Hypnosis is a state of inward attention and focused concentration. You have most likely already experienced hypnosis, although you may not have referred to it by that name. If you’ve ever been absorbed in thought, or read a book or watched TV and lost track of what is going on around you, you were in a trance-like state which is also known as hypnosis. Clinical hypnosis is different only in that you experience it with the guidance of a hypnotherapist rather than spontaneously.
Being hypnotized is a way to put aside or distract your conscious mind so that messages can go straight into your subconscious, thus leading to quicker and frequently more lasting change. When the mind is concentrated and focused during hypnosis, you will be better able to tap into your inner resources. This allows you to use more of your potential and actually gain more self-control. It is a myth that you lose control during hypnosis.
There are many mental health applications for hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy methods such as guided imagery, post-hypnotic / hypnotic suggestions, and regression are effective in treating the following conditions:
*Addictions * anxiety * post-traumatic stress * depression * cigarette smoking * obesity and weight issues * sleep disorders * poor concentration * test anxiety * learning disabilities * low achievement * interpersonal communication struggles * marriage and family issues * undesirable behaviors and habits * past or current abuse * poor information recall * blocked creative expression * low self-esteem *
In addition, increased access to your emotions during hypnosis has many uses. If you have been struggling with feelings such as fear, grief, guilt, or anger, there are various therapeutic methods during hypnosis to help you access those feelings when appropriate and then express, release, or transform them. You will also most likely have an increase in feelings of peace, bliss, joy or euphoria - sometimes spontaneously during hypnosis and also as a response to post-hypnotic suggestions or other therapeutic methods. Such experiences can be very meaningful for you and have a substantially therapeutic value.
Your first hypnotherapy session is most often a pre-hypnotic interview followed by a second session in which the agreed-upon hypnosis actually occurs. Many insurance PPO plans now cover this service because it has been acknowledged since 1958 by the American Medical Association as being an effective mode of mental health treatment.
I am currently certified by the National Board of Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists (NBCCH). Here is a link to their website for more information about the organization and my clinical hypnotherapist certification.
