What if I fall asleep? How do I know I’m not just falling asleep?
‘Hypnos’ is the Greek word for sleep, but it’s not sleep in
usual sense of the word. For many of us, sleep occurs when the conscious mind
and body lose consciousness out of sheer exhaustion while still holding onto
physical, mental and emotional tensions. If you were “just falling asleep” as
you do at home, you would not be seeing and feeling the rapid, positive changes
in your life that our clients experience with Restorative Hypnotherapy.
Will I remember everything?
Yes and no. Sometimes people think that they have heard
everything, and upon questioning realize that they did not. Some people do hear
everything and some don’t remember anything! Every session is different. As you
become more accustomed to moving into deeper states of hypnosis and meditation
it then becomes easier to maintain awareness and recall. But it’s not necessary
to remember everything. The part of you that says “I remember/I don’t remember”
is your conscious mind speaking. The subconscious mind hears everything and
acts upon suggestions according to your intention. The fact that people who
have been under anesthesia can recall with hypnosis what was said during the
procedure proves that the subconscious mind is always listening.
How do I know Restorative Hypnotherapy will
work for me?
If you are unable to attain your
goals, you may actually be hypnotizing yourself to fail! Just as water always
flows downhill, our subconscious habitually defers to the behavior with the
strongest emotional charge connected with it. We tend to do what makes us feel
the most real and alive, no matter what. If being "bad" is fun, you
know what happens... regardless of our logic, goal or morality. So often we
subconsciously invest more feelings in the problem than in the solution,
focusing our imagination more intently on what we are not supposed to do, than
on making the healthy choice.
Is hypnosis dangerous?
Absolutely not. Hypnosis was
approved by the Council of Mental Health of the American Medical Association in
1958 as a safe practice with no harmful side effects. We greatly underestimate
the ability of the subconscious to protect itself. The only dangers are in
misconceptions promoted by fundamentalist religious leaders who wish to
frighten and disempower their followers. Fear and ignorance have caused more
people to hurt themselves and/or others, even while wide awake, than would ever
occur in a hypnotherapy session.
Can I be made to do things against my will?
Emphatically NO. You can never be
made to do anything against your will or contrary to your value system. You
would not unknowingly reveal your deepest secrets; it is even possible to lie
in hypnosis, which is why testimony while in hypnosis is not permissible evidence
in a court of law. A person will act only upon suggestions that serve them in
some way or reinforce an expected behavior, anything else their subconscious
will simply ignore. Most people develop these misperceptions from seeing or
hearing about a Stage Hypnosis show, which, you must understand, is done for
entertainment purposes only.
How does Stage Hypnosis work?
In order to "hypnotize"
a person into performing silly or bizarre behavior on-stage, the circumstances
must warrant the behavior, like in a first year acting class. The charismatic
or "kingly" Stage Hypnotist takes the stage with much flourish, sets
his agenda in motion in front of an inquisitive audience and relies on the
emotionally charged atmosphere to motivate his "subject" to conform
and act out his "commands". It is all done in the name of good fun,
there is much laughter and clapping present, but the Stage Hypnotist most
certainly does not have "control" over the participants. The truth
is: all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Three conditions must be met for
hypnosis to work: a person must agree to be hypnotized, participate in the
process with their full attention and be able to use their imagination. That is
why the Stage Hypnotist always asks for volunteers, and usually the volunteers have
seen a show before so they know what to expect. After the initial hypnotic
induction the Stage Hypnotist will then reinforce compliance by asking all
noncompliant volunteers to leave the stage. The Stage Hypnotist does little in
the realm of educating the audience on how it all works, thus creating a state
of surprise, wonderment, and awe (like a good magician) so they can book more
shows. Hypnotherapy differs greatly from Stage Hypnosis in that it serves the
client's agenda only and does not serve to promote the illusion that the
hypnotherapist possesses magical or occult powers. Most importantly, remember
this: if you really believe you can change or heal yourself, you can! And
Restorative Hypnotherapy can help you achieve your goals more easily.
How many sessions will I need?
Every person and every situation is unique, so there is no
way to say in advance how many sessions you will need. Some people get what
they need from only one session, feeling dramatically transformed. A rough
average might be anywhere from 3 to 7 sessions, though some clients have come
for years because they love the process so much and consider it an essential
service, such as getting a massage once or twice a month. Many clients say that
it feels better than a massage, because their mind relaxes too!
Can anybody do it?
If you are alive, you can do it. Even children and
especially teenagers enjoy and benefit from our unique service of Restorative
Hypnotherapy.
