Myths & Misconceptions

"I don't want to lose control, I don't want my mind controlled by the hypnotist. please don't make me cluck like a chicken!"

The idea that you lose control or the hypnotist has some mysterious power over you, causing you to do things you wouldn't ordinarily do, is one of the commonest misconceptions of hypnosis. We can blame much of this on either late night movies where some helpless heroine is transfixed by the bloodshot eyes of Dracula or on the erroneous conclusions of stage hypnotists.

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. It is not something that is done to you, rather something you do to yourself. It is a consent-state. The hypnotherapist is a trained and certified guide to this naturally-occurring state.

Stage hypnosis relies on volunteers. These people are extroverted by nature and willingly volunteer to perform on stage. They already have a mental expectancy to outperform others and hypnosis merely gives them an extra boost of confidence to do so. The result is a self-perpetuating series of more impressive stage acts. The stage hypnotist looks good and makes money. He has no power over the volunteers, he merely takes advantage of their competitive nature to ensure a good show.

You are in total control of the suggestions you accept during the hypnotherapy session. If the therapist might suggest, " I want you rob every bank in the neighbourhood, bring all the money to me and then wash my car", you would simply emerge from the hypnotic state, think the therapist was a total idiot, leave the office and never come back.

Contrary to this myth, hypnotherapists encourage clients to take more control of their lives. Clients come to sessions because they have little control over some aspects of their lives, eg eating, smoking, stress, fears, nail biting etc. Through hypnotherapy you can gain greater control over these issues.

"I'm not sure I can be hypnotised. other people maybe, but not me!"

Hypnosis is a naturally-occurring state that you have already experienced many times during the day.

The twilight time as you drift off to sleep and emerge from sleep, daydreaming, zoning out with a good book or movie, driving your car 'auto-pilot' while being deep in thought. All are examples of a light state of hypnosis.

The answer to the question, "Can I be hypnotised?" is not, "Yes, you can". Rather, the correct answer is, "You already have been!"

The only exception to this is the mentally retarded. Any person with normal intelligence can be (and already has been) hypnotised.

"What happens if I get stuck in hypnosis and can't come out?"

If this happens with the tens of thousands of hypnotherapy clinics currently practising in the world, where do they put the bodies? And wouldn't we read about it in the papers?

Seriously though it's impossible to get 'stuck' in hypnosis; just as it's impossible to get stuck while reading a good book. "Well Dad, we'd better call the doctor, Mum got too engrossed in her favourite romance novel again, now she's stuck and can't make tea". This just doesn't happen.

If your hypnotherapist was abducted by aliens right in the middle of your hypnosis session you would simply emerge to your normal conscious state when you're ready to do so.

"I don't want to reveal any secrets in hypnosis!"

Hypnosis is not truth serum. You will not divulge any information that you don't want to. People can even lie in hypnosis.

"I wasn't asleep, I heard everything you said... maybe I wasn't hypnotised!

Hypnosis is not sleep. You are not unconscious in any way. The client in hypnosis looks like he's asleep because he is enjoying a profound and pleasant state of physical relaxation. He is reluctant to move at all, unlike the conscious state where people are constantly jiggling feet, tapping, adjusting to a more comfortable position etc.

The physical body looks asleep but the mind is very much aware. Especially the subconscious mind. You will hear everything that is said.

"Maybe hypnosis will harm me in some way!"

Hypnosis is completely harmless. In over 100 years of documented study there is not one case of anyone being harmed because of or through hypnosis.