A Personal Growth and Motivation Hypnotherapy Development Center
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Frequently Asked Questions and Information on Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy, From Palm Springs, CaliforniaWhat can a Hypnotist, Hypnosis, and Hypnotherapy Do for Me?
What is Hypnosis
WHAT IS HYPNOSISWhat is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a powerful therapeutic tool for accessing the subconscious mind and achieving personal goals or affecting desired changes. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapeutic techniques.Despite its awesome power, there are few procedures less understood, or more plagued by misconceptions. Hypnosis has existed since prehistoric times, and western medicine has been trying to understand it since the 1700s. But it has only been within the last two decades that we have truly begun to understand what hypnosis is, and what it can do for us. Unfortunately, many of the misconceptions that have developed over the centuries still exist in people's minds. If you ask the average person on the street what he or she thinks hypnosis is, they may respond with any number of answers, including: sleep, unconsciousness, mind control, or even magic. All of these ideas are wrong, but, unfortunately continue to persist, perpetuated by novels and films. (many vampire and spy movies for instance, portray hypnosis as a way for the villain to gain control over his victims). These misconceptions prevent many people who could benefit from hypnotherapy from ever trying it. Those who do try hypnotherapy often spend their session unlearning their misconceptions. Hypnosis is not sleep, unconsciousness, mind control, or even magic. In fact it is a heightened state of awareness. In most cases the subject is fully aware and able to respond to requests, either verbally or by a signal. Ask a hypnotized person to make a specific, reasonable movement they will comply. There is no surrender of control, no magic. No one can be hypnotized against their will; and no hypnotized person can be forced to do anything against their will. Hypnosis is now considered to be a state of selective thinking, where the subject (who is in control) chooses to experience only what is relevant to the task at hand, blocking out everything else. It may also be described as guided concentration. The guidance may be provided by a qualified hypnotherapist, or in the case of self-hypnosis, by the individual. However you think of it, hypnosis is a method for communicating directly with the subconscious mind. Few people realize the awesome power their subsconscious mind has over their lives. The causes for many bad habits are rooted in memories or perceptions that may be forgotten by the conscious mind but retained in the subconscious. Hypnosis helps to access the subconscious and change those habits more quickly and easily. Although hypnosis is not a panacea, there are many areas where it has proven to be tremendously helpful including memory enhancement, improving concentration, relieving insomnia, overcoming phobias (fears), eliminating bad habits (such as smoking and nail biting), pain control, and managing stress. Hypnosis is a tool anyone can use and everyone should understand. Remember, hypnosis will only work if you want the change. If you want the change to occur it can occur in a minute. Try hypnosis and feel what may be the most pleasurable relaxing experience you could imagine from so little investment. PAIN MANAGEMENTPain. We all suffer it at one time or another. Migraine headaches. Back pain. Chronic pain from illness or injury. Birthing pains. Pain from surgery or other medical procedures. Whenever we're in pain we want relief - fast.So we call the doctor and he prescribes medication. We take it and most of the time it helps. But other times it doesn't help... enough... or for long enough. And sometimes we just don't want to take medication. Is there an alternative? Is there a safe way to get pain relief without medication? Today more and more people are asking this question. A two hundred year old technique - hypnosis - is gaining in strength as a modality of choice for pain relief in treatment of a variety of medical conditions from migraine headaches to chronic back pain to cancer symptoms. Hypnosis, in addition to and as a compliment to regular medical treatment, has several advantages in pain management. First, it requires no drugs. In fact, studies show that patients with chronic diseases who practice hypnosis (as taught by a hypnotherapist trained in pain management) required fewer analgesics to maintain pain relief. They also suffered less anxiety about their pain and greater comfort during medical procedures. In a study at Case Western University hypnotherapy was found useful as a pain management tool following such surgical procedures as hysterectomy, coronary by pass, hemorrhoid surgery and abdominal surgery. The test patients also had shorter hospital stays, less nausea and more rapid healing. Twelve studies have proven hypnotherapy to be the preferred treatment for reducing migraine headache attacks. With such impressive results, why do we reach for the aspirin bottle instead of the natural, relaxing, healing capacities within our own minds? The answer is obvious. Most of us don't know how to practice self-hypnosis. Many