Clinical Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for promoting healing, growth and transformation. Hypnosis is explained as a state of relaxation in which the power of our subconscious is activated to gain access to our inner resources, wisdom and power to work through any challenge without any effort.

If we can change our beliefs, our beliefs can change us (as human beings).

In this practice, hypnosis is effectively used in the following areas:

• anxiety and stress;
• depression;
• trauma;
• self-image and self-esteem;
• eating disorders and weight loss;
• smoking;
• unhealthy habits;
• preparation for surgical operations and aftercare;
• childbirth-training;
• academical and sports enhancement;
• memory recovery;
• sleeping disorders;
• sexual dysfunction and relationship challenges;
• certain physical diseases and health challenges.

What hypnosis is and not – in a nutshell

It is necessary during our process for you to be informed about hypnosis; what it is and what it’s not. Informed clients are benefitting more from hypnosis. I also understand that you do not always have the time to read a long article, or that you may have concentration challenges or a lack of motivation – therefore the summarised version.

You don’t have to read the rest of the article if you are satisfied with the brief explanation hereunder. If not, you may wish to read the rest of the article.

You will understand everything about hypnosis when you realise that:

• hypnosis is nothing more than a deep relaxed state. You are aware of everything that is happening around you. Afterwards, you will not even believe that you were hypnotised. You will never do, accept or say anything during hypnosis that you would not normally say, do, or accept during normal circumstances;
• hypnosis is almost like listening to a boring speech, a prayer in an old-fashioned church, or someone talking nonsense. Your mind may wander to everywhere and anywhere, except the prayer. It is perfectly okay if your mind wanders. The less you are aware of what is being suggested, the better. You may even think that you have fallen asleep;
• hypnosis is almost like daydreaming. As your mind wanders, your subconscious is always alert, awake and present);
• you do not have to relax. The harder you try to relax, the less you will be able to. You can just allow everything to happen spontaneously. You have no responsibility during the process;
• you will not believe that you were hypnotised, until you become aware of certain changes, or even surprises, since it takes the subconscious mind seven days to process the trance. The subconscious mind takes on average seven days to process suggestions, which I will tell your conscious mind after seven or more days after hypnosis. All of the above is enough for you to know for now. If you would like to know and understand more – please read on.

What hypnosis is and not – more comprehensively discussed

Most people think that hypnosis is a sleep-like state where you are completely unaware of anything and totally under the influence of the hypnotherapist. Before we can explain what hypnosis really is, we need to understand what it is not:

Hypnosis is not a state of sleep

The word hypnosis is derived from the Greek word Hypnos, who is the Greek god of sleep. Ironically, hypnosis is everything but sleep. 

Some people sometimes believe that they have fallen asleep during hypnosis. During such case, they have achieved a Theta trance which means that it is the deepest form of trance one can ever achieve. Your subconscious is still active and still responds to the suggestions I am offering to your subconscious mind.

You are all the time aware of yourself and your environment during hypnosis. You do not lose consciousness at all. Although in a deep trance – noises and disturbances in your environment will seem to be remote and even oblivious. These disturbances will not bother you, as long as they are not posing a real threat. Should something threatening happen, you will simply wake up to take the necessary steps to secure yourself. 

Studies have shown a considerable similarity between hypnosis and sleep. Studies of brain activity have shown that although there are characteristic patterns of brain activity associated with sleep, the same is not true during a hypnotic trance. To observers, hypnosis might appear to be like sleep because suggestions of relaxation are commonly given as part of a hypnotic routine. Hypnotised people may experience something like a so-called twilight zone.  They are asleep as well as awake – if this makes sense at all.

Hypnosis is not dangerous

The hypnotic state is no more dangerous than a sleep-state. In general, there are no dangers when hypnosis is practiced by an ethical and qualified practitioner.

If hypnosis were dangerous, we would have to tell ourselves not to slip into a different state of consciousness, nor to daydream or concentrate deeply, nor to be completely compelled and absorbed by certain topics we are attending to.

Consider this: going to a hairdresser is one of the most dangerous experiences you can ever experience. They are operating a dangerous weapon, a pair of sharp scissors, close to your neck. One stab could end your life! Would you then rather never go to a hairdresser?

So-called strong people are not susceptible to hypnosis

So-called strong-willed, intelligent and creative people are on the contrary better subjects than so-called weak-willed people. There is a misconception that only the weak people can be hypnotised and that a hypnotherapist has therefore unlimited control over them – where in fact the hypnotist has absolutely no control over you.

