More about hypnosis and hypnotherapy.

Many people will have seen television programmes with popular TV personalities and formed opinions regarding hypnotherapy from this. However, there is a difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Much of what you see on TV is referred to as 'stage hypnosis'; this is where a person enters a trance state but no 'therapy' is involved. Hypnosis refers to the altered state of consciousness; the trance state, and Hypnotherapist's utilise the trance state to deliver whatever 'therapy' is necessary to help people create positive changes in their life.

Hypnosis is a safe and natural state of mind. The mind works at difference frequencies which can be measured. Our conscious waking mind operates in the Beta range. This is the range where our daily normal activities and decision making occur.

The Alpha range is a state of mind we enter often, when day dreaming for example. It is a light trance state, a state of relaxation and hypnotherapy is often conducted here. In this state we are able to learn and take in information quickly, children spend most of their time in the Alpha state which explains why we find it easier to learn as a child.

The Theta range is a deeper level of relaxation where we can gain access to the sub-conscious mind which is the powerful part of us that controls all of our functions as a human being from a physical level, e.g., keeping our heart beating, to an emotional level, e.g., to allow us to forget things which are too painful to remember. Whilst in this deeply relaxed state, the therapist is able to bypass the conscious mind which acts as a filter and deal directly with the sub-conscious, to reach the place where re-programming and healing can take place.

Whilst you are in the relaxed state of hypnosis you will be aware of everything that occurs during your treatment and you cannot be made to do anything that you don't want to do. It is therefore very important that when you come for a hypnotherapy treatment that you really want to change the things that have been troubling you, as your subconscious mind will only accept what it feels is appropriate for you as a whole..

'It is the human situation to meet the present with interpretations of the past. The meaning of the present is to allow us to leave the past and the Now in its own right. Experience will soon become your past and a foundation for a new present and future'.

Virginia Satir, Meditations and Inspirations