Hypnotherapy

In addition to Behavioral Hypnotherapy, another form of hypnotherapy I practice is called “Imaginal Hypnotherapy,” which is a natural extension of Transpersonal (beyond the personal ego) Psychology. It draws largely from Jungian ( Depth) Psychology, Gestalt, Psychosynthesis, Alchemical Hypnotherapy, Transpersonal Hypnotherapy, Ericksonian Hypnosis, various other traditional and contemporary systems of hypnotherapy, behavioral hypnosis and NLP.

It incorporates spiritual and shamanic practices and these disciplines blend to create a harmonious system of effective therapy.

Imaginal Hypnotherapy allows entry into the deep, inner worlds where changes can take place and where Wise Self speaks through the language of the imagination. It is a process that helps us to recognize and accept the different and often opposing aspects of our personalities such as the “inner child” and “inner critic.” Conflicts between these inner characters or “subpersonalities” account for many of our difficulties and problems. Hypnotherapy resolves these conflicts by connecting us to guidance from within, allowing us to achieve the highest levels of wellness and creativity.

Among other things, I can help you:

• Lose weight & change your body
• resolve inner conflicts
• relieve insomnia
• reprocess/reintegrate trauma
• reduce effects of stress
• explore past lives
• enhance relationships
• heal your inner child
• explore your future
• uncover creativity
• connect with inner guidance
• awaken intuitive abilities
• create prosperity
• heal sexual, emotional & physical abuse
• achieve life goals
• increase self-esteem
• change negative patterns
• create new habits
• increase well-being
• awaken & unfold spiritually
• heal & let go of the past
• balance your inner male & female
• discover your purpose
• and create the life you want!

What is Hypnosis?

You’re driving down the road, lost in a daydream, and you suddenly notice that you’ve driven past your exit, or you’re miles farther than you remember driving. Welcome to the wonderful, normal, every-day experience of hypnosis!

Although hypnosis is often portrayed as being a sleep state (which it isn’t), hypnosis is actually a state of heightened awareness – an experience of focused attention. A normal tool in our consciousness toolbox.

And, although it might be fun to remember scenes of stage hypnosis – which fall into the category of entertainment – where people were clucking like chickens, wearing bags on their heads, taking their clothes off or howling like wolves, those things have little to do with the art and craft of hypnotherapy. And, since one can’t be compelled to do something in hypnosis that one wouldn’t ordinarily do, there is always an element of choice at work.

Some of the other definitions of hypnosis used in the past are: Hypnosis is guided daydreaming; Hypnosis is a natural, altered state of consciousness; Hypnosis is a relaxed, hype suggestible state; Hypnosis is a twilight state; and Hypnosis as a process of influential communication.

And even though a pleasant by-product of hypnosis is profound relaxation, being relaxed isn’t necessary for hypnosis to occur.

Misunderstandings (Myths) About self-hypnosis

Hypnosis is caused by the power of the hypnotist.

False: All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, the client is in total control and chooses to follow the hypnotherapist.

Only certain kinds of people can be hypnotized.

False: Everyone can be hypnotized. As with everything, trance is easier for some than others. As Milton Erickson said, there are no resistant clients, only unskilled hypnotists.

Anyone who can be hypnotized must be weak-minded.

False: Ability to be hypnotized is not correlated with any personality traits.

Once someone has been hypnotized, one can no longer resist it.

False: If a client chooses not to go into trance, she/he will not.

One can be hypnotized to say or do something against one’s will.

False: The conditions necessary to affect such powerful influence (such as brainwashing via torture, etc.) do not correspond to the typical therapeutic encounter.

Being hypnotized can be hazardous to your health.

False: Hypnosis itself is not harmful, but an incompetent practitioner can do some damage through sheer ignorance about the complexity of each person’s mind or through a lack of respect for the integrity of each human being.

One inevitably becomes dependent on the hypnotist.

False: Hypnosis as a therapeutic tool doesn’t in and of itself foster dependencies of any kind.

One can become “stuck” in trance.

False: Trance is a state of focused attention, either inwardly or outwardly directed. It is controlled by the client, who can initiate or terminate trance as she/he chooses.

One is asleep or unconscious when in a trance state.

False: Trance is not sleep. The client is relaxed yet alert.

One must be relaxed in order to be in trance.

False: Trance is concentrated attention. Relaxation is not a prerequisite.

Hypnosis may be used to accurately recall everything that has happened to you.

False: The mind is not a computer. Memories are stored on the basis of perceptions, and are subject to the same distortions as perceptions. Memory is not reliable.

Hypnosis is different from daydreaming, guided imagery, visualization, and meditation.

False: Those are different words for the same phenomenon.

Deep trance is necessary in order for hypnosis to be effective.

False: In process-oriented hypnotherapy (as opposed to stage hypnosis or medical-model hypnosis) powerful transformation is experienced in light, medium and deep trance.