MindWorks Hypnosis, Seattle, Bellevue, lose weight, stop

MindWorks Hypnosis

Become the Limitless You!

Home Services Products About Us FAQ Contact

Tell me about hypnosis...

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, OR...EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HYPNOSIS!

Q: What is hypnosis? What is trance? What does it feel like?

A: Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, where the critical part of your mind goes on vacation for a bit, allowing for acceptance of ideas (suggestions) into your subconscious mind. Simply stated, it is a state of hyper awareness and increased suggestability. It occurs to you naturally, every day of your life! You go into and out of hypnotic trance many times a day--right before sleep and right before you awaken are two examples.

One very common example: television! Television is a wonderful hypnotic medium. It's why advertisers are so excited with it, and spend the big bucks for airtime--they repeat and repeat their product messages while you're in this open, suggestible state.

Here are some more naturally occuring examples:

-- When you're totally engrossed in reading a great book, that's hypnosis!

-- When you are driving down the road, and suddenly find yourself pulling into your driveway, with no memory of how you got there or whether or not you obeyed the traffic signals (you did), that's hypnosis. They even have a name for that: "Highway Hypnosis!"

-- When you go to the movies and lose yourself in the drama and characters onscreen, that's hypnosis.

-- When you're on the computer, researching, reading, or chatting, and totally lose track of time, so engrossed that you don't hear someone over your shoulder trying to get your attention, that's hypnosis.

-- When you look out the window and daydream, that's hypnosis.

-- Don't get me started on politicians!! They're masters of hypnosis.

Science has identified various brainwave patterns, Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Your normal, conscious, waking and aware state is Beta. Alpha waves are a slower pattern, which are found when people relax, listen to music or meditate. Hypnosis is typified by the Theta wave pattern. This occurs naturally just before and after you awaken from deep sleep. Delta waves are deep sleep.

Trance is a word used to describe the hypnotic state, this focused attention. Trance has many levels, or depths. Hypnosis, however, is an either-or thing. Either you are hypnotized. Or you're not. Either your critical filter is bypassed, or it's not.

What does it feel like? Close your eyes, then open them. Back open? That's what it feels like. Light levels of trance may feel precisely like your waking state. You still are hypnotized. Deeper levels, you may feel extremely relaxed, peaceful, euphoric even. You may feel light, floaty feelings. Or you may feel like your body has become very heavy, like lead weights. Either way, it feels GOOD!! You're not unconscious. You're not "asleep." You're hyper aware. You'll notice that some of your abilities may be enhanced during hypnosis, your ability to imagine, your ability to create, your ability to remember. You'll also be much more responsive to suggestions.

Hypnosis is a pleasurable state. People I know want to re-visit that state as often as possible, not only for the pleasurable feelings, but because they know it can be used in a very successful way to effect all manner of positive changes. They call themselves: "trance-puppies." You might find yourself becoming one, too.

Q: Can I be hypnotized? Can everyone?

A: Yes! As pointed out above, you already have been. And are, every day of your life. Hypnosis is natural. When the state is formally "induced" by a hypnotist or hypnotherapist, it's simply a tool that will allow you to tap into the natural power of your mind. As long as you're willing, you can enter hypnosis. As long as you have a minimum IQ level or reasonable intelligence, you can enter hypnosis. The idea of the weak-minded being more hypnotizable, that's false. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. The more intelligent you are, the greater your ability to focus and follow instructions, and the easier you can learn to enter trance. If you're reading this now, you're a great hypnotic subject!

Q: What if the hypnotist drops dead while working with me? Can I get "stuck" in hypnosis?

A: No, you can't. My friend, who is a stage entertainment hypnotist, is often asked this question--to his great amusement. No, you would come out of the hypnotic state, or "emerge" on your own, generally in a few minutes. This idea of being trapped in a "zombielike-state," is pure Hollywood invention. Can't happen. Never has. Never will.

Q: Will I "spill the beans" and tell all my secrets during hypnosis?

A: No, not unless you would anyway while in your normal waking state. Hypnosis is not a truth serum.

Q: Is hypnosis mind control? Can a person be hypnotized against their will? Can the hypnotist make me do things I don't want to do?

A: No, no, and no. You are always in control. It's not something done TO you. I can't make you dance naked on the tables or run to the bank and withdraw all your money or walk with arms outstretched: "Yessssss, Master!" That's Hollywood's imagination again. Nope, it isn't going to happen, unless you're the type of person who would choose to do those things naturally. No one is ever hypnotized against their will. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. That means, you are in control--always.

