Why Holistic?

There are several approaches to the field of hypnotherapy; Clinical hypnotherapy, for example:

Clinical Hypnotherapy means using hypnosis to treat a variety of medical and psychological problems. it is estimated that 85% of people will respond to clinical hypnotherapy. It may even succeed where other, more conventional methods of treatment have not produced the desired results. The clinical approach first tends to categorise whatever problems you may have in terms of specific, labelled, “conditions” as defined by the medical profession, and then to treat these in accordance with the definitions of what these various labels are. Clinical hypnosis is primarily remedial in nature, and and takes it’s perspective directly from the medical sciences.

Hollistic hypnotherapy begins by recognising that each and every human being is unique, and no generalised label will ever adequately describe the internal experience of a human being. Rather than identifying specific, labeled “problems”, we hold that no human being has the right or the ability to”judge” or label the internal processes of another. We therefore approach a human being as a whole entity – each part is connected to all other parts, with no real division. If you change or remove one thing, you effect all aspects of that human being, subsequently before you consider helping that individual to change, every aspect of that person, their life, their situation and who they are is be taken into consideration.

Only then, can one reach an adequate understanding of the individual, their situation, what they want to change and how. While holding a comprehensive knowledge of psychology, different forms of psychotherapy, encompassing clinical hypnotherapy, biology and a number of alternative forms of healing and therapy, the focus of holistic hypnotherapy is on the individual, their internal process – what you actually experience and how you as an individual whish to change that.

Rather than the remedial model –[find something you can label as “wrong” and “fix it” in accordance with what someone else thinks it should be – Holistic Hypnotherapy works from a generative model of change.

Here is a human being. This individual feels that "X, Y and Z" is either inappropriate or limiting them in some way; so having developed a detailed understanding of that person, their life, hopes, dreams, wishes, challenges etc. we then set out to help them build something more positive, more useful for that person, according to what they want rather than what someone else thinks they should have.

In his later years, Jung maintained that human beings need more than just material things – that in addition to food for the body, they need food – nourishment - for the soul. He attributed a number of the emotional and mental ailments that befall mankind at least partially to the lack of suitable nourishment for the soul; the spirit and began to incorporate this in his work. Reflections of it can be seen in his work on the development of the concept of the collective unconscious. His later work even included the advocation of his own type of meditation. While Jung was a deeply religious man, this move was not driven so much by his own religious convictions, but by what he saw around him and what he learned from his clients.
Holistic – mind, body and spirit :

Who you are, your environment, your personal situation, background, likes and dislikes – all the things that make up YOU as a unique human individual.


CAN EVERYONE BE HYPNOTIZED?

IF and only IF they want to be. You can never be hypnotized against your will. Let me clarify this - Hypnosis is really the altering of awareness - anything can achieve this, from a smile or a gesture to a single word, but to place someone in a profoundly altered state - a hypnotic trance, requires co operation.

You can be hypnotized only if you want to go into hypnosis and willingly follow the hypnotist's instructions

There are a number of scales and statistics, each of which indicates a particular percentage of the population can or cannot be hypnotised; We maintain that everyone can be hypnotised. If you go to a hypnotherapist and he cannot help you to go into a trance, then the fault is with the therapist – not with you. Human beings are, as stated, infinitely variable, we are all different. A hypnotherapist must be sufficiently flexible to meet everyone that comes to them at their own perception of the world. If the therapist is flexible enough, then that therapist will be able to help everyone into a trance. I have not yet met a person that I could not help into a trance – perhaps one day I will – when you are dealing with infinite variety, all things are possible.
It is important to understand that there is no way in which a client can "fail" – no way at all. There is no failure anywhere in this, except with the therapist. As a client, you cannot fail.

WILL I LOSE CONTROL WHEN I AM HYPNOTISED – THERE ARE THINGS I WANT TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL.

NO, You are completely in control. In fact, if anything you gain control – over areas of your mind that you could not control before. No one can make you do anything you don’t want do through hypnosis. You can come out of it any time you like; you can refuse suggestions, you can refuse to answer, you can even lie under hypnosis. This is one of the great misunderstandings – in hypnotherapy, the therapist is there to help you to do something – we facilitate only.
No matter how deeply into trance you may go, you are always you, with the same ethics and morals – the same ideas and understandings; what we do is help you reach the parts you could not otherwise reach. Like holding up a mirror so someone can see the back of their own head ……it is still your head.

The hypnotic state is delicate one, requiring constant rapport between hypnotist and client - should a suggestion be made with which the client disagrees, then that rapport - that connection is lost and the client will return to normal conciousness.

WILL I BE UNCONSCIOUS ?

