Hypnosis: Questions and answers

Newsletter #92 for Internationally Adopting Parents
July 3, 2008
PAL Center Inc.

Happy 4th of July!

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Due to summer vacations of the staff members as well as many of our readers the next issue of our Newsletter will be postponed until September 4, 2008

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Hypnosis: Questions and Answers

In the previous issue #91 of our Newsletter we introduced one of the BGCenter new therapists Elina Polyakov, LCSW who works with families and adults on resolving emotional issues, stress management, and parenting techniques, utilizing hypnotherapy among other therapeutic methods. In this Newsletter Elina answers most typical questions about hypnosis.

Q: Can I be hypnotized against my will?
A: No! You cannot be hypnotized if you do not want to be. In fact, hypnotherapy will only be effective if the client wants to be helped and wants to resolve their problem.

Q: Can I be made to do an immoral act while in a hypnotic state?
A: No! You will not follow a suggestion that goes against your moral standards. For example, if you do not steal in a conscious state of mind, you will not do so under hypnosis. In a hypnotic state a client will either accept or refuse a suggestion. Furthermore, a therapist is a professional who is governed by a strict code of ethics and would not ask a client to perform an immoral act.

Q: Can I lose consciousness?
A: No! Under hypnosis you will be in a heightened state of awareness and know what is happening around you. You will focus all attention on the therapist's instructions and ignore everything else. This is similar to reading a captivating book or watching a fascinating movie. While focusing on the activity, you pay little attention to anything
else. The word "sleep" is frequently used in hypnosis but it does not refer to night-time sleep. To an observer, a person in a hypnotic state may appear to be sleeping; but this is not the case. While clients may close their eyes and relax physically, they recognize that
they are not sleeping.

Q: Is it difficult to exit a hypnotic state?
A: No! You can exit hypnosis at any time. However, it is recommended that you remain in the hypnotic state until the therapist instructs you to exit. Even if something happens to a therapist after they put you in a hypnotic state, you will bring yourself out of hypnosis with little effort.

Q: Must I have a weak will in order to be hypnotized?
A: No! In fact the stronger the will of a person the more likely they are to achieve success in hypnosis. This is because people are most influenced by their own suggestions and, in actuality, put themselves in a hypnotic state. A therapist's role is to guide you in this process.

Q: Can everyone be hypnotized?
A: Most people are capable of reaching a hypnotic state, as long as they are motivated to do so. Since every person has, many times, been in a state which is essentially the same as the hypnotic condition (i.e. reading an interesting book or watching a movie) you will be able to achieve a hypnotic state if you cooperate and concentrate on what is being said by the therapist.

Q: Is it necessary to be in a deep state of hypnosis in order to achieve therapeutic success?
A: Not necessarily. Depending on the specific problem, different levels of hypnotic depth are required. With practice you will be able to achieve the required depth.

Q: Will I remember what happened?
A: Not always. If you are in a deep hypnotic state, you may not remember what happened during hypnosis once you awake. This is similar to a night-time dream which you can not recall when you wake. It is important to realize that your subconscious mind remembers everything that is being said by the therapist.

Q: Can I hypnotize myself?
A: Yes! Self-hypnosis is a valuable skill that you can master with practice. It is especially effective in helping resolve the following issues: stress, low self-confidence, insomnia or poor sleep, and pain. Learning self-hypnosis is a necessary part of the therapeutic process and will be taught during the initial hypnotherapy session.

More info about hypnosis: www.science.howstuffworks.com/hypnosis.htm