SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO DEEPER INTO A PROBLEM TO RELEASE IT

I often work with people who have had bad experiences in their past that still continue to plague them.  It may manifest in the form of sleep problems and nightmares, anxiety attacks, fears of one form or another, or in many other ways.  I'm not talking about repressed memory syndrome, but rather clearly remembered experiences that a person simply can't get passed.  Hypnosis can be helpful in allowing a person to deeply relax and accept suggestions about the ways in which their life is now very good, they deserve to enjoy their life (listing the aspects of their life that specifically mean the most to them) and helping the person put the past experiences in perspective so they can move on.  Coupled with a self-hypnosis program reinforcing these suggestions often will allow the person to move past these experiences and to enjoy their life more fully.  However, at times this is not enough and the person continues to suffer.  On these occasions it is useful to go more deeply into the experience.  By this time the client and I know each other pretty well and a bond of trust has been formed.  I will put the person into hypnosis, deepening it as much as possible, and then gently guide them through the painful experience.  If I see that their anxiety level increases, I will pause to relax and reassure them before continuing.  It can be painful and difficult for the client to go through this, but the benefits are well worth it.  Most of the time the client will feel a sense of relief or of letting go to a large extent following this hypnosis session and whatever symptoms they have been experiencing will begin to subside.  Further sessions to reinforce this progress will often eliminate the problem or reduce it to a tolerable level.  

This technique of going into and reliving an experience is suggested to help avoid post traumatic stress syndrome as well.  The closer the hypnotic reliving session is to the actual experience, the more effectively it reduces the person's likelihood of developing PTSD.  In either case, it is important for the hypnotist to know the client well enough to know that they are mentally stable enough to benefit from this technique.  If the person has a therapist, it is useful to be in touch with that therapist, with the client's approval, to discuss what your plans are before proceeding.  I have seen astonishing results with this technique and, used cautiously, can be an extremely useful tool in helping someone who has been suffering.     

CAN HYPNOSIS BE USED FOR TWO OR THREE PROBLEMS AT ONCE?

Many people go to a hypnotist for one major problem, but once there, want to work on one or even several more.  If these problems are related, there should be no difficulty doing this.  For example, if a woman is  being seen for weight loss and one of the reasons she overeats is stress related, then stress reduction should be part of the overall program.  If the problems are unrelated, it would be best to experience success with one before going on to another.  Given the same problem of weight control as the primary problem for which a woman seeks help, but she also wants to work on her fear of flying, it would not be a good idea to work on them simultaneously.  Weight control is generally dealt with by suggestions and imagery during hypnosis and a self-hypnosis program utilizing an affirmation.  Fear of flying would be best overcome by going through a phobia desensitization process.  Hypnosis and self- hypnosis are used initially in a general way to achieve a conditioned response to a particular self-hypnosis technique.  After a few sessions, a process of mental rehearsal during hypnosis can be initiated by the hypnotist to help the client visualize the entire flying process, interrupting every time she becomes even a little tense to calm her down with the technique taught in self-hypnosis.  Eventually, the client will be able to use this technique on her own when she has to take a flight and be significantly calmer.  Every time she flies and the technique works well, the conditioned response she had of anxiety connected with flying becomes weaker and eventually goes away completely.  For obvious reasons, it is probably best in this case to work on one problem until success has been achieved.  Once the work on the second goal has begun, suggestions of reinforcement of the initial goal can certainly be used with each session.  

WILL I HAVE AMNESIA?

Most hypnotists will tell you initially that you will remember everything that is said, and you may.  As you become more comfortable with hypnosis, your conscious mind may wander a bit as you become more deeply relaxed.  You may be very tuned in to what the hypnotist is saying one minute, and tune out the next.  If this happens, your memory of exactly what was said may be fuzzy.  You need not be concerned if this happens as your subconscious is always tuned in.  Most hypnotists will verbally go over everything that is important for you to remember when you are not in hypnosis and put in writing those instructions that are most important for you to follow.  Even if you were given the suggestion that you would not remember, since you are always in control of your own mind you may choose to remember anyway.  In the thirty years I have been practicing I have never given this instruction because I have never found a situation for which this would be warranted.

IF I'M NERVOUS OR SKEPTICAL, CAN I STILL BE HYPNOTIZED?

Most people are somewhat nervous on their first appointment just because it's a new experience.  I also find that most people who have never been hypnotized before are skeptical that they will be able to be hypnotized.  Discussing your fears and doubts will generally be all you need to overcome them.  If you would prefer not to for some reason, there are a number of alternatives.  You can bring a friend along as an observer or just make an appointment to talk and have your questions answered.  Having a discussion with another person who has been hypnotized will also go a long way to alleviate your fears.  Actually just letting go and allowing yourself to experience whatever you experience will be all you need to overcome your skepticism.  These two problems for the most part both stem from misconceptions.  Reading a bit about hypnosis and discussing the hypnosis process with the hypnotist should dispel any misconceptions and help you to have a pleasant and successful experience.