What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an altered state of perception that most people experience naturally every day. An example of hypnosis would be driving your car across town and not remembering how many traffic lights you had passed through upon reaching your destination. The conscious part of the mind had been distracted, allowing the inner conscious part of the mind to take over. We spend on an average up to seven hours per day in natural hypnosis. During a hypnotic session, an individual will achieve a very deep and successful state of hypnosis. When a person is hypnotized, they are not asleep or in some eerie trance state. The hypnotized individual is aware of everything that is taking place. After reemerging, a person will be able to recall everything that took place during the session.

History of Hypnosis
Hypnosis is nothing new. The word hypnosis is derived from Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. Papyrus scrolls and hieroglyphs depict its use in ancient Egypt. In the fifth century, the priesthood had large buildings known as “sleep temples” where people with problems were put into a hypnotic trance state for a period up to nine days. Miraculous healings were recorded.

Hypnosis has been used from the beginning of recorded history. The Egyptians, Celts, Druids, Babylonians and Chaldeans used hypnosis. In the 18th century, Mesmer coined the term “animal magnetism” to describe what was later referred to by Braid as hypnosis. Esdaile, a Scottish surgeon, used hypnosis as the sole anaesthetic for thousands of patients in the mid-1800’s and hypnosis was further developed by Charcot, Freud, Bernheim and Lieubault in the late 1800’s. The technique then fell into relative obscurity until World War I and World War II, when hypnosis was used to treat the physical and psychological traumas of combat. In 1958 the British and American Medical Association endorsed hypnosis as an approved method of treatment.

Classic Concerns as Reported by Hypnosis Resistant Clients

I could have opened my eyes if I wanted, so how can I be in hypnosis?
In hypnosis you are always in control. The only reason you allowed your eyes to remain closed is because you did not want to open them.

I do not beleive I was hypnotised because my mind was wandering. I could hear everything you said.
You are supposed to be aware of all that occurs during hypnosis, except in deeper trances. Most command levels of hypnosis are characterized by hyperawareness (hearing, taste and smell are more accute in hypnosis). Your mind will wander in any level of trance. The specific part of your mind that is doing the wandering is your concious mind . We want that component of our consciousness to wander.

Should I be in a deeper state of hypnosis?
Only the client can truly control the level of trance. Deeper trance levels are not required for theraputic resolution of issues.I prefer my clients to be in a light-medium trance for the majority of their session.

Since I couldn’t do everything you suggested, does that mean that hypnosis will not be able to assist me?
Very few clients respond to every question while in hypnosis. It is not critical to accept each and every suggestion immediately. Simply accept what you can now and do not be concerned about those that for now seem beyond your grasp. This experience is perfectly normal.

Could I become trapped into hypnosis?
NO! You would either fall asleep and wake up naturally, or simply come out of the trance in a short time by yourself. It is physically impossible to become trapped into hypnosis.

I tried so hard to co-operate, but nothing seemed to happen.
You can create anxiety, or performance pressure, by focusing too much on the proceedure or clinical goal. it is best just to relax and allow the Hypnotherapist to do their work.

Facts Concerning Hypnosis:
• Anyone can allow self- hypnosis to occur. We spend up to four hours every day in natural hypnosis.
• It is the simple acceptance of certain words in the form of suggestions that comprises hypnosis.
• If you can speak and read, you can induce selfhypnosis. The power always rests with the client, not the Hypnotherapist. Individuals react to hypnosis in their own manner. When presented with their own specific experiences in this relaxing state, the induction process is facilitated. Always bear in mind ego cannot be detached in hypnosis. This means you will not relay information duriong a trance that you would not normally discuss. Your moral and ethical codes can never be violated.

Overcoming Resistance:
There are many reasons why a particular individual resists hypnosis. The resistance could manifest while working with a Hypnotherapist or in self-hypnosis. Remember all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The typical conventional reasons for showing resistance in hypnosis are:
• Dislike or lack of trust for your Hypnotherapist.
• Dislike of the techniques employed
• Poor concentration.
• Over-anxiety. (Performance pressue)
• Fear of hypnosis
• Defiance of authority
• A need to prove superiority in control issues.
• Inadequate pre-induction discussion.
• Physical discomfort and an environment not conductive to peace and quiet.

There are Important Mental and Physical Reasons why a Subject May Block Hypnosis:
• The buried trauma to be explored is too frightening.
• Some people do not want to relenquish the secondary gain from having a problem.
• Fearful associations of going into hypnosis eg. drowning, surgury or death.
• Previous post hypnotic sugesstions given by untrained people, therefore not allowing anyone else to hypnotise you.
• Some people feel that they must suffer in this life. They are also afraid of exploring past experiences which may portray them as a perpetrator or evil person.

Clinical Applications
Hypnosis has many applications in medical practices. The technique is often used in the treatment of chronic and acute pain (e.g. trauma, burns, childbirth) and the pain threshold is lowered 20 to 60 percent and more. Patients with chronic, debilitating problems feel that they have regained control of their bodies. Hypnosis has been used in hospitals and dental clinics, many times in the place of anesthetics when patients have an allergy to drugs. Hypnosis has gained greater popularity in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, more often than not, bringing symptoms under complete control.
It has been proven effective when used with all forms of abuse and severe stress. The intention of this brochure is to show hypnosis as it truly is. Your Hypnotherapist has been highly trained to give suggestions that the inner mind will accept, and act on in a positive, helpful way for increased personal performance and ability.