Everything you ever wanted to know about hypnotherapy!

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is the process of inducing a trance. It is the key that unlocks the door to the unconscious mind, allowing therapy at a deep and lasting level. The term is sometimes used in place of 'hypnotherapy'. This is not strictly correct as hypnosis itself does not involve therapy (therapy is what the therapist does while the client is in a hypnotic trance). However, we use the term 'hypnosis' frequently on this website as it is widely used by the general public.

What is a trance?

Almost everyone has experienced an involuntary hypnotic trance. Here are some examples:

? You become engrossed in a book or film.?

? You get chatting to someone, have are in great rapport, and lose track of time.?

? You daydreamed and wondered where your time went.?

? A child's eyes glaze over as they become engrossed in a bedtime story.

? Daydreaming while performing a repetitive task such as mowing the lawn or factory work.

? You're enjoying a drink that you don't remember making.

All these are examples of natural trance states. A hypnotherapist induces this pleasant, relaxed state deliberately for therapeutic gain. In this heightened state of awareness, you become very focused and able to concentrate only on the things that will bring about solutions to your problem.?

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapy. Hypnosis has been dealt with above so we'll look at the 'therapy' part. Therapy deals with the mind and this has two parts - the conscious mind and the unconscious mind. We use our conscious mind when we think. It is rational and we are aware of ourselves and our thoughts. The unconscious mind is hidden beyond our awareness. In addition to it's more positive aspects, it is the seat of our habits, impulses, irrational thoughts and some illnesses.

In most forms of therapy, the therapist makes suggestions at a conscious level. The problem with this is that the conscious mind, whilst rational, is often defensive, challenging, overly critical, flooded by negative thinking, cynical or disbelieving of new ideas. Hypnotherapy is special. When in a trance the clients' busy conscious mind relaxes allowing their unconscious mind to come to the fore. Now the therapist can speak to a more receptive and focused unconscious mind to create a deep-rooted and lasting change of old habits, thoughts, pains, memories, emotions, etc.

Hypnotherapy isn't something that is done?to?a client?by?a therapist. There is no magic involved. Although there are often magical moments when unexpected changes occur, for the most part, hypnotherapy is a straightforward partnership between a client that is motivated to change and a therapist that uses their skills to help the process along.

Can you give me some examples of how it works?

A smoker can consciously know smoking is harmful and yet find themselves compelled to smoke. For many people, conscious knowledge of government health warnings, increasing social unacceptability, the cost, smell, and taste, etc. do not override the powerful unconscious habit. Hypnotherapy tackles the unconscious desire to smoke.

An overweight person may be overeating or eating unhealthy foods despite consciously thinking it is unhealthy and wanting change. The unconscious mind has different ideas but these are hidden from view. The person cannot understand why they yo-yo diet. This is because the unconscious desire to eat unhealthily keeps silently pestering despite the conscious efforts to stop. Hypnotic suggestions to eat healthily can change this.

Everyone, including a person with a phobia, knows most spiders pose no threat whatsoever. Despite this conscious knowledge, they still find their unconscious fears taking over when even the smallest and most harmless spider is present. Hypnotherapy builds confidence and deals with the causes such as early exposure to a screaming parent, having one thrown on you, etc.

As a final example, hypnotherapy can be used for medical problems. Western society, including modern medicine, has split the mind and body as if they are separate entities. More and more people, including medical professionals, are seeking holistic explanations. It is well known that stress in the mind can cause ulcers in the body. Merely thinking about something can make your heart race. Clearly, the mind and body are highly interrelated or better seen at a higher logical level as part of the same system. Hypnotherapy has been used successfully to treat, manage or improve lots of medical complaints including, asthma, burns, wounds, skin problems, menstrual problems, IBS and many more. Hypnosis has been used for dental work and even major surgery where people are allergic to an anaesthetic.?

If hypnotherapy is so successful why isn't it used more?

Film and TV portray the hypnotist as a magician who controls people's minds through some kind of mystical power or spell. In fact, the client always stays in control. They can refuse to enter a trance, bring themselves out of a trance and reject suggestions. Stage hypnotism also gives the public a false impression. Clinical hypnosis is very client-centered and professional (as opposed to ridiculing people for entertainment). Stage hypnosis is very much about acting and social roles. Subjects are carefully chosen for their extroversion and willingness to please rather than embarrass the entertainer. There will often be a certain number of chairs and an excess of volunteers is sought. People often compete with one another to be chosen. Non-compliant people are swiftly returned to the audience. Subjects could walk off stage at any point but there is pressure to perform. A stage is a place for performance and entertainment. No one wants to appear to not be playing ball or to embarrass the hypnotist. You won't be asked to 'milk a chicken' or do anything else that is demeaning in hypnotherapy!

