faq

Hypnosis is a method of attaining a relaxed state of enhanced focus and immersion, it is concentrated attention and receptivity to an idea, thought or set of ideas.

Hypnosis produces the ability to experience feelings and images as real, bypassing the critical factor allowing any established selective thinking. When the conscious mind is bypassed, the subconscious mind can then be accessed and open to suggestion.

Under hypnosis there is a feeling of relaxation and concentration, but you the subject is still aware of what is happening. There is usually an altered sense of time (it may appear afterwards that a long time has elapsed where only a few minutes have passed, or that it was brief whereas, in fact, it took a long time).

Physiologically there will be a lowering of blood pressure and a change of brain rhythm from the usual beta state of consciousness to alpha, or theta. These are slower brain rhythms than are experienced in the usual conscious state and they are completely safe.

If you have ever watched a movie, you have been hypnotised. Whilst you are watching the movie you stay conscious enough that your body sits upright on the chair and continues to breath. At the same time your mind is on something completely different. What’s more, whilst watching the movie you accept, without question, events that you would probably be extremely sceptical about in real life.

Many people report that Hypnosis was more real than any movie.

Absolutely. All qualified and registered hypnotherapists are bound by of a code of ethics and these are detailed in the consent form that all clients must complete and agree to, prior to the hypnotherapy sessions starting. The only exceptions are: when subpoenaed by a court; that failure to disclose information would place you and another person at risk; or your prior approval has been obtained to: provide a written report to another professional or agency, e.g. a GP or a solicitor, or to discuss the material with another person, e.g. a partner, parent or employer. Otherwise everything stays within the secrecy of the therapy room.

No, suggestibility simply means that you have very strong powers of concentration. Suggestibility also indicates the intensity level which your brain and nervous system accepts and consents to new ideas. During hypnosis and within the hypnotic state, both the mind and body are much more responsive.

No, you cannot become stuck in hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of consciousness that you go through every day whenever falling asleep and upon wakening. For some reason this seems to be an issue with people who have never been hypnotised. You will wake up. You are under hypnosis and are aware of what is happening. If a hypnotherapy session is disrupted the subject will merely fall asleep or instantly waken. Even if the worst should happen and the hypnotist passes out in the middle of the session, you will wake up because you are not asleep.

No, you will be mindful of all the sounds around you at all times. Hypnosis feels like daydreaming. If the hypnotherapist spoke to you, you would hear it.

Most probably. Occasionally, the subconscious mind will blank out some memories that may have been uncovered during hypnotherapy in order to protect you until you are ready to assimilate the memory. These instances are fairly rare, but they happen, usually you will remember everything.

Almost certainly, yes. Some people are able to be hypnotised to a greater degree than others, and practice makes perfect. If you meditate or do relaxation exercises than this will help you reach a hypnotic state more easily, but anyone can be hypnotised to some hypnotic depth eventually.

Hypnosis is a process that is undertaken with you, rather than something that is done to you. If is essential that you trust your hypnotherapist to guide you, which will allow you to relax and fully enjoy the experience. You may have recalled times when you’ve driven somewhere, and not observed how you got there, that is a similar experience to hypnosis.

Those best suited to hypnosis are smart, with an active imagination and those who are creative and good thinkers.

Previous information postulated that only 20% of people were able to be hypnotised: this has been proven incorrect, provided the hypnotherapist takes the time to discuss any fears and misconceptions, no existing brain trauma or damage; everyone can enter the hypnotic state.

