The Hypnotic Experience

Your first experience of being hypnotised will probably be nothing like you would have imagined. The misconceptions of what it is like to be hypnotised are many and varied and most peoples exposure of this is via television which is predominately used for entertainment purposes To help illustrate some of the key points are some examples of common questions below that have been gathered from my own clients.

Will I 'black out?'	No, you will aware of what is happening at all times both in terms of the words that the therapist is using and also your own thoughts. Without this awareness the therapist would not be able to ask you questions that you would understand nor would you be able to respond effectively.
Will I be asleep?	No, although you will experience a deep sense of relaxation which is more closely related to daydreaming, or even dreaming
What is a trance?	The trance state is something that is natural and occurs to everyone many times a day, probably without you realising it is happening. Have you ever driven along a familiar stretch of road only to find that when you arrive at your destination you cannot remember parts of your journey? Have you ever found yourself reading a book or watching television and had someone speak to you only to realise that you can't remember a thing that they have said? These are just two naturally occurring examples of a trance state, or an altered state of consciousness, that happen to most people. A guided hypnotic trance by a qualified therapist will achieve a deeper and more focussed trance still, one in which you can be guided towards a desired outcome. In effect though it remains the same as the examples quoted.

Will I be under the hypnotherapist's control?

No, at no time can you be made to do anything that you would not normally do or that you feel is wrong. All hypnosis is permission based and hypnotherapy can only be successfully achieved with your willing cooperation.

How long will it last?	An initial session will usually take anything up to an hour and fifteen minutes. Subsequent sessions will usually be quicker often taking almost half of this time.
How many sessions will I need?	This will usually depend on what transpires at the initial session. I usually ask to allow for 2 sessions at the outset although a problem will often be resolved within a single session. Typically two sessions will suffice although sometimes a third is required.

What will happen if I can't wake up?

You will always wake up safely and feeling refreshed. Even without the intervention of a therapist you would eventually 'wake up' anyway, as if you had simply dozed off for a while.