People  have  many  misconceived  ideas  about  hypnosis, few  if any are from direct
experience. Most of the misinformation is derived from the perceived use of hypnosis
in entertainment, and the sensational aspects much promoted by the media.

In  fact  the  state  we  call hypnosis is a totally natural phenomenon. It is a state we all
enter several times a day, for example if you watch a film or read a book such that you
become  totally  engrossed  in  the  plot to the total exclusion of everything else, that is
Hypnosis.

WHAT THEN IS HYPNOSIS?

It is a state of deep relaxation with  a heightened state of awareness, which is induced
Either  by  a  hypnotherapist  or  the  person  themselves. This  state  of  mind, to  the
onlooker,  resembles  sleep, which  is  in  fact how it got it's name from the Greek root
word "hypnos" (to sleep). When the word hypnosis was originally coined it was actually
misnamed, as  you  are  not  asleep  but  just  relaxed, probably more relaxed than you
have ever been.
Since you  are  only  relaxed you are still in control, because you are still in control you
cannot be made to do anything that is against your wishes.
There is  no  such  thing  a  special  feeling  of being hypnotised, you are not on some
Different  plane  of  existence or on a different planet, you are just in a relaxed state of
mind  sat  in  a comfortable chair. You cannot become stuck in hypnosis. If you are left
Whilst  in  a  hypnotised  state you will either wake up or drift into a natural sleep after a
little while.
Your senses are  more acute, your hearing is better as is your sensitivity to touch, your
memory enhanced. You will hear and remember everything that is going on.
You  are  still  in  overall  control of your own mind whilst, at the same time, being more
open to positive suggestions  given by the hypnotherapist.
There are no side effects with hypnosis.
No hypnotherapist has control over your mind, to be successfully hypnotised you must
co-operate  by focusing your mind on what the therapist ask you to do. There are many
Ways  to  be  hypnotised, the  therapist may use progressive relaxation or visualisation
Techniques  so  you  will be asked to use your imagination. There are rapid techniques
Used  to  induce hypnosis in a  few minutes, whichever  method  the  therapist  uses, it
should be explained to you.
Hypnosis  is  being  used  increasingly  as  an  adjunct to orthodox medicine where it is
providing  a  valuable  alternative  to  drugs  and  anaesthesia to accelerate the healing
process, and to relieve and help with pain.