Hypnotherapy— or hypnosis—is a guided relaxation technique that helps achieve or change a desired behavior. It is often sought as an alternative approach to heal, guide or transform ailments or to cleanse the body, mind and spirit. Hypnosis produces an extraordinary quality of mental, physical and emotional relaxation, not found in any other process and offers access to the power of the subconscious mind.

During hypnosis, individuals experience a heightened responsiveness to suggestion, direction and instruction. Unlike hypnotized zombies seen in movies that appear to be controlled beyond their will, hypnosis actually helps increase awareness of the control we have over our own mind and body. Hypnotherapists then offer assistance through suggestion, helping bring to mind desired actions for consideration.

The power of suggestion has always played a major role in healing, dating back to times before modern medicine offered solutions for relief. Hypnotherapy uses both suggestion and relaxation to access the deepest levels of the mind, in order to effect positive changes in the body and in behavior. Using hypnosis, it is possible to maximize the mind’s ability to heal by producing a multi-relaxation state. This trance-like state allows enhanced focus, increasing tolerance to adverse conditions, easing anxiety and enhancing positive imagery.

When in a hypnotic state, your mind is open to possibility. Whether to change a behavior that is not contributing to your well being, heal an ailment, or treat a state of mind, hypnosis is a tool that helps you achieve this objective.

How does hypnosis work?

Physiologically, hypnosis stimulates the Limbic System, the region of the brain linked to emotion, mood states, motivation and involuntary responses, such as adrenal spurts and blood pressure. During a state of hypnosis, habitual patterns of thought and reaction are temporarily suspended, enabling the brain to respond to healthy suggestions.

Research indicates that body chemistry and autonomic nervous system functions (like heart rate and blood pressure—normally beyond our ability to control) actually change during hypnosis (see IMDHA for more information). These physiological shifts can actually be observed and prove that it is possible to change the mind and body during hypnosis.

In one experiment, a young girl was asked to place her hand in a bucket of ice water. She could keep it there for no more than 30 seconds. During the experiment, her body’s blood levels revealed high levels of cortisol, indicating that her body was under stress. After running the test again under hypnosis, the girl could keep the same hand in the ice water for 30 minutes, with no rise in blood cortisol levels. This experiment shows how hypnotherapy can affect profound changes in respiration and relaxation to create an enhanced state of well-being, even when faced with hardship.

How can hypnosis help?

Hypnotherapy can be used to help stop smoking, train the immune system to fight diseases, help control pain, reduce stress and anxiety, improve symptoms of disorders or phobias, lose weight, create self-confidence, enhance memory, reduce depression, combat insomnia, prepare for surgery or deal with trauma and PTSD.

Ultimately, hypnosis helps restore the control we have in situations that make us feel out of control. It facilitates a consciousness of how we may have ended up where we are and helps begin redirecting the process to benefit your health and your life. Hypnosis can feed the mind conscious thoughts and images that will counterbalance undesirable ones that got stuck there unconsciously. In doing so, you can heal your heart, your mind and your body.

If you would like to learn more about hypnosis or would like to schedule a session with Rachel, please fill out this contact form.

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