Hypnotist David Rowe

First of all, contrary to what is commonly believed by many, hypnosis is NOT a "sleep" state even though a person in hypnosis may appear to be sleeping. It is actually a natural state of mind and induced normally in everyday living much more often than it is induced artificially. Every time we become engrossed in a novel or a motion picture, we are in a natural hypnotic trance.

Each night, as we fall asleep, we pass though a "dream-like" state.  There is a period of time that we are not really asleep, and yet we're not fully awake either.  It's a daydreaming state.  That state, we call hypnosis. So, one can say we actually go through the hypnotic state at least twice everyday.  First, as we're falling asleep and secondly, as we go through the waking process.  Hypnosis is that time sandwiched between being asleep and being awake.

The most accurate way of defining hypnosis is to simply call it "guided meditation." Since many of us enter a meditative or "trance" state while listening to music, watching TV, listening to a good speaker or a good sermon at church, or even while reading, you could say that the hypnotist does not even have to be a live person. So if hypnosis were ever outlawed, it would be virtually impossible to enforce, because we would have to stop the freedom of speech and freedom of press!

Do we give up control of our minds during a movie? When is the last time you got so involved during a movie or TV show that you actually felt emotion? You were literally in a hypnotic trance, although you still have the power to emerge from that state if desired. Your mind may be guided by a movie, TV show, self-hypnosis tape, or Hypnotherapist, but YOU still have the power to resist.

If you are overweight and can't lose it, or a smoker that can't quit, you've already given up control to fattening foods or tobacco.  The idea is not to give up control, but rather, get more control in your life.

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 easy chair with a good book. One may feel quite mellow, and may feel light (or weightless), or very heavy as if sinking into the chair. If one enters a really deep state, the feeling may be euphoric for some, or 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; so it is important for a Hypnotherapist to know how to competently handle the pre-induction discussion as well as the discussion after hypnosis.

There are certain abilities which are enhanced during the actual hypnotic process itself: (a) the ability to IMAGINE, (b) the ability to REMEMBER, (c) the CREATIVE abilities, and (d) RESPONSIVENESS TO SUGGESTIONS. Naturally, it is this last ability which creates the appeal of hypnosis to some and the fear of hypnosis to others.

Progressive relaxation (and imagery) methods are the most common. Facilitators often use a relaxation induction (or guided imagery) to have someone imagine being in a safe or peaceful place, and then awaken to full consciousness.

Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis for self-improvement and/or the release of problems. All hypnotherapy employs hypnosis; but not all hypnosis is hypnotherapy. Additionally, mastering the art of hypnosis does not necessarily mean one is qualified as a Hypnotherapist. Contrary to what many might believe, there is more to helping someone overcome an unwanted habit than simply giving hypnotic suggestions. If a person's subconscious resists positive suggestions for goal achievement, the competently trained Hypnotherapist is far more likely to be of service than those with minimal training in hypnosis, or who are simply self-taught. And a background in counseling is NOT a substitute for adequate training in hypnotherapy when hypnosis is used to help people.

Other good books to read are; HYPNOTISM TODAY by LeCron & Bordeaux (Wilshire Book Co.). Although it was written almost a half-century ago, it stood for many years as one of the leading recommended books, along with another book entitled HYPNOTHERAPY by Dave Elman (Westwood Publishing), which I strongly recommend that any serious student of hypnosis purchase and read, as well as John Hugh's HYPNOSIS: THE INDUCTION OF CONVICTION (available from the National Guild of Hypnotists).

An OUTSTANDING resource list was compiled by Paul Bunnell, which deserves to become a permanent part of this FAQ. It appears in "FAQ 4 of 4" after the answer to Question 15, along with a partial list I of other books highly recommended.

Cognitive counseling deals with issues at a cognitive level; and many of life's problems require just that. When someone has to make difficult cognitive decisions, competent professional help is absolutely essential! For example, hypnotherapy is not a substitute for marriage counseling. But when it comes to changing habits or behaviors regulated by the subconscious, there is nothing faster than competent hypnotherapy to facilitate subconscious change. However, hypnosis is NOT A PANACEA for all life's problems, and it should not be advertised as such.

