Some people can not be hypnotized. I don’t think you can hypnotize me.
The two most important factors in hypnotizability are the relationship between the hypnotherapist and the client and the client’s motivation. Clients with strong motivation and a positive attitude towards hypnosis have the best chance at being hypnotized. So if you have average intelligence, a cooperative attitude, and an adequate attention span you can be hypnotized. If you do not want to be hypnotized, you probably will not be hypnotizable; and I will not attempt to do so.
There are people who generally are not good candidates for hypnosis due to their conditions. They are persons who suffer from mental retardation, organic brain disorders, paranoid disorders. and schizophrenia.
The hypnotherapist has “power” and can exert his or her will over the client.
This myth is rooted in the history and early practices of hypnosis when little was known about the phenomena. It is also reinforced in portrayal of hypnosis in the media. Most notable are the stage acts where the unscrupulous hypnotherapist scans the audience of people who came to have fun. H/she chooses clients who are willing to cooperate and are highly motivated not to let down the on-looking audience.
Hypnotherapist can not control another individual. As noted above, the cooperation of the client is required for hypnosis. Clients who are “under” hypnosis can refuse a suggestion given by the hypnotherapist. While under hypnosis, you can not be made to do anything you would not normally do.
In hypnotherapy, you will be consulted about your goals, and motivation, and willingness to cooperate. Your hypnotherapist will collaborate with you about images or issues that will be beneficial and those that will not be helpful.
Fear of Not Awakening from a Trance
Clients are aware when they are in trance. A trance can not be maintained without a clients desire to do so. Some individuals may even find it difficult to maintain a trance. Others may enjoy the relaxed state or want to escape reality and wish to remain in trance. While under hypnosis, you can come out of the trance at anytime you want. Your hypnotherapist will ensure that you are fully reoriented before you leave your session.
What Else Do You Need to Know about Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy can be an effective tool in helping you reach your goals. Hypnotherapy has found to be useful for relaxation, enhancing self-awareness, and emotional, behavioral and medical concerns.
Prior to being hypnotized, your therapist will discuss with you questions and concerns about being hypnotized. We will clarify your reason(s) and goal(s) for being hypnotized. Together, we will identify goals, motivation, willingness to cooperate, themes, metaphors, and suggestions to be included in your experience.
In order to be hypnotized, your hypnotherapist will induce a trance. A trance is simply when you focus all of your attention on what’s going on inside of you. Trance is a naturally occurring phenomena that you experience in your every day life. Have you ever tuned out a boring lecture or sermon? Perhaps, you’ve gotten lost in a good book. Maybe, you were so into a good movie or game you did not hear when someone called your name. Often while driving on the highway we go into trance. Ever get to your exit and not remember passing the several exits before your own? If you answer “yes” to any of these questions then you have experienced a natural trance. Suggestions will be made to help you get into a trance state.
While you are in trance state, your hypnotherapist will make the agreed upon suggestions related to your goal. Know that you will only follow those suggestions you want to. You will not follow suggestions that you don’t want to follow. Some suggestions you will respond to in session. Others you will continue to respond to after the session. You will be able to hear and remember all the suggestions. Likewise, you can chose not to remember. Your hypnotherapist will not induce amnesia unless it was previously agreed on. Or if your hypnotherapist has determined in her professional opinion, you are not ready to recall a traumatic event only revealed while under hypnotherapy.
Memory retrieval is controversial in the field of hypnotherapy. The debate can be attributed to the use of hypnotherapy in the legal arena where the goals are different from that of hypnotherapy. The goal of hypnotherapy is addressing the impact of the memory on the client and symptom abatement. The goal of the legal system is evidence, justice, and punishment. As a result, some people say these memories identified while under hypnotherapy are accurate; others say these memories are unreliable. Therefore, if you believe that you will be involved in a legal situation of any kind where your records may be subpoenaed or your therapist may be compelled to testify, it is recommended that hypnotherapy not be utilized until all of these proceedings are complete.
Most people experience a profound relaxation while being hypnotized. Rarely, individual may feel agitation or discomfort. If this occurs, you will be able to communicate this to your hypnotherapist. You can discontinue being hypnotized at any point during the process. While in a trance, you will be able to quickly reorient yourself if there is an urgent need to do so. In either case your hypnotherapist, will ensure that you are properly and fully awakened from your trance before leaving the office.
You don’t have to do much to prepare for hypnotherapy. In fact, you don’t even have to listen or understand it perfectly in order to reap its benefits. As part of the therapeutic use of hypnotherapy, you will learn how to do self-hypnosis to reinforce what you have worked on in session.