You control and manage the depth of trance you wish to go in, as you are at no time under the hypnotist’s control. You are always in charge of the session and of yourself.

Some people cannot be hypnotised

If you can’t be hypnotised, you would not be able to be alive. Every human-being is always in a certain form of hypnosis, as you may have already noticed.

You may not be able to go into hypnosis when:

1. you do not trust your therapist;
2. there is bad rapport (not a good relationship) between you and your therapist;
3. you do not want to be hypnotised.

Anyone who wants to be hypnotised, will be able to. I will never try to hypnotise anybody who does not want to. In such case, hypnosis will never be successful. However, if you want to be hypnotised, even if you think you can’t, we will be able to do it easily.

You can’t be hypnotised against your wish

You will only be able to go into trance if you really want to be hypnotised. We can help people who are supposedly resistant into trance, but even these methods will not be effective if you do not want to be hypnotised.

As a matter of fact, no hypnotherapist can hypnotise you. All hypnosis is a form of self-hypnosis. The hypnotherapist is simply the facilitator in the process of self-hypnosis.

You can never be forced to do, say or accept anything during hypnosis that you would not do, say or accept in a conscious state. You will always retain control over your ability to respond to a suggestion, and even if you allow yourself to respond to a suggestion, it will feel as if the results are happening automatically.

Hypnosis is not a question-and-answer session

The greatest misconception is prospective clients want to know what I am going to ask them during hypnosis. I am not going to ask you anything at all during hypnosis. I will ask everything I need to know about you during our clinical interview. Hypnosis is used as a therapeutical tool where I offer suggestions or will ask you to perform certain actions in your mind, without having to tell me anything about it.

I will only ask questions during a hypnotic trance when it is your request during our interview to recall information you may not remember whenever you need or want to remember it – might it be events that happened long ago which you suppressed, repressed or plain forgot, and need to remember for whatever reason you want or need to remember certain events.

Hypnosis is not the work of the devil

Everyone on earth has experienced a form of hypnosis during their lifetime in the form of daydreaming. It is a natural gift which can be utilised positively in your best interest. It is true however, that untrained charlatans can also abuse hypnosis.

Some people think that you are in a vulnerable state and subjected to evil when you are hypnotised. This is just not possible. The Holy Scriptures teach us that we are protected at all times.

Nothing is going to be revealed

Many people are fearful about what may surface whilst hypnotised. First of all: the days of going back to the past and reliving trauma are over. Nowadays, we have techniques to overcome trauma without having to re-traumatise the client by forcing you to go back to the original traumatic experience.

As you know by now, you will always remain in full control during our sessions. Hypnosis can sometimes be used for the purpose of retrieving repressed memories or information. People who make use of hypnosis for these reasons, choose to achieve a deeper trance than we normally use during hypnosis. In such cases they are really interested in remembering suppressed information. A hypnotherapist cannot force anyone to disclose any information against their own will.

You may begin to realise that hypnosis is actually a state of mind-power. A client once called me, asking: I think my husband is cheating on me. Will you please find out the truth? My answer to her was: if he can distort the truth now, just imagine how much better he will be able to lie during hypnosis!

Since hypnosis is a state of mind power, he can use the power of his mind to lie even better!

No hypnotist can force you to do, say, or accept anything that’s in conflict with your moral- or ethical values.

You cannot get stuck in hypnosis

There is no evidence that anybody can get stuck in hypnosis. Studies have been conducted where participants in a group were hypnotised. The hypnotist then left the room under the pretense that there was a problem he had to attend to. The participants were then observed (without their knowledge) to see what would happen. The result in all cases were that all participants spontaneously came back out of hypnosis after a period of time.

You will reorientate yourself back to the here-and-now, just as spontaneously as you would wake up after an afternoon nap.

You will not remember anything afterwards

You will remember everything afterwards because you are awake and alert during the hypnotic trance. Some people don’t remember certain things, simply because their minds strayed during trance. You are free to allow your conscious thoughts to wander as we go, since we are addressing the subconscious mind rather than the conscious mind. Some people even think they have fallen asleep, and that is perfect since your subconscious mind is always alert and awake.

It seldom happens, but occasionally does when clients have no recollection of what had happened during the session. It might be that the material we were working with, might be too traumatic, and your subconscious may choose not to remember what happened afterwards. When this occurs, clients never ask me afterwards what had happened, because they don’t want to be reminded of what really happened.