of us are not aware of its proven successfulness. Still others of us hold outdated, fearful notions that hypnosis involves mind control or loss of our own conscious will to another person. That's unfortunate because hypnosis, or hypnotherapy as it is often termed today to indicate the growing acceptance of its therapeutic value - is a resource that should be explored by all who suffer pain. It provides an ongoing method of pain management that, once established, can be monitored and adjusted by the patient him or herself. It returns a sense of control back to the patient and it has no side effects - except an overall increased relaxation. How can you explore the use of hypnosis to control or reduce your pain? Call Pam Iuro Hypnotherapy for a free consultation. A qualified hypnotherapist will use a variety of techniques - visualization and guided imagery, relaxation and suggestion to help you gain control of your pain and your life. SPORTS ENHANCEMENTTraining only the body and ignoring the mind invites a mediocre performance. Hypnosis won't turn the weekend warrior into a national champion, but it can help anyone achieve their personal best. How? By arming them with improved concentration, a clearer focus on goal achievement, the ability to visualize, and most importantly, a strong positive attitude.Most sports psychologists will agree: 80 percent of an athlete's performance is due to attitude and mental conditioning. Concentration is vital, but sometimes difficult to develop. Hypnotherapy has long been an effective means of improving concentration skills. Post-hypnotic suggestion can help a person focus on the task at hand and shut out distractions. Goal setting is also essential. Without a goal, it is pointless to begin any task. A goal must be specific. Otherwise it would be impossible to tell when the goal was reached. Playing better tennis is too general, but improving a serve or backhand is easily attainable, and successful attainment is easily recognized. Visualization can also provide an essential element to achieving success. Mental rehearsal before the performance can lead to increased confidence during the performance. Visualization at the moment of performance can also produce dramatic results. Imagery should include all the senses, and not be limited to just the visual. A diver, for example, would see the form of the dive, smell the chlorine, feel the wetness of entering the water, and hear the cheers of the crowd. Perfection requires the use of all of the senses. Many professionals employ some form of self-hypnosis to help them achieve their success. Mary Lou Retton, for example was only 16 when she won the gold medal in 1984. The night before the competition, she laid in bed and mentally rehearsed her performance. Just as she had many times before, she imagined herself going through the routine. She saw her body performing the moves; she felt the impact as her hands grabbed the bars. She imagined herself performing all her routines perfectly-seeing herself in her mind, going through all the moves with charm, poise and confidence. The result was a perfect performance, and a gold medal. Most important is the positive attitude. Hypnotherapy can change negative thoughts and eliminate performance anxieties. The occasional poor performance will no longer cause irritation, anger, discouragement or any other detrimental emotional reaction. Performance anxieties related to fear of failure, fear of humiliation or even the fear of success (the apprehension that success will cause others to expect even further improvement) can also be dealt with and eliminated. As a result, concentration, coordination, and technique will all improve. Enjoyment will be greatly enhanced. WEIGHT LOSS THROUGH HYPNOSIS - MORE EFFECTIVE THAN DIET PROGRAMSMany people become overweight when they begin to use food to satisfy an emotional need; to compensate for something they feel is missing in their lives. Some people overeat to compensate for an unpleasant experience. Others eat to reward themselves, or possibly for entertainment. Some want to be noticed, and many use a large body to offset a small ego. Food can be used to compensate for a lack of love, to offset fear, to overcome frustration, to deal with boredom, or sometimes even to avoid normal activities.Often, the reasons they began overeating are anchored in their past; some emotional event that caused them to begin eating for security, self-preservation or protection. The memory of the event remains sealed in the subconscious mind, even if they have consciously forgotten it. For these people, dieting alone will not be enough to lose the weight and keep it off. They often view the diet as a short term program; and look forward to achieving their weight goal so they can return to eating normally. Once they meet their goal, they reward themselves with the huge meals or heavy deserts that they have been craving then the weight quickly returns. Dieting never eliminates the subconscious need for excess food. It's just a form of self-torture they go through, until they eventually give in to their subconscious desires. They may go up and down the scale continuously, never letting go of the desire for excess food. A hypnotherapy program will do more than just modify an individual's behavior. It addresses all issues which may be affecting their eating