What is Hypnosis?

The word Hypnosis is derived from the word Hypnos which is Greek for sleep. Hypnosis however is not sleep.  It is an altered state of mental and physical awareness, which occurs when the brainwave frequency slows down.

It is a natural state of relaxation of the body and mind and one that we all experience frequently, when we daydream or just before and after we sleep.

In this altered state, a person experiences extreme relaxation which enables the body to rejuvenate and restore balance.  For many people, the hypnotic experience can have a profound effect in itself.

Many people believe that they will struggle to be hypnotised.  This belief is born out of the notion that there is something magical about hypnosis.  Some people believe that only gullible or unintelligent people can be hypnotised.  These people do not realise that they have experienced states very similar to hypnosis many, many times.

If you have ever drifted off whilst thinking about a someone, or become totally engrossed in a book or project that you haven’t noticed someone walk into the room, or been driving along the motorway and realised suddenly that you have missed your exit, then you have been in an altered state of awareness very similar to Hypnosis.  These are examples of perfectly natural states of mind, where the mind is concentrated so carefully and strongly on something, that it automatically slips into a hypnotic state.

The most significant difference between these sorts of altered states and Clinical Hypnosis is that Clinical Hypnosis ‘utilises’ this state of mind, incorporating specific motivation and deliberate suggestions to achieve a desired outcome.

In a therapeutic setting, hypnosis is induced through the use of verbal suggestion designed to focus your attention and concentration.  This enables the mind to easily and effortlessly enter the natural state of hypnosis. During Hypnosis, the client may appear to an onlooker to be deeply asleep.  This is because they are in such a relaxed and peaceful state. In fact, often, the client will remain completely aware of their surroundings and of the therapists’ voice.