Hypnosis, or hypnotherapy in its clinical use, is quite simply the most powerful device for personal development and positive change.

Hypnosis is a natural, safe heightened state of awareness that allows you to connect with your greatest resource, your subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is where every thought, feeling, experience, conversation you have ever experienced is stored.

This heightened state of awareness is achieved through a natural state of deep and profound relaxation, however it is not sleep.

Most people report that the experience is like taking a light nap, hearing everything that is being said and waking up refreshed and changed in a positive way.

In the heightened state of awareness known as hypnosis, you can reprogram the old or unwanted behaviour stored in your subconscious mind and create new positive patterns that allow you change.

 Some interesting details:

A survey of psychotherapy literature by Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D. revealed the following recovery rates;

Psychoanalysis: 38% after 600 sessions
Behavior Therapy: 72% after 22 session
Hypnotherapy:  93% recovery after 6 sessions

When you're hypnotized, you can concentrate intensely on a specific thought, memory, feeling or sensation while blocking out distractions even though you can still sometimes consciously hear them.   It is not sleep, you will still have awareness. You're more open than usual to suggestions, and this can be used to change your behavior and thereby improve your health and well-being so that you can do the things you want to do…or not do the things you do not want to do – but cannot seem to stop doing.

 

 If you've ever seen hypnotism used as entertainment in a stage act, you've probably witnessed several of the myths about hypnosis in action. Legitimate clinical hypnotherapy practiced by a qualified professional is not the same process as that performed on stage.

 

Myth: When you're under hypnosis, you surrender your free will.
Reality: Hypnosis is a heightened state of concentration and focused attention. When you're under hypnosis, you don't lose your personality, your free will or your personal strength.

Myth: When you're under hypnosis, the hypnotherapist controls you.
Reality: You do hypnosis voluntarily for yourself. A hypnotherapist only serves as a knowledgeable guide or facilitator.

Myth: Under hypnosis, you lose consciousness and have amnesia.
Reality: A small number of people who go into a very deep hypnotic state experience spontaneous amnesia. However, most people remember everything that occurred under hypnosis.

Myth: You can be put under hypnosis without your consent.
Reality: Successful hypnosis depends on your willingness to experience it.