Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis Demystified
Written by Karen Laskey
NO, I’m not going to make you bark like a dog, or cluck like a chicken! I’m imagining that when you think of hypnosis, this is what you think of? Today I am going to attempt to demystify hypnosis, while illustrating its value as therapy.
Hypnosis is defined as an altered state where you have direct communication with the subconscious mind…
Most of us equate hypnosis to something that is happening to us, like a puppet whose strings are being pulled and controlled by the Puppeteer. In actuality, the opposite is true. While it’s true that as the facilitator I have the road map, you are in the driver’s seat.
(So yes, this means that everyone you have witnessed on stage during a show has a secret part of them that wants the freedom to let go. They secretly want to be silly or outrageous, with no responsibility for what they do or say. Now that’s freedom! And that’s hypnosis used for entertainment.)
Hypnosis used for therapy is of course a very different intention… Except for one thing – the freedom. In hypnosis the subconscious mind, with all its magnificent power, is in the forefront. With the inhibitions gently held aside, the subconscious has the freedom to explore, discover, create, play, heal.
How does it work? First let me set the scene for you and explain a little about how the mind works…
We all have what’s referred to as our critical mind area, or gatekeeper. This area is where we live within our mind in our waking state. During our waking state everything we experience or perceive (consciously or unconsciously) is held in the critical mind until it is downloaded during sleep. At that time our gatekeeper goes to work filtering through all the information from the day and files it away in our subconscious.
Now here is the marvellous protection we have, and the reason for the filter. If there is information that contradicts our beliefs, values, morals or anything else that already exists in our subconscious - in other words our story - it will not be filed away in our subconscious and will, instead, be tossed out, vented in dreaming. Now this is a good thing as it prevents us from being inundated and effected by negative influences, unless of course we WANT TO CHANGE OUR STORY.
Let’s say for example that I am consistently feeling depressed, sad, anxious or just out of sorts. I begin by reasoning with myself. I have a wonderful life, good friends and family etc. I truly believe there is no need for me to feel this way? So each day I repeat my affirmations – “I am a happy person and my life is wonderful”. I constantly remind myself of the wonderful life I have. But alas, when I awaken in the morning, the same familiar feelings emerge. Nothing has changed. The reasoning, the positive affirmations, the reminders - all held in the critical mind until the gatekeeper began its work of downloading - was blocked. All this wonderful information, all for my own good, somehow was contradicting my story. And my story is held in my mind with its own magnificent power…
Now, I want to reiterate here, that our story is buried in our subconscious. We may have no idea as to what it is, or why it remains so strongly… In fact it is probably old and outdated – but very powerful nonetheless. Once we have a belief - a story held strong in our subconscious - it can only be transformed within our subconscious. This is where hypnosis comes in.
So how does hypnosis work?
Hypnosis triggers a flight response in the conscious mind and so we bypass the gatekeeper and have direct connection with the subconscious. With the gatekeeper out of the way, and the use of imagination, the magic begins.
What is this magic that I speak of? It’s the magic of profound healing and change that can happen when you use the power of your imagination. Together, you and I with the assistance of your imagination, create positive new experiences, new stories. And because we do this in hypnosis, these new experiences now exist in your subconscious as a true memory.
You know this isn’t a true happening, but your subconscious does not. Now, you begin to feel and take action in accordance with this new way of thinking or being, thus making it true. Your belief - your story - is now permanently changed.
If you can imagine it, you can create it! (but not quite as simply as by just thinking it – even over and over…)
We have the ability to intentionally tap into the magnificent power of our minds, for our own benefit.
Imagine that!
Hypnotherapy is a vast subject and I have only touched on the fundamentals here. There are times when the gatekeeper is naturally bypassed such as in times of trauma, intense focus or high emotional state. These are also states where one can experience extremely effective therapeutic work with the subconscious without the use of “formal” hypnosis.
Karen Laskey, RPC, CHt is an Integrative Pyschotherapist who combines hypnosis and counselling - connecting the subconscious with the conscious to provide a complete therapeutic experience resulting in expanded self-awareness and permanent change.
Visit www.karenlaskey.com – I look forward to meeting you!