Believe it or not, we accidentally hypnotize ourselves quite often each day, and we tend to do so without knowing. We hypnotize ourselves while brushing our teeth, doing make-up, driving to work, and even while washing the dishes. Ever heard the phrase “she’s got her head in the clouds?” Daydreaming is a kind of trance-like state that we unconsciously reach when we become preoccupied with future goals, love interests, or that upcoming vacation. Have you ever driven to a place you’ve been to numerous times and you made your usual turn, except you don’t remember making it? That is a phenomenon known as “road hypnosis.” What’s happening is your subconscious mind is doing the driving while your conscious mind is preoccupied with thoughts, worries, doubts, etc. Any time we use our imagination, daydream, or take on tasks that cause us to concentrate with an intense focus we enter a hypnotic state.
What The Heck Is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a clinical practice that combines the use of hypnosis and psychotherapy to achieve desired outcomes in one’s behavior, and/or one’s life. The hypnosis is guided by a licensed therapist who is trained and certified in hypnotherapy and helps the client go into a “trance-like” state of focus or concentration. Although it sounds strange and potentially scary, the trance-like state is nothing to be worried about. In fact, the experience of a trance is very much like the feeling you get when you are fully emersed in a book, a song or playlist, a movie, or your own thoughts–like in a daydream. It can be similar to a guided meditation in which you would experience a much deeper sense of relaxation. In this state, clients have the ability to go completely inward and activate the subconscious mind where our imagination and dreams are created, and memories and skills are stored. Creating a visualization or a focus point for the ‘conscious mind’ allows the client to activate the ‘subconscious mind’ that typically lies dormant throughout our waking moments and normally awakens during our deep sleep cycle, or Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Clients who are able to access this trance-like state can make changes and/or regain control in specific areas of their life.
The psychotherapy is conducted by the same licensed therapist who helps the client to process what happened before, during, and after the hypnosis. Clients receive a series of hypnotherapy sessions in which psychotherapy can help them analyze progress, gain new insights, and achieve lasting results to the change they wish to make. Read on to learn more about your ability to be hypnotized, and to help you consider whether or not hypnotherapy is right for you.
Am I Hypnotizable?
To find out if you can be hypnotized let’s try an exercise that does not involve hypnosis but a bit of imagination. Be sure that you are sitting comfortably, and that you are not driving or operating heavy machinery at this moment. Closing your eyes will enhance this experience.
Hold out your non-dominant hand and open up your palm.
Imagine that the palm of your hand is now filled with some imaginary sour patch kids candy. The same candy you might get at the movie theater that is sour on the outside and sweet on the inside.
With your dominant hand, imagine picking up the candy and placing it on your tongue. You immediately recognize the sour and tart taste of the imaginary candy. Taste the intense sour flavor of the exterior as it melts slowly in your mouth.
Now, move the imaginary candy around with your tongue and taste the sweet flavor of the interior as the sourness melts away.
Chew up the imaginary sour patch kids candy between your teeth and swallow the bits and pieces of sweetness leaving your tongue with a feeling of delight.
How was that? Did your mouth water? I called it “imaginary candy” and just by using your imagination, your body created a natural and very real response. Even if your mouth didn’t water, you might have experienced that tart puckering feeling or the weight of the candy on your hand or tongue. Being hypnotized works very similarly to this exercise in that it creates a physical response to an imaginative experience. Ready to try hypnotherapy yet? Learn more below about the common myths and misconceptions of hypnotherapy.
Common Myths & Misconceptions About Hypnotherapy:
Myth #1:
“My therapist is going to make me do things, or reveal my well-kept secrets, against my will.”
The Real Deal:
Unlike the staged and often dramatic depictions of hypnosis that you may have seen on TV, in movies, or read about in books you will NOT be unconscious, held against your will, or be out of your own control in any way. In fact, your mind enters a heightened state of awareness during a trance and you have the control to stop the session at any moment. You always have your free will.
With hypnotherapy, you also have an opportunity to learn about the things you may have previously forgotten or repressed, and you can unblock the memories that are either foggy or patchy. Gaining this new insight may give you closure and help you make the changes you wish to make in your life.
Myth #2:
“Hypnosis is “woo woo,” ungodly, black magic, witchcraft; and my therapist is a witch!”
The Real Deal:
Hypnosis is a part of hypnotherapy, which is a clinical practice used to help clients create a desired outcome; much like psychotherapy on its own. This practice is performed by a licensed therapist who is certified with at least 54 hours of training in hypnosis; and it is used in treating various mental, emotional, and physical concerns.
What is fascinating about hypnotherapy is the capacity of the subconscious mind to hold vast amounts of information in the form of memories, lessons, and dreams. Clients have a great opportunity to utilize this wealth of information to achieve self-discovery and personal transformation through the use of hypnotherapy.
Myth #3:
“If I can be easily hypnotized then it means I’m weak.”
The Real Deal:
On the contrary, being able to experience a trance-like state in hypnosis means you are a lot stronger than you think you are. With the help of a certified hypnotherapist, clients are guided to a relaxed state of mind in which they experience elevated levels of focus and concentration. Not only are you able to prove your strength through the practice of hypnosis, but you are also a successful candidate for hypnotherapy if you already hold the ability to concentrate and you are a highly creative person.
What Issues Can Hypnotherapy Help With?
Hypnotherapy can help with an array of issues mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. At Humble Reflections Counseling, LLC you can choose hypnotherapy to help you specifically overcome
- extreme worry
- unmanageable stress
- fears & phobias
- low self-esteem
- shame & doubt
- sexual difficulties (not otherwise caused by a medical condition)
- test-taking anxiety
- & more
What Can I Expect During A Hypnotherapy Session?
When you decide to receive hypnotherapy, you take a huge step forward in improving your wellbeing. Whether or not hypnotherapy is performed in-person or online depends on your unique needs and preferences, so it is important to discuss this with your hypnotherapist prior to beginning treatment.
At Humble Reflections Counseling, LLC, I begin with an intake assessment specifically designed for hypnotherapy which allows me to gain a better understanding of your concerns. During the intake assessment, we also have the opportunity to begin developing our therapeutic relationship, identify key triggers that influence the behavior you wish to change, and further discuss your outlook and expectations for hypnotherapy.
A series of hypnotherapy sessions are to follow, and they are typically held in a calm, relaxing, and safe therapy setting unless online sessions are preferred. It is expected that the client lies down comfortably on the couch in order to reach a desired state of relaxation. As stated previously, the client has complete control of her will and is able to stop the session at any moment for any reason.
For more information on pricing, check out my FAQs page. I look forward to working with you soon!