Although regression work is rarely done in this practice, as we have new and advanced methods of working with these challenges, you may spontaneously regress into the past during a hypnotic trance.

Deep trances are not necessarily required. Anything necessary can be done even during a light to a mild trance.

What is hypnosis really?

Have you ever driven a long distance and, after arriving, you were thinking: how did I get here? Have you ever watched a movie without even hearing someone talking behind you? Are you currently aware of background sounds, as you are reading now? If not, these external stimuli are still present, but you are not focusing on them right now, and you have not heard them.

This is hypnosis!

Broadly speaking, hypnosis is a state of altered consciousness that occurs normally in every person just before falling asleep. That is why hypnosis is usually accompanied by relaxation; simulating a relaxed position of the body during sleep. During therapeutic work, we prolong this brief interlude, to be able to work within its’ bounds.

In short: after our first hypnosis session, you will not believe that you were hypnotised at all. Clients often tell me: but I don’t think that I was hypnotised. I was aware of everything all the time – I could hear your voice and I heard the noises in and outside the building right through the session. I was not under. Well, that is hypnosis! You are aware of everything. However, the more hypnotic sessions we have, the deeper you will experience your trance state.

Hypnosis is nothing other than just a deep state of relaxation allowing a state of mind-power. Nothing more, nothing less. If you understand this, you understand hypnosis. You will not believe that you were hypnotised at all!

Hypnosis, also referred to as hypnotherapy or hypnotic suggestion is a trance-like state of mind. It is usually achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist and is different from your everyday awareness in the sense of:

1. your attention is more focused;
2.  you are more relaxed and more calm;
3. you are more open to suggestions and less critical, suspicious or disbelieving.

I prefer to refer to hypnosis as a relationship of trust. Virtually anything is possible if there is trust. Hypnosis will not be successful without a relationship of trust. It is extremely important to be comfortable with our relationship. The more comfortable you are, the better our chances of success.

We will never really understand the concept of hypnosis. Hypnotherapists hold the opinion that hypnosis creates a state of deep relaxation and quietens the mind. When you’re hypnotised, you can concentrate intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation whilst blocking out distractions. You’re more open than usual to suggestions and this can be used to change your behaviour and thereby improve your health and well-being.

1. More deeply relaxed and calm.
2. You’re more open to suggestions and less critical or disbelieving.
3. The purpose of hypnosis is to help you gain more control over your behaviour, emotions or physical well-being.
4. I prefer to refer to hypnosis as a relationship of trust. If there is trust, virtually anything is possible. If there is no trust, hypnosis will not be successful.

It’s not clear how hypnosis works. Hypnotherapists say that hypnosis creates a state of deep relaxation and quietens the mind. When you’re hypnotised, you can concentrate intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation while blocking out distractions. You’re more open than usual to suggestions and this can be used to change your behaviour and thereby improve your health and well-being.

Stage hypnosis

When you keep the above-mentioned principles in mind, you might wonder what exactly is happening on stage.

1. First of all, the stage hypnotist will never just call out participants. He will say something such as: any volunteers, come up to the stage. This will be your first clue. Everybody knows he is going to make fun of you. The fact that you are willing to do that, indicates that you want to do whatever he is suggesting.  For this reason, he will be able to do it.  If you are not willing, the hypnotist will become the fool!
   
   
2. Secondly – and this is what you won’t see on TV – the hypnotist will converse with possible participants prior to the actual show.  He has to establish whether there is a relationship or not. If he learns that you don’t like or trust him, or vice versa, you will be sent back to the audience. The same will apply if you appear to be critical of him or the hypnotic process.
   
   
3. This means the stage hypnotist is familiar with his subjects and therefore knows who will be willing to play along and who won’t.
   
   
4. Now the moment of truth! He snaps his fingers and says: sleep! And they all go to sleep. Well, you know by now that hypnosis is not a sleeping state. But how is it possible for him to just snap his fingers and they are hypnotised? This would in fact be your next clue and implies that he has hypnotised them once before. You will experience it yourself.  It will take time and effort to get you into hypnosis during our first session.  Thereafter, it takes less time and effort to hypnotise you.  After a few sessions, I may also be able to hypnotise you by just snapping my fingers.
   
