WHAT IS HYPNOTISM?

Hypnotism and its uses in the practice of hypnotherapy is rapidly emerging as a highly effective science in solving many problems of people.  It can be very beneficial in some cases as a therapy in itself.  It is a valuable adjunct in psychotherapy and psychiatry.  It is probably the lowest risk procedure available from the standpoint of contraindications.  Yet few therapeutic procedures are less understood, or more plagued by misconceptions and misunderstandings.

While no one can fully explain how or why it works, there is a generally accepted theory regarding the effect of hypnosis- a substantially reduced ability to think rationally and a remarkable susceptibility to suggestion. When a subject is hypnotized, the result is a "shift in concentration, executed in a passive manner (such as occurs in daydreaming or sleeping), resulting in a state of consciousness distinguishably different from alertness or ordinary sleep. It is characterized by narrowing of attention, reduced rational criticalness, and increased response to suggestion.  It is also considered "an altered state of consciousness" featuring "selective perception", a process in which the subject (who is in control) chooses to see only what is relevant to his task, blocking out everything else.    

In essence, hypnotism is a means of communication between the conscious and the subconscious mind, while you are in a heightened state of awareness and concentration. There is no surrender of mind or control.  A person who does not want to be hypnotized cannot be hypnotized, nor be induced to do or say anything which violates personal standards of behavior or integrity.  During hypnotherapy, a deeply relaxed state is achieved which allows the hypnotherapist to talk to your subconscious mind.  Hypnosis is induced in a gradual manner, in stages, by means of sensorial fatigue, which is generally imposed by the therapist using words, in a calm, monotonous, rhythmic and persistent way.  Hypnosis leads to several alterations of the sensorial perception, higher intellectual functions, increase of memory (hyper amnesia), attention and motor functions. It establishes an altered state of consciousness, a state that simulates sleep but it is not so (the person does not sleep during hypnosis): the electroencephalogram (EEG) registration of the client under hypnosis is that of alertness and not of sleep.

Hypnotherapy is approved by the American Medical Association, the Canadian Medical Association, and the British Medical Association.  Studies have been published by the following medical entities, all strongly supporting the power of hypnotherapy: 

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School, Dept. of Radiology, Boston
• Dept. of Surgery, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, NY
• Dept. of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Liege, Belgium
• Bio-behavioral Medicine Program, Cancer Prevention & Control, Ruttenberg Cancer, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
• Department of Preventive Medicine at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Diego

Changing the way you think will change the way you act.  When your mind receives new, positive and healthy thoughts, your body will comply by acting in a new, positive and healthy way!

It's time to think yourself healthy!  Call me for a free consultation:

Juliette Guidara, CCH
Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist
Certified, Complementary Medical Hypnotism
Nahant, MA
Tel: 781.593.4222

Juliette@CenterOfThought.com