FAQs - some that are seldom asked

Many FAQs are about questions that are rarely asked, e.g. can I get stuck in hypnosis, will I divulge my secrets, is hypnosis dangerous, etc. I thought it may be useful to also answer some of the questions I am asked. However, if you have a different question and would like an answer, please get in touch at info@trans4mationaltherapy.com and I'll do my best to answer your questions.

FAQs on Hypnosis

Hypnosis is rarely what a client thinks it is and, surprisingly or not, it is not just one thing because it differs experientially, from client to client, session to session and that is why I offer a Free Consultation! So, if you would like to book yours, you can do that here

What is Hypnosis

How does it work

Does it last

Is Hypnosis Safe

The answer is "no and yes". There have been clandestine uses of hypnosis, e.g. some intelligence organisations have been known to engage in unethical uses. However, in a clinical and professional sense, it is entirely safe and can make some profound and positive changes to those with life-limiting conditions. Many of the conditions that hypnosis helps are the result of dysfunctional sensory responses to emotional and cognitive misperceptions, While the subconscious intent of some of these emotional responses is ostensibly positive, e.g. fear of needles, the resultant phobia feels anything but positive! The downside, though, might be more harmful because the content of the syringe may save your life! The emotional brain lacks the ability or desire to rationalise the ups and downs of needles, they equal danger and danger is a no go area; period!

In some sense hypnosis occurs in the negative, i.e. in trance states, we can develop unwanted behaviours, again citing the fear of needles. The fear may simply have developed in response to observing someone else reacting to a painful injection. It could also be conscious, perhaps as a result of knowing someone contracting an awful disease through using an infected syringe (HIV?). Or, even an ordinarily safe routine or procedure like a blood transfusion. In these instances, learning occurs both consciously and subconsciously and is then consolidated into a fear response during our ordinary nighttime sleep. Hypnotic learning, in terms of the solution, occurs at the subconscious level of memory (not mind) and is therefore out of the reach of our conscious awareness. Basically, this is because our conscious states often do more to exacerbate our issues, than they do to fix them! So, to a certain degree, we are sometimes using hypnosis to de-hypnotize the client?

It is often cited by therapists, that relative to hypnosis, you cannot be made to do anything against your will. But what will are they referring to, conscious or subconscious? In any event, this is not true but let me explain why! If you're a smoker or someone who eats emotionally, the subconscious elements of your brain want to smoke and it just loves cream cakes and french fries! This part of you wants to maintain its agenda, which is obviously not good for you but you do it anyway. So, if you already know all there is to know, e.g. smoking will kill you and obesity makes you unhealthy, stopping those behaviours should be easy, right? Obviously, you know the answer is no. But what is interesting is this. You know that something you are doing is bad for you, yet you continue to do it. That means, at some level you want to do it, correct? So, if part of you wants to do it and part of you doesn't, I have to get the part of you that wants to stop doing so. Therefore, I have to get you to do something against your will. Of course, the message about not being coerced to do anything against your will is just one of many iterations taught in hypnotherapy training schools. The intention, I believe, is honourable but it flys in the face of reality and it is incongruent with many other things that are said of hypnosis!

So, in answer to the question, if you are looking for a safe, natural and effective way to overcome a challenging life issue; I would highly recommend hypnotherapy. It is safe, in the right hands!

Can you guarantee results

The guarantee is, that the more you apply your mind, the better it works; that's a promise

However, to answer your question frankly, the answer is no. That said, anyone who says they can guarantee results may be stretching reality beyond its natural bounds. As it would be with a doctor, the best I can give you are the odds of probability. The same goes for medications, there are strong odds in favour of most medications being effective. However, all that can be offered, by way of guarantee, are clinically proven results; statistics of probability. Over the years, empirically speaking, I have found hypnotherapy to offer each client an outstanding prospect of success. However, even when using hypnosis, there is still a certain need for cognitive responsibility. This is despite the ability of hypnosis to empower the brain. Very often hypnotherapists cite alterations to the subconscious mind, implying that you are merely a participant in the process. A natural problem to this view though is that we are uniquely conscious beings at some level! Much of this consciousness, makes you feel like you made a conscious choice or decision. However, it is worth remembering, that all behaviour, thoughts and words are processed in the brain moments before they become a physical manifestation? The downside for us is the dialogue that takes place after the subconscious processing (intent) and the conscious realisations that follow (outcome)! Hypnotherapy merely allows us to have a better perspective at the conscious level, much of which can occur out of conscious awareness. What? We are conscious beings but we are not always consciously aware of that and that is the place where issues develop, fester and manifest! Hypnotherapy is an art and science, practised often enough (self-hypnosis), combined with cognitive responsibility, can lead to pronounced behavioural change.

The change that occurs in hypnosis is caused by the way your brain processes the information it receives, relative to the hypnotic prescription. It occurs in the same way that all brain functionality occurs; i.e. at a cellular level, the place where memories are stored, activated and expressed. There is actually no magic involved in the process. It's simple, when the brain repetitively fires on the same experience, over and over (real or imagined), synaptic strength (long term potentiation LTP) is achieved. Similarly, this can cause the opposite effect (long term depression) in other areas. Long term depression, is a process of synaptic weakening and has nothing to do with clinical depression!. During a potential LTP situation, there is less resistance from the postsynaptic neuron. This is a consequence of an event called an action potential. Essentially an action potential is the initiation phase of a neurochemical messenger process, aka neural communication! Over time the repetitive nature of action potentials/LTP creates what we call habits or behaviours and, as you know, practice makes perfect! In essence, our brain is a well-oiled machine and what we term a routine or habit is the natural outcome of this process. However, this process works in both the negative as well as the positive! So, in a positive context, the secret to the effectiveness of hypnosis is in the way information is delivered to the brain. This occurs through sensory modalities, e.g. during the conscious fact-finding part of the session, then through the auditory cortex during the hypnosis. This is often what other hypnotherapists refer to as effecting change through the subconscious mind! But in reality, it is the brain's functioning that actually changes!

Finally, some clients work on themselves more than others and often get better outcomes. Some clients do absolutely nothing, other than attend the hypnotic sessions and still get outstanding results; others, usually very few, get absolutely no benefit. That is not necessarily because the hypnosis didn't work but perhaps because elements of their condition were not accessed or did not surface. Much less often, it is just the consequence of a mismatch between client and therapist; nothing other than a fact of life. Like anything in life, some people, be they plumbers, lawyers, accountants or doctors, are better at some things than others! It is because of the uniqueness of each of us that guarantees cannot be offered. This is because we (the client) are the very ones that ultimately (subconsciously) determine the outcome!

Will I divulge confidential information

Can hypnois erase memories

Is hypnotherapy dangerous

Generally speaking, hypnotherapy is not dangerous but neither is it easy to define. By that I mean, I believe there is a great misconception as to exactly what hypnosis is. Hypnosis is the medium through which therapeutic interventions are delivered, it is the combination of hypnosis and the therapeutic invention that gives rise to the term hypnotherapy. Therefore, a more useful item would be - Hypnosis Therapy.

Like any profession there is the potential for scoundrels, as seen in corruption:
Police, Lawyers, accountants, doctors, and teachers. In fact, you name it there will be someone who does not uphold the tenets of their profession. The same may apply to hypnotherapists or any therapists, come to that!

That is why verifiable qualifications, experience and verified client testimonials are vitally important. To see my qualifications and training, please click here. To see my client testimonials please click here

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FAQs - some that are seldom asked

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FAQs - some that are seldom asked

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