How to Select
a Hypnotherapist
by Paul
Gustafson
Most of us know all about
daydreaming or zoning out. It is that unique moment
in time when we lose all connection to whatever is
going on around us. We may be present physically but
we feel as though we are millions of miles away.
That is an example of naturally occurring
subconscious thought and hypnosis is the simple
process of enabling it to occur.
The subconscious mind is a complex and powerful
place. It is where all of our values, beliefs,
habits and patterns reside. It is also our body’s
control center; it regulates our breathing, heart
rate and the thousands of metabolic functions that
occur automatically everyday of our lives.
The subconscious mind is active when we daydream,
zone out, stare at a television or computer screen
or when we sleep. It is also active when we are
hypnotized. Having access to this powerful level of
thought is the reason hypnosis is so effective in
offering long term solutions for so many physical
and emotional concerns.
The conscious mind, or short-term memory, has a much
different job description. It keeps us in the here
and now. It analyzes, critiques, accepts or denies
the storage of daily information into the long term
memory or subconscious mind. With the client’s trust
and co-operation the hypnotherapist helps them
bypass the critical conscious factor and is then
able to offer new positive direction in the form of
suggestions, imagery and metaphors directly into the
subconscious mind, where it is then acted upon and
becomes the client’s new reality.
Think of the hypnotherapist as a tour guide. Since
hypnosis is the language of the mind they skillfully
use nothing more than words to point clients toward
relaxing vacation spots in their minds. The
hypnotherapist has no power over the client at all;
it is completely up to them how relaxed they choose
to become or if they wish to become relaxed at all.
So essentially, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis.
Hypnosis feels as right as rain! It is a natural
peaceful moment of inner stillness. Some clients
describe it as a peaceful heaviness, as though they
are sinking or melting into the surface beneath
them. Others describe sensations of floating or a
mind–body separation. For most, hypnosis is a
combination of deep physical relaxation and
heightened focus.
Fifty to100% of those hypnotized hear and remember
everything that is said to them during a session
because the conscious mind may be taking a break,
but it is still quietly monitoring things from the
background.
Today hypnosis is widely used in 21st century
medicine, psychotherapy, athletics and dentistry. It
helps with smoking cessation, weight loss, relieving
symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, allergies,
pain and stress. Hypnosis enhances general health,
academic, sales and creative arts performance. It
can help improve public speaking skills, confidence
and self-esteem. Hypnosis helps clients to sleep
better, improve concentration, memory and
relationships.
It also helps students ace exams; it supports
complication-free surgery and helps mothers
comfortably deliver babies without the need for any
medications. With hypnosis, clients are involved
with the process of creating positive change, which
is as empowering as it is rewarding.
The keys to success with hypnosis are fairly simple:
you need to be an open and willing participant; you
need to be truly motivated and lastly you should be
sitting with someone who is professional and
capable. In most states hypnosis is not a regulated
profession which means there are no professional
standards ensuring competence or accountability.
A good direction to take when looking for a
qualified hypnotherapist is to find someone who is
also a licensed healthcare provider such as a
physician, registered nurse, psychologist,
psychiatrist or a social worker. These individuals
are educated and certified in their field and are
more likely able to offer professional quality care.
You should also ask your primary physician for a
referral. Although most doctors know very little
about hypnosis it is a good base to cover and they
may just surprise you with a referral. Another
resource might be holistic health centers, where
there are usually several modalities of holistic
practitioners under one roof.
Online you can use sites like www.superpages.com
which offer searches based on the category and
distance from your home. From there you can research
websites, office rates, qualifications and also get
a feel for their level of professionalism, at least
as it is presented on the internet.
From the initial phone conversation with a
prospective hypnotherapist you should be able to
gauge if they are generally interested in your
concerns, how long they have been in business and
what their qualifications are. You might ask if they
are affiliated with any particular organizations.
There are many reputable governing organizations
which have their own code of ethics. An example
would be The National Guild of Hypnotists (
www.NGH.net )
You should also ask if the session(s) will be
specific to your needs and if you receive a
recording of the session for home reinforcement.
Many hypnotherapists do not record the sessions and
only offer a generic reinforcement tape while others
offer nothing at all.
Also ask if they will teach you how to self-induce
hypnotic trance which is a great way to help you own
the process even more and it also helps you to
become an independent practitioner giving you the
opportunity to add new control and freedom to other
areas of your life all on your own.
Another helpful question is to ask how many sessions
you will need. The hypnotherapist should be able to
give you a good idea of how many. You should also
ask for references. I have a long list of satisfied
clients who gladly make themselves available to
anyone who is curious about my services.
If you get all the right answers to these questions
and feel good about the person you are speaking
with, the last thing is to make sure their rates are
in line with the area they practice in. This varies
greatly from one part of the country to the next.
Don’t let a few dollars dictate your decision. If
you feel good about how they describe their services
and they seem to respect you and your concerns don’t
let a few dollars get in the way of a positive
experience.
Now that you have chosen a hypnotherapist the last
step is to evaluate their office. If they got
passing grades so far the chances are pretty good
that the office experience well get good marks as
well. Their office could be in an office building or
in their home. You will know right away if it is
clean and professional in appearance. You should
feel safe and protected. The hypnotherapist should
make you feel welcome and cared for. There should
also be a comfortable place for you to relax during
your session.
If everything meets your approval just relax and
enjoy yourself. Hypnotherapy is a wonderful
experience on many levels. You may discover great
clarity and understanding. You may experience new
freedom, control and fulfillment. In life we all
follow the path of our most dominant thoughts,
hypnosis lets you choose your thoughts and reframe
your world.
Paul Gustafson RN, BSN, CH is the founder of
www.HealthyHypnosis.com in Burlington,
Massachusetts. His 11 years of acute cardiac and
hospice experience offer a solid foundation
supporting his clinical approach to hypnotherapy.
Visit
www.HealthyHypnosis.com or call toll free at
888-290-3972 for a free video about hypnosis.
Healthy Hypnosis
Paul Gustafson RN, BSN, CH
P.O. Box 786
Burlington, MA 01803
781-750-8666; FAX: 208-977-5794
E-Mail:
info@myhypno.com
Website:
http://www.myhypno.com
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