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Hypnosis FAQ

  • The greatest challenge for modern hypnotherapy is to counterbalance the misinformation portrayed in books, movies, television, and by stage hypnotists.
  • Hypnosis is not an occult art, mind control, or brainwashing.
  • The Bible does not prohibit hypnosis.
  • The hypnotist does not overcome her subject's will.
  • Hypnosis does not lead to loss of control.
  • People cannot get stuck in hypnosis.
  • You cannot be made to do anything you do not want to do.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness during which our subconscious mind is more open and receptive to suggestions that are given.  We drift in and out of different levels of awareness many times a day, absorbing information on a subliminal level as well as consciously.  Your hypnotherapist will work with your imagination to help you to achieve your goals. Hypnotherapy is gentle, safe, and very effective.

How does it feel to be hypnotized?

Everyone is different.  Some people say that their body feels like a lead weight, others say they feel as though they're floating away.  Most people will agree that it's a lovely feeling because they are more relaxed that they have ever been before.

How does the Subconscious accept hypnotic suggestions?

Hypnotic suggestions bypass the conscious mind and zero in on the subconscious. When given a new suggestion that is in sync with a person’s moral belief system, the subconscious mind accepts the suggestion literally as a new reality.

Do I have to remember things from my past in order to recover from my problem?

Not necessarily, if the cause of your problem is a repressed memory (one that you are unable to remember consciously), then bringing it back into conscious awareness can help you to view the problem from a different perspective and so feel differently about it. However, sometimes things that happen in the past create a subconscious belief.  In hypnosis, the belief can be changed to a new positive belief without actually having to remember where it came from.

When I am 'under' will I be asleep?

You will be aware of everything that is happening and being said the whole time, however you will be so deeply relaxed that you may find yourself drifting into different levels of awareness.  Remember, your subconscious mind is active throughout and it is this that your therapist is working with.

Will I remember everything afterwards?

That depends how deep in hypnosis you are, but generally most people do remember either everything or certain parts of the experience.  You will find that suggestions which have been given to you in hypnosis will resurface in your conscious, thinking mind after your hypnosis and these will be the thoughts that produce changes in your behavior or way of thinking and feeling.

Will I give away any secrets while I am hypnotized?

No, you won't say or do anything at all that you don't want to.  If you were given suggestions that you don't morally agree with you would come out of hypnosis.

How do I know I will wake up from hypnosis?

No one has ever remained in hypnosis indefinitely.  Even if something were to happen to the hypnotherapist halfway through the session, you would still 'come out' of the trance state once rapport had been broken.

Are there any side effects from hypnosis?

The only side effects are the beneficial ones of feeling more relaxed afterwards and feeling more positive about whatever it was you sought hypnotherapy for.  Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state.

Can I be hypnotized against my will?

No, anyone can resist and it won't work. Hypnosis is cooperation between two people - your therapist will show you the way and you can choose if you want to go there or not. You also cannot be hypnotized to do something that you really don't want to do for yourself. For example, if your significant other wants you to quit smoking, so you are only doing it to please them but don't actually have the desire at all yourself to quit. One's standards of judgment or behavior are as much in control in hypnosis as in the waking state.

I went to a hypnotherapist once before and it didn't work. 
Does this mean I'm not able to be hypnotized?

No, the most common reason for failure to induce trance is lack of rapport with the hypnotherapist and not following directions.

I'm not sure if I can be hypnotized. Can any person be hypnotized?

If you can dream, you can be hypnotized.  Unless there is some sort of brain damage, people of average intelligence and the willingness to follow directions can be hypnotized in most cases.  The depth of trances varies by person.  People get just as good of results with a light trance as they do a deep trance. One can be hypnotized only by desiring to be, and cooperating with the therapist. In fact all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. You are in control at all times. The therapist is the guide.

Are the results permanent?

Suggestions stay with some individuals indefinitely, others need reinforcement.  The effects of hypnosis are cumulative.

How many sessions will it take to reach my goal?

The length of therapy depends on the issue, and depends on the client.  In general, smoking is typically 1-3 sessions; phobias are typically 3-6 sessions; weight loss is a MINIMUM of 5 sessions; stress, anxiety, depression, pain management, healthy relationships, and other issues vary from 5 to 10 sessions just depending on what is going on.

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