What is Hypnosis?

Everyone experiences the state of mind called hypnosis from time to time. Have you ever found yourself driving down the highway and suddenly wondered how you got so far without realizing it, or even missed your exit? Odds are, you were focused so completely on your thoughts that you were not consciously aware you were driving. This intense focus is the basis of hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a natural state in which the mind becomes more receptive to suggestion that can affect behavior change. This part of the mind, called the subconscious, is accessed by using certain techniques to set aside the conscious censor, and allow new suggestions to be incorporated into the subconscious. This subconscious, or below conscious mind awareness, part of the mind has stored the information and experiences of your life that make you who you are. It accepts the thoughts you give it literally and proceeds to take action to bring those thoughts into reality. Sometimes the tapes it runs are obsolete or detrimental and need to be updated.

How Does the Mind Work?

The conscious part of the mind is the rational, intellectual part that uses willpower (a short-term function), and a limited amount of memory to carry out everyday decisions and activities. The part that lets in, or keeps out, new thoughts and ideas that could influence you is called the censor or critical factor.

The functions of the subconscious mind include forming habits, good, bad, or neutral, and storing all of your life experiences. It is more emotional and forgets nothing. The subconscious responds literally to ideas real or imagined. It then organizes your behavior to bring these thoughts into reality. It contains the programming for our behavior. Unfortunately, it's lazy and would rather run an old tape, for example, "I'm smoking too much, it hurts my lungs and throat," than accept a new idea, "I'm a nonsmoker." You say to yourself, "I'm smoking too much," and the subconscious says, "Yes, that agrees with my existing programming. I will continue to take action to reach that goal. And it does. You get up and go get your cigarettes and light up. Then you wonder what in tarnation is wrong with you. Oops! How do you get around this?

That's where the hypnotist comes in. A hypnotist is trained in techniques to bypass the censor of the conscious mind and allow in new ideas and goals that become stored and programmed into the subconscious. New ideas that you want to become part of your life. Once these new ideas are accepted, the new behavior is effortless and automatic.

What Does The Hypnotist Do?

A hypnotist guides you into the proper mental state for you to accept new suggestions to change unwanted habits and behavior, or to add in new capabilities. Many times we get stuck with old thoughts causing behavior we don't want. Since these thoughts are below our conscious awareness, they replay like old tapes. Like old tapes, they can be recognized and replaced with newer, better versions that you desire now.

Why Can't I Just Stop Smoking, Eating etc. Using Willpower?

You feel like you're in a battle with yourself. Why can't you control yourself? Are you weak willed? A hopeless failure? No! You are simply trying to use the wrong part of your mind. Willpower is a short-term conscious decision and is not intended for long term behavioral change. The old tapes are still running unconsciously and it takes a lot of conscious effort to override them. It's easier to change the tapes.

How Long Does it Take?

It's fast!

It can be as little as one session or several depending on how entrenched the habit is.

I Don't Think I Can Be Hypnotized?

Yes, you can. If you want to, you can.

Will I Be Unconscious? Can the Hypnotist Control Me?

No. And NO.

For most situations, you will consciously remember everything that has been said when you return to normal consciousness. I am at all times very careful to follow Your ideas about what You want to accomplish. If anything should be said in the session that disagrees with what you think, you can throw the thought out after the session and it will have no effect on you.

You will not do anything in a hypnotic state that is contrary to your beliefs. The critical factor of your conscious mind is always on standby and can snap you out of the hypnotic state instantly if a suggestion is given to you that you don't want to accept. You have chosen to work with the hypnotist for a specific time period for a specific goal and your wishes are always respected.

What Do You Use hypnosis For?

The list is endless. Habits you want to change including overeating, smoking, nail-biting, poor study habits, memory improvement, sports, work, or speaking performance improvement, reducing stress or tension level, and just about any others you can think up.

Fears and phobias are easy to remove by speaking to the subconscious.

Conditions such as asthma, allergies, tension headaches, migraines, skin conditions, depression, non-orgainc impotence, sleep disorders, and pain can be worked with as well as more serious problems such as heart problems and cancer. All medical conditions require a referral form for you to take to your doctor or it can be sent directly to him if you prefer. Hypnosis is not meant to replace medical treatment but is an adjunct to it.

Hypnotherapy is a much faster way to get to the source of your problems because it works directly through your subconscious. The usual psychotherapy method of working through the conscious mind brings up little tidbits from the sub- conscious over a long period of time. Hypnosis bypasses all the denials and rationalizations of the analytical mind. If you have a situation that calls for the conventional slow approach, you will be referred to a competent pyschotherapist for treatment.