It may be surprising to many, to learn that we have all experienced trance states many times, for example as we drift into sleep or on awakening. The experience of hypnosis is similar; neither asleep nor awake, and a little like daydreaming with a pleasant feeling of deep relaxation. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness which you can enter naturally, so that, for therapeutic purposes, beneficial suggestions may be given directly to your unconscious mind. It is in fact far more powerful than most people imagine. It is potentially as powerful as the human mind itself - and don't forget that it is the mind that is the root cause of most problems that people come forward with, whether it is a phobia, a state of anxiety or just a craving for cigarettes.

Whilst the person being hypnotised appears to be in a deep sleep, nothing could be further from the truth. Hypnosis does involve the induction of a trance-like state, however the patient is actually in a heightened state of awareness, concentrating entirely on the hypnotist's voice. In this state, the conscious mind is supressed and the subconscious mind is revealed. This then allows the therapist to suggest ideas to the client, the seeds of which become firmly implanted in the subconscious.

The right side of the brain is the part associared with imagination and this part takes over during hypnosis. The left side of the brain is associated with reasoning and the conscious mind, and this part's influence is reduced during hypnosis.

I'm Dianne Bury GQHP GHR SNHS DIP (Meridian Psychotherapy).

I've helped many people just like you. You can read what benefits they've had from hypnotherapy here.