What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a process used to access the subconscious mind. Our patterns of behaviour are based on associations we have made from our thoughts to our emotions. Certain thoughts trigger certain emotions, and likewise, certain emotions can trigger certain thoughts. Within hypnosis, you can learn to tune into your feelings and associate your thoughts with your feelings, and then learn to be more discerning in your conscious waking state when a certain feeling or thought arises. In this manner, merely by recognizing the connection of the thought and emotion, you are stopping the automatic, or trigger reaction. This is essential when dealing with behavioural changes. Many people are wary of hypnosis and have misconceptions around the process of hypnosis. The hypnotic state is a very natural state of physical relaxation and heightened mental awareness. We slide in and out of different states of consciousness all day long, and we often enter into a hypnotic trance state while wide awake.

One example of this kind of trance state is road hypnosis. When you are driving, you often slip into a trance state because of the constant movement of the car and the road going by. Sometimes you may become drowsy while driving or not remember driving the most recent mile or so on your trip, or you may even miss your exit on the motorway.

Other Therapeutic Techniques include NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) which looks at how we do things in order to achieve a model of excellence. It is possible to study the language patterns, beliefs and mannerisms of someone in order to illicit change. NLP is often used in the business world but it is just as valuable in a therapeutic setting, to enhance performance, remove obstacles and eliminate unhelpful patterns of behaviour.

Myths & Misconceptions
Myths surrounding hypnotherapy come from stage hypnotists. The more serious business of clinical hypnotherapy has no relation to the stage. With clinical hypnotherapy you can: