Hypnotherapy Vancouver

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, enhanced by mental and physical relaxation, in which our subconscious mind is able to communicate with our conscious mind. It is similar to daydreaming or that state of relaxation one feels just before drifting into sleep. We experience many different degrees of this daily; when we are absorbed in a movie or a book and our focus is on the details and feelings we are experiencing at the time.

We believe that we have a set of behaviour skills that come from things like Logic, Reasoning, and Will Power. However, many times what we think, what we choose, how we behave as adults derives from patterns and beliefs learned and formed in our childhood!

Up to 95% of our everyday tasks are performed from the subconscious mind! Hypnosis facilitates direct access to the subconscious mind where suggestions for positive change can be made.

What is Hypnotherapy?

There are many forms of psychological therapy. Hypnotherapy is distinctive in that it addresses the client’s subconscious mind. In practice, the Hypnotherapist enlists the power of the client’s own imagination and may utilise a wide range of techniques from story-telling, metaphor or symbolism to the use of direct suggestions for beneficial change. Regression technique may also be employed in an attempt to uncover issues deemed to lie in a client’s past. It is imperative that the client is personally motivated and ready to change.

Hypnotherapy is considered to be a fairly short-term approach in which beneficial change should become apparent within relatively few sessions. More complex issues or ones that have multiple core issues attached may take longer and may be combined with other healing modalities.

How does Hypnotherapy work?

When something happens to us, we remember it and learn a particular behaviour in response to what happened. Each time something similar happens, our physical and emotional reactions attached to the memory are repeated. In some cases these reactions are unhealthy for our well-being and happiness. In a regression technique for example, the hypnotherapist guides you to remember the event that led to the first reaction, separate the memory from the learned behaviour, reassess the event’s perception, which in turn generates change in behaviours and attitudes.

During hypnosis, your body relaxes and your thoughts become more focused. Like other relaxation techniques, hypnosis lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and changes certain types of brain wave activity. You will feel at ease physically yet fully awake mentally and highly suggestible. If you are trying to cease smoking, for example, a therapist’s suggestion may help convince you that you will not like the taste of cigarettes in the future.

Who may benefit from Hypnotherapy?

The answer to this question is “virtually everyone”. Given that hypnotherapy can be utilised to access a person’s inner potential. However, it is not just potential which Hypnotherapy is well placed to address but also one’s inner resources to effect beneficial change. In this regard, it is the innate healing capacity of our own physical and emotional body that can be stimulated by Hypnotherapy. Consequently, the list of issues which may be amenable to Hypnotherapy is far too long and varied to catalogue but certainly includes: stress management, anxiety, phobias, unwanted habits, addictions (e.g. smoking, overeating, substance-abuse), guidance, anger management, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, insomnia, lack of confidence and low self-esteem, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, pain management, artistic and sports performance and Past-Life Regression.

Some Common Concerns

People are sometimes concerned that they will “lose control” in hypnosis. However, regardless of how deeply people may go in hypnosis and however passive they may appear to be, they actually remain in full control and in fact are hyper aware. They are fully able to talk if they wish to and can choose to leave the room at any time. An individual will not do anything, under hypnosis, that goes against their moral judgement, ethical or religious beliefs. It is likely that the notion of a loss of control stems from most people’s misconception of stage hypnosis, wherein participants are apparently made to perform all manner of (usually foolish) acts. However, the participation in a stage act is an entirely voluntary process, thus “permission” is already given to the hypnotist when the volunteer steps onto the stage.

“When the Doors to Perception are cleared Man will see things as they truly are, Infinite.”
~ William Blake