Are You Sure I Was Hypnotized?

After each hypnotherapy session, I always ask my client if he or she has any observations or questions about the experience. Following the first session—especially if the person has never experienced hypnosis before—I am almost always asked the same thing.

“Are you sure I was hypnotized? I could hear everything you said and knew what was going on around me, the whole time. I don’t think it worked.”

It did.

As a certified hypnotherapist, I am trained to induce hypnosis for my clients as well as (and especially) to recognize subtle physiological signs that indicate when the person has entered this state. These include: changes (deepening) in your breathing, a “glassy” appearance of the eyes, and slower and softer verbal responses. In addition, a person who is in hypnosis tends to move more slowly when walking from the straight chair in front of my desk to the recliner, for the deeper hypnosis work.

Hypnosis is different for every client. Some people remember every detail about the hypnotherapy session, from the sound of the heater or air-conditioning unit coming on to physical sensations such as tingling or heaviness in their limbs as they become more deeply relaxed. Others report they were only vaguely aware of what I said (the hypnotic script) but felt very comfortable and safe, and even more confident that they could achieve their goals

After the hypnotherapy session, I make sure to count the client completely up and out of hypnosis. I offer the person some water and give him or her a chance to sit up for a few minutes and even stretch to increase circulation and feel more alert and aware for the drive home.

For more information about hypnosis, I invite you to visit the Hypnosis Facts link on my web-site.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2016

Fears vs. Phobias

     Whenever a client tells me that he or she has a fear of something, the first thing I must do is confirm that the experience is a fear and not a phobia. A "fear" has a specific origin. For example, someone may develop a fear of dogs after being bitten by one during childhood. Such a fear can be treated by repeatedly exposing the person to the memory of the fear-inducing stimulus (the dog)--and "passing" that fear--during hypnosis. This repeated process of experiencing and passing the stimulus gradually desensitizes the person to the fear.
     Conversely, a phobia does not have a specific origin. To treat a phobia, the person is repeatedly exposed to the phobia-inducing stimulus; however, he or she is immediately "removed" from the stimulus and returns to imagery of "a special place" or somewhere safe, through guided imagery before actually experiencing the emotion or phobic reaction. This process would be repeated until the person is completely desensitized to the phobia.
     Once the client has resolved the fear or phobia issue, I have the person anchor these new sensations of relaxation, calm and comfort. While the client is still in hypnosis, I have the person continue to draw, hold, and then slowly release several deep breaths to increase relaxation throughout the body. I remind the person that each deep breath draws in confidence and relaxation, replacing the old anxiety/fear with relaxation and a sense of well-being.

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014