People have many misconceptions about hypnosis, yet it is a powerful and effective form of treatment, helpful in treating a whole range of conditions.
Most people think of old Hollywood clich?s about hypnosis, imagining someone swinging a pocket watch in front of your face to put you to sleep. Ironical, given that hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep, but rather, one of heightened awareness.
This heightened awareness is brought about by the therapist's skill at inducing a trance-like condition in which we experience an enhanced state of awareness.
Once we are in this state (i.e. hypnotised), we are highly suggestible. We concentrate all of our focus on the therapist's voice, and listen to the ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations that they suggest.
A skilled therapist can thus reprogram patterns of behaviour within our mind - this is used to meet a variety of patient needs, including:
- Overcoming irrational fears and phobias
- Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones
- Overcoming addictions such as smoking or alcoholism
- Increasing confidence or self esteem
- Sexual disorders
Many people have a fear that a therapist can make them do something they don't what to, or that they will do something ridiculous like the participants in hypnotism shows, but the reality is that we will never do something we don't want to do.
Finally, it is worth remembering that therapists are trained professionals whose goal is to help you deal with whatever issues you are finding it difficult to deal with alone, and will thus only talk to you about issues that you bring to them.
