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Hear the word ‘Hypnosis’ and you can be forgiven for thinking you are losing control and about toperform like a monkey in the zoo. Of course these myths are fast becoming out-dated, and at last the clinical benefits of hypnosis and hypnotherapy are now much more well established. The Art of Hypnosis can be described as an altered state of conscious alertness in which the client feels so deeply relaxed, that beneficial suggestions can be embedded into their sub conscious mind to help them achieve their goal.

These days hypnosis is used to help clients overcome phobias, increase self confidence,
and control weight to name just a few, and a professional practitioner will also teach clients how to use self hypnosis as part of the treatment plan. But what does a session of hypnotherapy involve and how do you find a good practitioner? !
The stages of a hypnosis session !

There are five key stages to a hypnotherapy session:

1. Induction: The Art of Hypnosis facilitator will induce hypnosis using a range of techniques. This may include what is known as an eye fixation; in other words asking you to focus your eyes on a spot on your hand or simply asking you to close your eyes. The induction stage will help to send a message to your unconscious mind that you are about to focus on achieving your goal.
2. Progressive relaxation: Here the facilitator will guide you into a pleasant state of relaxation. This normally involves helping you to relax your thoughts and each muscle of your body so that you become both mentally and physically relaxed. As you begin to relax your brain waves slow down, and your unconscious mind becomes more able to accept suggestions.
3. Deepener: As you begin to relax the hypnosis practitioner will help to deepen your state of relaxation helping to ensure your unconscious mind is able to accept positive suggestions. This can include counting down from ten to one, helping you to relax with each descending number. At this point clients often report feeling neither awake nor asleep but somewhere in the middle.
4. Installing suggestion: With stages one to three complete you will have relaxed deeply. The hypnosis practitioner will then use a range of creative protocols to embed positive suggestions into your mind, all of which are designed to help you achieve your goals. This can include using direct suggestion, visualization, and different regression techniques. The protocol used to program your mind will always depend upon your presenting condition and changes or goals YOU want to achieve.
5. Awakening: Finally with the positive suggestions embedded, the hypnosis practitioner will awaken you usually by counting up from one to five. You wake feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to continue the rest of your day having spent time programming your mind to achieve your specific goal!

Finding a reputable hypnotherapist
I am often asked the question of how to find a professional hypnotherapist. Generally I would recommend you check out the quality of their training, evidence of their results, and definitely avoid those who are too cheap. Prices vary, but you are well advised to steer clear of those who are low in price as it may mean they are desperate. An average session with a good practitioner will cost around $150.00 minimum. Often the best will charge $200.00 + per session. Always speak in detail to the practitioner before attending a session of hypnotherapy. Many will offer a free initial consultation to explain how they work and provide you with an opportunity to explain what you want to achieve from sessions using the Art of Hypnosis. Generally a client might need just one or two sessions of hypnotherapy to start achieving their goals (when the client is ready miracles can occur!!!). As you initially discuss your needs if it doesn’t feel right then walk away and search for an alternative practitioner.
There is no doubt that hypnotherapy is fast becoming a treatment of choice as we recognize that our behaviors, habits, and ultimately our results are determined by the programming of our of our mind. .

Energy follows thought – and a clear perception is the key for everything!