Hypnosis therapy is a method of communication with deeper parts of ourselves. Commonly, hypnosis is used to change behaviors that our conscious mind cannot change, such as, smoking cessation, weight loss, and fear of flying.
How does hypnosis work?
Hypnotherapy is a way to bypass our everyday consciousness that is busy with surface details. The hypnotic trance gives the conscious mind something to focus on while the hypnotherapist talks with or gives suggestions to unconscious parts of ourselves that may be limiting our potential.
For example, our conscious mind may want to stop a certain behavior but there may be unconscious parts of ourself that refuse and will never change unless we talk with those parts and listen to what they need.
Does hypnosis therapy work?
Yes of course, there are many success stories, even cases of change that could be seen as a miracle. However, this depends on the skill of the hypnotherapist and the psychological readiness of the patient. It may not work at all in some situations.
I used hypnosis with a client who was afraid of going over bridges. Going over the Golden Gate to get into San Francisco was almost impossible without tremendous fear. In the hypnotic trance, we found a young memory of herself as a little girl who lost her father’s hand in a big crowd. She was lost and separated from him for awhile. Her father’s hand was the bridge to security. When that part of herself was listened to and acknowledged as being terrified, the Golden Gate Bridge was not a problem. The past self needed to be heard by the present self, so they could work together.
Self hypnosis
Hypnotherapy is usually done with another that has been trained in hypnosis. However, one may learn self hypnosis and do the same process as the hypnotherapist. It is very easy to learn.
Dr. Andrew Weil writes:
“Individuals can not only experience hypnosis from a licensed practitioner, they can also become comfortable practicing and eventually mastering the techniques themselves. While the practitioner serves as a teacher or guide, the only person who can hypnotize you is you, since trance is a latent potential of your own mind. Therefore, all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis.” http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00572/Hypnosis-Hypnotherapy-Wellness-Therapies.html
“trance is a latent potential”
The process of hypnosis and the hypnotic trance is one way to begin relating to this unconscious potential for emotional, physical, and spirit/soul well being. Trance is an ancient practice found in shamanic cultures and meditative cultures all over the world for healing, resting the mind, and understanding the nature of life and death.
I observe that stress, confusion, mental illness, emotional struggle and so forth are all trance states. They may be unhealthy trance states, regressive trance states, or negative trance states but they are all trance states. Hypnosis, self hypnosis, shamanic journeying, meditation and psychotherapy all help us to live in a healthier trance or even come out of trance all together.
To get started, here is a guided meditation recording I made for calming the mind and body: http://www.todaystherapist.net/relaxation-techniques/
How to Perform Self Hypnosis, wiki how: http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Self-Hypnosis
