03/03/2022
What happens during a hypnotherapy session?
At the beginning of a session, you will tell me what you'd like to work on, and together, we will come up with some specific suggestions that will set you on your path to achieving your desired change. I will then lead you through a relaxing, meditative experience by describing a peaceful place of your choosing, and as you follow my verbal cues in your mind, you'll gradually relax enough to become open to receiving the suggestions you've chosen. Once you have achieved deep relaxation, I will speak the suggestions, allowing them to implant into your subconscious mind. Then I will gradually bring you out of your relaxed state. In the following days and weeks, you will be able to recall your chosen suggestions to assist you in achieving your goals.
How hypnosis feels depends on the person being hypnotized and can vary from session to session. My favorite place to go during hypnosis is the beach--as my hypnotherapist describes a beach scene, my conscious mind becomes quiet and open to suggestion.
I've personally experienced very deep hypnosis where my imagination so vividly created an alternate experience that I smelled, heard, felt, and visualized the beach simply from following the verbal cues spoken by my hypnotherapist--I could smell the salty sea air, hear the waves breaking, feel the warm sun on my skin and the sand beneath my feet, and take in the beauty of my favorite childhood beach. I've also experienced less deep hypnosis where I was only visualizing an alternate experience (I could see the beach as if I was watching a movie).
Either way, hypnosis allows the conscious mind (our thinking/busy/worrying brain) to rest while the subconscious mind works at making a desired change. The subconscious mind (your mental filing system that holds your memories and beliefs) is able to readily accept and implement suggestions because the conscious mind is resting.