Hypnosis similar to everyday trance states
Hypnosis is the name we give to an altered state of awareness we are led into by following the voice of the hypnotist. This altered state of awareness, called a trance, is a natural phenomenon that we all experience several times a day.

In everyday trance states we become more fully absorbed in our own experience, rather than in the sights and sounds of the world around us. We experience everyday trances when we are daydreaming, reading a gripping novel, or reliving an exciting sporting experience. In these trance states we are focused on our internal experience, but we are still aware of what is happening around us.

Difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is being led by the voice of the hypnotist into a trance state. Hypnotherapy is the deliberate use of hypnosis for therapy. Hypnotherapy uses trance states to gain access to the unconscious mind, which is a rich store of memories and experiences. The hypnotherapist can help you to access these unconscious resources in order to find better ways to deal with emotional problems, overcome limiting beliefs and help achieve your goals.

Conscious and unconscious mind
It is helpful to consider the mind as having a conscious and an unconscious part. The conscious mind is associated with everyday rational thinking — logic, analysis, problem solving and critical thinking. It is the part of the mind we are familiar with when we are dealing with everyday matters, such as calculating a bill or planning a journey. It only focuses on what is useful to the mind at that moment. It is like the display of a computer screen, showing only the things that you are currently working on. Or like a video screen, showing the scene you are watching at the moment.

By contrast, the unconscious mind is intuitive and creative. It is also a rich storehouse of memories, experiences habits and beliefs. We slip into the unconscious when we find ourselves daydreaming in everyday life. It is an ideal learning state, as it has both rich resources and it bypasses the critical conscious mind. Whereas the conscious mind is like a computer screen, the unconscious mind like the hard drive, a rich resource of information available for access. Or whereas the conscious mind is like the scene being watched on a video screen, the unconscious mind is the whole of the DVD.

The conscious and unconscious mind can work together in harmony, or they can work against each other. For example, you may consciously want to give up smoking, but your unconscious habits may cause you to reach for a cigarette without even thinking about it.

Hypnotherapy uses the unconscious mind to help you change the beliefs, thoughts, feelings and habits that cause your problem and to find creative and helpful solutions.

Myths about hypnosis
Popular culture has created many myths about hypnosis that are worth correcting.

Myth that hypnosis is a form of sleep
Because in hypnosis the subject’s eyes are closed and their body is relaxed they look as though they are asleep. But their inner experience is very different from being asleep. They may have a vivid and intense inner awareness. And they are still aware of what is going on around them. Furthermore, subjects can experience trance with their eyes open, for example, when absorbed in a gripping novel.

Myth that the hypnotist controls the subject
The subject in hypnosis has the power to accept, reject or change any suggestion from the hypnotist. The subject does not become a robot under the hypnotist’s control, but rather chooses to follow those suggestions that they consider appropriate. The extravagant displays seen in stage hypnosis can be seen in this light, especially when added to the subject’s desire to be part of a good show.

The hypnotist only offers opportunities for the client to go into trance. The client chooses how to respond to this offer. They may choose to go into trance or they may choose not to accept the invitation. Hypnosis is always a matter of cooperation between the subject and the hypnotist.

Myth that you will reveal your innermost secrets
Hypnosis does not work like a truth drug. The subject chooses what they will reveal or keep to themselves under hypnosis.

Myth that you cannot remember what happens in trance
This myth has a partial basis in fact. Usually most subjects have good recollection of what happened in hypnosis. But sometimes spontaneous amnesia occurs and they may not recall part of what happened during their trance.

Myth that trance is dangerous and unnatural
Trance is a safe and natural state that we have been drifting in and out of several times a day all or our life. Used in hypnosis it can bring the subject into a safe, relaxed state. At the end of the trance it is likely that any side effects are of the positive kind, such as relaxed state of wellbeing. Sometimes the subject experiences more vivid dreams as their mind processes some of the things learned during hypnosis.


A hypnotherapy session
When you come for your first hypnotherapy, we begin by finding out more about your problem. What has caused you to come for treatment now? People often put up with a problem for many years until something changes and they need to seek help. For example, they may have coped with a fear of flying for years by avoiding air travel. But then something changes, say they want to visit a relative in Australia. So now their fear of flying has become too much of an obstacle to living the life they want and they decide to seek treatment.

Next we explore the history of your problem. When the problem first occured, what was associated with it, how it is maintained, when it is better or worse, how it affects you and those around you.

Then we discuss the solution you would like to have for the problem. What your life would be like without it. We then agree a realistic outcome from therapy. Some problems, like a fear or phobia, can be resolved in a few sessions. Other problems, like a chronic medical condition, can realistically only be managed more helpfully.

Once we have understood the problem and agreed the therapy goal we are aiming for, I design a treatment strategy based on your specific situation. My aim is to achieve the therapy goal in as few sessions as possible. Many clients achieve an satisfactory solution to their problem within three sessions.