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How To Choose A Clinical Hypnosis Practitioner

Helping someone to find a qualified hypnosis thereapist doesn’t have to be trial and error. Nor do you have to fear asking a friend for a reccomendation.

I came across this article that I believe can help you to do that. It also contains a resource to check out your potential hypno-therapist.

The major dilemma in deciding to pursue hypnotherapy is selecting a qualified Hypnotist.

You need to decide whether you want to work with a psychiatrist or other licensed mental health practitioner who includes hypnosis as a part of their practice, or if you want a hypnotist who uses hypnosis exclusively as a healing modality.

Psychiatrists and other licensed mental health practitioners at times use hypnosis in treating people; however certified hypnotists have more in-depth training. The psychiatrist or licensed mental health practitioner may have attended a weekend workshop and learned how to induce hypnosis but may have little or no experience in communicating with the mind in its subconscious mode.

The first question to ask anyone with whom you consider working is “Are you a certified hypnotist and by whom?” The National Guild of Hypnotherapists is the oldest and largest worldwide non-profit certifying organization cited by Congress in the Congressional Record of May 11th, 1993 as the foremost hypnosis organization in the country.

Although, one assumes all licensed professionals are highly qualified, that does not hold true with hypnosis, a licensed professional needs to be certified in hypnosis in addition to their license. Therefore, whomever you choose, be sure they are certified by a certifying institution or recognized organization and have had a minimum of 100 hours of training–not just a weekend seminar.

In addition, it is important to consider a Hypnotist, who is also a certified Regression practitioner. The reason it is important to choose a Hypnotist, who is also a certified Regression practitioner is because the root cause of your issue is more often than not rooted in your past experiences–therefore, regression to those experiences to heal the emotional issues is necessary. A certified Hypnotist has little or no training in regression work. Therefore, to have the most qualified Hypnotist make sure they are a certified Hypnotist and certified Regression practitioner.

The International Board for Regression Therapy (IBRT) Inc. as an independent examining and certifying board www.ibrt.org is the foremost regression certifying organization. Its mission is to set professional standards for practice, evaluate the preparation and qualifications of practitioners and the quality of training programs, and to issue certificates to those who pass the rigorous evaluation process. It is a not-for-profit corporation registered in New York State.

Another area to explore is how much experience the prospective therapist has had in your area of need. How long have they been in full-time practice? What are their specialties? Do they have experience in addressing the problem you want to address or in attaining the goal you want to achieve? How many clients have they treated? How many successfully?

Another question particularly helpful is “What is the law regarding the practice of hypnotherapy in your state?” In Illinois, it is PA473. The reason it is important that any prospective hypnotist know the law is because hypnotherapy must be practiced in strict conformity with it. Be suspicious of anyone who doesn’t know the limits of their practice.

Finally, if you are satisfied with the responses to all other questions, ask yourself one final question. “Am I comfortable with this person?” Attempting to work with someone who maybe highly qualified but with whom you have no rapport or with someone you don’t feel you can trust will only serve to interfere with your progress.

Article written by Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, a Certified Hypnotist

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Sleep Better With Self Hypnosis

I believe there’s a close correlation between being under hypnosis and being asleep. If you have ever been under hypnosis you’ll know just how close it feels to being in the early stages of sleep. This is why hypnotherapy is so useful in helping people get a night of quality sleep.

The problems and the cause of the problems that cause sleep deprivation can vary greatly.  Going through a particularly stressful period might only allow you to be abe to sleep three or four hours a night, or perhaps you sleep ten hours but wake up feeling like you’ve had no sleep at all. Or, perhaps just going to sleep can be a problem.

Have you ever experienced any of these situations?

Adults needs to get seven to eight hours of quality sleep a night in most cases. Any less and you will feel tired, find it hard to concentrate, struggle to make decisions and heighten the risk of suffering from depression. If you get too much sleep (more than seven to eight hours) a night can also cause problems, leaving you lethargic throughout the day.

Here’s a little background on the types of sleep and why they’re important:

Non-REM
During non-REM sleep, the brain is quiet and peaceful. The body repairs itself and releases hormones into the bloodstream, preparing itself for the day ahead. There are four stages to Non-REM sleep.
1. Pre-sleep – The muscles relax, body temperature drops and the heart beat slows.
2. Light-sleep – You can be easily awoken without feelings of confusion.
3. Slow wave sleep – Your blood pressure begins to fall.
4. Deep slow wave sleep – You are very hard to waken, when you do, you will awaken confused and groggy.

REM
REM is the deepest state of sleep and makes up for a fifth of your sleep time. During the REM stage your brain becomes very active, your body very relaxed and your eyes move around quickly. This is the sleep stage in which dreams become more vivid and easier to remember.

If you’ve ever watched someone sleeping and see their eyes moving or fluttering quickly, this shows that they’re in REM sleep.

During a night of sleep you will move between Non-REM and REM sleep around five times.