habits. The hypnotherapist will ask: When do you overeat? Where do you overeat? and most importantly, Why? S/he will also help examine the client's self-esteem and self-confidence. Do these areas of self image require strengthening? The hypnosis session will help the client look back on their life, and locate the event (or events) which led to the current attitude toward food. This is the first step in eliminating the subconscious desire for excess food. The second step will be to instill a new attitude toward eating, such as I am satisfied with small amounts of healthy food. Hypnotic conditioning with cassette tapes are used to reinforce the new attitude. When used for 30 days, the attitude becomes a permanent part of the client's outlook on life. New eating habits are formed that will last a life time. The weight easily stays off; and the roller coaster ride is over. Using this very personalized approach to weight loss is effective to any degree the client wishes it to help. CAN HYPNOSIS MAKE YOU THIN?Tired of carrying around those extra twenty pounds? Sick and tired of diets that don't work? Are you ready to shed that flab once and for all?Hypnosis may be the answer for you. But not if your expecting miracles. Hypnosis is not a magic bullet. It cannot make you stop craving potato chips or ever feel hungry again. It can't make you exercise or make you like vegetables or make you do anything. What, then, can hypnosis do that will power can't? Hypnosis, a state of deep relaxation and intense mental focus, can help you re-program old attitudes and beliefs about eating. While in the state of hypnosis your subsconscious (inner) mind is more available to you, more open to receive suggestions that will then become a part of those messages in the back of your mind that nudge you toward new behaviors. Like a modern day Jimminy Cricket, hypnotically implanted messages urge you to do the right thing - to follow through with the changes that you decided to make in your life. Hypnotic messages that suggest new attitudes like You eat small portions of food and feel completely satisfied. You eat only in response to your body's natural need for food as fuel can help re-program bad eating habits. Repetition of such suggestions, especially if listened to regularly on a taped message, can boost your determination and enhance your conscious willpower. Often, however, such messages alone are not enough. It takes a combination of behavioral modification (watching your diet, learning how to eat healthily, exercising regularly) and psychological education (understanding why you have certain eating patterns and how to change them) in order to achieve permanent weight loss. A good hypnotherapist will address both these issues as well. Not only should you receive mental suggestions for behavioral and lifestyle changes, your hypnotherapist should explore with you any emotional connections to food and eating habits. Once you realize why you are eating when you are not hungry (and if we all ate only when we were hungry there would be no need for any weight loss programs) you can begin to change that behavior. A good hypnotherapist will work with positive programming, using your own success to spur you on and not rely on aversion therapy or negative conditioning to achieve results. Suggestions that stress positive changes (looking the way you want to look, feeling the way you want to feel) and that increase self-esteem can help you succeed not only in your weight loss, but in other areas of your life as well. Mental imagery is another important part of hypnosis. Using hypnosis for weight loss, after achieving a deep state of relaxation your hypnotherapist might lead you through an imaginary journey where you might imagine yourself wearing a dress or suit you've grown out of. You might imagine the positive comments of your friends or co-workers. You would be encouraged to use all five senses in your imagery, seeing and feeling yourself grow thinner, stronger, more healthy and vital. Studies show that the more real your inner experience, the more likely the final results will match your mental program. When used as a part of an overall program of behavioral modification and attitude adjustment, hypnosis can be the extra dimension that your weight loss program needs for long term success. While not magic, hypnosis can provide powerful tools to help you fight the battle of the bulge, tools that just may make the difference between success and failure. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME A NON-SMOKER??The dangers of smoking have been studied and analyzed for years. The detrimental effect of smoking on people's health and their activities is now public knowledge, and many people who have become addicted to smoking are now looking for ways to quit.Most stop-smoking programs work at increasing the individual's strength to resist the desire to smoke. They rely on willpower and for most people that is the worst method for quitting smoking. Willpower fluctuates the moods and emotions. One day it may be strong, the next day it may be weak. Hypnosis works at eliminating the desire to smoke, whether it be from identification or replacement, the two principle reasons for smoking. Identification is when the smoker indulges in the habit because he admires (or associates) with others who smoke, i.e. parents, peers, or