Here are some the most frequently asked questions about hypnosis. Please click on each question to view the answers and feel free to contact me should you have further questions.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a completely natural and common state of awareness, one we slip in and out of many, many times throughout the day. Every time we get in the car, put on our clothes, wash the dishes, read a book, play a game, or listen to music, we are in a state of hypnosis. Hypnosis is actually nothing more than a highly directed form of inner awareness and focused attention.

Can anyone be hypnotized?

Anyone of normal intelligence can be hypnotized. However, no one can be hypnotized against their will. The cooperation of the client is always necessary.

Will I lose control during hypnosis?

No. In fact, the point of a hypnosis session is to give the client maximum control in a given situation. No hypnotist can make you do anything you would not otherwise choose to do. The hypnotist CAN help you to utilize the power of your mind to make very real changes in your life, but in order to accomplish that, you must genuinely want to make those changes.

Will I tell all kinds of personal secrets when I'm hypnotized?

Again, no one can be made to do or say anything under hypnosis that they would not willingly do in a fully waking state.

Will I have behave strangely under hypnosis?

I have seen all kinds of strange stage acts on TV and in the movies.
That will not happen. The people in those shows are chosen for their desire to participate and their willingness to act out whatever suggestions that are given. Hypnosis in an office environment is entirely different and is induced in that setting though a gentle process of progressive relaxation.

So are you saying that the hypnotic phenomena I have seen are not real?

Hypnotic phenomena are very real, but they are a product of neurology, not magic. It is the power of the unconscious mind and the subject’s willingness to participate that make these things possible. Although what takes place during a hypnosis stage show is very different from what you can expect during an office visit, the same underlying principles are used to make the changes the client desires.

How does hypnosis feel?

Just as no two people are alike, everyone’s experience of hypnosis is unique… and a given individual can experience different things on different days. Typically though, hypnosis feels simply restful, and people uniformly report it to be a highly pleasant experience. Sometimes, one can feel nothing out of the ordinary during a session and yet be in a profound hypnotic “trance.” In short, there is no single “state” of hypnosis and the client’s perception of hypnotic “depth” has no bearing on the effectiveness of a given session or sessions. With hypnosis, the results are what counts.

Will I be out of it?

On the contrary, you will be more aware than normal and your senses will actually be sharpened. At the same time, you will be deeply relaxed.

How does hypnosis work?

Many people are unaware that as much as 90% of our mental activity takes places on the unconscious level. Among other things, the unconscious mind is in charge of our autonomic physical processes, emotions, long-term memory, and on a very primal level, self-preservation. Hypnosis allows us to bypass the (sometimes counterproductive) defense systems set up by the conscious part of our awareness and communicate directly with the unconscious mind. In this way, we can bring about profound emotional and physical changesoptimize performance, effortlessly eliminate troublesome habit patternsrelieve pain and dramatically alter the client’s perspective on life.

How long is a hypnosis session?

As long as it takes. Typically, this is about an hour, but that may vary depending on the circumstances. The first part of the hour is usually spent talking. The actual session takes between 20-30 minutes.

What do I need to know about hypnosis before I get started?

Only that hypnosis is entirely dependent on the willingness of the client to seriously commit to the process. Remember, no hypnotist can make you do anything you would not ordinarily do.