We, as therapists, merely guide you into the state. You always have the power to resist entering hypnosis or emerge yourself at will, or to choose not to respond to suggestions you don't like. Just like you can choose to get up and walk out during a movie. During hypnosis, your sense of ethics and morals remains intact! No one can make you do anything you don't want to do.

Q: What is the difference between the conscious and the subconscious minds?

A: I'm glad you asked that! Picture a large, very dark room. You have a flashlight in your hand which you turn on, and it creates a narrow beam and a small circle of light on the far wall. Everything else remains dark. That light is your conscious mind. It's what you can see now, and focus on. Everything else in the room is your subconscious mind.

Your conscious mind is the critical part of your mind, your thinking mind. It's analytical, logical, sequential, and has a very limited focus (as in the example above). It's deliberate. It directs outcomes. It's your waking state. It can only handle 7 +/-2 bits of information at a time before it gets overwhelmed. It houses about 10% of your brain power.

Your subconscious mind is unlimited, expansive. It's active while sleeping and dreaming. It involves feeling, and intuition, and imagination. It's responsible for involuntary movements, like your heart beating, your breathing, your blood circulating. It knows the solutions to dilemmas we cannot solve consciously. It can do many, many things simultaneously. It houses about 90% of your brain power.

Q: What is hypnotherapy?

A: Hypnotherapy is the deliberate application of the hypnotic state to effect positive change in a person's life, changes for self-improvement and to release problems. We bypass or push aside the conscious critical mind, and allow the subconscious mind to find and harness those resources within you to effect the desired changes.

Q: What happens during my hypnotherapy session?

A: Hypnotherapy is a very quick and powerful healing modality. Whereas psychology or psychiatry may take years of repetitive visits to see results, if any, hypnosis is fast. Most desired changes can be achieved in 2-4 sessions. For some issues, a single session is all it will take to relieve what may have been a lifelong problem. Amazing, but true.

The cornerstone of my hypnotherapy practice is the idea that each client is unique, and what has led him to his current circumstances is also unique. We tailor each and every hypnotherapeutic session based on the client and his individual situation and needs. It's not cookie cutter, by any stretch of the imagination. Problem X, solution, Y. No. I'll use anything and everything in my hypnotic and NLP tool box to acheive the results you want, based on you and your life and your one-of-a-kind situation.

When you come in, there will be a discussion about hypnosis--what it is and isn't--and then a fact-finding discussion as to your needs and desires, the behaviors and outcome you want, and consideration given to all aspects of your life and how this desired outcome will "fit." Sometimes the presenting problem is not the underlying problem. We find that out, and deal with all of it.

Once a course of action is decided upon together, you'll be guided to enter a wonderful relaxing trance state, where we access your subconscious and it's powerhouse of resources and harness those resources for your positive change. It's a collaboration, in all senses of the word.

Q: What is NLP and what can it do for me?

A: NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming™. Developed from a study of human excellence, it has to do with the power of words, the power of words to change one's neurology. It's another healing modality, which is very complementary with hypnosis. Simply stated, it's another set of tools for behavioral and emotional change. You decide how you want to feel, how you want to behave, and NLP will get you there--faster than anything else in the world.

As a Licensed Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™, Licensed Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™, licensed through the Society of Neuro-Linguistic Programming™, I have these tools in my tool kit, as well as my clinical hypnotherapy tools. I blend NLP with hypnotic changework to help people make powerful and lasting improvements in their lives. That's my goal. That's my desire for you.

IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE GENERAL HYPNOSIS QUESTIONS, PLEASE DROP ME AN EMAIL TO CONNIE@MINDWORKSHYPNOSIS.NET AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM HERE ON MY FAQ.

Here are some current research findings on hypnosis! Did you know that in 1955 the British Medical Association endorsed the practice of hypnosis in medical school education, and in 1958 it was recognized by the American Medical Association as a healing modality. Since then hypnotism has become a valuable addition to conventional medical treatment. Read more facts about hypnosis here.

Dream...

Imagine...

Relax

Become the Limitless You!

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

INDEX:

HYPNOTIC & NLP SERVICES:

ARTICLES:

HYPNOSIS AUDIO CDs: