The simplest definition of hypnosis is a focused state of awareness. I will add, a naturally occurring state of awareness in which a person becomes more open to new ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. With a definition that broad it’s natural to wonder what exactly that looks like. And you’ve experienced it many times.
Highway hypnosis, being so focused on the road and driving that you fall into that trance-like state. Driving a very familiar route and forgetting how you got from point A to point B. Reading a good book and noticing more time has passed than you thought. Becoming so absorbed in a movie it’s as though you’re within the story. Getting into the zone on something you’re really interested in. These are all great examples of what hypnosis is like.
However, there is a primary difference between these examples and clinical hypnosis. When you work with a hypnotherapist the process becomes goal-oriented. In the previous examples, if you take yourself back to a time where you experienced zoning out or in, then you can begin to sense what being in a hypnotherapeutic trance is like. But oftentimes that zoning in or out is more by happenstance rather than intention.
When a hypnotherapist hypnotizes you, it’s called going into trance. Hypnotherapeutic trance is an intentional state which can be used to accomplish specific goals. The hypnotherapist guides you into this state where therapeutic work can occur in a goal-oriented manner.
Just to note, there will be no use of swaying pocket-watch or spinning spirals. You will frequently be invited to close your eyes or stare at an object and to focus upon my voice, but theatrics are not necessary.
One of the most common misconceptions that I hear from potential clients is the question of whether you will lose control or free-will. Clinical hypnosis does not work that way. You remain in control and always retain the ability to act in a manner that’s in keeping with what’s best for you. If a hypnotherapist made a suggestion that wasn’t in keeping with the therapeutic goals—well it’s just that, a suggestion. Not a requirement, not a spell against your free-will. Hypnosis is a collaborative process in which we engage together, not something that’s done to you.
People frequently share that during hypnosis it becomes easier to notice feelings, memories, thoughts, and patterns that are normally difficult to focus on due to everyday mental noise. As it becomes easier to focus and notice this leads to new perspectives and ways of responding to familiar troublesome situations.
I like to let clients know that if we were any good at solving our problems with conscious intention, therapists would be out of a job. Most of us already know what changes we should make. Often the difficulty is making those changes become a lived reality rather than just good intentions.
So, now if someone were to ask you what hypnosis is, you could confidently answer that it’s a guided and focused state of awareness that naturally occurs, a lot like zoning out or in, where new thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can be accessed.
This is a two part article though, and it’s time to address can hypnosis really help you?
Hypnotherapy can be used to address a plethora of problems including but not limited to:
Anxiety & Stress
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Phobias
- Stress
- Performance anxiety
Mood & Emotional Health
- Depression
- Emotional regulation
- Anger
- Confidence
- Motivation
- Grief
Habits & Behavior
- Smoking cessation
- Weight management
- Habit change
Medical & Physical Concerns
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Chronic pain
- Migraines
- Sleep difficulties
An important note, like any therapy approach, hypnotherapy is not a cure-all or meant to be used with every problem. However, decades of research support its effectiveness for numerous conditions, particularly when it’s integrated into the course of psychotherapy.
Every person is different, and no one treatment is right for everyone. The only reliable way to know whether hypnosis may be helpful for you is to have a conversation about your goals and determine together whether it’s a good fit. If it is, hypnosis can become a way of accessing the mind’s phenomenal capacity for learning, adaptation, and change.
Lastly, why choose Rebis Counseling & Hypnosis? In my clinical practice, hypnosis is never a one-size-fits-all scripted encounter. Each session is tailored to your unique goals, life circumstances, and individual personality. This means that I’m creating therapy for you, not trying to make you fit a therapy.
If you’re curious to know more, or have any other questions, feel free to reach out.
Rebis Counseling & Hypnosis, LLC 
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