Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy

I shall explain HYPNOTHERAPY from my private practice point of view. And in so doing, you’ll notice that I’ll express Hypnotherapy in a context that is pragmatic to other traditional forms of therapy. To begin I’ll give the summaries on the client-centered therapies for which I’m empirically proficient. When I say proficient, I’m expressing that I’ve delivered each of these therapies in both academic and professional practice. Here is a thumb-nail description for each:

Reality Therapy (RT) was my first academic study and it served me well. RT got me into guidance, got me into private practice, got me my Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. During my past and present years as a professional high school guidance counsellor, RT has always been my go-to model. (Reality Therapy and Choice Theory are from the same hand-books written by William Glasser.)

RT Counsellor guidelines: Who are you? What do you want? What are you been doing about it? Is doing what you’re doing working for you? (Of course it is not … because if it were working … YOU WOULDN’T BE HERE.)

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) was my first pragmatic system when I did contract work.

SFT is characterized by the rather hypnotic Miracle Question: "You wake up one morning and YOUR PROBLEM IS GONE … How would you know? Describe your imaginary problem-free day …. How would your life be if it were perfect? … And so when you wake up tomorrow morning behave exactly as if your world was perfect and everyone around you is responding according to your perfect world picture."

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another model I employed while doing contract work.

CBT is a behavior therapy purportedly combined with simultaneous reflection and introspection.

All of the aforementioned therapies are considered behavioral therapies, action-oriented and monitored by the therapist. Hypnotherapy, too, is action-oriented, but entirely client driven, and not necessarily monitored by the therapist. Therapist monitoring is always dependent on scheduling more sessions - my hypnotherapy practice typically takes just one session for client success. My Hypnotherapy is a collaboration of therapist and client suggested imagery, created for the client to re-enact immediately following the session.

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

Hypnosis is a natural brainwave state in which you have been many times. Whenever you have experienced extreme emotions while reading a book or watching a movie, or whenever you daydream at home or at work, or when you are drowsy just before falling asleep, and whenever you have been glued to the television; these are all just some rather ordinary examples that are very similar to the natural state of hypnosis

HYPNOSIS IS NOT MEDITATION.

When a subject enters an altered state of consciousness through meditation, the focus is on oneself. When a subject enters an altered state of consciousness through hypnosis, the client is open to receiving suggestion from the therapist. The motive for most meditations is to focus on oneself; whereas, the focus on hypnosis is to take action for yourself.

HYPNOSIS IS NOT SLEEP.

During sleep a person will not hear conversations. During hypnosis a person will hear the therapist’s voice. During sleep a person has no ability to concentrate; whereas, during hypnosis a person has an extremely high ability to concentrate.

HYPNOSIS is the technique used in HYPNOTHERAPY.

HYPNOTHERAPY:
HYPNOTHERAPY is hypnosis used for therapeutic purposes.
HYPNOTHERAPY is relaxing.
HYPNOTHERAPY can help clients overcome certain phobias and other emotional problems.
HYPNOTHERAPY IS A STATE OF CRISP AND CLEAR CONSCIOUSNESS.

TRANCE is the state of crisp and clear consciousness brought about by hypnotic induction. The hypnotist will SUGGEST – the subject will COMPLY, and this is hypnotic induction. Any exchange between the hypnotist and subject, has been defined as hypnotic induction; induction being a synonym for a session. Every hypnotic induction, no matter the method, that interaction between practitioner and client always involves the social process of having the client take on the role of hypnotic subject.

TRANCE can only be achieved when the hypnotic subject is a willing participant, taking on the role of which involves a willing suspension of disbelief of the client’s limitations. (Clients must believe in themselves; clients must believe they are capable of conquering their issues!) While in TRANCE, the client will express to the therapist, in thick and very detailed description, the client-therapist collaborated scenarios of the client behaviors necessary to achieve the client desired outcomes. Simply stated: The stronger these images, the more likely the desired outcomes.

BECOME THE PERSON YOU LONG TO BE!
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY TO TELL (William Glasser) …
EVERYBODY HAS A STORY TO TELL AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETELL, UNTIL IT ENDS RIGHT! (Neil Child)

For example, through hypnotherapy, clients wanting to quit smoking, or wanting to lose weight, or wanting to get a good sleep, will adopt new behaviors to accommodate their changed and desired lifestyle. Every human being has the trait of suggestibility, the tendency to respond to suggestions. SUGGESTION IS EVERYTHING. Under hypnosis, this tendency is artificially increased by the technique of the hypnotherapist. The power of suggestion and the tendency to respond to that suggestion is what hypnotherapy is all about. Hypnosis is a state of trance and increased suggestibility.

Once clients have altered their current behaviors to create their new future lifestyles, other changes, too, could occur. For example, a client who quits smoking will inevitably quit coughing and could end up running marathons. Clients who quit drinking will inevitably meet teetotalers and java maestros who prefer coffee shops over pubs. Clients who lose a few pounds may decide to become fitness fanatics or even fitness instructors.

Hypnotherapy is client-therapist collaboration. It is up to the therapist to guide and help the client create the new path onto which the client wants to set foot.

Some simple truths about HYPNOTHERAPY:
You are never in any danger in Hypnotherapy.
You will never become stuck in some hypnotic state.
You can exit from the state of hypnosis whenever you wish.
You will never violate any of your moral or ethical principles while in the state of hypnosis.
(For example: During hypnotherapy with me ...
You will never involuntarily cluck like a chicken, quack like a duck, sing as if you're a rock star, or speak gibberish while in the state of hypnosis.)
And last and most important:
I AM NEVER IN CONTROL OF YOU -- YOU ARE ALWAYS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOU.
(Call me anytime ... 306-591-7131)