When you've seen beyond yourself 
Then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
​ – from Within You Without You  by George Harrison

What is hypnosis?

A very familiar and natural state. Simply put, hypnosis is a state of relaxed and focused attention that bypasses the judgmental conscious mind. Without realizing it, we experience self-hypnosis several times during our day. For example, to fall asleep we naturally slow down our brainwaves similar to the meditative and light hypnotic trance until we reach the deep sleep (REM) state. We also experience hypnosis when we daydream, read an absorbing book, watch an enthralling movie or drive long distances.
 
A very old method of healing. Hypnotic techniques were used by the Egyptians and Greeks as part of their healing temple practices. Hypnosis is a safe, gentle and effective way to reduce stress and get to the root of emotional and physical pain. Regression hypnosis is like a dream that brings up images and insights that are particularly effective at helping to relieve pain, fear, anger, grief and many other problems by restoring a sense of harmony, peace and balance in everyday life.
 
Not sleep. A hypnotist may use the term “sleep” when conducting the induction. However, what this word really means in the world of hypnotism is “relax.” If you were asleep you would no longer be able to tap into your inner resources, answer questions or even remain hypnotized.
 
Not mind control. Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis practitioners do not “put” people into trances. Instead, they arrange circumstances to increase the likelihood for individuals to shift themselves into a trance state. Hypnosis is a guided altered state of consciousness that creates a dissociation between mind and body. Although the sessions are interactive in the sense that your Guide, the hypnotist, travels in partnership with you and asks you many questions to help you bring out the story, you have control over the trance depth and, once under trance, you decide what you want to share and where to take your experience. You may stop the process whenever you wish. As your Guide, I cannot make you do anything that is against your principles. You will remember much of what you have experienced in the hypnotic state and will return to the wakeful consciousness feeling refreshed and renewed. There are no recorded cases in history of people unable to come out of hypnosis.
 
Not psychotherapy. Hypnosis is a powerful tool for spiritual memory recall and conflict resolution, but by itself, it is not psychotherapy.  Regression hypnosis is potentially healing when there is acquisition of greater insight into our true selves and when it helps us uncover and release stored negative energy.  

Pleasant and relaxing. As we are all unique, we experience the state differently. The most common theme reported is a feeling of pleasant deep relaxation. Some clients have likened the experience to a daydream or a movie of their life. You may feel like you’re not hypnotized if you believe that hypnosis requires you to be in a sleepwalking state.  In this natural, altered state of awareness, you become oblivious to external distractions as you gain access to the inner powerful you who holds the solution to all your problems.  

It's about letting go. As your Guide gently walks you through breathing and visualization exercises, your body relaxes deeply and this enables your mind to enter a light to medium state of hypnosis and naturally shift your focus inward so that you may communicate with your deeper mind and inner wisdom. As the body becomes more relaxed, the mind begins to let go of the critical thoughts of the conscious state and becomes very focused on what is happening in your imagination.  

Everyone can be hypnotized!  Anyone who is able and willing to follow instructions can be hypnotized. You cannot be forced into hypnosis against your will.​ In fact, hypnosis is a consensual state that involves the use of your free will. In other words, you choose to respond to the suggestions given in hypnosis. Hypnosis is more like a guided daydream, so your conscious mind can intervene and stop what is happening at any time. People who are comfortable with meditation, deep prayer, daydreaming, etc. tend to go into a hypnotic state more quickly and deeply than others. However, while results are in part dependent on the client’s suggestibility to hypnosis, we can all be coached and taught to go into a deep hypnotic state; and, with practice, one can enter this state more quickly.