In our day-to-day life, our conscious mind makes decisions, puzzles over problems, and stores life’s details. Our subconscious mind stores information, processing thoughts and feelings that we are not always aware of. By accessing the subconscious mind, we can both use its powers and also try to understand our concealed thoughts and feelings. Hypnotherapy is a tool for exploring consciousness. By exploring the subconscious hypnotherapists hope to come to the root of psychological or physiological concerns.

Hypnotherapy has been used to help people stop smoking, overcome drug and alcohol abuse, manage stress and conrol pain.

When I am under hypnosis, will I do things that I don’t want to do?

You will never do anything you disagree with during hypnosis. Because the process of hypnosis involves our own decision-making, no one can force a behaviour on a hypnotized person. Your behaviour will continue to be guided by your own value systems. Whether conscious or unconscious, you will only do what you want to do. If anything happens during hypnosis that is contrary to your value system, you will likely come out of the trance.

What can I expect when I visit a hypnotherapist? The rapport between a hynotherapist and his or her client is the key to a successful therapy session. You can expect your first session to last an hour and a half. The hypnotherapist will take a detailed medical history and discuss what you hope to accomplish through your therapy. In addition to your goals, the hypnotherapist will want to understand how you think and speak, in order to guide you using your own words and phrases.

How is hynotherapy regulated?

Hypnotherapists who are members of the National Guild of Hypnotists have a minimum of one hundred hours of training and must recertify annually. The guild enforces a strict code of ethics.