Since hypnosis and hypnotherapy were accepted by the American Medical Society as a legitimate therapeutic agent in 1958, extensive research has been conducted on the efficiency and effectiveness of hypnosis. During the 1970′s and 1980′s several investigators provided clinical and experimental evidence about the effectiveness of hypnosis for: smoking cessation, substance abuse, weight loss, phobias, depression, and anxiety. Summarized results by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis are as follows:

• Home Study Self-Hypnosis: 2-5% success rate
• Group Hypnosis Session: 2-5% success rate
• Single (1) Individual Session: 17-20% success rate
• Three (3) Individual Sessions: 45-50% success rate
• Five or more (5+) Individual Sessions: 85-90% success rate

The researchers also discovered that customizing and individualizing the sessions increased the effectiveness of the sessions dramatically.
Notwithstanding the above, Alfred A. Barrios, Ph. D., conducted a longitudinal survey of psychotherapeutic literature and discovered the following success rates for hypnotherapy versus therapeutic methods:

• Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions
• Behaviour Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
• Hypnotherapy: 93% recovery after 6 sessions

The statistics speak for themselves, but hypnosis with multiple, individualized and tailored sessions, is probably one of the most effective ways to bring about desired changes in the least amount of time.

You have probably been in a state of hypnosis many times throughout your life. Have you ever driven to work and then realised that you have almost no recall of the journey? Or maybe you were sitting in a lecture and you missed everything the lecturer was saying because you were daydreaming about what you were going to have for lunch?

In both of these examples, you are in a trance state. This is a natural, normal state that we all go in and out of, throughout the course of each day. And just like daydreaming, you are aware of your surroundings when you are under hypnosis, only it’s as though you don’t care, or simply aren’t paying attention.

No, absolutely not, you are in control the whole time. You will not lose control and you cannot do anything against your beliefs, morals or ethics. You can decide to emerge at any time; no-one can keep you in hypnosis against your will and participation.

Hypnosis is not mind control. Mankind’s earliest history is peppered with suggestions to the existence of this state called hypnosis, the most credible being in Greece, where Aesculapius cured insomnia through a hypnotic trance state.

Hypnosis is a method of achieving a relaxed state of heightened focus and concentration. It is a totally natural state of mind. The hypnotherapist is merely the guide; you are in charge of the session. You will hold on to and accept suggestions you agree with, discarding any that go against your moral or ethical beliefs.

No. Hypnosis is not a truth serum. You are fully aware of what you are saying at all times and you can censor what you say. If the hypnotherapist asks you something you don’t want to answer then you don’t need to answer it. As with any therapy, secrets may come out, but they will be of your own volition.

It’s just not possible. Hypnosis requires you the client’s consensual state, because it is you allowing yourself to enter the hypnotic state.

Most mental distress, emotional distress and even some physical illnesses can be traced back to underlying anxiety, tension and stress arising out of an imbalance between your conscious beliefs and desires and the belief systems that reside under the level of conscious awareness, in the subconscious mind.

Hypnotherapists practice a powerful form of therapy that allows you to get in touch with these belief systems and make positive changes. Weight Loss, Smoking, Self-esteem and Anxiety are just a few areas that hypnotherapy can be utilised with you the client to create positive changes in your life.

The whole process of hypnosis is very pleasant and relaxing. The hypnotherapist’s voice is used to guide you through relaxing visualisations specifically tailored for you. You can begin to make the changes you desire from day one.

Over the past few decades, thousands of medical and psychological research articles have proven the effectiveness of hypnosis in dealing with a wide variety of issues. Hypnosis is well respected by medical doctors, psychiatrists, dentists, psychotherapists and psychologists.

Many of these professions use hypnosis in their treatments. Surgeons have even used hypnosis as the sole form of anaesthesia during deep abdominal surgery such as caesarean sections. Most people can significantly improve their lives with hypnosis. How many successful athletes do you know who don’t have a coach? A good hypnotherapist is a life coach who helps keep you on track, overcome obstacles and improve on your strengths using positive imagery and positive suggestions.

