Myths surrounding hypnosis… Do you believe in one of these myths?
I get asked this a LOT…
I am a clinical hypnotherapist and coach, my job involves helping my clients to release their insecurities, worries and fears, increase their confidence and self-belief, so that they can achieve their goals and live a life they truly desire.
However, about like 20% of my work with my clients is spent teaching them what hypnosis actually is and what it is NOT. Hypnosis is surrounded by so many myths and misconceptions, which mostly stem from how hypnosis is presented on TV and in media in general.
I get all kinds of questions and concerns with regard to what I do and how I do it, so I thought I lay some of it out here in case you're wondering, or have wondered any of this at some point.
Ok, let's dispel some myths!
1) Not everyone can be hypnotised.
The truth is that anyone can be hypnotised as long as they want to be, however, it is really important that clients are explained the whole process and they have the right expectations. If you don’t want to be hypnotised, then I cannot force you into hypnosis.
Hypnosis is a natural state that everyone and everyone experiences it daily (Yes, even you 😊).
If you've ever driven somewhere but can't remember the exact details of how you got there ( e.g. you cannot remember driving past this restaurant etc.) , gotten lost in your favourite book or film that even when others talk to you, you ignore them or answer something completely different, congrats, you've achieved a state of hypnosis! This can be when we are focused intently on what we are doing, so that everything else seems to dissolve.
All I'm doing is helping you tap into a power you already have, to make it work in your favour and achieve your goals! Yay!
In this state, one is able to focus intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation while blocking out distractions. My focus as a Hypnotherapist is to guide you into this heightened receptive state, where you can begin to re-train your mind and release limiting beliefs and thoughts to make positive improvements in your life as well as you are able to gain new perspective and insights.
Evidence shows that one can advance their responsiveness with the practice of certain hypnotic skills training, which is something that I do with my clients within our sessions- it is basically like going to the gym - you just get better and better as you practise more often.
2) Hypnosis makes people lose control of their mind or body. What does hypnosis feel like? Very often people think that hypnosis is like a sleep or being ‘unconscious’ or that they won’t have free will, but none of that is truth. You still have free will in hypnosis and you are aware of everything. You are very aware of your surroundings under hypnosis, but you are so relaxed and focused, you may chose to ignore all other distractions. No one using hypnosis with you can make you say, do, or feel anything that is against your morals, values or core beliefs. Neither can anyone be hypnotised against their will.
Hypnosis is a very subjective experience and everyone’s experience is different, but the general consensus is an amazing, deep relaxed and calm feeling of the mind and body. However, there are things you might notice such as fluttering in our eyelids, a change in your breathing, perception of your body and sounds around you, stillness in your body, your pulse might change, and you might experience feelings of relaxation. Nevertheless, you will still be aware of everything.
Some people say that they experience a ‘day-dream’ type of feeling or a heightened sense of awareness and focus. Hypnosis is a safe procedure, you cannot get ‘stuck’ in it.
3) Will I be regressed to remember trauma from my past? I have to be honest with you here, I used to think this before I started to learn more about hypnosis (many years before I qualified myself). I had seen this on the TV and I had thought that hypnosis was all about regressing people to their childhood.
The fact is, an ethical, well-trained Hypnotherapist should very rarely use hypnosis to uncover subconscious traumatic memories. If someone has got repression, there's likely a very good reason. I like to describe repression like scab protecting and healing a wound. If you pick the scab, it won't heal properly, and could actually cause re-injury.
It's much more important, and effective, to take the person you are today, no matter how you got here. It is absolutely possible to create the positive change you desire and to have the life you want at the same time releasing the effects that a past experience may have caused without regressing you back to a traumatic event. (This is different than Past Life Regression therapy)
If you would like to learn more about hypnosis, you can access my Freebie Library here and download a Hypnosis Factsheet and benefit from all the other free resources such as meditations, worksheets, ebooks and affirmations cards and more.
OR
Get in touch with me on hello@hypnocoacing.me and ask me any questions about hypnotherapy, hypnosis, coaching and more 😊 … I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your questions.
Lots of Love
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