Worried aboout being hypnotised?

Are you worried about being hypnotised?  Do you think you'll be out of control?  Before I became a hypnotist I knew that hypnosis was very powerful but didn't want anyone else messing with my mind!

If you've seen people being hypnotised on TV then you've probably only seen a small part of the process because of broadcasting guidelines and time restraints. If you've seen someone else hypnotised at a stage show then you'll only have seen one type of hypnosis because the show needs to be fast paced and is designed to entertain.  If you've seen hypnosis in feature films then they often centre on a helpless person who is being controlled by an evil hypnotist - but that's fiction.

So, it's difficult to understand the reality of hypnosis unless you've actually been hypnotised.  Also, different hypnotists use different techniques and different people respond in different ways.

Hypnotherapy is a partnership between the hypnotherapist and the client.  Trust on the part of the client and understanding on the part of the hypnotherapist are very important.  Without those the session is unlikely to be successful.

Probably the biggest concern that most people have is the thought of being out of control.  One way of thinking about that is that it's similar to the type of control that a car driver gives to a passenger who's giving them directions.  The driver will follow the directions because the passenger knows the way.  If they suddenly end up on the edge of a cliff and the passenger tells them to keep going they won't!

One of the things that is often a surprise is that most people remember a lot if not all of the session.  Sometimes they drift in and out of awareness, just as you do when you're falling asleep at night.

Most people say that they feel relaxed but clear headed after a session.  Hypnotherapy isn't only about relaxation but if you do feel relaxed at the end then it's a great benefit.

If you've tried hypnotherapy before and it didn't work then please do try again.  There are a lot of different hypnotherapy techniques and it may just be that the ones that were used last time weren't the right ones for you. Your mind can be very stubborn about changing and sometimes it's one step ahead and gets in the way.  My opinion is that simple suggestions for thinking in a different way are usually unlikely to work unless you've actually dealt with the reasons behind your current behaviour or thoughts.

If you're thinking about hypnotherapy then please do go further and book a session.  Speak to the hypnotherapist beforehand so that you know you feel comfortable with them and the way they work.  Some hypnotherapists offer free consultations.  I don't, but I do offer a guarantee that you won't pay for the first session if you don't feel you've had any benefit from it.