How Hypnosis Helps Where Pills Fail

I personally feel that using drugs or pills to aid in sleep isn’t a wise thing to do. It’s a short term solution to and unerlying problem and they can have pretty nasty side effects and become addictive. There is a better way. And that is the use of self hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a natural way to create deep, relaxing REM sleep and has no side affects or addictive concerns. Hypnosis can also be used to discover the problems causing sleep deprivation and help in dealing with what you discover.

How Hypnosis Works

The first thing you do is relax. Relax your body and allow your mind to be quiet. While your conscious mind is relaxed, you will then begin making suggestions to your unconscious mind instructing it to accept positive commands such as, “your eyes feel heavy”. Once this is achieved sleep will follow.

Here’ our article on How To Do Self Hypnosis It’s a step-by-step self hypnosis guide and how-to video.

The bottom line is, if you’re not getting enough sleep and you (wisely) don’t want to resort to pills or drugs, self hypnosis could be your ticket. You have nothing to lose in trying it and much to gain if you do it successfully.

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Self Hypnosis: How To Do It

Self hypnosis isn’t some spooky way to go out of your body and travel into different times and dimension. Although, some people claim to have done just that.

Rather, it’s a way to relax, de-stress your mind and body and a great tool to use in achieving goals.

I also believe (from experience) you can get in touch with the person that is way down deep inside of you and create positive changes in all areas of your life.

You may find watching this video will help you understand the process and give you some additional tips

How It’s Done

  1. Have a short positive or motivational statement that you want to induct into your subconsious. “I am quitting smoking”, “My back pain is gone”, or whatever goal you wish to achieve. Alwasy word it “I am . . . . .”
  2. In a quiet room, sit in a comfortable chair or couch. Don’t lie down. There’s a greater chance of falling asleep if you lie down than if you sit upright. Also, don’t cross your legs or arms. You could be in this position for quite a while and become uncomfortable. Have you arms lying comfortablly and naturally by your side. I’ve had success with my hands clasped on my chest, but this is rare.
  3. Ensure there are no interuptions for at least 30 minutes (mute your phone, close the door to the room, ask people to not disturb you).
  4. Close your eyes and just relax by breathing slowly and deeply in and out. Think only of clearing your mind of feelings such as fear, stress, anger or whatever may be “bugging” you. These negative thoughts may (and will) try to intrude as you try to relax. When they do, don’t fight them. Acklnowledge them with no emotion and let them gently slip away. At first this will be challenging, but over time you will get better at it and it will become easier.
  5. Observe in your mind’s eye where ther is tension in your body. Then imagine this tension slowly slipping away and your body becoming lighter.
    Note:
    I’ve discovered that I tend to focus on a green or blue light that appears directly in front of me when I”m de-tensioning. It feels great as the stress melts away.
    Another good idea is to image something soothing to you such as soft rain or a gentle breeze that’s flowing over your body, relaxing it.
  6. When your tension has gone (and it will with practice), start to slowly and rythmically, breath deep, and exhale long and deeply. As you inhale, see a soft green (or whatever color you find relaxing), soothing light coming in with your breath.
    Keep this rythmic good air in, tension out breathin.g pattern until you feel yourself feeling extremely relaxed and drifing down, down, down. You may even have a sensation of floating in the air. (I love that!)
    Some find it beneficial to see themselves at the top of a stairway of say…10 steps. And they slowly count down from 1 to 10 while vizualizing walking slowly down the stairs in tune with their count. One step…one breath etc.
    Keep this up until your achieve that floating sensation I mention above. Don’t rush it. Don’t push it. Be patient.
    Tip:
    I find rythmic music (not rock and roll) softly playing in the background or on my Ipod helps me relax faster and go very very deep into a meditative state.
  7. If you find that you’re not achieving a floating, free from your body sensation, start over. Your subconscious mind will try to protect you from taking control of your mind (and feelings) away from it and placing control in YOUR own hands. Recognize that is natural.
    You can try thinking a mantra such as “I am becoming calm and relaxed” or “I am letting go and feeling light and free”. Use whatever feels right.
  8. Once you’re in a deep “trance” like state, start to imagine your statement from step 1. Don’t say it outloud. Read it in your minds eye.
  9. When you feel you’ve repeated your statement as many times as you wish (usually 2-4 times) then it’s time to come “awake” again.
  10. Just start counting backwardsin your mind from 10 to 1. You’ll feel yourself becoming heavier as the numbers pass. At about 3 your breathing will be more normal and it’s time to slowly open your eyes.
  11. Now, just sit there with your eyes open and relax for few seconds. Don’t just jump up and get back to your day. Revel in your new feeling. Enjoy the warmth you may feel. Just ENJOY!
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Hypnosis: Myths And Facts

Myth – Only weak-minded people can be hypnotized
Anyone can be hypnotized. In fact, we all use some form of hypnosis in our everyday lives, either consciously or unconsciously, each time we use our imaginations, feel emotions, etc. Normal, everyday hypnosis occurs when you are driving down the road and lose track of time, or, when you are focusing on a book or television program and you don’t even notice something that is going on around you.

