Clinical Hypnosis
What is Hypnosis?
The brain operates in four general states determined by the frequency of
the electricity generated by the exchange of chemicals in the neural
pathways. The four states include Full Conscious Awareness, the Hypnotic
State, the Sleep State, and the Dream State, which occurs in REM cycles
approximately every 90 minutes during Sleep State.
These four states correspond to electrical activity in the brain and are
defined by frequency ranges on an EEG. Full Conscious Awareness occurs
when the majority of the electrical activity in the brain is in the beta
range (14-35 Hz). The Hypnotic State occurs when brain activity is in
the alpha range (8-13 Hz). The Dream State occurs when brain activity
is in the theta range (4-7 Hz), and the Sleep State occurs when brain
activity is in the delta range (.5-3 Hz).
Full Conscious Awareness is where we spend most of our waking hours. In
this state, our mind is attentive and uses logic to reason, evaluate,
assess, judge, and make decisions. Unfortunately, when making life
changes, the conscious mind often gets in the way due to cognitive
filtering or distortion.
In the Hypnotic State, the doorway between the conscious and the
subconscious is opened, memories become easily accessible, and new
information is stored. In the Hypnotic State, you are not really
"thinking" in the traditional sense. You are "experiencing" without
questioning, without critical judgment or conscious analysis, like when
you watch a movie, and the Hypnotherapist can make suggestions that are
more likely to "stick" - precisely because your conscious mind is not
getting in the way. You are not "judging" or being "critical" of the
suggestions.
We pass through all four bands sequentially as the electrical activity
decreases on our way to sleep and as it increases up on our way to total
wakefulness. Regardless of whether we are on our way to sleep or to
wakefulness, when we pass through the upper theta/lower alpha range we
go into hypnosis automatically. There is no power on earth that can
stop it from happening but likewise, there is no person or power on
earth that can force you into it; you must want to go into hypnosis and
follow the hypnotist's direction to the letter.
Am I under someone elses control?
Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state, where you are in total control at all times; you cannot be made to do anything that is not in your interest or that can in any way harm you. Hypnosis can be compared to a pleasant state of relaxation, where the therapist uses ideas, concepts, linguistic techniques and imagery to communicate an instruction or set of ideas to the subconscious mind on your behalf.
Training and Experience
Clinical Hypnotherapists are normally Psychologists who have specialized in the field of Clinical Hypnosis and have therefore undergone extensive academic and practical training. There are many lay–practitioners who also practice Hypnotherapy. Always confirm the training and experience of any therapist that you intend to consult prior to entering therapy.