No. Hypnosis is an altered state of AWARENESS – not unconsciousness. If you are unconscious, you can neither hear nor act upon a suggestion. You are aware, it is simply that the state of your awareness is more focussed and more relaxed than it usually is, and the focus of your attention is directed inwards. You are completely aware of everything that is said and you are not unconscious. You are deeply relaxed and mentally very focused, - much more so than when in a normal state of mind. You are can hear, respond and actively participate in the session. Hypnotists do not possess any type of power over anybody. Your hypnotist as a guide, a facilitator and you can choose to follow that guidance or not, as you wish.

HOW WILL I FEEL WHEN I AM HYPNOTIZED?

This is different for everyone. A generalised answer would be that you will feel very comfortably relaxed – drifting. Some people feel like they are gently floating, others that they are simply sitting there, relaxed and comfortable. You may feel that you have been sitting there for a very short time, when an hour has gone past, or vice versa; it is a lot like that wonderful time just in between waking and sleeping, when you could just lie there forever and enjoy…..
Since hypnosis is a natural state of mind, clients are often surprised that they hear every word. Unless one enters a deeper state, or at least a medium state, he or she may not “feel” any different than when relaxing in the favorite chair with a good book or some beautiful music.
One may feel quite mellow, and may feel light (or weightless), or very heavy as if sinking into the chair. The feeling may be euphoric for some who enter a very deep state, almost like being intoxicated without the side effects. In a light state, it is entirely possible for a client to believe that he or she was not hypnotized; Deep trance is not always necessary. Many clients have successfully achieved their goals without ever getting deeper than light trance. Yet deeper states tend to INCREASE hypnotic abilities...

HOW DOES THE HYPNOTIC STATE DIFFER FROM SLEEP?

A sleeping person does not normally respond to suggestions while a hypnotized person does.
Consciousness is suspended in sleep, but present in hypnosis.
Additionally, the common belief evidenced by research is that a person experiencing hypnosis slows down his or her brain waves from BETA into ALPHA - although some people believe that we may actually enter THETA during deep trance states. (THETA is normally the “dream” state we pass through on the way to and from DELTA - or deep sleep.) Be aware that since we must all pass through ALPHA on the way to and from sleep, we could easily say that all of us experience hypnosis at least twice daily. While working with clients, I keep the explanation as simple as possible. That being said, some professionals believe that a person in a
very deep state of hypnosis can actually attain THETA.

CAN I USE HYPNOSIS INSTEAD OF REGULAR MEDICAL TREATMENT?

The short answer to this is NO. There are good reasons why not, some of which are:

1] Hypnotherapists are not trained in medical diagnosis;
2] Hypnotherapists are not trained in any form of surgery
3] Hypnotherapists are not doctors.

If you go to a hypnotherapist, they should be able to assist with many things – Hypnosis may help in strengthening the immune system – speeding up healing and recovery – it may even help you to cure a large number of illnesses and ailments for yourself, but it is not and never will be a replacement for the medical profession.
It is our deepest hope that eventually, the medical profession, especially the more traditionalist parts of it will learn to work with us, where we can do the most good.
The Hypnotherapist must be aware of other treatment and be alert to reactions so hypnosis will have positive results. Where there is any doubt, hypnosis will be used only with the approval and cooperation with your physician.
Hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical treatment, but it can be affective as a supportive therapy in cooperation with your physician.
You could say that we need doctors to tell us what is going on in the body, so we can help the mind to help the body.

HOW CAN I ENSURE HYPNOSIS WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR ME?

You cant. If you find a good hypnotherapist, then there is a very good chance that, provided you want something that is within the bounds of hypnotherapy to provide, you will get it; but there are no guarantees. Hypnotherapists, like doctors, surgeons etc. are only human, and as such the one you choose may not have the flexibility to meet your needs. This is rare, but possible and therefore must be said. If this happens, it means only that the therapist was not the right one for you, and nothing more. Remember that you cannot fail in hypnosis - all that is required is that you be yourself, only the therapist can “fail”.
There is no absolute guarantee. The more positive you are, the more positive your results will be. Reinforcement is the most effective means, and is accomplished by at least two visits. Self hypnosis taught during the session and an audio cassette tape of the session for your use at home. Follow up sessions until the goals have been reached.

CAN YOU GET STUCK IN HYPNOSIS ?

No, you can never stay permanently hypnotized. Even if the hypnotist disappears in a puff of smoke, you will either get bored and drift into normal sleep, from which you will awake as normal, refreshed and alert, or you will return directly to normal waking consciousness.

NOTE:
If you have a question that is not addressed here, please do not hesitate to contact us and ask.