What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy isn’t standing on a stage having your mind controlled by a hypnotist and it’s not being made to walk around a stage pretending to be something you are not. Whilst this may be amusing and if I am being honest I have laughed myself, Stage Hypnosis has no real relation to Hypnotherapy.

When I first started to tell people I was interested in becoming a Hypnotherapist, I was surprised by the amount of people who said they would not do it as they don’t want to cluck like a chicken. I find it strange after seeing all the bizarre things Stage Hypnotists make people do, that it is the chicken act that people remember. Stage Hypnosis is fun to watch and if you are like me you feel relieved you aren’t the one chosen, however the key thing to remember is that the person on the stage wanted to be chosen and is happy to behave in this manner.

The biggest misconception surrounding Hypnotherapy is that it is a form of mind control. Trust me, if that was the case my husband’s life would involve all the housework and less playing on his phone. The truth is, under hypnosis you are still fully in control, I can’t make you tell me your secrets or make you do anything you do not wish to do.

There are many different interpretations of what a hypnotic trance is and whether it really can be described as a trance. It is a topic that has been debated for century’s by many of the worlds lead Psychiatrists and medical professionals. I believe Hypnosis is a natural state of focused concentration where your conscious mind is relaxed and your subconscious is engaged.

Many people tell me they don’t believe they can be hypnotised, yet hypnosis is a natural state that we all experience every single day. For example, how often do you find yourself day dreaming, or driving your car somewhere and realising that you can’t remember parts of the journey? How often do you get engrossed in a TV show or a book so that when someone talks to you, you don’t hear them?

These are examples of a light hypnotic state and if you do this, you can certainly be hypnotised. The depth of hypnosis a person can achieve varies however most therapy can be completed in a light state.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful therapy that can truly help people to change their lives in a short space of time, however it isn’t magic and requires the client to be motivated and willing to work hard.