Look into my eyes – You are feeling sleepy!
De-bunking the myths and fears of hypnosis
The days of misunderstanding hypnosis is over! Yippee! In this modern day and age when disciplines are merging and recognizing each other we are blessed that understanding has replaced the fear of this highly effective complementary therapy.
Hypnosis is also known as Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and refers to three states or stages:
- trance
- hypnosis
- hypnotherapy
The first state ‘trance’ relates to the whole experience. The trance-state is aligned to day-dreaming or to focused attention. For example when you are studying and become oblivious to outside noise and even what’s going on in the same room. This state of focused attention or trance is not a sleep state as many people think; it is actually a highly aware state. Trance state is a natural process that occurs around every 90 minutes or so as part of the natural ultradian rhythm.(1) Hypnosis utilizes this natural rhythm.
Hypnosis refers to the process. The process involves relaxing, being guided or guiding oneself into a highly relaxed yet aware state, called induction. Then deepening techniques are used to allow the mind to become focused while relaxed, the trance state. Not so scary now!
The Hypnotherapy state is simply the process of using the trance state to facilitate healing. For example, once you are relaxed and in a focused state of awareness using positive affirmations leads to a sense of well-being. The state of well-being increases endorphins, the feel-good hormones, and you start to heal naturally. When we want to make changes to behavior this state of being makes us open and receptive to positive messages and repetition leads to healthy changes in behavior.
A common misconception of hypnosis is that one session makes you change. The relaxation process of trance, hypnosis and hypnotherapy leads to improved circulation, deeper breathing and overall improvement in health and well-being. By adding a positive and affirming message you increase the potential of making positive changes. Hypnotherapy or hypnosis therefore doesn’t work with just one session, but needs repeated sessions to reinforce the positive changes. As hypnosis works on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels it is therefore a holistic therapy!
Hypnotherapy is often applied in order to modify a behavior, emotional content, and attitudes, as well as a wide range of conditions including dysfunctional habits, anxiety, stress-related illness, pain management, and personal development. It is however used as a preventative holistic tool so can be used by anyone to help improve health and well-being.
There are three distinct ways to use Hypnotherapy into your life:
- one-on-one sessions with a registered professional hypnotherapist, either in person, by phone or by Skype
- self-hypnosis is a highly effective way to make changes and use the power of positive affirmations
- professional CDs and MP3s is a combination of the two above approaches; you are required to discipline yourself to using the CD and have the benefits of being professionally guided
The major benefits of using a professional Hypnotherapist is that sessions can be personalized to your specific needs, whereas mass produced audios are more generic. To self-hypnotize I recommend you taking training with a professional hypnotherapist.
SCT Founder Jacqueline Fairbrass offers one-on-one professional hypnotherapy sessions, a series of CDs and MP3s along with one-on-one training to self-hypnotize. All Instructors have Jacqueline’s CDs for sale and you may purchase from the website. MP3s are available for instant download. CDs are higher quality audio recordings and are not available for instant download. Contact Jacqueline for more information and to make an appointment.
Suggested applications for Hypnotherapy:
Stress, anxiety conditions, headaches, stomach aches, back aches, chronic pain, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, ciliary spasm, Meniere’s disease, Raynaud’s disease, insomnia, sleep disorders, periodic/restless leg movement syndromes, sleep paralysis, narcolepsy, tinnitus, habit management including smoking, weight management, toricollis, enuresis, paruresis, childbirth and postpartum care, vaginismus, dysmenorrhea, emotional amenorrhea, menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dyspareunia, neurodermatitis, phobias including dental, flying, spiders etc., neuroses and some psychoses, some character disorders(2)
Stay Fabulous!
Jacqueline Fairbrass
Health Consultant Registered Hypnotherapist