The difficulty in explaining the process scientifically is also a problem for some people. It is important to remember that there was a time when people didn't know that air contained oxygen but oxygen still existed and proved rather useful! The absence of a scientific explanation for something is not sufficient reason to dismiss it. No one really knows how hypnotherapy works but it works for most people most of the time and the results can be astonishing.?

Why do people turn to hypnotherapy?

There are lots of reasons. Here are some of the common ones:

? Sadly, often as a last resort. This does motivate the client, however.

? The client has tried other therapies and they are seeking something with proven results.

? Recommendation from another person who has benefited.

? Referral from a GP or another hypnotherapist.

? The client wants to tackle unconscious problems.

? Responding to an advert that triggers the person to act on something.

? Medicine is failing the client and they want something additional.?top

What is the process of hypnotherapy?

First, you will be invited to an initial assessment. This is a chance for you and the therapist to get to know one another and for your therapist to find out more about your problem. You will be asked questions including contact details, any medical problems, etc. The main goal is agreed e.g. to stop smoking. The initial assessment allows the therapist to formulate a plan of action for future sessions. These will be a mixture of:

1. You talking about your problem/s

2. The therapist asking questions

3. The therapist offering hypnotic suggestions while you are hypnotised

What does a trance feel like?

A trance state is pleasant, relaxing and peaceful. Some people experience mild tingling sensations, lightness or heaviness. It is so pleasurable that some clients have sessions purely for relaxation rather than therapy and some clients begrudge being brought out of trance! Of course, some clients deal with emotional issues in trance.?

Does hypnotherapy work?

It works for most people and most problems most of the time. It is not a magic wand or miracle cure. The idea that the therapist snaps their fingers and cures you belongs to Hollywood and religious cults. The therapist does not 'do hypnotherapy on the client'. It is very much a partnership with the therapist acting as a facilitator - helping you into a voluntary trance, offering suggestions while you are in trance and generally empowering you to achieve your goals and bring about the change you desire.?

How long is each hypnotherapy session?

Each session lasts around 60 minutes. Professional hypnotherapists that value their time and their client's time are very careful about this. They manage the session carefully to ensure the client gets maximum benefit in the minimum amount of time and that the session ends appropriately. Some people feel attracted to therapists that will spend an afternoon chatting but this is not a professional relationship and could signal that the therapist is trying too hard to be liked or has few clients to fill their time.?

How many hypnotherapy sessions does it take?

This depends on the nature and severity of the problem, whether there are lots of related problems or just one, the client's motivation, how challenging the client's goals are, and many other factors, some of which can change during the course of therapy.

A definite and known number of sessions can sound appealing if you are on a budget or short of time but this can cause problems. To offer a definite number of sessions, a hypnotherapist would have to do one of the following:

1. Put everyone through the same course of treatment and ignore their individual needs and differences.

2. Bring therapy to a premature close if necessary to meet the promises made.

3. Surprise the client by adding more unplanned sessions.

4. Overestimate the number of sessions required to buffer any problems that arise.

Experience has shown us that our clients would rather us invest in them individually and work flexibly to achieve a lasting solution.?As a?rough guide, however, most issues take between 3 and 6 sessions. Smoking is usually tackled in a single longer session. Depression can take 6 or more sessions depending on its severity. Hypnotherapy is far speedier than other major psychotherapies. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) can last 8-20 sessions and psychoanalysis can last years! It is important to invest in yourself and your future happiness rather than treat therapy as a 'shopping-for-a-bargain' exercise!

The decision to end therapy is ideally negotiated between client and therapist. We guarantee that we will 'terminate therapy at the earliest time, commensurate with the good care and continuing welfare of the client'. Of course, you are free to terminate therapy at any time if you choose to leave sooner.?

Do hypnotherapists offer guarantees?

No responsible hypnotherapist would offer a guarantee of 'cure' as this would be unethical. Hypnotherapy is not a 'miracle cure'. All forms of therapy, whether they be hypnotherapy, cognitive therapy, chemotherapy, relate, alcoholics anonymous, reiki, medicine, etc. work differently on different people and can fail to bring about the desired change in some people.

What we do guarantee is that we will bring all our knowledge, experience, skills and effort to bear on the problem and we will always have your best interests at heart.

