What is Hypnosis?

According to Dr. Michael Yapko, “Hypnosis is a state of increased awareness. If you’re more aware, whatever you hear is going to sink in better. If it sinks in better, you get a better response, whether it’s hitting a golf ball or having an erection.”

Some have described hypnosis as a unique and separate state of consciousness, relative to one’s “normal” state of consciousness. Hypnosis creates a narrowing of attention to the offered suggestions. The altered state is thought to allow for reduced defenses, greater emotional access and responsiveness, and greater access to unconscious processes.

Hypnosis offers the potential to access previously repressed emotions and memories more easily than with most types of psychotherapy.

Trance is a naturally occurring state of consciousness that we will access through hypnotic techniques. Trance is like a daydream. We all have the experience of drifting off during boring meeting or while driving a car. In hypnosis, we purposely induce the same ability to absorb and focus our attention.

Hypnosis is not a form of mind control and the therapist utilizing clinical hypnosis will not force you to do anything you do not want to do. Hypnosis can help to release the things you do not want while creating the things you do. Hypnosis allows you to access your subconscious mind while your conscious mind relaxes. Some of the many uses for hypnosis are:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Healing past trauma
• Sexual performance issues
• Smoking cessation
• Habit control
• Sports performance
• Pre and post-surgical healing
• Weight management
• Fears/phobias