A hypnotherapy session is a collaborative effort between the client and the hypnotherapist. It is my belief that the solution the client seeks comes from within and its with that principle I collaboratively will work with each client.
The subconscious mind already knows what it needs to heal, to release, to move forward. I’m there to facilitate that journey, to assist the clients to stay clear of their critical mind, and allow themselves to navigate through their subconscious to where the healing begins. Every client is unique, thus I tailor each session to what their individual needs are. Please note that anything beyond Avocational/Vocational will require a medical referral.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy, is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It’s a type of mind-body medicine.
A trained and certified hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides you into this deep state of focus and relaxation with verbal cues, repetition and imagery. When you’re under hypnosis, this intense level of concentration and focus allows you to ignore ordinary distractions and be more open to guided suggestions to make changes to improve your health.
How does hypnosis work?
How hypnosis works isn’t completely understood. However, it’s commonly believed that in the deep state of focus and relaxation that’s achieved with hypnosis:
- Your conscious mind is quieted.
- You’re able to tap into the part of your brain where your thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, sensations, emotions, memory and behaviors originate.
- In this state, you’re more open to gentle guidance from your hypnotherapist to help you modify or replace the unconscious thoughts that are driving your current behavior.
What are some myths about hypnosis?
Myth: Hypnosis isn’t real. It’s a form of entertainment.
Hypnosis isn’t a stage act or some magical act. Clinical hypnosis is a type of medical therapy that’s often used as part of a treatment plan that includes traditional medical approaches.
Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you’re hypnotized.
Most people remember everything that happens during hypnosis. You remain aware of who you are, where you are and remember what happened during a hypnosis session.
Myth: You’re under the control of your hypnotherapist when you’re hypnotized.
Your hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides hypnosis, but hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You can’t be made to do anything against your will. You won’t reveal any information that you wished to remain secret. You don’t lose control over your behavior. Hypnosis makes it easier to experience suggestions but doesn’t force you to have certain experiences.
Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.
Hypnosis isn’t sleeping. There are some deeper forms of hypnosis that could make you appear to be asleep because your body is very still and quiet, but you aren’t asleep.
- What conditions is hypnosis helpful in treating?
- Hypnotherapy may help treat any number of medical conditions in which psychological factors influence physical symptoms.
- Common mental health uses include:
- Stress and anxiety, especially before medical or dental procedures; panic attacks; and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
- Phobias.
- Behavior control issues, including giving up smoking, losing weight and enuresis (bedwetting).
Common medical uses include:
- Insomnia.
- Asthma.
- Hot flashes during menopause.
- Gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Pain control, including after surgery, childbirth, cancer, fibromyalgia, burns and headaches (migraine and tension).
- Skin conditions, including warts and psoriasis.
- Side effects of cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment, including nausea and vomiting.
- Hypnosis continues to be explored for use in these and many other medical conditions.
How do people describe the hypnotic experience?
People describe hypnosis in different ways. You may feel like you’re “zoned in” or in a trance-like state — so focused that you’re able to block out surrounding distractions. Have you ever been so focused on a TV show or so entrenched in a good book that you don’t hear your family talking around you or even your dog barking? This experience is somewhat similar to how you might feel while hypnotized. Many people say they feel calm and relaxed despite their increased concentration. Most described it as a pleasant experience.
PROCEDURE DETAILS
What typically happens during a hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions, and emergence.
Induction
During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your hypnotherapist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing (breathing in over a count of seven, then breathing out over a count of 11), or progressive muscle relaxation (tensing muscles as you breathe in and relaxing muscles as you breathe out, then repeating in a certain order of muscle groups throughout your body) or focusing on a visual image.
Deepener
This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.
Suggestions
This is the stage for actual change in experience, behavior, or perception. Your hypnotherapist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behavior.
Example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference and install the changed behavior. You may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.
Emergence
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your hypnotist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing up stairs or counting up.
Call today to set up a consult with Ricky for more information.
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Hypnotherapy Specialties of Rickey
- Aggression
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Death or Loss
- Fears
- Forgiveness
- Guilt
- Insecurity
- Motivation
- Pain Management
- Panic Attacks
- Past Life Regression
- Performance Anxiety
- Procrastination
- Relaxation
- Self Esteem
- Stress
- Tinnitus
- Trauma