All the things you need to know about Hypnosis

If you haven't done hypnosis before it can be scary. It seems so unknown, so mysterious and what we see on TV and in books or in stage hypnosis doesn't help!

Here's the thing, this is not what you will experience in our sessions. In our sessions I want you to feel 100% confident and safe in what we are doing. I will take the time to answer any questions you may have before we do any hypnosis.

Here's some info that most people find helpful before getting started:

What is hypnosis?

• hypnosis is a relaxed state where we can access your subconscious mind. You subconscious mind is where your thoughts, beliefs and memories are stored. Your beliefs influence your thoughts which influence your actions. Your subconscious is where all your automatic reflexes and decisions come from. In hypnosis you are in a state of focused attention, heightened suggestibility, and deep relaxation. You may become more open to suggestions and can experience changes in perception, memory, and behaviour.

• When in hypnosis you are in the theta brain wave state. This is a completely natural state we all cycle through every day. Right before you fall asleep (sleep is delta brain wave state) or right as you are waking up, riding in a car/on a train, in the shower, watching tv - these are all examples of us experiencing hypnosis every day. Because of this our brain cycles through the state naturally on our own so you can't get stuck in hypnosis - you would just naturally emerge when you are ready or when you need to.

  
  

What is hypnosis used for?

• Hypnosis is often used to relax and help deal with stress and anxiety. It can be used to begin a new habit or stop an old unwanted one - like exercising more regularly or reducing eating sugar or biting our nails. It can help with phobias and fears - like flying. It can help improve sleep. It can help improve our negative self talk and increase our confidence and self appreciation.

• Hypnosis is not a magic solution but it will work with us to help make new choices way easier.

How does it work?

• It accesses our problem solving abilities, helps us think "outside the box" to solve problems and connect with ourselves to identify our next right step.

• We use imagination and visualization to "practice" these new actions which creates new neural pathways in our brain so that when it comes time to make a new or different choice our brain considers it a safe and familiar response.

What does a session look like?

• We will begin by discussing and getting clear on your goal.

• First sessions we can work on self hypnosis - a home practice that can be used between sessions to help improve results.

• Then we will will move into guiding you into a deep relaxed state by using imagery and visualization.

• We will use repeated suggestions (pre-agreed upon), imagery and visualization to "practice" and align with the goal.

• Then we will return to waking state to discuss next action steps that will be taken and reinforce any "take aways" from the session.

What does hypnosis feel like?

• Each person experiences hypnosis differently. It is often described as deeply relaxing. some feel tingly and light some heavy, some feel nothing different at all. It is like having a conversation with our eyes closed. If you've expereinced guided mediation, it often feels similar to that.

Hypnosis is:

• safe, natural state

• daydreaming, imaginative state

• bypassing our critical mind

• accessing our subconscious mind which is responsible for our beliefs, memories and automatic responses

Hypnosis is NOT:

• sleep or a black out - you are awake and in control the whole time, and will remember everything after

• something you can get stuck in

• mind control - you decide what suggestions you follow and what actions you follow through on

• like stage hypnosis - we are here for more than just laughs. Also remember that those who participate in stage hypnosis choose to, so they are deciding to follow the suggestions.

Hypnosis can help you meet your goals, provide you with relaxation and time to check-in with yourself.