celebrities. Identification smoking is the most common and the easiest to eliminate. Replacement is when smoking takes the place of a previous habit (such as overeating), is used to replace something that is missing (such as companionship, love, acceptance, self-esteem, security, independence), or when it fills a void created by anxiety or boredom. Replacement smokers often receive sensual gratification from smoking. They enjoy the feeling of the cigarette in their mouth or the taste of the tobacco. For cigar and pipe smokers, the act of lighting often becomes a ritual.For both types of smokers, smoking is both a physical and mental process. So to be effective the stop-smoking program must address both aspects. To address the psychological aspects of smoking, the hypnotherapist may include an evaluation of why the person started smoking. What purpose does it serve in their life? For the identification smoker, suggestions can be given to help strengthen a person's perception of the individuality, i.e. not needing to smoke to be accepted. For the replacement smoker, a more detailed analysis of their reason is required. To address the physical aspects of smoking, the hypnotherapist may include suggestions that change the perception of the taste from pleasant to unpleasant. The individual can imagine cigarettes as unappealing, bad tasting, foul smelling and revolting in every sense of the word. This makes quitting easier. Hypnosis takes advantage of the mind's natural ability to imagine and visualize. The client pictures themselves free from the habit, filled with new health, energy and vitality. They can see themselves as looking healthier, more attractive, and being more active. Once a smoker has achieved success in a stop-smoking program it is necessary to reinforce the programming that led to quitting. Smoking is a habit that is acquired and built over time. It can rarely be completely eliminated in an instant. Even though they may have stopped smoking, the behavior pattern still remains. Fortunately, it fades with disuse. Hypnotic conditioning can be used to reinforce the changes until they become permanent. COMFORTABLE PAINLESS NATURAL CHILDBIRTHChildirth is a beautiful experience for any woman. Women in desolate areas away from the media and modern civilization are able to have their babies comfortably, without any pain and the women are able to resume regular activities almost immediately. Why is this? Because they have not been programmed by the media, their peers and women who have had bad experiences to expect an unpleasant birth experience. In reality if a woman expects a beautiful easy birthing she will have it.Women in our society have been hypnotized to create a powerful belief within them that having a baby causes great and powerful discomfort.When a woman practices hypnosis or comfortable childbirth the birthing time usually is shortened dramatically. This is because the woman is relaxed and ready anticipating a comfortable birth and the baby just slides through the birth canal as it was always meant to. When a woman obtains this new and powerful understanding of the reality of childbirth she blocks out all negativity that may come her way. When a woman is experiencing and has been trained in hypnosis she learns to expect the most enjoyable, loving experience of her life, which childbirth certainly is. Once she expects that the rest is easy. She is relaxed and prepared for the most loving experience of her life. She will probably give birth very shortly after the contractions begin. This is very surprising for many women who have already had one or more births where the contractions lasted for hours and hours before the baby was born. Many methods of childbirth teach the mother to tense up and get so tense that all of the muscles the baby must travel through get tense and tight and when the baby finally gets to the birth canal it is so tense and tight the baby hits against it and has to forcefully get through. The hypnotic method teaches the patient that with the first contraction they will relax more and more and become more calm and relaxed. This relaxes the muscles so much the contractions feel to the patient like a warm wave pushing the baby gently down the birth canal. The body will do what it needs to do when it needs to do it. You may ask when is the best time to train for a comfortable birth with the use of hypnosis. The ideal time is the beginning of the 7th month. Of course this is not always possible so it is in the baby and mother's best interest to begin whenever possible. The sooner the better but even if you have only one session this will help considerably. What better way is there to welcome your new child into the world then a peaceful, loving happy, birth. Childbirth will be the most beautiful life affirming experience you can imagine. Don't you owe it to your newborn to put all the cards in his/her favor from the very first moment of entering this wonderful world? Your baby will begin with significantly less stress and will be welcomed into this world with all the benefits possible. Contact a certified hypnotherapist if you are interested in this beautiful natural way to bring your new life into this world. GOALSWhatever your goals are, hypnosis can help you achieve them more easily and more quickly. Many people don't realize the