Modern Hypnotherapy - common misconceptions
The old Svengali-like perception of hypnotherapy often associated with mind control is rapidly being replaced by its effectiveness in dealing with a wide variety of psychological and psychosomatic (physical issues confirmed in the mind) issues.
Hypnotherapy is a very effective tool in tackling negativity, painful emotions and habits. It can be skilfully used to replace all the above with life changing alternatives.
Even though Hypnotherapy has advanced as a field, the common public still has some misconceptions about hypnotherapy and as a result, they avoid hypnosis in general which is not really necessary.
Some of the obvious misconceptions are: -
1.”I could get stuck in hypnosis”
This is a very common fear up until today. The good news is that there have been no recorded cases of patients getting “stuck” in the state of hypnosis.
It is very uncommon for people to go into a very deep trance, to the point that they cannot follow the instructions of the therapist to open their eyes. In fact, the patients always remain in control the whole time and can, if they wish, open their eyes if they wish to do so.
2.”Could my therapist mind control me?”
Many people associate the evil Svengali character who would use his powers to control people, with hypnosis. This is not true whatsoever and the media and stage hypnosis is also partly to blame for this common fear that people have.
You remain in control throughout a hypnosis session, and though you are willfully accepting the hypnotherapists programming suggestions, you could just as easily choose to disregard any suggestions that are somehow unacceptable to you.
3.”What if I can’t be hypnotized?”
Going into a deep state of hypnosis does require more practice but we all have the ability to some degree. The ability varies from person to person just like people’s abilities vary in sports, arts etc but with practice, anyone can achieve the hypnotic abilities required to make changes in their lives.
A skilled hypnotherapist will work with each client individually to ensure they have the correct tools and understandings to get results with hypnosis.
4.”Will I lose consciousness?”
Contrary to popular belief, many patients report back that they feel more aware and in touch with their surroundings during hypnosis. This is because the mind is very relaxed and still.
5.”Will I disclose things I want to keep secret?”
This is simply not true and based on some of the fears mentioned above. As explained earlier, patients are always in control but they may feel more accepting to the positive suggestions that the therapist might tell them.
The reality is, it is just as easy to lie in hypnosis which is part of the reason that material recovered whilst a person is in hypnosis is not admissible in court.
Correcting these common misconceptions helps to resolve any needless fears that people may have, enabling them to get the best results from hypnosis.
Hypnosis has been developed throughout decades and people are finding it to be more effective then conventional routes in many cases.