Hypnosis is not something that’s done to you…
Regardless of the stage hypnosis shows that you’ve attended or seen on TV, hypnosis is not something that someone does to someone. Hypnosis is a dissociative state that one freely enters. One can’t be hypnotized against one’s will, nor can one be hypnotized into doing something that one does not want to do. Period. No exceptions.
I work with teenagers that have an interest in excelling in sports including tennis. They are able to ratchet up their game through their hypnotherapy sessions with me. But several times I’ve had fathers or mothers ask me “can you hypnotize him or her into cleaning up their room?” I answer ‘no.” They ask “why not?” I reply, “It’s for the simple reason that if the child doesn’t want to clean up their room, they can’t be hypnotized into doing it”.
When an individual comes in to my practice and asks me if I can help them to lose weight or quit smoking, I always ask them “do you want to quit smoking, or do you want to lose weight,” whichever the case may be. If they indicate that their spouse wants them to lose weight or to stop smoking, I reply “whether they want you to lose or stop smoking is not relevant.” “Do you?” If they themselves don’t want to make behavioral change, it won’t work. One cannot be hypnotized to do something that is against their will.
What is the simplest explanation of hypnosis? Hypnosis is controlled daydreaming. If you are reading this article, you’re reading it in your conscious or critical mind. It is called the Beta state. It’s where we execute math and verbal skills and linear thinking. Your subconscious mind is made up in descending order of Alpha – the lightest level of the subconscious, Theta – a much deeper level of the subconscious and Delta which is deep sleepWater Obstacle.
We analyze in Beta, but solve problems in Alpha and Theta – the subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind is where we find our moods, our habits, our personality, our cognitive maps (kind of like an auto pilot) and our only two problems solvers – our imagination and out creativity.
Our subconscious mind is the only place where we can make permanent behavioral change – like stopping smoking and losing weight or lose our fear of public speaking or meeting people. Hypnosis is the only way that one can access their subconscious mind on deliberately. That is why hypnosis is called the bridge to the subconscious mind.
Is there an area in your life in which you would like have an improvement and you would like to make behavioral change? If so please contact me for a complimentary consultation.