awesome power that their subconscious mind has over their lives. The causes of so many bad habits are rooted in memories or perceptions that may be forgotten by the conscious mind but retained in the subconscious. Hypnosis helps to access the subconscious mind and affect the desired changes more easily and more quickly.Unfortunately, many people refuse to consider hypnotherapy because of their fears and misconceptions. They may believe the hypnotherapist will control them, they will tell their hidden secrets, or be made to do ridiculous things. These misconceptions might be the result of watching old vampire movies or cartoons on TV. These fears and misconceptions are completely unfounded. The individual is always in control, and in fact, is more aware of what is happening while in the hypnotic state. Although hypnosis is not a panacea, there are many areas where it has proven to be tremendously helpful; these include memory enhancement, improving concentration, relieving insomnia, eliminating nail biting, reducing stuttering, sales and sports achievement. However the most common reasons for visiting a hypnotherapist are losing weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress. Many overweight people who fail with diet programs turn to hypnosis as a safe and reliable alternative. For them, dieting never eliminated the subconscious need for excess food. It is just a form of torture they went through until they eventually give in to their subconscious desires. So they continuously went up and down the scale, never letting go of the desire for excess food. The reasons for their desire were anchored in a memory of some past emotional event that caused them to overeat for security, self preservation or protection. The memory of the event remained sealed in their subconscious, even if it was consciously forgotten. Hypnotism locates the event which triggered this behavior, and changes the individual's perception of that event; thus eliminating it as a problem source. Once this is accomplished, the individual can eliminate the desire for excess food and the weight comes off easily, and stays off. This same technique is effective for quitting smoking. When an individual relives the horrible experience of taking that first puff, and remembers the events that caused them to continue smoking, the habit is easily eliminated. Phobias such as the fears of water, flying, driving and claustrophobia are easily treated with the same technique, and can frequently be overcome in just two or three sessions. What the mind causes, the mind can cure. Wellness begins in the mind! Every problem has a cause, and when you eliminate the cause from the computer we call the subconscious mind, the problem disappears. CAREER ADVANCEMENT LEARNING TO SET AND ACHIEVE GOALS THROUGH HYPNOSISEveryone dreams. Some people dream of love; some dream of wealth; some dream of success. But very few learn how to turn dreams into reality. One of the reasons for this is something which has recently been identified as the Playpen Syndrome. The Playpen Syndrome is like a bureaucracy. It's propagated by people and agencies who want to avoid being bothered by ambition, creativity, new ideas or progress. It stifles individuality, and prevents the achievement of goals. Fortunately, hypnotherapy can help leave the playpen behind. The playpen Syndrome begins when children learn from parents, teachers,or other authority figures that they will only be liked if they do as they are told; if they create problems, they won't be liked. Parents don't intentionally create this attitude, but they often place their children in safe and out of the way areas. The young impressionable mind gets the idea that they will be liked and taken care of, as long as they don't cause any problems.This, unfortunately, stifles creativity and sends a message to the subconscious mind that keeping the status quo is the same as being liked and should be the goal of their life. They do not learn to explore, take small risks, or find solutions to the challenges of their environment. The message is reinforced as they grow up. They participate in sports activities and continue to play on teams regardless of their skill level, and without any real motivation to improve their skills. Later they work in an environment that will secure their job, with benefits, regardless of their skill level or the quality of their work. All their lives they are cared for by someone else, and never take the initiative to take control of their lives and make their dreams come true. Hypnotherapy, can help anyone develop the tools they need to achieve their dreams, and free themselves from the Playpen Syndrome. The program focuses on Goal Setting and Achievement, and may also include attitude, confidence and motivation. Effective goal setting requires both a sense of completeion and reward. The major problem most people have with goals is that they only set the long term accomplishment goals. They don't look at the steps they need to achieve those goals. So they fail to see any reward, even when they make progress. Activity goals are just as important as accomplishment goals. Activity goals are the steps by which we reach our accomplishment goals. A student, for example wants to become an engineer; that is his accomplishment goal. One at a time, he must attend each class, write each