What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a powerful mind-body approach used in psychotherapy. It helps individuals achieve their goals, improve their mental health, and create positive changes. By guiding you into a focused state of relaxation, the “hypnotic state,” your therapist taps into your natural ability to imagine and focus on shifting thoughts, habits, and behaviours. This innovative technique is highly effective for addressing a range of concerns. They include anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep issues, chronic pain, weight management, smoking cessation, unhelpful habits, phobias, and more.

We use hypnotherapy as a gentle and supportive tool to help clients uncover insights, quiet their minds, and reframe their thinking. It’s a collaborative process that empowers individuals to take control of their healing and personal growth.

How Does Hypnosis Work?

Hypnosis works by leveraging the mind’s natural ability to focus and imagine. In a hypnotic state, you are deeply relaxed yet fully aware. Your mind opens up and is receptive to accepting new ideas. The hypnotherapist will use this to offer suggestions that you are most likely to act upon.

Take the example of quitting smoking. During hypnosis, your therapist will suggest that you can overcome cravings and let go of the habit. Because your mind is open and focused, this suggestion can feel more impactful and improve your chances of success.

Hypnosis also helps quiet the chatter of the conscious mind, allowing you to explore your subconscious thoughts and uncover valuable insights. For instance, if you struggle with sleep, hypnotherapy can reveal the contributing subconscious stressors causing the difficulty. Hypnotherapy accesses the deeper parts of your mind, making treatment effective in shorter periods of time.

Myths About Hypnotherapy

Many people misunderstand hypnotherapy because of how it is portrayed in entertainment, such as stage hypnosis. No, hypnotherapy will not make you cluck like a chicken! Hypnotherapy will not make you lose control of your mind or body. Instead, it is a deeply collaborative and empowering process. You will remain in charge throughout the session and will not be forced to do anything against your will.

In fact, all forms of hypnosis are considered “self-hypnosis.” With practice, most people can reach a hypnotic state without assistance. Hypnotherapy is simply a tool to help you access this state more effectively and use it to achieve your goals. You will not be asleep during sessions, and you will be fully aware of what is happening.

What Issues Can Hypnotherapy Help With?

Hypnotherapy is a versatile and effective tool for addressing a wide range of mental health and wellness concerns. It can help individuals manage anxiety, depression, and PTSD by targeting the root causes of emotional distress.

Hypnotherapy is also beneficial for improving sleep, overcoming insomnia, and managing chronic pain. For those looking to make lifestyle changes, it can assist with weight management, smoking cessation, and breaking unhelpful habits. Additionally, it is highly effective for addressing phobias, fears, stress management, and psychosomatic conditions such as asthma.

By accessing the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy enables individuals to identify and resolve underlying issues, leading to meaningful and lasting change.

What Can I Expect During a Hypnosis Session?

A typical hypnotherapy session begins with a relaxation exercise to help calm your mind and body. Your hypnotherapist will then guide you through an induction technique, a series of steps to help you enter a deeper state of relaxation and focus. For example, they may ask you to imagine yourself in a peaceful, healing environment, like a beach or a forest.

Once you are in a state of hypnosis, the session will focus on your specific goals or concerns. The hypnotherapist will offer suggestions to reframe your thinking and create healthier patterns or behaviours. At the end of the session, your hypnotherapist will gently guide you back to the present moment. Most clients leave the hypnotherapy sessions feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Hypnotherapy sessions typically last 60 minutes. Your individual needs will determine how many treatments you require. Some clients notice significant improvements after just a few sessions, while others benefit from ongoing hypnotherapy as part of a broader treatment plan.

Is Hypnotherapy Safe?

In general, hypnotherapy is very safe when practiced by a trained professional. It is a non-invasive technique with few risks or side effects. However, hypnotherapy may not be suitable for individuals with severe mental health conditions, such as psychosis. We recommend speaking to your primary healthcare team about this first.

Side effects are rare and can include headaches, dizziness, or feelings of anxiety. If you get distressed during a session, your hypnotherapist is trained to safely guide you through.

Birthing Unafraid – HypnoBirthing®

The Mongan Method HypnoBirthingⓇ is a world-renowned program that has been around for over 30 years.  It operates under the premise that birth is a natural biological event, not necessarily a medical one. Birthing is an act between mom and baby, and their bodies know what to do instinctively.

We offer group sessions for expectant people and their birth companions to support each other as you learn about and practice HypnoBirthing® techniques. We prepare for your childbirth by focusing on relaxation, breathing and self-hypnosis techniques to reduce fear and anxiety to create a calm and relaxing environment and have the birth experience you want.

Begin Your Healing Journey with Hypnotherapy

At Shanti Psychotherapy, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that empowers individuals to achieve their goals and improve their well-being.

Hypnotherapy is an innovative and effective tool for addressing a wide range of challenges. It can help you uncover insights, break unhelpful patterns, and create positive changes in your life. If you’re ready to explore hypnotherapy, we offer a free 20-minute consultation. During this consultation, we can discuss your needs, explore how to support you and create a plan that aligns with your goals.