If you’ve been living your entire life believing hypnosis and hypnotherapy are the same thing, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s easily done. However, the truth is, they’re not the same and here’s why. Simply put, think of hypnosis as a tool and hypnotherapy as making use of that tool. In other words, hypnotherapy is the practice of using hypnosis as a therapy.
As a hypnotherapist, I’m a very strong believer in each of my clients grasping a real understanding of the treatment they are receiving. So, whether you’re a current client of mine or somebody who is looking for help and is considering hypnotherapy as a solution, hopefully, this article will help you understand the topic slightly better.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is basically when a person enters a trance-like, or hypnotic, state. It’s a totally natural occurrence and is extremely common. In fact, most of us fall in and out of this trance-like state on a daily basis without even realising it. Have you ever felt like you’ve zoned out? You might’ve felt completely relaxed and could be easily distracted. That’s the trance-like state I’m referring to. People in a hypnotic state might seem sleepy but they are simply in a state of hyper-awareness.
The most powerful feature of this trance-like state is that it connects a person’s conscious mind to their subconscious mind, which is where hypnotherapy comes in.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy sessions involve talking therapy combined with hypnosis, and generally, the main goal is to overcome a problem. Having discussed with the client what they hope to gain, clients are then guided naturally into a hypnotic state. When clients are in this hypnotic state, it allows ideas and solutions to be better explored at a deeper level, resulting in a positive outcome at the end. During this hypnotic trance, clients tend to find that they can calmly talk about their problems, make new decisions and perhaps change future behaviour if necessary. Once discussed, clients are bought out of this state, with most people feeling relaxed and refreshed after each session.
This is a common form of hypnotherapy, known as ‘solution focussed’ and is more goal-orientated, helping clients to find a solution to their issue. At Susannah Saunders Hypnotherapy and Coaching, I also offer curative hypnotherapy. Rather than focus on the problem itself, curative hypnotherapy aims to find and correct the root cause behind it, which ultimately stops the symptoms on a more permanent basis.
A common myth about hypnotherapy is the idea that people in a hypnotic state are out of control. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, all clients who are under hypnosis are in full control and can bring themselves out of the hypnotic state if they wish.
Of course, it is worth noting that the treatment doesn’t work if you don’t want to be hypnotised. A lot of people think that hypnotherapy will magically fix their problems. Unfortunately, this is just wishful thinking. Change only occurs because a person wants it to happen and are prepared to take action to make those changes.
The amazing thing about hypnotherapy is that, as a treatment, it can be used to overcome so much. From helping with addiction, like smoking or drugs, to supporting a person who is facing more emotional challenges, like anxiety, OCD, or stress, hypnotherapy could provide the perfect solution. And it doesn’t stop there, because believe it or not, it can help with physical issues as well, like sweating, weight loss and blushing.
My Hypnotherapy Services
At Susannah Saunders Hypnotherapy and Coaching, I pride myself in being able to offer each of my clients a bespoke service. I listen to their problems, goals, and together, we decide if my treatments will suit them. If you are dealing with an issue, whatever it may be and are ready to get help, then get in touch for more information and find out whether hypnotherapy could be the solution.
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