essay, and pass each exam. These are his activity goals. Once completed, each activity goal provides an essential sense of accomplishment and the motivation to continue. Motivation and attitude are just as essential as proper goal setting. You must have a strong desire to achieve your goals. You must have the confidence to know that you can succeed. Hypnotherapy can help you find these things within yourself. MEMORYLearning should be a lifelong process for everyone. The potential rewards of continuously learning new things cannot be overstated. Whether learning new skills for the job, or studying a topic of personal interest, everyone can benefit from continuing their education.There are many factors that may impede the learning process. The two most important factors are low self-esteem and lack of motivation. Poor study habits, poor memory, lack of reward, poor nutrition, and even medication can also adversely affect an individual's ability to learn new things. Fortunately, hypnotherapy can help with all these things. Motivation is emotional, and comes from within. Knowing the benefits of success is not enough. Feeling a strong desire to acquire those benefits is essential. If too many desires compete for the individual's time and attention, he may not be able to focus. The desires can lose their strength, and less will be accomplished. The individual should set priorities. Once that is accomplished, hypnotherapy can reinforce those priorities and strengthen his focus. Self-esteem is built up with a series of successes and rewards. Setting interim goals as steps to achieving an ultimate goal can help. Each time a goal is achieved, the individual should recognize their success and reward themselves. Hypnotherapy can help establish this type of pattern in a person's attitude. Good study habits include time management and elimination of distractions. Bad time management can drain a person's energy and emotions. Good time management consists of organizing the work; breaking large jobs into smaller, easily accomplished tasks. Distractions can be eliminated by selecting a location that is devoted exclusively to study. Going there only to study, and leaving when concentration becomes difficult or when done studying for the day. The location should be as free from distractions as possible, i.e., no TV or radio and no family and friends running in and out every few minutes. People use three types of memory when learning: Sensory Memory, Motor Skill Memory, and Concept Memory. Sensory Memory deals with sights, scents, sounds, tastes and touches. Motor Skill Memory deals with movement and coordination such as riding a bicycle, typing or dancing. Concept Memory deals with words and ideas. Written material must be meaningful and organized. A good way to study is to read the broad concepts first then narrow in on the specifics. This helps with comprehension, and also helps to avoid reading irrelevant material. Poor nutrition and medications pose a different problem. Lack of protein in a diet may sometimes cause concentration and retention problems. Antihistamines and many other medications can cause drowsiness, also making concentration difficult. Some medications even block the neural- pathways in the brain. In these cases a physician must be consulted before beginning a program of hypnotherapy. But for most people hypnotherapy can provide insight, guidance and direction to establish personal learning goals, boost self-esteem and create motivation. Enhanced learning and improved memory result. TEST TAKINGThe decision to turn a life-long interest into a career in massage therapy seemed only natural to Bob. Bob had always worked well with his hands, and all his friends said that he gave the best back rubs around. Yet, once in massage therapy school, Bob's dream became a nightmare.As his courses progressed, Bob found that the large amount of memorization required to pass the tests was becoming more and more challenging for him. He saw his dream slipping away as he fought harder to master the material while his grades, nonetheless, were increasingly dropping. He knew he had to do something fast.Bob's friend, also a massage therapist, shared an office with a hypnotherapist. He suggested that Bob try hypnosis for test taking anxiety. Bob agreed to give it a try. Bob didn't know what to expect during his first visit but the hypnotherapist quickly put him at ease and explained the process of hypnotic suggestion. She answered all his questions and put to rest any concerns that he had about losing control. She told him that he would, in fact, be in control of the process at all times. She explained that she would simply help him to obtain a state of deep relaxation from which he could arouse himself at any time if necessary. While in this altered state of awareness Bob's innermost (subconscious) mind would be more available to listen to and accept any suggestions or ideas that he perceived to be useful or helpful. His mind would automatically reject any suggestions that went against his own values and beliefs. Relaxing in a recliner, Bob quickly entered a state of light hypnosis while listening to the soothing voice of the hypnotherapist instructing him to release tension from every part of his body, bit by bit. After a few more minutes of deep relaxation Bob was ready to receive the mental suggestions