Ultimately, therapy requires a partnership in which the client is highly involved and committed.

Can hypnotherapists provide success rates?

This is a common and perfectly reasonable question to ask. It would help you decide whether hypnotherapy?per se?or a particular therapist, is right for you and for your particular problem. However, therapists are not supposed to provide success rates for a number of reasons:

1. Quoting a high success rate for a problem can leave people who don't succeed feeling even worse about themselves.?

2. Quoting a low success rate for a problem could mask the fact that the therapist has recently taken on a batch of de-motivated clients or client's with very complex problems, perhaps from another therapist who has referred them on.

3. It is you that matters. Other people are different and they are not a reliable guide as to whether?you?will be successful. Everyone has a different set of problems, personality, support structures, motivation, etc.?

4. Verification of a therapist's success rates is awkward. Unscrupulous therapists could lie about their success rates and there are no independent auditing procedures.?

5. How should we measure 'success'? The therapist might think they were successful but the client might not. The client might think they were successful but the therapist thinks the result could have been better. How long does a client go without smoking, putting on weight or experiencing a panic attack, for example, before they can be sure hypnotherapy has been successful? Is success a partial removal of the problem, enough to make it more manageable, or a full cure? Measuring success is very complicated (in other therapies and medicine too)!?

Do the effects of hypnosis last?

The pleasant relaxation effects of an individual session can last hours depending on the person and what life throws at them after they leave the therapy room. Techniques can be offered to enable the client to return to these feelings at will. There are no negative effects on driving, operating machinery, etc. You will feel wide awake, refreshed and ready for the challenges ahead.

The overall effects of therapy can last a lifetime. Quick fixes generally treat the symptoms rather than the problem (unless you are undergoing a long and comprehensive smoking cessation therapy session). Where there is an underlying emotional problem it can take a few sessions for us both to understand it. The results of hypnotherapy can then spread throughout many areas of your life.

Problems can return on occasion but they are usually 'new' problems. For example, treatment for a phobia of dogs would make a person comfortable stroking a dog like most people are. However, if a dog bit them, they could develop a new phobia of dogs just like anyone else could - even if they had never had a phobia previously.

In sum, you won't become reliant on hypnotherapy to maintain the new you. However, you will still be subject to life's pressures, such as aggressive dogs!

Can anyone be hypnotised?

Anyone who has experienced daydreaming, being totally 'lost' in a film, book, music, boring or repetitive task has already experienced a trance. People with severe learning difficulties and children under the age of 5 may find it more difficult to benefit from a 'talking therapy'. We would not hypnotise you against your will.?

How will I know if I have experienced a trance?

Trance states vary. Some people experience profound relaxation, feelings of warmth, peace, drifting, floating, strong imagery, etc. Usually, clients find themselves going deeper in subsequent sessions. Any concerns usually disappear once the client realises how positive the experience is. Some people hardly notice the trance or think they haven't entered a trance because they just felt their mind wander a little. There are certain clues that the therapist will notice and can discuss with you afterward to assess this.

What if I don't experience trance?

This is not likely to happen. Even the most skeptical and analytical clients enter a trance if they want to, including people who believe they 'cannot be hypnotised'. In fact, such clients have a strong will and they can use this mind control to their advantage and?choose?to enter a trance when?they?feel ready. If you have a good rapport and trust in us, a desire to enter a trance, and you have ever daydreamed or got lost in music or a film, you?can?experience a trance. You don't have to want, or be able to relax, although you might as well take time out and enjoy the process even more! The depth of trance is unimportant for most types of work we do.?

Imagine it is bedtime. If you try hard to stay awake you will. Yet if you try too hard to sleep you will also stay awake. Either way, you are paddling hard against the flow. Although hypnosis is not sleeping, the problem is the same. The client should neither resist hypnosis nor try too hard to enter a trance. The client will enter a trance if they accept their thoughts and feelings as they come, allow themselves the chance to relax, and communicate any concerns to the therapist so they can help.

Is hypnosis safe?

Hypnosis and trance are 100% natural and safe - you already undoubtedly experience trance regularly in day-to-day life. You cannot get 'stuck' in a hypnotic state - you would naturally return to your normal state of consciousness after a short while even if the therapist walked off! You remain aware of yourself and your surroundings and you can voluntarily terminate the trance at any point. You can also speak at any time.

Can I bring someone along to hypnotherapy?

