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COUNSELING
EXPERT
ADV I S OR
Answering Your Questions About
Hypnotism Photo by Dan Epstein
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What is hypnosis? Is it some kind of mind control? Hypnosis is a state of mind in which you are relaxed and focused, and your concentration is much higher than if you were awake. In hypnosis, we bypass the conscious mind (the critical thinking part). The suggestions that are made during hypnosis go directly to the subconscious mind, where thoughts and behaviors can be changed because of this very heightened awareness. When you are given a new suggestion about a behavior you want to change and if that suggestion is within your belief system, your subconscious mind accepts the new behavior as reality. When you are hypnotized, you feel very relaxed, and if you are like most people, you should remember everything that happened during the session.
Can anyone be hypnotized? Yes, in fact we are hypnotized every day without knowing it. Have you ever driven in your car and realized that you got to your destination without knowing it? You did so because you were in a trance or a state of self-hypnosis. Hypnosis works by identifying the negative behaviors you want to change and then replacing it with positive behaviors that can help you achieve your goals. The hypnotist is the facilitator that allows you to relax and gives your subconscious mind the ability to make the desired changes.
Is hypnosis dangerous?
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Kathleen M. Lindert, ACH Advanced Hypnosis Counseling 295 Bloomfield Ave, Caldwell 973-402-6362 • www.AdvancedHypno.com
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North Jersey Woman
First Quarter 2013
No, hypnosis is not dangerous. Hypnosis involves just listening to the hypnotist’s words and music so that you can become very relaxed. It is a great tool to change your way of thinking and to make positive changes that you want to make but do not know how to make. The hypnotist knows how to gently release your mental blocks and fears and how to help you create a new inner belief that will set the wheels in motion for changes in the way you think, feel and behave.
Can you make me do things I do not want to do? Contrary to what many people believe, you are always in control during hypnosis. No one can make you do anything that is against your moral or ethical values. You have to want to make the suggested change in your behavior. Remember: there can be no hypnosis unless you hypnotize yourself.