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Before seeking hypnotherapy, you may have questions. That's good! You should have questions before seeking any kind of therapy, holistic or otherwise. You should also have questions for the practitioner you're thinking of visiting.
This page is meant to answer people's questions about hypnotherapy as I practice it, as well as other therapies I use. There is also a Hypnotherapy FAQ for more general questions. I've done my best to cover everything I can think of. If you still have questions or concerns about hypnotherapy, please contact me at the number above. I will be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.
Click on the question:
Please also see the Hypnotherapy FAQ
What happens in a hypnotherapy session?
When you come to me for a hypnotherapy session, we will meet and discuss whatever issue it is you wish to resolve and what you hope to achieve. Together, we will work out a plan of action to accomplish this goal.
I will guide you into a hypnotic state, using only my voice. I don't use any tricks nor any special devices. All you have to do is relax in a chair and listen to my voice. I will give you suggestions that we have already discussed in our meeting. I will guide you back into normal awareness and we will discuss your experience. All sessions are recorded and you will be given a tape of your session for your private use.
I may also suggest exercises or actions you may take on your own to help you reach your goals, such as possible reading material, journaling, or other exercises.
You will feel relaxed and calm. You will be completely awake. Hypnosis is not sleep. Many people expect, when they're hypnotized, to fall completely asleep. More likely you will be completely aware of everything that is going on around you. You may feel like you could get up and walk away at any moment. If you are very deeply relaxed, you may experience sensations of floating, or feeling very heavy.
Here is how one client described the experience:
"I never felt I was "under" at any time. I remember everything, never felt sleepy, never felt any loss of control, it was nothing like what I had seen in movies, books or TV."
There is nothing mysterious about hypnosis. All it is is a state of deep physical relaxation and intense mental focus. If you've ever had the experience of being so focused on doing something that you became oblivious to everything else going on around you, you have experienced this state. It's the same state you're in when you meditate, and it's a state you pass through every night as you fall asleep. Everyone who experiences hypnosis finds it a pleasant, relaxing experience.
There's no risks, no side effects, and no danger. I can't control your mind, find out your secrets, or make you do anything against your will. You can't get stuck or lost in hypnosis; you will always wake up.
Here is what Sigmund Freud had to say about the risks of hypnosis:
"Another line of argument hostile to hypnosis rejects it as being dangerous to the mental health of the subject and labels it as 'an experimentally produced psychosis.' Evidence that hypnosis leads to injurious results in a few cases would no more decide against its general usefulness than, for instance, does the occurrence of isolated instances of death under chloroform narcosis forbid the use of chloroform for the purposes of surgical anaesthetic. It is a very remarkable fact, however, that this analogy cannot be carried any further. The largest number of accidents in chloroform narcosis are experienced by the surgeons who carry out the largest number of operations. But the majority of reports of the injurious effects of hypnosis are derived from observers who have worked very little with hypnosis, whereas all those workers who have had a large amount of hypnotic experience are united in their belief in the harmlessness of the procedure. In order, therefore, to avoid any injurious effects in hypnosis, all that is probably necessary is to carry out the procedure with care, with a sufficiently sure touch and upon correctly selected cases. [...] And as soon as a large enough number of doctors are in a position to report observations of the kind that are to be found in the second part of Bernheim's book, it will become an established fact that hypnosis is a harmless condition and that to induce it is a procedure 'worthy' of a physician." (Freud, Preface to Bernheim's On Suggestion, 1888)
What can hypnotherapy help me with?
A better question might be, what can't hypnotherapy help you with? The list of possibilities for hypnotherapy is amazingly long. Hypnotherapy can be used to:
Control chronic pain, promote recovery from injuries or surgery, promote remission of cancer, control side effects of chemotherapy, treat stress-related illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and stress-aggravated illnesses such as hypertension, control migraines and chronic headaches, treat sexual dysfunction and chronic fatigue, control weight and promote fitness, treat insomnia... on the emotional side, it can be used to treat phobias and anxieties, control unwanted behavior patterns or emotional states, treat depression, improve skills or abilities, learn more easily, deepen spiritual connections and achieve nearly any kind of personal growth or emotional healing.
What is medical hypnotherapy? How can hypnotherapy help with physical problems?
The mind, body and spirit are all connected. One affects the other. All physical and medical problems have connections to emotional and spiritual issues. By resolving those issues, physical healing can be promoted.
Hypnosis can be used to manage and control symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea, anxiety or hypertension connected to physical illnesses or as side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy. Certain stress-related illnesses, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, respond especially well to hypnotherapy. However, hypnotherapy is not a substitute for medical care. Always consult with a physician before seeking any kind of outside treatment.
What are the advantages of hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is completely safe. Unlike surgeries or drug therapies, there are no risks and no side effects. Unlike psychotherapy, it's fast and effective. It's estimated that hypnotherapy can resolve emotional issues in half the time (or less) it would take with traditional psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy is one of the most natural, safe, effective, powerful, scientifically-approved and pleasant therapies available. And it can be used in almost any area of life. Hypnotherapy has more than 150 years of research behind it and is the most scientifically-validated holistic therapy.
How many sessions does it usually take?
The most honest answer to that question is that it will take as many sessions as it takes to resolve the issue. To give you a better answer: in my experience, most single issues are resolved within two to seven sessions. In some cases, hypnotherapy can be very rapid, and people can achieve satisfactory change in as little as one session. I recommend that any client see me at least twice so that a complete follow-up can be achieved.
What is transpersonal counseling?
Transpersonal refers to issues of consciousness, spiritual practices, mind-body connection, self-realization and personal growth, change and transformation. In addition to using traditional hypnotherapy, I also use hypnotherapy to allow clients explore these states as a way of learning more about themselves and their goals. I also give exercises and suggestions outside of hypnosis to ways they may learn more and advance their therapy. Because my ultimate goal is to help people achieve change and growth, I like to use all the tools available to me, including ...
In coaching, I provide you with feedback, advice, and guidance towards achieving your goals. Together we come up with a series of action-items to be completed between sessions, and then check in on a regular basis to track your progress.
You can contact me at 408-421-6185. Because of the nature of my work I do not answer the phone at my office. I check my voicemail throughout the day and return all calls within 24 hours or less. I am available for evening and weekend appointments.
(c) 2001-2003 Alan K. Crandall. All rights reserved