What Should I Expect?
We often get this question, so let’s break it down into simple steps. We'll take fear of the unknown out of the equation and get to the good stuff (which is you seeing results, processing traumas, and updating unhealthy beliefs).
Hypnotherapy is nothing like the hypnosis you see in movies and cartoons. That stuff is funny, but not therapeutic. Hypnotherapy is a tool to get fast, permanent results for a variety of issues by directly addressing the underlying causes, rather than just covering up the symptoms. No more band-aids, no more temporary fixes. This is the science of the human mind in action.
Before Your Session:
It’s important to discuss any questions or concerns ahead of time, just in case they might get in the way of your session later. Anything you might be wondering about, even if it feels silly, should definitely be brought up as soon as you feel comfortable talking about it. Our job is to facilitate your needs and get you to the results you're ready to achieve. We plan your goals with you, and discuss the details and obstacles in your life during your first session.
Also, we run through some quick tests and mental exercises. This is to check how responsive you are, and whether or not you will see change at the right speed. This also checks what your modality is, which could be visual, metaphorical, memory recall, or any other way that we imagine things when we close our eyes. Some of these exercises are as simple as "Imagine any car. What color is it?" If you had an answer to either of those questions, you’re already doing great. If not, don't worry, we have a plan for you, too. In the event that you're not already as responsive as you need to be, we offer audio files that you can practice with at home to build that skill. The one you receive will be based on what exercise your hypnotherapist believes you have the best chance of understanding at the level you're currently at. Eventually, that might change and you might receive a new one to listen to.
Induction:
The induction is when you are led into a relaxing state known as hypnosis, through a series of mental exercises. Most people feel really relaxed, like they’ve just had a nice massage or a day at the spa. It relaxes both your body and your mind. If you have thoughts that keep popping up, let your hypnotherapist know; they might be important! Sometimes it just means you need to switch to a different technique, but sometimes it just means these thoughts are important to you and just need you to acknowledge them and let them go. Everyone is different.
Once the induction is done, your hypnotherapist will conduct a simple task to test your relaxation. For example, if your they ask you to relax your arm*, then, with permission, lift it up. How heavy your relaxed arm is can tell them where you are, and where you need to be. Also, if at any point you want to be even more relaxed, it’s ok to just let your hypnotherapist know that.
*Note, we are not using testing exercises that require touch at this time. This is for your safety and the safety of our staff. All of our staff members are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and we ask that clients be vaccinated before attending appointments.
Hypnotherapy:
This is where the real changes can be made. Keep in mind, hypnosis is consent based, and if anyone suggests something that isn't in your best interest, your mind will protect by rejecting any unhealthy input. Also, you'll only work on issues that you agree to work on. Your hypnotherapist is there to guide you in the right direction to get you healthy, using years of experience as a compass. In-office sessions are different from listening to a recording where you listen to post-hypnotic suggestions. They might use suggestions to help you get better, but they'll also use other techniques to help you achieve your goals. After your session is over, your hypnotherapist may also teach you some techniques to practice at home, or give you a recording to practice between sessions.
Transitioning Out of Hypnosis:
After bringing you out of trance, your hypnotherapist will spend a couple minutes checking in with you and ensuring your session is complete. Sometimes people have new questions afterwards, or just need a little time to process. This is when most people decide they’d like a bottle of water to help them get back into the rest of their day. Our appointments are usually 60 minutes, but can sometimes vary. Everyone's different, so during the session your hypnotherapist will find a good stopping point. If you’re in the middle of something important when you hit the one hour mark, sometimes it's best to go over, unless you've requested a specific cutoff point. Alternatively, if it’s nearing the one hour mark, and your hypnotherapist sees that you’re about to start something time consuming that deserves more time than you have left, they'll likely end the session a bit early if there isn’t time to finish.