What is Hypnosis? 

 You know the story of Caterpillar.....

That one day knows.....

That it's time to go inside and change....

And then emerges into something new and beautiful......

The term “hypnosis” (from the Greek “hypnos”, meaning “sleep”) was more recently coined in 1840 by Dr James Braid, a Scottish physician. The hypnotic state however, is in most respects, entirely different than sleep. In fact, it might be better explained as the place of consciousness between waking and sleep. That state of mind just prior to falling asleep at night or just upon first waking in the morning. We also naturally fall into a state of hypnosis off and on throughout the day and often call it daydreaming.

A more formal definition of hypnosis is "a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility with diminished peripheral awareness, in which our subconscious is able to communicate with our conscious mind."

Perhaps it might be easier to define “hypnosis” by what it does rather than what it is , and that is an effective method by which we may access and release our inner potential.  In a sense, we actually, wake up! Now, this state of mind may be brought about either by oneself, called (self-hypnosis) or with the help of another person (a hypnotherapist). It must be remembered though, because the person being hypnotized is always in control of how relaxed and deep they go, that all hypnosis is actually self hypnosis.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is distinctive from traditional  therapy and counseling in that it attempts to directly address your subconscious mind. In practice, the Hypnotist often requires you to be in a relaxed state, helps you access power of your own imagination, and utilizes a wide range of techniques from storytelling, metaphor or symbolism, to the use of direct suggestions to help you achieve the change you desire.

Other, more analytical techniques may also be employed to help uncover problems deemed to lie somewhere in past, or hypnosis may concentrate more on your current life and presenting problems. It is generally considered helpful if your are personally motivated to change (rather than relying solely on the hypnotists efforts) although a belief in the possibility of beneficial change is  a sufficient starting point.

Who can be hypnotized? 

The answer to this question is undoubtedly “virtually everyone”. I would personally argue that in some respect we are already hypnotized. We are hypnotized by all the beliefs, expectations and emotions that we have taken on and experienced up to this point in our lives. Some of those consciously and others unconsciously. Some of those our beliefs, others, beliefs someone else had about us. Our current hypnosis is the collective story we’ve written about our lives, and we are our own hypnotists, continuously telling others our story and repeatedly whispering our story to our own unconscious mind to make sense of our current life circumstance, and its often fiction.  

The question becomes, are we ready to tell our story for the last time and actually wake up from our hypnosis to the truth as to who we are? That is, a unique and unrepeatable gift. A Spiritual being having a human experience, full of God given creative potential and a co creators in our life and the world we inhabit.

That being said, I must point out that some people are more readily hypnotisable than others and that it also depends upon one’s willingness to be hypnotised. This willingness will itself depend upon a number of factors, including the strength of the person’s particular need and their trust and confidence in the hypnotherapist, as well as their own internal desire to awaken to a new state of awareness about oneself. 

Please remember that hypnosis and Hypnotherapy can be extraordinarily effective but it is not magic.  Unfortunately, even some of my own colleagues continue to make claims about hypnosis that cannot be thoroughly substantiated. 

However, if the right ingredients are present, if the time is right for you and if a suitable hypnotherapist can be found with whom you are willing to trust and work, then all your (realistic) goals are achievable, and on some occasions, instant.

So, how can you benefit from Hypnosis? 

Given that hypnosis can be utilised to access a person’s inner potential and that probably no one is performing to their actual potential, then this answer is literally true.  However, it is not just potential which Hypnosis is well placed to address but also one’s inner resources to effect beneficial change.  In this regard, it is the innate healing capacity of our own body that may be stimulated by Hypnosis.  We are our own healers. 

Consequently, the list of problems which have been influenced by Hypnotherapy is far too long and varied to list here but certainly includes:  stress, childbirth, anxiety and panic disorders, phobias, fear of flying, releasing unwanted habits and addictions including sex addiction, smoking, overeating, and alcoholism; disrupted sleep patterns, sexual difficulties, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, fear of examinations and public speaking, allergies and skin disorders, migraine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).  

Additionally, it has proved of value prior to and after surgery, decreasing recovery time, and is often used successfully in pain management. 

Many  Athletes and  artists have benefited from hypnosis leading to enhanced sports and artistic performance.

As an adjunct to more traditional counselling techniques, it can also assist in helping to resolve relationship difficulties and is even useful for anger management.

Concerns?

People are sometimes concerned that they will “lose control” in hypnosis.  However, general consensus indicates that regardless of how deeply people may go in hypnosis and however passive they may appear to be, they actually remain in full control of the situation.  They are fully able to talk if they wish to (or not, as the case may be) and can stand up and leave the room at any time.  A hypnotised person cannot be made to do anything against their usual ethical or moral judgement or religious belief, including Christianity. Hypnotherapy is becoming widely accepted within the Christian community as a valuable tool in letting go of unwanted habits and behaviours, and its easy to find Christian hypnotherapists just about anywhere. 

No. You won't quack like a duck. Unless you want to.

It is likely that the notion of a loss of control stems from most people’s misconception of stage hypnosis, wherein participants are apparently "made" to perform all kinds of often times silly acts.    However, you should be aware that participation in a stage show is an entirely voluntary process (thus “permission” is already given to the hypnotist) and every volunteer who is kept on stage is at some level aware of exactly what they are getting in to.

What is NLP?

NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a name that encompasses the three most influential components involved in producing human experience: neurology, language and programming. The neurological system regulates how our bodies function, language determines how we interface and communicate with other people and our programming determines the kinds of models of the world we create. Neuro-Linguistic Programming describes the fundamental dynamics between mind (neuro) and language (linguistic) and how their interplay effects our body and behavior (programming).

The map is not the territory.

Our perception of reality is not reality itself but our own version of it, or our "map"

NLP is a pragmatic school of thought  that addresses the many levels involved in being human. NLP is a multi-dimensional process that involves the development of behavioral competence and flexibility, but also involves strategic thinking and an understanding of the mental and cognitive processes behind behavior.

NLP provides tools and skills for the development of states of individual excellence, but it also establishes a system of empowering beliefs and presuppositions about what human beings are, what communication is and what the process of change is all about.

At another level, NLP is about self-discovery, exploring identity and mission. It also provides a framework for understanding and relating to the 'spiritual' part of human experience that reaches beyond us as individuals to our family, community and global systems. NLP is not only about competence and excellence, it is about wisdom and vision.