One session may not usually be sufficient to eliminate a habit that took years to develop, although sometimes it happens. Each individual is different and unique, but several sessions are recommended for most individuals. The initial session can last up to two hours and involves discussion of the client’s goals and objectives, resolutions or any misconceptions and concerns about hypnosis and the hypnotherapy session itself. Follow up sessions on any particular goal or objective may take up to an hour. Remember the summary of results by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis are as follows:

• Home Study Self-Hypnosis: 2-5% success rate / Group Hypnosis Session: 2-5% success rate
• Single (1) Individual Session: 17-20% success rate / Three (3) Individual Sessions: 45-50% success rate
• Five or more (5+) Individual Sessions: 85-90% success rate

No, hypnotherapy should, never be an alternative to a visit to se your GP or doctor. While hypnosis is safe and frequently recommended by GP’s/Doctors to help resolve many types of issues, it is not a panacea. Hypnotherapy should never be substituted for proper, professional health care.

For example, with pain management issues. A client will often turn to hypnosis for pain management because it is highly effective and drug free. Pain is symptomatic that something is physically wrong with the body; so a thorough medical examination is necessary to determine the cause of the pain. With the doctor’s permission hypnotherapy can then be used to manage the pain, not to mask it.
If you suffer from existing physical or mental issues and especially if you are undergoing medical pharmaceutical prescriptions, you will usually require a medical referral from your GP.

While your mind may wander and drift occasionally during hypnosis, it’s just your conscious mind that is doing the wandering. This allows your subconscious mind to understand and accept the suggestions for changes that you desire.

Change comes from the person seeking it and if the person failed to achieve the success they were seeking, it can be typically for two reasons. The first reason is the person seeking change are not truly committed to the change themselves.
For example: Clients who wish to quit smoking. More often than not, during the interview phase, it is obvious that the client doesn’t want to quit; it is the spouse or partner who wants the client to quit. In these circumstances, it is no wonder that the client’s subconscious would not or was reluctant to accept the suggestions to stop smoking.

A Hypnotherapist cannot make someone do something they do not wish to do. Sometimes a person has secondary gains for a particular behaviour. For example, someone may receive extra family attention when they have a panic attack. On some level the client knows that when the problem is resolved, all that extra family attention will no longer be forthcoming, and that is a non-desirable situation.

The second reason why Hypnotherapy may be less effective for a minority of people, is that there are like everything in the world, okay, good and excellent practitioners: experience, empathy, training, education and attending skills – the ability of a hypnotherapist to listen and ask the right questions.

The short answer to this is no. You are totally aware under hypnosis. The reason people think this is the Hypnosis Stage Show (which has nothing to do with therapy whatsoever) and the audience participant who dances around like a chicken.
The hypnotherapist will often advise their clients that if anything is said that they don’t like, they will be able to ignore it or even simply get up. Frequently within hypnotherapy clients as asked to do things they feel they are incapable or reluctant to do: for instance to take more exercise. The suggestions given to affect these changes are in alignment with the wishes of the client.

Over the past few decades, thousands of medical and psychological research articles have proven the effectiveness of hypnosis in dealing with a wide variety of issues. Hypnosis is well respected by medical doctors, psychiatrists, dentists, psychotherapists and psychologists. Many of these professions use hypnosis in their treatments. Surgeons have even used hypnosis as the sole form of anaesthesia during deep abdominal surgery such as caesarean sections. Most people can significantly improve their lives with hypnosis.

In every profession and industry, there are those that operate within the accepted code of ethics and then unfortunately there are those that operate in a manner which does not meet acceptable standards.

Occasionally the press broadcast cases of people being treated in an unprofessional manner and in almost every instance, the offender is not a registered hypnotherapist and certainly very limited in their understanding of hypnotherapy and hypnosis.

It is recommended that you make the effort to satisfy yourself that the therapist you choose has completed adequate hypnotherapy and hypnosis training. Some mental health professions (some psychology degrees) spend less than minimal time in the education of the correct applications of hypnotherapy.

Also make sure that the therapist is a member of a recognised Australian Hypnotherapy Association and that it is necessary for them to undertake ongoing professional development. The oldest association is the Australian Hypnotherapists Association and it is recognised as the peak association in Australia.