   
5. As mentioned earlier: hypnosis is a state of mind-power. When you are on stage, and the hypnotist suggests to you to dance like a ballerina, you will first check with your internal moral system whether it is okay for you to do that or not. If it is acceptable, you can use your mind-power to remember for instance, a TV show where you have seen a ballerina dancing. You will be able to recall those moves, and you will be able to perform them accordingly. You might even be able to use mind-power to dance on the tips of your toes and imagine a steel bar from the tips of your toes to your legs. This will enable you to be able to do it. However, if the hypnotist suggests something against your principles, or what you would not do under normal circumstances, or something harmful, you will immediately reorientate yourself out of hypnosis, since you are in control all the time.
   
   
6. When he is done, he will wake you up. As mentioned earlier, you will always return out of hypnosis and you will remember everything that happened. Some people appear to be surprised afterwards. You may even be surprised when you realise how realistic everything felt.

You may choose not to remember anything if it was too traumatic or if you don’t want to remember it.  Your eternally faithful subconscious mind will do that with pleasure for you.

The hypnotic process

Hypnosis is not a once-off experience. It is difficult to predict how many sessions we may need. On average, it takes four to eight sessions of hypnotherapy to work through your challenge. We might require more or fewer sessions, depending on the nature and intensity of your challenge.

Hypnosis is usually done with a seven-day interval between sessions, as the subconscious mind takes seven days (on average) to process an intervention. Usually, only after seven days, you will start experiencing the outcomes of the previous session.

The first session

We will most probably not do hypnosis during our first session.

Hypnosis is based on a relationship of trust between me and you, and therefore the first session is about building that relationship of trust. Our first session is also an opportunity for you to get comfortable with me as your therapist and with the process of hypnosis.

I also need to understand your challenge by listening to you, asking you questions and giving feedback. During this session, I will also try to establish the exact nature of your challenge and to figure out how the pieces of the puzzle fit together (to analyse and understand your psychodynamics). There are however certain exceptions, such as quitting smoking, where hypnosis may commence in the first session.

It is necessary to read this article to ensure that you are well aware of what hypnosis entails and what not, in order to eliminate any fears, prejudices and possible false expectations.

The second session

We will normally initiate hypnosis during this session. Since you are determining the course of therapy, it might happen that you might like to divulge more information that you would like to discuss. Hypnosis might not be a possibility for this session since we have time-restraints. Please keep in mind that we need at least half an hour during our session for hypnosis.

When we actually do begin with hypnosis, there is a possibility that not much might happen during the first session of hypnosis, due to the following reasons:

1. you may initially not easily go into a hypnotic trance. Anyone will resist something they are not familiar with. It is natural to be apprehensive of the unknown;
   
   
2. anxious clients may initially find it more difficult to relax. The harder they try the more difficult it becomes. It can be compared to a sleepless night – the more you fight against insomnia, the more anxious you become, and the more sleep will elude you. The moment you stop trying, is the moment when you will fall asleep – the same with achieving a relaxed hypnotic trance;
   
   
3.  you will gradually realise that you do not have to listen, think, concentrate or even co-operate. Hypnosis just happens spontaneously, easily and effortlessly. You can simply let your thoughts go. Imagine yourself listening to a boring speech – your thoughts may wander and you may even fall asleep. Your subconscious is still receiving the messages without you even being aware of it;
   
   
4. you may even fall asleep, or your thoughts may drift off to daily concerns;
   
   
5. you may perhaps imagine yourself on a beautiful island with a refreshing waterfall;
   
   
6. you may even want to think of this gorgeous man or woman you saw in Woolies yesterday;

You might go home after a hypnosis session, and think or feel that nothing has changed. As time goes by, you may systematically begin to notice subtle changes in your relationships and daily life. Only then will you appreciate the power of your subconscious mind. People close to you might notice these changes, sometimes without you even noticing it.
Your mind is your tool. Your therapist is merely the key that unlocks your subconscious mind. You already possess everything necessary to fulfill your every desire.

The third session and after that

You will experience a deeper level of trance during the third or fourth session. You have surpassed the novelty and your own resistance. Now we can really start working on your challenge. You may sometimes go into a deep trance and sometimes not. The depth of your trance is however not significant.

From here on, we can work fast and effectively.

To summarise

Hypnosis is an unconscious process. In most cases, people aren’t even aware that they were hypnotised, and they are initially even unaware of the changes that took place.

You don’t have to do anything whatsoever. Your subconscious mind does everything for you. Easily and effortlessly. All you need to do is to say: thank you Subconscious Mind!