Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnosis
Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnosis.
Q: What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis, in the simplest terms, is a relaxation technique, in which you follow steps to reach a state of heightened concentration and relaxation… some also refer to it as meditation with a goal. Under hypnosis, you remain conscious and in control always of your actions. Hypnosis isn’t something that is made out in the movies. You won’t cluck like a chicken or be ‘made’ to do things that you don’t want to do. You can think of hypnosis as achieving a goal of yours through meditation. It’s becoming more and more widespread, as people are familiarizing themselves with the results of its benefits. I thoroughly enjoy hypnosis and use it for a multitude of things in my life.
Q: Can hypnosis make me do something I don’t want to?
Absolutely NO. Under hypnosis, you remain fully conscious, present and in control. You’re simply more relaxed and highly focused. If there happens to be an emergency in the building, be sure you will wake up and also run to the alarm like others!
Q: Can anyone be hypnotized?
Yes, everybody is hypnotizable - some are more responsive than others. Since the “hypnotic state” is a natural state of the mind, anyone can access it. Think like guided mediation and feeling extremely relaxed.
Q: Is hypnosis like sleep?
No. Although the word hypnosis is derived from the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos, studies have shown that hypnosis and sleep differ. Studies of brain activity have shown that although there are characteristic patterns of brain activity associated with sleep the same has not been demonstrated of hypnosis. To observers hypnosis might appear to be like sleep because suggestions of relaxation are commonly given as part of a hypnotic routine, but hypnotized people are in a state more similar to wakefulness (and hypnosis has even been induced in people riding exercise bicycles - so called 'active alert' hypnosis).
Q: What does hypnosis feel like?
The answer is that hypnosis probably feels different for everybody. Many hypnotists (researchers & clinicians) use elements of relaxation procedures, so people commonly associate a feeling of relaxation with hypnosis. Different people have all sorts of bodily responses to relaxation instructions - some feel as though their body is very heavy, whereas some can feel very light, almost as if they were floating. Mentally, again people have all sorts of responses. People typically report feeling very focused or absorbed, often effortlessly so. Since instructions for imagery are often used people can have very vivid imaginative experiences - many report feeling 'as if they were there'. Erika Fromm wrote a great book on self-hypnosis, based up the results of extensive research, which contains a lot of interesting descriptions from participants in her studies.
Q: Under hypnosis, do people answer truthfully to the questions you ask?
No more or less than they do when they are not under hypnosis. Hypnosis cannot compel people to do things they don't want to do, and it can't force them to be truthful either. Suggestions given during hypnosis can deliberately or inadvertently affect memories, and for this reason hypnotically-assisted memory recall is not admissible in court in most countries.
Q: Can I get 'stuck' in hypnosis?
There is no evidence that anybody can become stuck in hypnosis. The worst that might happen could be that you fall asleep - and wake up unhypnotized! Orne & Evans conducted a famous study where participants were hypnotized, and the experimenter leaves the room under the pretense that there is a problem he has to attend to, the participant is then observed (without his knowledge) to see what happens. The result was that participants spontaneously woke up, the high hypnotizable taking slightly longer to do so.
Q. Why is hypnotherapy not so mainstream now days?
Hypnosis in general is actually one of the oldest forms of Western psychology. Researchers and medical professionals have been exploring the what is hypnosis question for hundreds of years. Even Freud, the founding father of psychoanalysis, used hypnosis during his career as one of his forms of treatment earlier in his studies. I believe the reason it is not so mainstream has to do with the negative effects and reputation from Hollywood and Stage hypnosis that portraits a different image of what it is and creates a stigma around it.
Q. Is hypnosis a form of “mind control”?
In short, no. And the reason for this lies within you. Each person has their own moral code. Their own set of beliefs of what’s good and bad to do. If you were working with a hypnotist and they asked you to do something that goes against your morals - it wouldn’t work. You just wouldn't do something you would normally be opposed to doing. Your unconscious mind simply wouldn’t allow it to occur. That’s why hypnosis’ real power lies in its ability to help other people. Whether it’s helping someone resolve deep seated issues or using hypnosis to motivate, lead and inspire others to be a better version of who they are currently.
Those are all positive things - and the unconscious mind would support them taking place, as it wouldn’t violate an underlying ethical code. Part of the reason for this stigma boils down to how hypnosis has at times been portrayed in the media and Hollywood movies… aka the villain hypnotist using their powers unethically. It is all fantasy.
Q. What can hypnosis treat?
Hypnotherapy is considered to be an alternative healing modality where you can empower your inner healer using hypnosis. Hypnotherapy services are non-therapeutic and are not intended to take place of professional counseling, medical or psychological care and should not be used as a substitute for diagnosis or treatment of any condition. I do not work on pain or diagnosed mental or physical conditions without the referral from a licensed practitioner of the healing arts per Florida Statutes Section 485.
If you are under the care of a medical professional for any condition for which you are seeking hypnosis support, please obtain a signed, written referral from your provider prior to engaging me and moving forward with related sessions.
Q: Is NLP like hypnosis?
A: NLP, or Neuro-linguistic programming, is a set of techniques that are intended to promote personal development. Some of these techniques were developed from the work of successful hypnotherapists, notably Milton Erickson. NLP remains scientifically unvalidated and is not a part of mainstream academic psychology. There is a great account of NLP on Skepdic, the skeptic's dictionary. More skeptical accounts of NLP are available at Michael Heap's website and on wikipedia.
Q: Is hypnotherapy a science?
A: Science is a method of discovering knowledge: it's really a process of subjecting your ideas to an empirical test to see whether they are supported by evidence (see the Wikipedia entry for a much more detailed description). Many researchers take a scientific approach to studying hypnosis: they generate research questions (hypotheses), then they systematically test them to see whether they are supported. Our knowledge of hypnosis advances because of this: people used to believe that the effects of hypnosis were due to a mysterious magnetic fluid; we now believe that the effects are the result of a communication between hypnotist and subject which can affect the way the brain processes information. Research psychologists are interested in what hypnosis is, and doctors and clinical psychologists are interested in what effects hypnosis can have upon medical and psychological conditions. Their research is published in journals, and you can search the knowledge base using online tools like PubMed or Google Scholar. So there are certainly scientists interested in hypnosis, and you could say that there is a science of hypnosis.
Q: Can negative behaviors be induced under hypnosis without my free will?
A: See the answer above about whether hypnosis can make people do things they don't want to do. The short answer is no: hypnotized participants generally have the ability to refuse a suggestion if they don’t feel it resonates with them. Again, the patient is in full control.
Q: Is hypnosis ever a one-session "quick fix" for a problem?
A: The answer to this will depend a lot on what 'the problem' is. It is easy to imagine that someone is more likely to, say, give up smoking after a single session because they feel ready and motivated to quit. Part of the success and progress depends on the person and the willingness to let go.
