What is Hypnosis?

The medical authorities of the USA and Canada recognized hypnotherapy as valid and legitimate therapeutic modality in the year of 1958. However, hypnosis is not exactly a new phenomenon. Throughout the entire history of humanity, in pursuit of healing and illumination of the complex human psyche, individuals have entered hypnotic or trance-like states.
 
We can see the first exploration of hypnotic arts in yogic tantric traditions of ancient India (~5000 BCE). Meditation, breathing techniques, visualization, and rituals aim to induce altered states of consciousness to promote deep insight, healing, and spiritual transformation.
The roots of hypnosis are also found in China’s rich cultural and religious practices like Qigong and Shaolin Kung Fu which are focusing on maximizing the body-mind’s ability to be in harmony, self-repair, and transcendental state of being.
 
In Mesopotamian religious practices (~4000 BCE) priests, known as “Ašipu,” would induce trance-like states through mesmerizing rituals and repetitive chants to access divine knowledge.
 
Well-known “sleep chambers” of ancient Egyptian temples (~3000 BCE), where patients were exposed to hypnotic music created by priests in order to bring about a deeply relaxed state and facilitate psychological healing. The term “hypnosis” that we use in the English language today comes from the ancient Greek “hypnus” – meaning “sleep”. It is also in Antique Greece and Rome, and all the way to the development of European sciences in the 18th century, we see attempts to comprehend the altered, non-ordinary states of consciousness.
 
Yet, despite its rich history and now new discoveries in brain neuroscience, hypnosis still remains an enigma surrounded by fear, curiosity, and fascination. And so the quest to uncover the deeper mysteries of hypnotic-type trance and its benefits continues.
 
What is known now is that hypnosis is a natural state which occurs throughout the course of a day. It is very much like when we daydream while relaxing, become fully absorbed by a movie or are concentrated on a task so much so that we completely forget our environment. In a clinical hypnotherapy session – relaxation, inner absorption, and focused attention – are created intentionally in order to access deeper, beyond the conscious, layers of the mind.

In hypnotic trance, we are working with the sub-conscious mind which comprises about ~93% of the entire human mind. In quantum physics, the equivalent to the human subconscious is described as the “quantum field of infinite possibilities”. It is the primordial ocean of energy – Shakti – potential waiting to be manifested into a desired form – claims the esoteric tradition of yogic tantra.

In terms of frequencies, hypnosis is maintained between Theta (4 to 8 Hz) and Delta (0.1 to 3 Hz) brain waves. According to the neuroscience studies, these slow mental vibrations correspond to human states of creativity, intuition, deep relaxation, regeneration, and cell renewal (more here – https://asch.net/about-hypnosis/)

The Ethics of Hypnosis
 
Contrary to dramatic shows of stage hypnosis, hypnotherapy can not make you do anything against your will or reveal information you don’t want to disclose. During the session, you actually become even more aware of your inner process and the dynamic between you and the therapist. Like any healing which is really self-healing, hypnosis works best when a person is a willing participant and the hypnotherapist is simply a facilitator, a guide to the subconscious realm.
In a clinical setting, most individuals can be hypnotized to some degree and there are different methods in therapy that can be used to match the depth of one’s hypnotic trance. I work with what’s presented and it is always a profound permanent change for the better.
Most of the time, after a hypnotherapy session my clients feel relieved, comfortably relaxed, and much more clear on what’s the next step on the path to a healthier, more fulfilling way of living.
 
The Uses of Hypnosis
 
The highly creative nature of hypnosis makes the approach to the therapy very individualistic and the dynamic between the hypnotherapist and their patient very personal. Every hypnotherapist will have a different take on the problem and its solution. Based on my own experience, I recommend hypnosis for:

• Access and removal of negative patterns, limiting core beliefs for example:  “I am unworthy of love,” “I don’t matter,” “I am unsafe,” “I am always poor” etc;

• Reprogramming of memories that are difficult and/or hindering;

• Chronic pain and condition, illness. Some things are very stubborn and have been with you for a long time. So long that you don’t even know who you are without them. You have tried many healing modalities and nothing seems to work…I can definitely relate to that and I want to offer you Mary Oliver’s “keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable”. Would you be willing to give yourself another chance? If there is a will – there’s a way!

• Life Crisis. Regardless of age, any existential crisis is a period of intense questioning of our fundamental values, purpose, and direction in life. The reality we once knew is no longer reachable and the future is unclear. Hanging in the void of the unknown, we are in a process of radical transformation. For most of us, this feels deeply unsettling, frightening, or depressing. In times like this, it is very important that we do reach out for help. As a hypnotherapist, I can support you through this transition with recentering, finding deeper clarity, and from that space we can map out and create a new desired reality;

• Pre and Post Surgery support. Pre-surgery hypnosis is very potent and I personally don’t do any of the invasive medical practices without pre-surgery hypnosis. It makes the whole process so much more enjoyable and harmonious for everyone involved. A surgery becomes something to look forward to and benefit from VS something to fear and fight against. We want only positive results and so it is!

• Shadow work – exposing and transforming the deeply hidden parts of ourselves that we reject and suppress. It is in our best interest to know what’s hidden in our subconscious mind and transform it into a positive healthy expression. Otherwise, it will keep us in the circle of trauma and suffering. The easiest way to access these shadow parts is through a strong negative emotional reaction you know you have towards other people and life experiences – family, friends, life events, political leaders, global geo-political situations etc.

Self-Hypnosis

What I also personally love about being a hypnotherapist is that I get to educate my clients on how to hypnotise themselves – wherever they are and whatever the challenging situation they are working with. It is empowering to know how to address difficult states of mind on your own and in doing so, gain greater control of your physical and psychological responses.

Self-hypnosis can be used for absolutely everything: exams, performances, illness recovery, fears, financial issues, pre and post surgery, relationships, manifestation of desired reality – all the spectrum of human life. It’s like driving, once you learn how to do it – it is always available to you, at your fingertips. Natural and free, just the power of your own mind.

Do please reach out for a self-hypnosis coaching session – I would love to help!

Why Choose Hypnosis?