Frequently Asked Questions
What is the unconscious/subconscious mind?
Your unconscious mind is probably the most powerful force you are personally likely to encounter. Whereas your conscious mind can handle roughly seven pieces of information at once, your unconscious mind handles millions, even while you sleep.
The role of your unconscious is to control all the processes and behaviours in your mind and body to keep you alive, including your autonomic nervous system (ANS). This is on top of managing your memories, habits, speech, the list is endless. When was the last time you had to think about how to say the word "Yes"? When driving, have you ever tried to indicate before a turn, only to realise that you have already done it?
However, if your unconscious has a reason (no matter how strange) for causing you to eat too much, smoke or even stay awake, then it will work hard to make sure that you do. In a battle of wills between your conscious and unconscious mind, the unconscious will invariably win.
You might hear people talk of the "subconscious" mind. For all intents and purposes, you can think of the subconscious and unconscious as the same thing. It is a part of your mind that you are not consciously aware of, but which would continue to function, even if you have been knocked unconscious or were under anaesthetic. Your unconscious mind never sleeps.
So what is hypnosis?
No-one can fully answer this question yet. Nevertheless, hypnosis can be thought of as focused attention, in a similar vein to meditation. It is also referred to often as a powerful learning state, similar to that experienced by children in their early years, especially when developing language and social skills. We like to think of hypnosis as a wonderful ability which we all possess. The connection between body and mind is becoming far better established as a result of the study of hypnosis, and its potential to cause powerful personal change.
What is Self Hypnosis?
Essentially all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. I often say to people that they are choosing to take the steps that lead them down into hypnosis. I just guide them onto those steps. People can, and do, go into hypnosis without any help many times a day, whether it be as a daydream, being lost in a book or watching television. We like to teach every client a technique to easily achieve self-hypnosis, to enable them to continue to use the power of their own unconscious mind.
Will I be able to hear you when I'm in a state of hypnosis?
Yes. We always love this question. When a client tells us they could hear us while they were hypnotised, we will often tell them how glad we are that they could. Otherwise we would have been wasting our time during their session. Whilst it is true that many people have amnesia for what happens during a hypnotic trance, they can always hear what is being said. In fact, they are probably more sensitive than when they are fully conscious.
Have you ever noticed in a noisy, crowded room, when someone says your name you hear it above the chatter? Although you might have blanked out the random chatter, your unconscious mind is still listening to everything.
As for the amnesia, how often have you awoken, remembering the dream you were just in, yet ten minutes later the memory is just beyond reach?
I've seen a stage hypnosis act; will you make me cluck like a chicken?
This is a frequent question, although to be fair it is often asked in jest. Our reply usually elicits a laugh, but we like to demonstrate how stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy are worlds apart. The stage hypnotist is not a therapist, not unless he or she has seriously studied hypnotherapy through an approved school. What's more, a stage hypnotist is trying to entertain an audience, whereas a hypnotherapist will be looking to improve a person's life.
Clucking like a chicken or barking like a dog has not been part of anyone's therapy up to now. Perhaps this is because we only treat human beings.....so far.
Is hypnotherapy expensive?
A hypnotherapy session is, on average, cheaper than going for a massage. It can often be cheaper than going to the hairdresser as well. When a hypnotherapist sets their price, they factor in the detailed and diverse study, training and qualifications needed for them to be able to effectively help clients with a wide range of issues. There are also the costs of running a business, insurances, tax etc.
When you consider that a hypnotherapist aims to make their interventions last a lifetime, it suddenly becomes excellent value for money. This is especially true when compared with the cost of smoking for only a few weeks.
Will I reveal secrets while I'm in a state of hypnosis?
No. You will only reveal as much or as little as you want to or need to while you are in hypnosis. Our approach is to allow you to reveal to yourself the cause for a problem. Whether you share that is entirely up to you
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
No, but this is one of those enduring myths. No-one in the history of hypnosis has ever got stuck in a trance. Very rarely a person might go so deep that, if they chose to, they could remain that way for a longer period of time. A properly trained hypnotherapist will know how to re-arouse that person gently and very easily. Nevertheless it is a lovely demonstration of how someone remains in total control while hypnotised.