new vision of yourself in your mind which helps set up your neurology for success .
What does the process of hypnosis involve ?
My patients are invited to sit in a comfortable chair or couch and relax . Sometimes I integrate essential oils , in particular lavender , which calms the limbic system ( the parts of the brain involved with emotion and memory ).
During the first meeting — in what I call the breakthrough session — we spend some time talking before we move into hypnotherapy , which can be 20-30 minutes of light to deep hypnosis . I use suggestibility tests to determine the client ’ s ability to access a deep state of calm and take instruction from me which can be a bridge to accessing profound self-discovery .
Here ’ s how suggestibility works : imagine a balloon tied to the index finger of your right hand and a heavy hard-covered book on your left — does the hand with the balloon go up while the one holding the book goes down ? The reaction to an exercise like this provides a window into a person ’ s suggestibility and helps me figure out which form of induction to use to induce a hypnotic trance state . Once in a trance state , we ’ re able to tap into the unconscious mind and start the process of changing behaviours .
If a person is analytical , the suggestibility test will show me that I ’ ll need to work to put that part of their mind to rest . Generally speaking , creative / imaginative people have an easier time accessing their unconscious mind , which is the seat of all behavioural change .
Another way to think of hypnosis is an active state of imagination — and as Einstein said —“ Imagination is your unconscious mind .” You can talk forever , but talking about the problem doesn ’ t necessarily help you discover what caused it and what you need to do to let go of emotions and beliefs that might be barriers to solving it . I plant the seeds of change by working on conscious / unconscious mind integration . Most hypnotherapy happens in a light to medium state of hypnosis . I tend to reserve deeper hypnotic work for issues that require a more profound therapeutic approach , like letting go of a painful or traumatic memory .
What is a hypnotic trance state ?