A Guide to Hypnosis
Tamara Felix, PhD, Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
Many people perceive hypnosis as what they have seen or heard of from stage shows. They see people "under" the hypnotist's "control" where audience volunteers are "made" to dance like Elvis, or do other silly things for our entertainment.
Hypnosis involves a person's ability to set aside critical judgment without relinquishing it completely, and to engage in make-believe and fantasy (Gill & Brenman, 1959; E. R. Hilgard, 1977). Hypnosis can help us to absorb suggestions that we want to accept, and can enhance our powers of visualization. A small proportion of people can be hypnotized to believe — almost that they can see a pink elephant, or an audience undressed when they put on "special glasses." The truth is, they are not really "under" anyone's control. This is an illusion created by showmanship and peer pressure, and no one can really see what's not there, no matter how much they want to believe it.
A stage hypnotist will select the more suggestible and extrovert members of the audience who volunteer — meaning they are willing participants. A large part of the illusion that makes stage hypnosis entertaining is that you think you would never do what the people on stage are doing, so they must be under the hypnotists "control." That is a misperception. Everyone on stage could stand up and walk off at any time if they chose to. Only extroverts allow themselves to go on stage and perform. They know what they are letting themselves in for, and want to join in. Peer pressure sees to it that they continue. A stage hypnotist often declares that only unintelligent and boring people cannot be hypnotized. Can you imagine someone having the nerve to stop half way through a show?! They certainly would not want anyone to think they are unintelligent or boring, so they stay and play.
People cannot be hypnotized to the point of seeing things that are not there. For the majority of us, a hypnotic trance merely increases our powers of focus and imagination. This can help us to "talk" to the subconscious parts of our minds that is responsible for our habits and urges.
Besides stage hypnosis, there is a large and growing tradition of therapeutic hypnosis (hypnotherapy), not designed for entertainment. In fact, therapeutic and entertainment hypnosis are two very different things. A clinical hypnotherapist does not create the illusion of having people "under" his control. His aim is to make suggestions to the subconscious mind the patient wants. Therefore if someone REALLY wants to stop smoking, their subconscious mind will accept these suggestions, and it will help them to quit. However, since the patient is not being controlled, he is free to reject these suggestions. That is why someone who does not really wish to give up smoking, lose weight, or whatever, will not benefit from hypnotherapy, apart from the therapeutic relaxation. Their subconscious minds will simply reject the suggestions.
Millions of people swear that hypnosis has helped them with many issues such as weight loss, smoking cessation, other addictions, stress, sleep, confidence, phobias, IBS, and many medical conditions or other personal or professional goals. I have been a clinical hypnotherapist for 15 years, and have seen first hand the miracles of transformation in thousands of my patients. My goal is to save 10,000 lives. You could be one of them.
Many people are missing out on this powerful yet safe therapeutic tool because they are too afraid to use it because of the little they know about it from stage hypnosis. I hope to put your fears to rest so you too can benefit from the power of your inner mind to solve any problem you may have. Visit my website at www.TheRighTouch.com, and click on "Healthy Hypnosis" for more information and popular topics you can choose from. I look forward to seeing you soon to improve your life in any way you choose.
