There is a collection of common questions that I get asked when I speak to a client for the first time. I have tried to capture some of those questions and my answers below.
Also, for those of you interested in hypnosis, the mind, and Cognitive Hypnotherapy, I have listed below a couple of websites and a few great books that I recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I be hypnotised?
A: The terms "hypnotised" or going into a "trance" has so many connotations these days - we have all come across the weird and wonderful portrayals of hypnosis in books and films. In fact, hypnosis utilises an everyday state. When I talk about trance/hypnosis, I simply mean the experience of losing yourself in your thoughts, so that you are no longer focusing on what's going on around you. If you have ever driven a familiar route, got to your destination and forgotten how you got there, that's the sort of trance I mean. As we all slip into these types of trance every day, I believe that we can all re-create this state when we want to be hypnotised.
Q: Will I lose control?
A: No. You will not do anything during or after hypnosis with me that you would not normally be prepared to do. You will be able to come "out of trance" [see above] whenever you wish.
Q: How many sessions will it take?
A: It depends! As a general guide, I normally say between 4 and 6 sessions should be enough to realise significant positive change where the aim is to change an unwanted behaviour (nail biting, smoking, weight loss etc). Sometimes a longer term relationship may be preferable.
Q: Will I tell you all my deepest secrets under hypnosis?
A: No. As I have said, you will not lose control of what you are happy to disclose to me whilst under hypnosis.
Q: Why do you refer to "cognitive" hypnotherapy - what's the difference?
A: Cognitive Hypnotherapy treats every person as an individual. No two people are the same, and even though two people may want to achieve the same thing (lets say weight loss, for example) the reason why they have not lost weight to date is likely to be different for each person. So, Cognitive Hypnotherapy puts the emphasis on understanding the problem patterns for the individual and works to change those patterns.
Recommended links
If you have in interest in Cognitive Hypnotherapy I recommend you take a look at the Quest Institute's website. It's a great site, full of interesting articles and downloads. The Quest Institute is the home of Cognitive Hypnotherapy.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) is also a good resource. The NCH incorporates many different branches of hypnotherapy, and may give you some different perspectives.
Recommended reading
Hypnotherapy / Neuro-linguistic Programming
- Wordweaving: The Science of Suggestion - A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Hypnotic Language; by Trevor Silvester
- Wordweaving: The Question is the Answer; by Trevor Silvester
- Monsters and Magical Sticks; by Stuart Heller and Terry Steele
Neurology / The study of the mind
- Mapping the Mind; by Rita Carter
- Authentic Happines; by Martin Seligman
- How the Mind Works; by Steven Pinker
- Love, Medicine and Miracles; by Bernie Seigel
- The Biology of Belief; by Bruce Lipton