|
What
if I can’t be hypnotized?
Are you able to focus your attention on something you’re interested
in? Can you relax in a recliner for an hour? Sounds difficult so
far, doesn’t it?!
In
my experience, people who think they can’t be hypnotized are usually
the ones who go into hypnosis right away. Afterwards they say
things like, “Man! You’re really good at this! I know I was
in hypnosis!”
If
you’re willing to enter the hypnotic state and you feel comfortable
with the hypnotherapist, you should be able to experience hypnosis.
The best way to know is to give it a try.
Aren’t the best subjects weak-willed, easily
duped people?
Absolutely not. Studies have shown that the best hypnotic subjects
are intelligent people with a strong sense of self.
If
you have a great big imagination like I do that’s also a plus
because you probably already spend a fair amount of time in this
state! But it’s not a requirement. As you practice, it becomes
easier and easier to enter the hypnotic state. But you have to want
to. I can’t take you there against your will.
Is hypnosis like being asleep or unconscious?
No. So I won’t be swinging a pocket watch in your face and telling
you that you are getting sleepy, very sleepy. The word hypnosis
comes from the Greek word for sleep, but that’s where the
similarities end. Hypnosis is a subtle altered state and can feel
like meditation or daydreaming. Some people don’t even think they
were hypnotized the first time.
With hypnosis, you set an intention ahead of time and are being
guided toward fulfilling it. So hypnosis can feel dreamy and
blissful, but at the same time, it’s an efficient way to create real
change in your life.
 If
I don’t think I was in hypnosis, how will I
evaluate the experience?
When you start to notice the changes happening in your life, you
will know that you benefited from the hypnosis sessions. Also, did
you notice you feel more relaxed than you’ve felt in a long time?
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
Contrary to what you’ve seen in movies and read in novels, no one
can get stuck in hypnosis. In the hypnotic state there is increased
access to your subconscious mind, but your conscious mind is always
present, too, watching over you.
So, if there was a need for you to come out of hypnosis for any
reason, for example: the office caught fire, or your hypnotherapist
had a heart attack …or you just didn’t want to participate anymore,
you would come out of hypnosis on your own, open your eyes and be
ready to walk out the door.
If
you fell asleep while in the hypnotic state, you would wake from
your sleep in your normal waking state.
Isn’t hypnosis a form of mind control?
No. Your mind is not controlled by another person when you’re in
hypnosis. It’s a state of increased personal focus and you’re always
in control. Modern hypnotherapy is an enjoyable process including
gentle suggestion, validation and support. It doesn’t include
coercive commands or an authoritarian attitude.
Can the hypnotherapist make me tell him my credit
card or bank account number, etc.?
No. First of all, most hypnotherapists
are certified through a professional organization and should
practice in accordance with a code of ethics. You can ask them
about this. For example, I’m certified through the
American Council of Hypnotist Examiners,
and adhere to their code of ethics in my work.
Secondly, you won’t spill any secrets while under hypnosis. You
won’t do anything you wouldn’t normally do. Your values and your
moral code are still in force when you’re in the hypnotic state.
What about clucking like a chicken?
Do
you want to cluck like a chicken for $80 an hour?
Stage hypnosis is entertainment. On the other hand, a
hypnotherapist is trained to use hypnosis in a positive way to help
people to go within to solve their problems, heal themselves in
various ways, and to get more of what they want out of life, which
most people find much more rewarding in the long run than making
barnyard sounds or pretending to be Elvis.
|
