How Hypnosis Works

Sorting through the fiction.

Somewhere along the way, you may have been told that hypnosis is threatening to your state of mind; it’s a form of mind control with potentially dangerous side effects. Hollywood has certainly done its job portraying hypnotherapists as magicians, charlatans, or worse. “The Manchurian Candidate” and Catherine Keener’s tapping teaspoon in “Get Out” spring to mind. 😱😱😱

Thankfully, neither of these scenarios are remotely true or possible off screen.

Hypnosis is a painless solution.

The experience of being hypnotized can vary from person to person but it generally involves a feeling of deep relaxation and a heightened sense of focus. It allows us to tap into our subconscious in order to reprogram thoughts responsible for damaging behavior, self-sabotaging patterns and beliefs, uncomfortable emotions, and hard-to-break habits.

We naturally go in and out of a hypnotic state several times throughout the day—while daydreaming, falling asleep, or driving a familiar route (eek!). When it’s intentional, hypnosis can be an extremely effective painless tool for retraining the brain. It’s a MINDFUL experience and brings us to a place of heightened awareness. And unlike talk therapy, it doesn’t involve painful, endless treks down memory lane.

During hypnosis, the brain may experience an increase in alpha and theta brain waves. This shift into an altered state of consciousness is where the “magic” happens and we are able to replace harmful mindsets and patterns with productive, healing ones.

Retraining the brain can be a bit like unclogging your ears after a flight. The weight and dullness are lifted and very suddenly every sound is clear and distinct.

It's an inside job.

One thing Hollywood did get right was when Glinda the Good Witch tells Dorothy, “You had the power all along.” This wisdom is true for everyone. We all have the power to create the lives we envision for ourselves. This is good news because in hypnosis YOU are the one in control. Even though you may be deeply relaxed and be guided, you won't accept anything that isn't aligned with your values. So you won't cluck like a chicken...unless you really want to do that. 

The key to inner work is that the power does not lie in talking it out with our conscious minds. If you’ve ever tried to talk yourself out of a bad habit, chances are you ended up even worse and speaking more cruelly to yourself when your self-talk failed to work. (👋 Hey, nail biters and late-night refrigerator raiders.) That power is buried in our subconscious minds, waiting to be set free.

Are you ready?

If you're interested in dipping your toe in the hypnosis pool, check out my Monthly Community Hypnosis. The group is perfect for you if you're looking for a commitment-free way to expore hypnosis in a group setting, from the comfort of your home.

If you would like to connect or learn more about how subconscious work can help you, please drop me a note at [email protected].