Hypnosis can be dated back to ancient Egypt and Greece (‘Hypnos’ is the Greek word for sleep), but modern-day hypnotherapy is accredited to Franz Mesmer, a Viennese physician in the 1800s, he played a defining role in the development of psychoanalysis through hypnosis, mainly with hysterical patients.
People often ask “What is hypnotherapy, does it really work, and what is it used for?” It’s not an unusual reaction, in film, TV, and in written fiction, hypnosis is depicted as irresistible and absolute in its power over the subject, no wonder people are slightly cautious and skeptical about this therapy modality.
In reality, this is a common misconception, hypnotherapy is a genuine psychological therapy process and an adjunct form of therapy, a therapeutic tool that is often used alongside other types of therapy modalities to treat specific issues such as stress and anxiety.
During hypnotherapy, while you are in a deeply relaxed state, a practitioner will use verbal hypnotic suggestions in order to guide and help you change habits, work on problems, or achieve your goals.
Hypnosis can also be thought of as a trance-like state of concentration, and a trained hypnotherapist will use that state to help you turn your attention to the issue you want to address.
There is no need for any special preparation when undergoing hypnotherapy and it cannot be practiced on someone who does not want to be hypnotised.
Clients are not asleep, unconscious, or out of control during hypnosis, instead, hypnotherapy uses your relaxation to help you find a deeper focus and clarity around what you want, and what actions you can take to achieve that.