Myth – A hypnotist has complete power over you when you are hypnotized
It is always up to you, whether you are having a session with a hypnotist, listening to hypnosis recording or receiving information through some other media – from a doctor or salesperson, an advertisement, watching news, reading books or newspapers – whether you want to accept or reject the ideas and information offered. You are always in control. The hypnotist’s role during a session is simply to help you establish communication with your subconscious mind in order to overcome your limiting beliefs and habits which are obstacles to reaching your goals.

Myth – If you can hear the hypnotist, you were not hypnotized
This misconception is probably due to the notion that a hypnotic state is like sleep. The level of awareness of your surroundings may alter a bit, but you will still be aware of the hypnotist or his voice. If you lost all awareness of the hypnotist, how could you follow the instructions? The more you immerse yourself in your subconscious, the less will you be aware of your surroundings in the way that you are used to, but you will still be aware of the hypnotist’s voice.

Myth – People can remain permanently stuck in hypnosis
Although some people enjoy deep trance so much that they don’t want to come out, no one has ever got ‘stuck’. During hypnosis your body feels deeply relaxed and your mind is completely free of the stresses of everyday life. The deeper into trance you go, the better you feel. But you are in control. When the session comes to an end, you emerge out of this state.

How many times do I need to see a hypnotherapist?
Although sometimes people find that their issues are resolved with only one session, most people usually find that between 2-4 sessions are most effective.  A few may need up to 6 sessions to address their specific issues. This is dependent on the person and the issue.

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Hypnosis: How Does It Work

Research has shown that people who understand hypnosis before their first session benefit much more from using it. So if you’re just starting to delve into the subject, here is a brief overview.

To understand hypnotics, you must realize there are four components of the mind

  1. Unconscious Mind – your body’s autonomous nervous system; responsible for respiration, heartbeat, etc. – things we don’t think about. The unconscious holds your instincts, generates feelings (the physical attributes of emotions). It has a limited ability to change and learn.
  2. Subconscious mind – who you really are. As you go through life, you build a ‘database’ in your subconscious mind that forms your habits, behaviors, beliefs; generates emotions. Resists change but seems to be unlimited in capacity.
  3. Critical factor – a comparing mechanism between the conscious mind and subconscious mind. When you receive new information through your senses it’s acknowledged by the conscious mind and then this critical factor compares it to what is already in your subconscious mind.
    If this new information matches what is already there, especially in the area of limiting beliefs and habits, then it instantly goes in and reinforces what already exists.
    But if the new information doesn’t match what’s already there, it just goes into your subconscious ‘database’ of information – stuff you know about but really doesn’t have an affect on your life. Your critical factor is the reason it is hard to change beliefs and habits.
  4. Conscious mind – the part of us that thinks; our point of focus. This point of focus is in the now – right now you’re consciously focusing on this web page. Analytical and logical – it’s kind of your problem-solving mechanism. Limited in the amount of information it can hold at any time.
    This is why trying to consciously make important and substantial changes in your life usually fails. Because the conscious mind can only hold a very limited amount of information.

The subconscious mind is unlimited. Hypnosis allows you to go into your subconscious mind and work with that greater database of who you are and have an affect on your habits and beliefs, especially those limiting beliefs that may be holding you back from achieving your dreams.

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Hypnosis: Is It Safe

In a word . . . YES!

Hypnosis can be one of the most powerful tools you can use to make positive change in any area of your life.

Hypnosis is no more dangerous than a daydream. It is actually very relaxing and is used extensively to relieve stress and anxiety.

Hypnosis can be used to focus on achieving goals and even eliminating minor aches and pains. Scientists, psychologists, medical professionals and hypnotherapists have been using hypnosis for over 200 years. And no one has ever been hurt by simply going into hypnosis.

Hypnosist has been used by the medical profession and others for a great variety of things, such as anesthesia, behavioral change and psychosomatic illness.

But what about those people I’ve seen acting like fools on TV while hypnotized. The truth is <strong>you can’t be made to do anything under hypnosis that you don’t want to do. You remain completely in control and can end a hypnotic state when you want to.

The hyypnotherapist is not in control of your mind . . . you are. Hypnosis is a consensual state. As a matter of fact, the hypnotherapist is really just acting as a coach or guide.  He or she knows a number of hypnotic inductions where, if you follow the instructions, you will become focused, relaxed and go into a wonderful state of relazation.

When you go into hypnosis, you are always going to be conscious – you will never be unconscious.  Whatever the hypnotist is having you focus on is a function of your conscious mind.  Typically, the hypnotist will have you focus on relaxation and going into a deeper state of relaxation.

Because all the levels of the mind have protective functions, no matter how deeply you go into hypnosis, you’ll always be able to protect yourself.  If a suggestion were given to you that you don’t like, you would automatically reject it.

If it was something that you really didn’t like, you would probably even emerge from your hypnotic state.