Read this blog post to find out 9 common misconceptions about hypnosis and to discover what you can actually expect from hypnosis sessions.
Due to portrayals in movies and hypnosis entertainment shows, myths about hypnosis abound. Some people avoid it due to these myths, while others seek it out because of them. In reality, hypnosis is a collaborative, effective, relaxing, and enjoyable experience that can spark deep change not only on the conscious level, but the subconscious level. It is important to understand what hypnosis is actually like so you can see it for the remarkable tool that it is and reap the benefits of it for yourself.
9 Common Misconceptions About Hypnosis
The hypnotherapist is in control of your mind: One of the most common misconceptions about hypnosis is that you will surrender control and the hypnotherapist will control your mind. Naturally, this leads to fear and trepidation for many people. This is, however, not true. You will be able to move, talk, give feedback, and think for yourself while under hypnosis. You will have the ability to describe your experience and you will be an active participant in the process. If you want to, you can stop the process at any time and come out of the experience quite quickly.
Hypnosis is passive and you won’t have to do anything: In contrast to those who are afraid that hypnotherapists are “in control of their mind” and are afraid of this, there are also people who are drawn to hypnosis precisely because they want someone to essentially put them under and get rid of their problems for them. In reality, you will be quite active in the process of hypnosis. This includes setting your own goals, discerning what you want help with, deciding exactly what problem you want the session to address, and doing your own healing with the help and guidance of a trained professional. Good hypnotherapists work alongside their clients to help them reach the outcomes they want.
You won’t remember anything: Some people believe that they won’t remember anything that happens when they are under hypnosis. They believe that they go into a state akin to deep sleep. What is much more common is that you will enter into a state similar to a relaxed meditation or a dream. Unlike when you are dreaming, you will be aware of your surroundings, remember why you are there, and will be able to talk. When you come out of the experience, it is very likely that you will remember what happened.
Hypnosis is scary: Because some people believe that the hypnotherapist is in control of their mind, they believe they will need to surrender to the will of another person, which brings up a lot of fear. However, most people report that their experience of hypnosis is quite relaxing and even enjoyable.
You will have to confront all of your trauma, even if you’re not ready to do so: Some people are afraid that if they go to a hypnotherapist, all of their trauma will surface and overwhelm them. The truth is that you will have the power to decide what you want to focus on and how deep you want to go. In Depth Hypnosis, the method I practice, you will be working with your own inner wisdom that will guide the course of your experience. Since you are led by this inner guidance, rather than the will of the hypnotherapist, you can trust that you won't be shown anything that you're not ready to look at.
If my trauma comes up during hypnosis, it will overwhelm me and I’ll be worse off: Like I said in the previous point, you will only look at aspects of your life and your past that you are ready to look at. Many people report that, while participating in Depth Hypnosis sessions with me, that they are actually able to revisit emotionally charged memories with much less emotional charge than they anticipated, and that once they address these memories, that they feel much better as a result, as opposed to feeling worse.
The hypnotherapist will implant things into your mind against your will: A good, ethical hypnotherapist will not implant anything into your mind against your will. In Depth Hypnosis, there is a large emphasis on working only in accordance with your highest good. There is also an emphasis on asking you what changes you want to make, and reinforcing the changes you’ve chosen for yourself through the power of suggestion. Ethics in Depth Hypnosis are paramount. You will not find a Depth Hypnosis Practitioner who hasn't been trained in and agreed to ethically working for their clients' highest good.
Hypnosis is just for entertainment: At some time in your life, you may have seen or heard about a hypnosis show where people did embarrassing things for the entertainment of a crowd. Hypnosis as entertainment does exist, however, it is completely different from hypnosis done in a private office for healing purposes. These are entirely different branches of hypnosis. I, personally, am not trained in hypnosis for entertainment and have no desire to ever entertain crowds with it!
Hypnosis is “quakery” and does not work: Hypnosis does work! The practice of hypnosis dates back thousands of years. Hypnosis has been recorded in ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. Hypnosis far predates modern psychology. In recent years, many studies have been done that prove the efficacy of hypnosis. A recent study done on Depth Hypnosis showed remarkable improvements (over 50%) in anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms in just 8 sessions.
In summation, hypnosis is a relaxing, rewarding, effective, and enjoyable way to heal subconscious patterns that are keeping you stuck and to create real change in your life. People have been reaping the benefits of hypnosis for thousands of years. If you are looking for a collaborative relationship with someone who has your best interests at heart, wants to work alongside you to help you change, and who has the skillset to help you heal the subconscious drivers of the issues you're facing, Depth Hypnosis may be the perfect fit for you.