Hypnotherapy vs Hypnosis
What is the difference?
Hypnosis - Is the act of guiding someone into a trance or hypnotic state.
Hypnotherapy - Is using hypnosis in a therapeutic process. It is an educational and self-improvement process that allows a person to access internal resources to solve problems, increase motivation, alter behavior patterns and generally create positive change. It utilizes hypnosis as part of the process to help you rapidly transform your life and create the life you desire.
Hypnotic State - A state of deep relaxation and heightened focus that allows you to take in new ideas.
The number one thing I hear from first time clients is “I was surprised at how aware I was of everything going on.” Most people arrive with the assumption that they’ll be unconscious and not remember anything afterwards, instead of having a clearmind. What you see on tv and in movies is usually wrong and barely resembles the truth of what hypnosis is. I have yet to see an accurate portrayal in anything I’ve watched.
Now you may be asking yourself what is a Hypnotist and what is a Hypnotherapist ???
A Hypnotist is a person who has had about 100 hours of training. Most of the training is not licensed by the Department of Education and might be something as simple as watching some basic instructional videos online.
There isn’t a governing board or any oversight of Hypnotists. They may be able to help you with things like smoking cessation or weight loss, but it will be hit or miss to how effective it is based on their experience and skill level.
Fun fact - Stage performers who utilize hypnosis are Hypnotists!
A Hypnotherapist receives 500+ hours of training usually from a state certified school and has diplomas and certifications in hypnotherapy. They are certified by a board who provides oversight and has continuing education requirements. A Hypnotherapist will use more powerful and transformational techniques. Typically you’ll need between 6-10 hypnosis sessions to achieve what you want with Hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapists can help with wide range of issues such as:
IBS
Chronic pain or disease
Acute pain and disease
Autoimmune disorders
Accelerate healing pre and post surgery. You can even get a custom recording made to use during your surgery by some Hypnotherapists (like me!)
Break depression
Claustrophobia and other phobias
Lack of motivation
Altering behaviors
Attributing your success to your own abilities
Learn how to break out of depression
Are there different types of Hypnotherapy?
Yes. Different schools teach their own modality, but there are common things across most styles like:
Utilizing visualization and metaphor to process emotions and past trauma in a way that removes the emotional charge from a past event
Ability to do regression work. Current life and past life (Phillip - should we link to my Past life blog?)
Deliver custom therapeutic suggestions to your subconscious mind
Visualize achieving the change you want and experiencing it as if it’s happening
I suggest doing research and interviewing multiple Hypnotherapists about their style and how they will help with the goal you have.
What about hypnosis? Are there different types of Hypnosis?
No, is the short answer.
As mentioned above. Hypnosis is the act of guiding someone into a trance state. What is different for people is how they experience the hypnotic state.
You may also have different experiences each time you are hypnotized. Hypnosis is a skill, the more you do it the better you get at it and can achieve deeper hypnotic states.
The hypnotic or trance state is a natural state of mind where the analytical mind is relaxed and you maintain heightened focus.
Things you might experience while in trance:
Eyelid fluttering
Tearing in the eyes (not from crying)
Muscle relaxation
A desire not to move
Tingling or numbness in extremities
Loss of bodily sensation (this is in the really deep trance states)
Salivation
Time distortion
Dream-like imagery
Increased awareness of the 5 senses (hyperacuity)
Increased focus
A desire to not end trance when directed to
A Clearmind
Can I get hypnotized online?
Yes! In fact my entire practice is virtual hypnotherapy. You get to do your healing from the comfort of your own home.
Instructions are all verbal and you just need to be visible on zoom, so I can observe breathing and for any other reactions that may require intervention, such as helping through strong emotions.
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is guiding you and you choose whether to follow or not. Many think of it as guided hypnotherapy, since the hypnotherapist is just a guide on this part of your healing journey.
I’ve heard that only the weak-minded can be hypnotized, is that true?
No, it’s not.
Being hypnotized is a choice, following the suggestions is a choice. Anyone can make that choice. In fact the strong-minded are often the easiest to hypnotize because they are open to change and improvement. A strong minded person knows they can’t do everything alone and seeks assistance. They have an openness to suggestion and desire to change.
Am I gullible if I think hypnotherapy can help me when my friends say it’s woo-woo and not real science or healing?
No, you are absolutely not gullible. Some people are afraid of what they don’t know and not ready for change, so they will try to keep others down with them.
All you need for hypnotherapy to work for you is a readiness for change and the thought that it might help. Not even the belief that it will, just being open to the fact that it might.
Some of my most skeptical clients are the ones who make the most drastic changes because once they realize it’s working they dive-in deeper and faster, harnessing the power of their subconscious mind.
Important Distinction - Gullible vs Suggestible
Gullible means you are easily deceived or tricked. Suggestible means you are open to outside help and ideas, you take constructive feedback and integrate it into your life.
The most successful people are the most suggestible because they are always willing to re-evaluate what they believe and update it to benefit them the most.