A parent or guardian must be present with children aged 16 or under or people with learning difficulties or certain mental health problems. If someone else is highly involved in the problem you are experiencing it can sometimes be beneficial to work with you both and this will be discussed if necessary. For almost every other scenario you should come alone. Most therapists don't have a waiting area.

Why doesn't my GP offer hypnosis?

Most GPs simply do not have the time to spend with patients. They usually refer people on to a professional hypnotherapist.?

Is it necessary for a GP or psychologist to refer me?

No. However, if your problem is a medical one such as an allergy, IBS or skin complaint it should be properly diagnosed by a doctor first and you should continue taking any medication. If it is psychological, again, you should continue with any support you are currently receiving and see hypnotherapy as an additional form of help. We might want to speak to your doctor or psychologist before proceeding in some cases to make sure we thoroughly understand your condition and to make sure we complement their work. We will only contact them with your permission.

How is hypnosis?induced?

There are lots of techniques and we use the one that is most suited to the individual. A common approach would be closing your eyes, breathing exercises, relaxing your muscles and then a pleasant visualised journey along a beautiful stream, beach or up a mountain, etc. Another induction involves staring at a picture or object. All methods are harmless and pleasant and we do not intimidate or ridicule you like a stage hypnotist!?

Are drugs used?

Definitely not! We would even encourage you to avoid caffeine (tea, coffee, and cola) before therapy so you can relax more. You should tell us (in complete confidence) if you are taking recreational or medicinal drugs.

Will I reveal personal secrets?

Not unless you want to! You remain in control; hypnosis is not a 'truth pill'.

Can I eat and drink before sessions?

Yes. However, please avoid alcohol. It might help to avoid stimulants such as tea, coffee, cola (and cigarettes) to help you relax more.?

What should I wear?

Whatever you feel most comfortable in. Occasionally people remove hard contact lenses if they are worried that rapid eye movements (like those you experience when falling asleep) will be uncomfortable. Most people leave them in without any problems.?

Will it be distressing?

Hypnosis is a very gentle, non-invasive process. However, the nature of some problems may mean revisiting memories or imagining things you are fearful of in order to treat them. You can stop any therapeutic technique at any time - you are always in control, even when in a trance.?

How will I feel afterward?

Very relaxed! Sometimes tired if there have been some difficult issues to deal with.?

Are there any side effects?

Only positive ones such as being more relaxed, realising your potential, problem-solving, being happier, less fearful, more content and/or sleeping better. Sometimes hypnotherapy can bring emotions to the surface but this is part of some client's therapy rather than a side-effect.?

Will I need to do anything between sessions?

We sometimes give clients simple and manageable assignments (e.g. eating diaries for weight loss). Assignments are sometimes for the client's direct benefit and sometimes to help both therapist and client to understand the problem better.

How do hypnotherapists maintain confidentiality?

Client's notes and contact details are not shared with anyone. In exceptional circumstances, we may be forced to by law or if it is in the client's interests because they pose an immediate danger to themselves (e.g. considering suicide) or to others (e.g. pedophilia). We may discuss cases with our clinical supervisors so they can help us if need be. They are bound by the same responsibility to maintain confidentiality.?

Are there any people or problems hypnotherapists don't work with?

We need to feel comfortable and safe as therapists. We would not work with someone we felt posed a risk to us. Anyone who became abusive would be asked to leave therapy immediately and permanently, for example.

There are always problems that a hypnotherapist feels comfortable dealing with in terms of their knowledge, skills, interests, personal values, etc. and other problems they are not comfortable with. If a therapist is not comfortable with a problem they refer the client on to another therapist. We work with most people and most problems. This needs discussion with the individual therapist.

If someone became attached to the therapist he or she would be referred on to another therapist and, with permission, their case notes would be passed on.

We do not work with:

Children under the age of 5

Clients suffering severe mental problems where they pose a risk to us or themselves

Clients who are forced to come to sessions against their will e.g. by a partner.?

If you found these hypnotherapy FAQs useful please share them with others. If you would like to know anything else please do not hesitate to contact me.

Karen is an advanced practitioner and has been specialising in mental health and behavioural change for over 25 years. In 2008 She co-founded the Academy of Advanced Changework, a hypnotherapy and NLP academy providing training from beginner to advanced practitioner.

Schedule your free 20-minute call to find out how hypnosis can help you struggle less and manage your issues well: https://calendly.com/karenbartle/hypnosis-initial-chat ?

??Warning Hypnosis is seriously addictive and awesome for improving your health and wellbeing! ????