of my father and two other close family members.  I knew why I had the problem and I also knew that a part of me could recognise that I could go on a holiday with a friend and be fine but I was also very worried about it.  I had developed a phobia.  I didn't want to talk to a counsellor about my experiences....I just wanted to develop some more confidence to help me to face going on holiday and have a good time. 

My hypnotherapist put me at ease and was very reassuring about the safety of hypnosis.  She worked with me over several weeks to build up my confidence, culminating in a visualisation (what we would now call a reframe) of me on the beach with my friend feeling content and safe.  This worked.  I felt confident about going away and I had a great time.  I became an advocate for hypnotherapy, using it myself again years later when I came to prepare for childbirth and suggesting it to friends when I felt it appropriate.

My experience as a hypnotherapist

When I work with clients I induce hypnosis through language and story telling.  I invite clients to relax, shutting their eyes and focussing their attention on their breathing.  I then lead them through a guided visualisation (sometimes referred to a as a deepener) to further relax them.  When a client is relaxed I then work with them using indirect suggestions or more focused words, depending on the problem.  Finally I gradually bring their attention back to the room. 

Since working with clients I have become aware that people do respond to hypnosis differently.  This is documented in medical terms such as the Stanford scale of hypnotic susceptibility.   Some people fall into a deep hypnotic state easily, and they describe how their arms and legs feel very heavy afterwards.  Other people find it less easy.  However it is important to stress that modern research suggests a deeper level of trance is not necessary to achieve a level of success. 

Some people's eyelids flutter, some people remain perfectly still, some people move about.  Some people may fall asleep or drift off and not remember all that has been said.  Hypnotherapists have seen it all before!  The important thing is (no matter what your physical experience) that while you have been relaxing your brain has been taking on new, valuable ideas. 

In conclusion hypnosis may not be as dramatic as you may have thought it was.  But what can be dramatic are the long term changes you can achieve through the experience of hypnotherapy with a qualified and regulated hypnotherapist.