It is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. It's not really like sleep, because you are alert the whole time. It is most often compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing yourself" in a book or movie. You are fully conscious, but you tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.
The deep relaxation and focusing exercises of hypnotism work to calm and subdue the conscious mind so that it takes a less active role in your thinking process. In this state, you're still aware of what's going on, but your conscious mind takes a backseat to your subconscious mind. Effectively, this allows you and the hypnotist to work directly with the subconscious. It's as if the hypnotism process pops open a control panel inside your brain.
Additionally, the subconscious is the storehouse for all your memories. While in hypnosis, you may find yourself able to access past events that you had completely forgotten, or have not recognized their true emotional impact on you. Hypnotism can bring up these memories so that a related personal problem can finally be resolved.
Our mind is the most complex and powerful computer that exists in this world. Programming it, however, is fairly simple; it takes understanding of how it works, and repetition of the new "program". Soon it becomes a habit that reflects the change you desire. Remember, anything that was created with the mind, can be changed with the mind.
THE FIRST SESSION:
(This session generally runs an hour and a half and up to two hours.)
In this visit we get acquainted with each other; we have a comprehensive discussion and interview to become acquainted thoroughly with your reason for seeking Hypnosis. I learn what your issues and goals are, and explain how Hypnosis works together with my approach and philosophy. You will also fill out a personal information form and sign my therapy agreement.
More often than not, we will have our first Hypnosis experience
at this point.
Following sessions last approximately one hour. The session is never rushed; I always leave plenty of time between clients so we can take more time for our work if necessary.
THE BASIC MYTHS:
You will not act in any way that is silly or embarrassing (stage hypnotists' take care of that). You will not go to sleep, you will hear and remember everything I say, you will not lose control, and you will not do anything against your will. You are in complete and total control over your experience. You will go as deep as is comfortable for you. You are actually hypnotizing yourself.
WHAT A TRANCE FEELS LIKE:
Physically you may feel a sense of serenity, your body may feel heavy or very light, a feeling of physical and emotional calmness. After the session you will experience a relaxed but energized state of being.
My role is to guide and support you while you go through this powerful experience.