It's also important to realize that a competent Hypnotherapist recognizes that he or she is NOT licensed to diagnose (unless trained and licensed to do so). While a physician, psychologist, or licensed mental health practitioner may be qualified to diagnose or "label" the cause of someone's problem, it is advisable for the Hypnotherapist to avoid doing so. Additionally, in my opinion, even when a licensed mental health practitioner uses hypnosis, it is VITALLY important to avoid projecting the preconceived opinion into the hypnotherapy session. If that opinion is incorrect, it may taint the trance--making it difficult to differentiate between repressed memories and false memories.

A diagnostician formulates a professional opinion on the cause of a problem. A competent Hypnotherapist asks the client's subconscious mind to disclose the cause, and then either proceeds or refers accordingly, based on the information disclosed.

Here's a good analogy: psychologists and mental health counselors could be compared to the "hardware" experts, whereas hypnotherapists are only trained to improve the software.

There are many roads leading from San Francisco to New York; likewise there are many ways to successfully help someone quit smoking. But the KEY is simple: THE CLIENT MUST CHOOSE TO CHANGE. If this is not so, long-term success is very unlikely.

I use a positive approach, based on the client identifying the benefits of change. Hypnosis is used to sell the benefits to the subconscious before any suggestions are given to quit smoking or reduce.

Some people use substitutes for old smoking triggers, and some do not. I recommend one deep breath, as it has no calories and no side effects. It is far better for the CONSCIOUS mind to choose the substitute than for the subconscious, as one addiction might be traded for another. Furthermore, if there is still pleasure associated with smoking, the client needs to make a conscious decision to choose another way of having some pleasure in a healthy manner, or there is greater risk of backsliding. Some hypnotherapists unnecessarily use regression back to the first smoke, based on the premise that the original cause must be removed. But with smoking, more recent causes usually far overshadow the original cause, which has often faded with time.

With weight reduction, I also start with the benefits approach. Often there is more work to be done, however, as people may overeat as an adjunctive response to another unresolved issue. Depending on the cause disclosed by the subconscious mind, I may or may not be qualified to help the client resolve the issue.

If there is subconscious resistance to the more positive approach for ANY type of goal, a client-centered approach would be to ask the subconscious to reveal what the cause is so that it may be released. (Without release from the cause, the problem may return.) And before you do this, you are well-advised to have received competent supervised training in such techniques!

Pain is a warning that something is wrong with the body, and it needs to be diagnosed by someone qualified to do so. Any competent hypnotherapy instructor emphasizes to his or her students the importance of requiring a written referral from an examining physician before ever using hypnosis to reduce pain or other physical symptoms. The exception (for those who are not licensed to practice medicine) is if the examining physician is physically present and/or is supervising the hypnotic process. Since the time of a Hypnotherapist is not nearly as expensive as the time of a physician, hopefully there will be greater cooperation between the medical profession and the hypnotherapy profession in the future. A competently trained Hypnotherapist should know, even with a medical referral, when to simply use hypnosis for symptom removal, and when and how to use hypnosis to search for subconscious causes of the symptom(s). Hypnosis can make a difference even with major disease! You might be interested in reading LOVE, MEDICINE & MIRACLES by Bernie S. Siegel, M.D. (Publisher: Harper & Row), and/or ANSWER CANCER by Steve Parkhill.

Hypnosis of and by itself is not dangerous. If it were, we would all be in jeopardy every time we get engrossed in a good book, movie, or TV show. But unwise use of suggestion may create the opposite of the desired results if the person using hypnosis does not understand the disciplines of suggestion structure. For example, a suggestion such as "You don't like candy" will cause someone to imagine candy, and imagination is the language of the subconscious!

What we say and how we say it creates images in the subconscious, which does not know the difference between fact and fantasy. (If you don't believe that last statement, hold your arms out in front of you and close your eyes. Then imagine a bucket in one hand and 100 helium balloons in the other. Imagine SEEING water pour into the bucket. HEAR it splashing, and FEEL the bucket getting heavy. After several seconds of deep breathing, open your eyes and notice where your arms are. Most people will notice a difference!) An untrained hypnotist often talks about the problems to be avoided; whereas most competent hypnotherapists focus on results -- whether they use direct or indirect suggestions, or both.