More about Hypnosis

What is Hypnosis and how does it relate to Hypnotherapy?

What is Hypnotherapy?

The hypnotic state, upon which hypnotherapy is built, is a state of consciousness founded on deep tranquillity (sometimes referred to historically and popularly as a “trance” state) that exists on a spectrum between sleeping and waking. It is not an extraordinary state in that it is a very familiar one experienced by every human being on a daily basis.

Just by being alive and conscious, you are going to touch base with this more tranquil state, naturally, at some point during the course of the day. In a therapeutic setting, it can become a powerful state, coupled with your imagination, for dismantling even the most stubborn of limited beliefs and behaviours. I will use the following analogy to illustrate the point.

Imagine a journey along the Nile River in Egypt. The journey commences at the major port of Luxor with the goal of docking at the other major port of Aswan. In-between, the boat careers along to a variety of other ports. Some of these are full of stimulating activities: hustle and bustle; an assortment of people trading, shouting and approaching you with an array of multi-coloured goods. Necessity might dictate that you spend a lot of time in these busy places whether you would readily choose to or not.

Some of the ports the boat stops at may be smaller more quiet places. Because of a less stimulating atmosphere drawing your focus, you might notice things that are more beneficial to you such as a rare wild flower that’s cheerfully pushed its way out of crumbling brickwork.

There is one place upon which a temple is situated where (afforded by your stillness and quiet) if you look closely enough at the stone floor around it, you can detect faint hand prints dating back thousands of years. At the port, you might even take the time, at your own pace, to explore and acquire things that you truly want and need as opposed to having something thrust at you by enthusiastic traders.

The two major ports of Luxor and Aswan are analogous to the points of waking and sleeping and the ports in-between represent all the other fluctuations in consciousness that you might encounter. The slightly-less busy ports represent quieter more tranquil states of consciousness such as when you are not responding to so many different kinds of stimuli.

If you’ve ever found yourself engrossed in a book then you’ve touched base with this state. If you’ve ever been so captivated by a movie that you’ve not noticed someone calling you then you know what is like to have encountered an aspect of this state.

It is this tranquil state that is of most interest and use to the therapist because it is a doorway (or port) that allows access to your more resourceful state and enables the bypassing of the critical faculties that prevent you from making progress .