What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis, is a natural state of deep relaxation and focused concentration, that we all experience from time to time. When children or teenagers are fully immersed in their play, a book or in a movie, they enter a state of natural hypnosis or trance. During this time, their subconscious mind is absorbing information at a rapid pace. This makes it an ideal time for learning and growing.
As trained and certified hypnotherapist I will guide your child into this deep state of trance. When they are under hypnosis, this intense level of concentration and focus allows them to ignore ordinary distractions and be open to guided suggestions to make the changes "in their mind" and in their life they are looking for.
It’s a type of Mind Shift-therapy, subcounsciouse hacking or extremely fast learning.
When people hear the word “hypnosis,” they often think of show hypnosis. Fortunately, hypnosis is increasingly recommended by the media and the medical world. Hospitals, also in Belgium, use hypnosis for various purposes such as anesthesia, pain management and rehabilitation. That is not surprising, after all, your subconscious has allowed a problem to arise and therefore knows how to solve it.
Despite the many benefits of hypnosis, it is still approached with suspicion. Hypnosis is real. It's not a scam. It works quickly, effectively and permanently, if this is the request. The reason for this suspicion is often that people do not know exactly what hypnosis entails. It's very simple: hypnosis ensures that your consciousness and your subconscious are aligned. Through hypnosis, your subconscious is addressed to convert negative (physical or mental) behavior into positive behavior.
People often think that they no longer know anything when they undergo hypnosis and that they are completely at the mercy of the hypnotist. Lucky, this is not true. You are still conscious under hypnosis and will never do anything you don't want to or that you can't remember. You remain in control of your own body and feelings, you can immediately come out of hypnosis when something happens that you don't feel good about. You never lose control of yourself. During a hypnosis session you know perfectly where you are; you hear and feel everything and can immediately stop the session if you don't feel comfortable.
It is possible to ask questions to your subconscience to guide the therapy, but it is not needed to do the change work. You decide if you want to answer questions during the session or not.
More information about hypnosis
1. 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. *you can reprogram your subconcience 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.
2. What conditions is hypnosis helpful in treating?
Hypnotherapy may help treat any number of (medical) conditions: * Stopping bad habits * Stress and anxiety * Fears and Phobias * Learning issues (focus), * Relaxation * Behavior control issues, including giving up smoking, losing weight, enuresis (bedwetting), .... * Insomnia * Hot flashes (during menopause) * Pain control, including after surgery, childbirth, cancer, fibromyalgia, burns, headaches (migraine and tension), ... * Skin conditions, including warts, psoriasis, .. Hypnosis continues to be explored for use in these and many other medical conditions.
3. 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 can be used alone or 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. * As your hypnotherapist I guide the 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.
4. What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
Most people can benefit from hypnosis (please read the contraindications on page 1). The person most likely to benefit is the person who’s highly motivated to overcome an issue. But hypnosis may be more helpful for certain people then for others.
5. 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/ friends 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 very pleasant experience.
6. Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Hypnosis is not appropriate for people with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic disorders, dissociative disorders, epilepsy, severe depression with suicidal thoughts, PTSD, Peronality disorders, heart problems or high blood pressure. People with an IQ below 70 will have difficulties to follow the instructions and have suboptimal results. Always ask the concent of your treating doctor and inform your hypnotherapist if you have neck and/ or back issues so she can use the appropriated induction method.
7. Is hypnosis used as the sole treatment?
Hypnosis can be used along with other therapies and treatments, as part of a complete total treatment plan or it can be used as sole treatment. The decision to use hypnotherapy in a clinical setting as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy or traditional medicine is made by your treating doctor.
8. What’s the typical length of treatment with hypnotherapy?
There’s no typical length. Treatment varies depending on what and how severe the issue is. Hypnotherapy can takes only one session, but additional sessions may be needed. The lenght of the session is not an indication of the efficacy or will not impact the results. As your hypnotherapist I regularly work with the Jeffrey Stephens protocol, resulting in quick inductions, short hypnose sessions and fast results.
9. Does hypnotherapy work?
Despite its use since the 1700s, hypnotherapy continues to have skeptics in the medical community. However, it’s becoming a more accepted and recognized form of therapy. The number of certified and licensed (medical) professionals incorporating hypnotherapy in their practice is increasing. Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hypnotherapy is growing. Some studies show very promising results . The strongest evidence supporting the use of hypnotic treatments comes from research on hypnosis for treating pain, inflammatory diseases (for example Inflammatory Bowel Disease), mental health issues (for example Post-traumatic stress disorder, Mutisme, Autisme), etc…
10. Can anyone be hypnotized?
Each person differs in their ability to be hypnotized. Although everyone can be hypnotized, a person’s fears or concerns about hypnosis may interfere with their ability to be hypnotized. The conditions for a succesful hypnotherapy session is the will to change and following the instructions of your therapist.
11. Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
Hypnotherapy is generally safe when done by a trained therapist. Hypnotherapy isn’t mind control or brainwashing. As your therapist I can’t make you do something embarrassing or something you don’t want to do. Hypnose is contraindicated for psychotic disorders, dissociative disorders, epilepsy, severe depression with suicidal thoughts, PTSD, Personality disorders, addictions, heart problems or high blood pressure, unmotivated and skeptical individuals.
Scientific Evidence for Hyposis
Despite its use since the 1700s and that hypnosis has been the subject of scientific research for over 200 years, it is only recently that it is becoming a more accepted and recognized form of therapy. The number of certified and licensed professional hypnotherapyist working close together with health care professionals is increasing.
While the exact mechanisms of hypnosis are still not fully understood, research has shown that it can be an effective therapy where the subconscious mind becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and can be reprogrammed to change negative thought patterns or behaviors. The subconscious mind controls many automatic processes in the body and can influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through hypnosis, individuals can tap into the power of their subconscious mind to make positive changes in their lives like overcoming fears, change behaviors, manage non-functional pain, etc... The suggestions during the therapy can cause dynamic changes in brain activity. Areas responsible for processing cognition and emotion show greater activity during hypnosis, as well as hypnosis-induced changes in functional connectivity between anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the large neural network.
On Pubmed, more than 16,057 studies including hypnosis were published. Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hypnotherapy is growing fast the last years. Studies are showing very promising results in different (medical) domains.
