THE POWER OF SUGGESTION

 

What It Is and How It Works

©Patricia Heredia

What It Is and How It Works

 

Some people use it to ease their aching backs. Others find it has helped them be able to speak in front of groups of people. Even one person used it to find a misplaced object after having suffered a closed head injury and losing her memory. Hypnotherapy, or trance work, is a group of techniques that allow practitioners and clients/patients to take advantage of the mind-body connection to foster healing in all aspects of life. Hypnosis and its uses in the practice of hypnotherapy is rapidly emerging as a highly effective science in solving the problems of people. It can be very beneficial in many cases as a therapy in itself. It is a valuable adjunct in psychotherapy and psychiatry, yet it is probably the lowest risk procedure available from the standpoint of contraindications.

 

Few therapeutic procedures are less understood, or more plagued by misconceptions and misunderstandings. First, I'd like to dispel some common misconceptions about this therapy. When asked what he or she thinks hypnosis is, a client's typical reply ranges from sleep, to unconsciousness, to surrender of mental powers and control, to magic or voodoo. All are in error.

 

Hypnosis cannot be sleep. In most cases the subject is fully aware of communication and is able to respond on request either verbally or by signal. Neither is unconsciousness involved. A subject asked to make a specific movement will comply with the request unless it is objectionable, in which case there will be a refusal. There is no surrender of mind or control. A person who does not want to be hypnotized cannot be hypnotized or be induced to do or say anything which violates personal standards of behavior or integrity.

 

The fact is that we've all experienced trance states in everyday life - whether daydreaming, watching a movie, driving home on autopilot, or practicing meditation or other relaxation techniques. Essentially, a trance is an altered state of consciousness marked by decreased scope and increased intensity of awareness featuring "selective perception." The subject, who is in complete control, chooses to see only what is relevant to his/her task, blocking out everything else. What distinguishes hypnotherapy is that it involves a deliberate choice to enter this state of consciousness for a goal beyond relaxation: to focus your concentration and use suggestion to promote healing and changes in your life.

 

All humans have two distinct minds - the conscious and the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is vastly larger and more powerful that the conscious mind, yet it is the least understood and used by mankind. The subconscious mind receives and retains, neither accepting nor rejecting, all the messages we receive from our backgrounds, whether genetic, social, religious or experiential, plus all the conflicts (little or big) that enter our lives daily. When, for whatever reason, the conscious mind (which deals with everyday living, logic, reason, etc.) becomes overloaded, the  subconscious prepares us for what is considered  appropriate action (usually fight or flight); however, the subconscious mind does not analyze, as does the conscious mind, but accepts all messages in the literal sense. In essence, hypnosis is a means of communication between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. Many human problems, habits, stresses, anxieties, attitudes or apparent deficiencies can be traced to interpretations by the subconscious mind which, when understood by the conscious mind, can reduce or resolve specific problems.

 

From Ancient Roots To Modern Use

Known as "sleep healing" in ancient Greece and "mind cure" in the fourteenth through mid-nineteenth centuries, what we now call hypnosis has a long history of therapeutic use. In the first half of this century it came into favor as a treatment for battle fatigue (what would now be called post-traumatic stress disorder), and later found a niche as a useful approach for kicking habits such as smoking and overeating. More recently I've seen this versatile modality gain wider acceptance for a broader spectrum of applications, as more and more people explore mind-body approaches to healing. Healing applications are preparing for surgery, alleviating pain, erectile dysfunction, gastro-intestinal and dermatological problems. Some other non-health uses are: natural childbirth without drugs, eliminate a habit, reduce stress, increase sales motivation and overcome sales obstacles, lose weight, stop smoking, improve memory, improve grades, overcome fears, build self-confidence, overcome depression, become success conscious, end bed wetting, end nail biting, pass exams, increase concentration, achieve self acceptance, overcome insomnia, improve learning skills.

 

What To Expect

Your first session will include a lot of talking because it is exploratory. You will learn about hypnotism and become comfortable with it. We will discuss your concerns, give you some small tests to determine your type of suggestibility, your ability to relax and your skills at visualization. This will help me adapt to you as an individual so I can design a program personalized for you which will be acceptable to your subconscious. Once you are in a hypnotic and relaxed state, I will offer suggestions specifically geared to your goal. Your unconscious mind can then transmit these thoughts and images throughout your mind and body, setting the healing or learning process in motion.

 

A typical course of hypnotherapy may require from one to four visits depending on your hypnotizability, the medical condition involved and your response to treatment. Each session ranges from 1 to 1½ hours and costs from $90.00.

 

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