that he hoped would end his problems with memorization and test anxiety. The hypnotherapist had Bob mentally visualize himself in his study area, picturing his desk, books, papers and even any beverages he would normally have on hand to drink. Once fully there in the scene, the hypnotherapist had Bob re-experience his study habits, suggesting that his mind would be relaxed and receptive, and that he would remember fully and easily the information that he read or studied. As Bob re-experienced each phase of his study routine- reading over notes, repeating information out loud, even taking rest breaks - the hpnotherapist repeatedly stressed that he was fully retaining all the information easily and effortlessly. The hypnotherapist further instructed Bob that when a question about the material that he was studying was put to him, either verbally or on a test, his mind would immediately bring the information up to a conscious level, making it instantly available for full recall. He was instructed to envision himself in class taking a test. He was told to see himself relaxed, confident and feeling great. He was reminded to remain relaxed, confident and assured of his success. After fully visualizing himself confidentaly taking the test, Bob was instructed to see himself later receiving notice of his test results. He was instructed to feel the excitement and sense of self-esteem that came from scoring well on the test. He was even told to visualize the positive comments of his teacher and the slaps of congratulations from his friends. Once Bob had fully visualized his success, he was more certain about his chances to make his vision a reality. With a few follow-up visits and a tape for home reinforcement, Bob soon made his new vision a reality.Bob's dream really did come true after all. He graduated in the top of his massage therapy class, thanks to a little help (and some good advice about trying hypnosis) from his friends. If you or someone you know suffer from test-taking anxiety or trouble with studying and memorization, hypnosis might be the answer for you, too. Call for your free consultation today. STRESSED OUT? RELAX WITH HYPNOSISDave used to down two scotch and waters before dinner every night just to relax enough to make the transition from work to home life. But after dinner he would be so relaxed he'd nod off while reading the paper and find himself unable to go to sleep upon retiring. He desperately needed to unwind after a stressful workday as a management executive and was looking for an alternative to social drinking when he stumbled upon hypnosis.Now after work Dave takes a fifteen minute transition break by closing himself off in his bedroom, turning off the lights and the phone and putting on some soft msic. He slips into comfortable clothes and stretches out on his bed or recliner. As the music begins to soothe his nerves his thoughts run to his safe place, a mental haven where he has gone many times to escape from the stresses of the outer world. Here in his own imagination Dave is in complete control. He can visit his favorite location - a stretch of deserted beach - or another safe place in a cool pine forest where he listens to the tinkling of a nearby waterfall. Wherever he is, Dave knows he is safe, comfortable, and in complete control, with no one asking anything of him or wanting anything from him. Here he can - and does - imagine himslef as he desires to be - healthy, happy relaxed and at peace with himself and everyone around him. If he experienced any difficulties at work, he puts these problems into the basket of a hot air balloon and watches them gently blow away, knowing that they will be taken care of in the best possible way. Dave may take a dip in the ocean or playfully dance under a gentle waterfall, cleansing both his mind and his body of all stress, all tension, all negative emotions, and feeling a restorative healing energy take their place as he continues to enjoy this peaceful, relaxing state. After about fifteen minutes,Dave instinctively ends his imaginative journey and slowly returns his thoughts to the present, reminding himself that he is back in his room feeling refreshed and revitalized, yet completely and fully relaxed and ready to enjoy his evening with the family. The relaxed, good-natured Dave who emerges from the bedroom is a completely differrent person from the harried, stressed and sometimes short-tempered man who went in. Dave's family members, as well as Dave, are grateful that he has discovered hypnosis. Dave is just one of growing number of people who find that hypnosis works for them as an effective, non-drug alternative for stress reduction. With stress an ever present part of our lifestyle and the growing evidence for the link between stress and illness - including such conditions as hypertension, heart disease, ulcers, immune deficiency diseases and even cancer - hypnosis provides welcome relief with no side effects. Hypnosis, simply put, is a relaxed and focused state of mind. Most people can be trained to enter this state of deep relaxation and purposefully narrowed attention easily and safely in just a few sessions with the help of a trained hypnotherpist. Once the training has taken place, most clients can induce a self-hypnotic state, following the instructions of the hypnotherapist. Unike alcohol or drugs, hypnosis