What is hypnosis, really?
4 min readGina Rumawas
When people hear the word hypnosis, many picture a man with a swinging pocket watch, or someone on a stage who suddenly starts clucking like a chicken. No wonder there's some doubt. Hypnosis has nothing to do with that. In this article, you'll read what it really is.
A state you already know
Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused attention. That sounds special, but you already know it. You're in it when you're so absorbed in a book that you don't hear someone calling you. Or when you're driving on the highway and suddenly realize you've already passed three exits.
In that state, your critical mind is a little quieter for a while. You're not gone and you're not asleep. You can stop at any moment yourself. Your attention is simply turned inward.
Why your subconscious matters
You don't remember how you learned to walk. Yet you do it every day, without thinking about it. That's how your subconscious works: it stores reactions and carries them out automatically.
That's useful for walking and riding a bike. It's less useful when your subconscious has learned to panic on a plane, to reach for a cigarette under stress, or to lie awake at night over work. You don't change those reactions by thinking about them. Often you've known for a long time that they don't make sense.
In hypnosis, you work at the place where those reactions live. You find out where a pattern started and you learn a new response.
What happens in a session
A session always starts with a conversation. What do you want to achieve today? Then I guide you with my voice into a deeply relaxed state. You sit or lie down comfortably, with your eyes closed.
In that state, we work on your goal. Sometimes memories come up, sometimes mostly feelings or images. You share as much as you want to. At the end, you calmly come out of hypnosis and we talk about what you noticed.
Who is it for?
Hypnosis works well for patterns you recognize but can't seem to break. Think of ongoing stress, overthinking, poor sleep, fear of flying or fear of driving, and habits like smoking. It's a short-term approach: three to six sessions are often enough.
It doesn't replace a doctor or psychologist. If you have medical or mental health concerns, your primary care doctor remains your first point of contact. Hypnosis can work well alongside that.
The three most frequently asked questions
Will I lose control? No. You won't do anything you don't want to do, and you can always stop.
Can anyone be hypnotized? Almost anyone who wants to be. It gets easier with every session.
Does it work if I'm a very down-to-earth person? Especially then. You don't have to believe in it. You only have to take part.
Curious whether hypnosis is a good fit for your question? Book a complimentary 30-minute intro call. We'll talk it through together, with no obligation.
