What is hypnosis and how does it work? These are questions I’ve gotten hundreds of time over the 16 years I’ve been a practicing hypotist.
Hypnosis is simply a state of focused attention. There’s no swinging Pocket Watch or mind control. In stage hypnosis shows, the stage hypnotist is putting on a show. What you see about hypnosis in movies and tv is for entertainment. If you have ever driven somewhere and forgotten the drive, you’ve experienced “highway hypnosis.” If you have ever been in a movie theater and they want you to jump and you do; or cry and you find yourself tearing up, you’ve experienced hypnosis – it’s simply a focused state of awareness with YOU 100% in control! The root of the word hypnosis is the Greek word “hypnos”, which means sleep. Which is why so many people think you “go under” when in hypnosis.
Is hypnosis mind control?
The concept of being like a zombie, like in the movies, couldn’t be farther from the truth.
You are in complete control at all times, totally aware and alert: you are not asleep.
You will be in a heightened state of awareness and focused attention where we can speak directly to your subconscious mind-which is where we can make real and lasting changes.
We use guided hypnosis with suggestions for positive change, specific to your particular situation.
Many of my clients say it is so relaxing, with some saying it’s better than a massage!
Here’s a great article from Time Magazine for more answers on “What is Hypnosis? and “Is Hypnosis Real?”
Is Hypnosis Real? Here’s What Science Says
Frequently Asked Questions
CAN I GET STUCK IN HYPNOSIS?No one has ever gotten “stuck” in hypnosis. You can come out of trance any time you wish. Many of my clients say that they enjoy the state of hypnosis so much that they don’t want to come out! That is why I really enjoy teaching a rapid form of self hypnosis!
WILL I REVEAL SECRETS? Absolutely not. You are completely alert and in control at all times. You will only share information that you want to and that will facilitate your desired change. And rest assured, whatever you do share is held in the strictest of confidence .
WILL I BARK LIKE A DOG OR CLUCK LIKE A CHICKEN?
No! You are in control at all times. I cannot make you do anything that you don’t want to. Also, my intent is to help you in every way possible to help you make the changes you desire.
HOW LONG IS A HYPNOSIS SESSION? All session are 60 minutes
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL IT TAKE?
Hypnosis is not a long term process, like talk therapy, but it does take multiple hypnosis sessions to create lasting change.
We are able to quickly get to the root cause, and heal it. And yet, some hypnotists will promise you a one session miracle, I don’t. With almost 20 years of experience, I know that once you have made a shift, it is vitally important that you know how to reinforce it, so you don’t slide back into old patterns and behaviors.
Just like brushing your teeth to prevent cavities, you need to practice simple ways to calm stress and anxiety everyday, so it doesn’t build up to overwhelm and panic attacks or revert you back to old, unhealthy behaviors.
As Gay Hendricks says in his book “The Big Leap”: “…while breakthroughs are important and thrilling, it’s the stabilization and integrations of the breakthroughs into daily life that really allow the changes to be permanent.”
When I first trained in hypnosis in 2004, my teacher said that most hypnotists read hypnosis scripts and that that is not how she would teach us. Most things in life are not “one-size-fits-all” and so reading the same script to many different people will not get the impressive results that I have gotten with thousands of clients.
In 2004, I opened Danbury Hypnosis in a fabulous Victorian house in downtown Danbury, CT. After 10 years, thanks to advances with technology, I closed my Danbury Hypnosis office so that I can now work with people from around the world and around the corner! With most of us working from home now, we can easily get online for our sessions. You can relax in the privacy of your own home or office when you are working to quit smoking, lose weight, overcome anxiety, overcome fear of flying, fear of public speaking, and any kind of fear, really. I had a pediatric practice in Danbury send me many young clients over the years for their fears of needles, shots, dogs, etc.
Through the years, I have trained in so many different practices. I am an Integrative Hypnotist because in addition to being a Certified Hypnotist, I am also a NeuroLinguistics Programming (NLP) Practitioner , Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT or Tapping) Practitioner, reiki practitioner, certified yoga teacher and so much more! I realize there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so your session is customized to exactly what you need at the time and no session will be the same!
