Hypnosis is a powerful tool used to help people overcome challenges, from quitting smoking to managing pain. As a hypnotherapist, I am often asked if everyone can be hypnotized.
The answer is no. For someone to be hypnotized, they need to be willing and able to focus their attention on the hypnotherapist’s voice. There needs to be a reason for the person to be hypnotized – that is, they need to have an issue or a problem that they want to resolve.
If there is no reason or motivation for the person to be hypnotized, then it is unlikely that they will be successful in entering into a state of hypnosis. This is why therapists need to work with clients to identify the issues they want to address before hypnotizing them. Only then can hypnosis be used as a powerful tool for change.
So, if you are wondering whether you could be hypnotized, ask yourself first if there is something that you would like to change or improve in your life. If the answer is yes, then there is a good chance that hypnosis could help you achieve your goals.
How I Help My Clients Overcome Issues
When it comes to helping clients overcome issues, I always stick to the basics. And by that, I mean elimination. My number one goal is to help the client erase whatever problem they are having, whether quitting smoking or overcoming a fear.
And I achieve this by planting positive suggestions in their subconscious mind. For example, when a prospective client calls me to inquire about quitting smoking, after answering any questions they have, I say something like, “On the day we have arranged, you will become a non-smoker.”
By confidently saying something like this, the client is already being hypnotized into believing they can and will quit smoking. Consequently, when they walk into my office for their first session, they are halfway there. Because not only do they want to be hypnotized to quit smoking—they know they are being treated by a professional hypnotherapist who will help make it happen.
A client recently came to see me asking to help him quit smoking. He was smoking between fifty to sixty cigarettes per day. Do the maths at 50 per day. He mumbled, “I don’t think I was bl***dy hypnotized” as he walked out of my room. I thought it was unsuccessful and wanted his money back. But he came back the following week, having smoked one cigarette per day. It proves that the client hears my voice.
Patients shouldn’t Remain in the Dark.
Before their first session, it is crucial to give the patients some information about what to expect. I do this by explaining what I will be working on to put positive thoughts into their subconscious mind and that in hypnosis. This way, they will be even more aware of what is going on.
I also let them know that I am a professional who is here to help them reach their goals. By the time they sit down for their first session, they will be well on their way to recovery. In hypnosis, the patient is more aware of their surroundings than in everyday life. They can hear my voice, the ticking of a clock, and any music I play in the background.
However, it is their subconscious mind that is in control during hypnosis. It allows them to focus on the task and believe in themselves.
I help my clients down the track we have agreed, providing them with focus and direction. I also help them remove any negative emotions that may have been inflicted on them in the past.
That process is detailed in another blog. But suffice it to say, it is quick and effective. Jack Mason’s mantra of total believability and focus will take you wherever you want to go!