Myths about Hypnosis- Loss of control

Most people, even ones who have actually been to a hypnotherapist don't really know what hypnosis is or why it works, how it works, and when to use it. This creates a big challenge. Like having an awesome tool in your tool box that does many things but having no idea what those things are. It is difficult for people to tap into the power of hypnosis when they are unsure what it is. Nowadays youtube and other videos showing and demonstrating stage hypnosis and hypnosis as gags and jokes really makes people more weary about it, unsure of it and leaving them to think of it as one of my college's first client's said when first asked what does he think about hypnosis, he said that he thought it was "hocus pocus". Funny, he thought that and yet was willing to be hypnotised anyway. I am going to be doing a series of topics related to what hypnosis is, what it is not, what it is used for and what it is not used for. Contrary to many web sites that list hypnosis as a remedy for everything under the sun. I tend to take a more moderate approach and use that tool when it is necessary and use something else when appropriate. My ultimate goal with my clients is giving them the change they ask for. If they can do that in a waking state, fine by me. If a trance state is better, fine by me too.

Part of the challenge with hypnotherapy is that many people learn the techniques to hypnotic inductions only, they don't really learn any therapy. I think it is very important to make sure you are in a trance state, after all that is the basis of hypnosis, being in an altered state of mind, however inducing trance is just the beginning. What you do when you are in a trance is really the meat and potatoes of the effectiveness of the "therapy".

Most clients are so busy "disbelieving" hypnosis that they don't allow themselves the benefit of change. A hypnotherapist is better off just talking to someone in the awake state and getting them results that way. That way they are not talking to themselves wondering if it is working. The thought of the hypnotherapist having a magic wand is widespread. When a client finds out that in fact they themselves are the ones making the change, they sometimes are very disillusioned by this and think, that hypnosis is not what they thought it was at all. And most likely they are correct.

So, with that long winded introduction, I am going to demystify the number one myth of hypnosis and that myth is "loss of control" One of the factors involved with someone who is in a hypnotic state is that they have bypassed the critical faculty of the mind. Now what does that mean in layman terms? That the part of their mind that cares to distinguish fantasy from reality is suspended. Just like when you are reading a book, watching a movie, dreaming, or goal planning. In all those cases, you know that what you are thinking is not actually real. You know in the movie Batman, that someone is not really flying through the air using their coat as wings. Although technologically possible with enough work, we do not question it, in order to enjoy the movie and suspend that critical faculty. Hypnosis works the same way.

Some people say that they cannot be hypnotised because they are a control freak. If you say this, then you are really bad at control. Because you must not be able to watch a movie or read a book, without having to be in control. Now there are good movies and there are bad movies, sometimes you are watching a movie and you think to yourself, wow this movie really sucks. The writer failed to get the storyline across to you. Same with hypnosis, once trance is elicited, it is the hypnotherapists job to take you on a wild ride that has a function of eliciting change.

My number one priority with my clients is finding out what they want. I want to know outcomes. Then we together can focus on getting to those outcomes however we see fit. In trance, out of trance, in then out of trance. Whatever works, if they get their outcome, I am happy.

So think about this, before you do self hypnosis, or go to a hypnotherapist, what is your outcome? What is it that you want? You will make each session a whole lot more enjoyable and successful if you are aware of your goals.

The hypnotic state is much like meditation, some people even say the only difference is the spelling. An interesting concept. If you come to a hypnotherapist with an outcome and are willing to suspend your critical faculty in order to elicit change, now you are on the right track of using this tool for success.