can be used anytime, anywhere. All that it requires is an opportunity to relax for a few minutes. One can practice hypnosis while gazing out an office window or sitting in a quiet corner of the office break room. By quieting down the body and the mind hypnosis sets into motion a chain reaction of physiological responses, such as hormonal changes and changes in immune system function. Hypnosis reduces the effects of stress on the body by thwarting the flight or fight response, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and relaxing muscle tension. These changes, in turn, stimulate other positive changes such as lowered production of stress hormones and increase of protective T-cell production by the immune system. HYPNOTHERAPY CAN HELPSince the 1970s a growing number of scientific studies indicate that hypnosis, among other mind/body therapies such as biofeedback and meditation are effective options in treatment of illness where stress is a major factor. While not meant to take the place of traditional medical care, hypnosis can act as a useful adjunct therapy - one that is not only effective but enjoyable as well. One such major study at Duke University showed that practicing relaxation resulted in reduced hypertension and reduced blood sugar levels in test patients. Another study indicated that the practice of hypnosis could increase the chance that in-vitro fertilization procedures would be successful for patients.With more studies every day illustrating the effectiveness of hypnosis for stress reduction and its accompanying health benefits, shouldn't you try hypnosis? It's simple, easy and pleasant. Contrary to popular myth, a hypnotherapist does not take over your mind or influence your thoughts - except at your request. You are aware at all times of the suggestions that the hypnotherapist offers and your mind will automatically reject any suggestions that conflict with your values or beliefs. On the other hand, when the hypnotherapist's suggestions lead you to more relaxation, a healthier and more balanced life, why not accept them with an open mind? Working with your hypnotherapist, you can tailor suggestions and imageries to your specific needs and desires. AGE REGRESSIONAge regression is one of the most powerful tools available to the hypnotherapist. Lately, it has come under fire for creating false memories. The truth of the matter is that it does work, but the hypnotherapist must be very careful when directing the regression.Many therapies involving hypnosis take advantage of the mind's ability to visualize. This ability can be very useful when treating someone for overeating, or helping them achieve athletic and career goals. But combining age regression and visualization must be done very carefully. The subconscious mind retains every bit of information that it receives. If someone is having trouble retrieving a memory, the hypnotherapist may suggest that they visualize something that will help them retrieve it. If the suggestion is not carefully worded the mind may confuse the image with the memory. For this reason it is very important to use Non-Directive Hypnotherapy. A good example is the case of Cathy. She recently came to a colleague to discuss a personal development which she did not understand. As far back as she could remember, she had always felt a certain sadness when visitors left her home; but the situation was becomng increasingly troublesome. The emotional upsets were no longer limited to loved ones, but happened whenever anyone went out the door. The feelings were growing stronger, and now also resulted in tears and severe crying spells bordering on hysteria. The situation seemed to be out of control and she felt it demanded attention. A friend suggested hypnosis. After interviewing her, and testing her for suggestibility, the hypnotherapist decided that some event in her childhood had resulted in a psychological imprint which had either been forgotten, or had not been consciously recognized as the cause. The hypnotherapist instructed her to go back to the time and place where she first remembered the problem happening. He suggested that she view the event as if it were a television show and to describe what she saw. Cathy explained that she was three years old, sitting on the stairs in her home, looking down into the living room.Her father had just died and was lying in the living room. She was called down and instructed to kiss her father good-bye, which she did. The well-meaning family wanted to avoid a situation where a child, not understanding what death was, would not constantly be expecting her father to return. They explained that when her father would be taken out through the door, he would be gone forever and would never return. Without realizing what they had done, they had created an association between death and doors that remained locked in her subconscious. To her three year old mind, there was no understanding, only an authoritative statement that going out the door would lead to something terrible.As with most cases of this sort, understanding the cause was enough to solve the problem. While traditional psychoanalysis might have required years to discover the cause of the problem, a hypnotherapist employing Non-Directive Hypnotherapy solved it in just two sessions. |
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