What is hypnosis?

Have you ever been deep in thought while driving and all of a sudden your exit is right there? Been so focused on a movie or book that you didn't hear someone calling you? Have you ever daydreamed?  That's what being hypnotized is like.

Hypnotherapy works by working where the problem is

Have you ever tried to break a bad habit - then kept right on doing it?
Have you ever felt feelings that just didn't make sense? Things were OK - but you still felt angry or nervous or afraid. Maybe you experienced some kind of compulsion. And you just couldn't change the way you felt?

When these things happen, you don't know why you do what you do.

Or you know - but you can't control it.

It's because the source of the problem is below the conscious level. That's why the problem is so difficult to solve with talk or willpower. Hypnosis enables you to work on the level where those feelings and habits come from.

Hypnotherapy is the use of the hypnotic state to solve problems. Hypnotherapy enables you to change habits, reduce stress and achieve your goals - much more easily than you can in a state of normal awareness. It's been used for thousands of years to help people with a wide variety of mental and physical challenges.

With hypnosis you're in control

In control of eliminating that nagging problem once and for all. In control of making the positive changes you've been wanting to make in your life.

Why? Because all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. I act as a guide, but the control is always in your hands. You're never asleep. You hear every word I say. And you never do or say anything you don't want to.

What about those stage shows?

You've probably seen stage or TV shows with people seeming to be under the control of a hypnotist. It looks that way, but they're not. They're highly suggestible, and willing to play along with the hypnotist - as long as what's suggested is something they genuinely want to do. If they don't like what's suggested, they just won't do it.

Common hypnosis/hypnotherapy misconceptions

	If You Think…		The Reality Is…
	I'll give up my free will.	When you're hypnotized, you don't lose your personality, your free will or your personal strength. Hypnosis is a heightened state of concentration and focused attention.
	A hypnotist can control my mind.	A hypnotist only serves as a knowledgeable guide or facilitator. You're perfectly capable of saying no and you can end the session any time you like.
	I can't be hypnotized.	There are two types of people who can't be hypnotized:      -those who are scared       -those who don't want to be hypnotized Anyone else can easily enter into a state of deep hypnosis with a skilled hypnotist.
	It's dangerous.	It's generally no more distressing than daydreaming. If you read the medical literature, you'll see hypnosis is no more dangerous than taking aspirin.
	It doesn't work.	Experts agree that it's a powerful way to make rapid, positive changes for yourself.
	Hypnosis is like sleep.	It's not. Hypnotized subjects are relaxed, but fully aware and awake.
	I won't remember the session.	While it's possible in some situations for a hypnotized subject to create amnesia for themselves, it's rare. All of my clients remember everything that occurs in their hypnosis sessions.
	I might do something immoral.	You will fully adhere to your usual moral standards. You're in control.
	I might give up my secrets.	Clients don't say anything they don't want to say and don't do anything they don't want to do.
	I won't wake up.	You can emerge from hypnosis any time you want (you really don't 'wake-up' since you're not asleep when you're hypnotized).