HYPNOTHERAPY

When seeking to address the root cause of a problem, quite often it begins in the mind.

​

Hypnotherapy is a unique and powerful tool that I integrated into my naturopathic toolkit over a decade ago to address the limitations our minds can place on us. Hypnotherapy enables us to tap into our deepest potential and the healing power of the mind. It can help us overcome limiting beliefs, emotional baggage and/or undesired behaviours that trap us in unhealthy patterns, and it can positively propel us forward with more confidence and resilience. 

 

To learn more about hypnotherapy and hypnosis, please check out the FAQ below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a broad label that includes various techniques that work with the subconcious mind to create beneficial therapeutic outcomes. Hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), Mental and Emotional Release (MER®) and Timeline Therapy are all forms of hypnotherapy.



What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind simply characterized by a slower brainwave state. In this state there is an overlap between the Conscious and Subconscious mind, creating an expanded state of awareness. Put simply, hypnosis is simply a heightened state of focus and attention. A common experience of being in a state of hypnosis is when watching a movie. Since we CHOOSE to suspend our critical, analytical mind and focus our attention on the movie, we ALLOW ourselves to immerse in the experience, and feel apart of it, even though it is not real. That is hypnosis. Hypnosis is a do-with process, not a do-to process. This means that whomever wishes to be hypnotized is responsible for their own experience and outcome of it.



How does hypnosis work?

The Conscious mind is that part of the mind that allows us to reason, solve problems and make decisions; it accounts for only about 10% of our mind’s power. That explains why our “will power” so often fails us when we depend on it to help us make changes in ourselves. The Subconscious mind defines us. It is the feeling part of us which contains all our emotions, memories, habits, belief systems, and controls all of our internal organs. It accounts for about 90% of our mental power. Our Subconscious mind is unable to reason or rationalize. It does not know the difference between right or wrong, but does what we instruct or “program” it to do. If it believes we are competent people, we will be. If it has become programmed to fear snakes or planes, we will. If we expect pain, we will perceive pain. The "reality" we perceive actually begins in our mind. Hypnotherapy enables us to directly access the Subconscious mind, and modulate or "replace" elements to create a "new reality."



How does someone get "hypnotized"? Can I be hypnotized?

All hypnosis is self-hypnosis so the first thing that is required is a complete willingness to engage in the process. No one can force you into a state of hypnosis. The perfect hypnosis subject is someone who has a goal and understands that they alone are responsible for achieving it and they are completely motivated to make the changes necessary for that to happen. After that, hypnosis is a cinch since we are all walking around in a trance state anyway. Any time you have daydreamed, driven the route home "mindlessly", or cried during a movie, you have been in a hypnotic trance. Anyone can be hypnotized. When creating a trance state for therapeutic purposes it simply involves focusing your attention as you direct your thoughts and imagination in useful ways. There are no swinging watches involved!



How will I know I'm in a state of hypnosis?

You won't. People experience hypnosis in different ways and however you experience it is the right way for you. Some people physically feel lighter, some feel heavier, some feel like they're just sitting in a chair. Some people have no awareness of where they went during the process, others recall every detail of the process. Some are completely consumed by the experience as if inside of a dream while others hear their analytical mind narrating or asking questions during the process. Most commonly, people report feeling incredibly relaxed throughout the process and come back feeling refreshed and revitalized.



Can I be made to do something against my will?

You maintain the ability to reject any suggestion given to you while in hypnosis. No one can make you do anything against your will. You are always in control of your own mind and body. A hypnotherapist is simply a facilitator.



Can I get stuck in hypnosis?

No! Absolutely not! Remember, hypnosis is a perfectly natural state of mind. It is part of our brain wave cycle, as are sleep and fully conscious states. You maintain control.



Will I be unconscious?

No, you are simply in a dual state of mind where the Subconscious and Conscious minds overlap. It is similar to the brain states we are in just before falling asleep or waking from sleep.



How many sessions will I need?

Session frequencies increase with the complexity of the problem and the degree to which underlying issues play a role.Every client has a unique personal profile so sessions are based on the depth and breadth of the issues that need to be addressed. In general, more simple problems such as smoking, nail biting, and fears and phobias often require only one or two sessions, and the success rate is very high. Set up a complimentary consult with me where we can discuss your unique case and needs.



What are some of the conditions or problems that hypnotherapy can assist with?

To name a few: smoking cessation, fears and phobias, behaviour modification, attachment to long held emotions (ie: hurt, guilt, grief, sadness, anger), limiting beliefs (ie: "I'm not good enough", "I'm not loveable"), stuck states (ie: laziness, procrastination), conflicting parts (ie: "Part of me really wants to stay in the relationship and another part of me really wants to leave"), skin conditions, asthma, stress management, weight reduction, pain management, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, sports performance and goal achievement (ie health, fitness, relationship, career).



Can hypnotherapy sessions be done online?

Yes, sessions can be done online. All that's required is an internet connection and a private space where you won't be interrupted. In-office work is actually not necessary and in fact I have found that outcomes are even more impactful when clients experience immediate changes within a familiar environment.



Do you provide your services internationally?

I am licensed to practice naturopathic medicine in Ontario, Canada, so only those living in the province can be a patient. If you were looking for my international hypnosis business which is independant from my naturopathic practice, please visit www.globalhypnotist.com or click the link below to book in for a complimentary consult.



What is Mental and Emotional Release (MER®)?

MER® utilizes techniques from a branch of hypnotherapy, called Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), which can rapidly allow you to gain emotional control over your life and make fast, effective, long-term changes in behavior. The subconscious mind stores all of our memories, and in doing so creates a "Time Line" which enables us to tell the difference between a past event or a projection into the future. Behavioural change in an individual also occurs at the subconscious level and this is the level at which MER® therapy works. Once the root cause is released, a domino effect occurs, which propels the liberating shift forward through time, preserving any of the necessary learnings along the way. By accessing and working with your Time Line, it's possible to eliminate many types of issues held in the past, thus allowing you to move forward towards your goals and desires.



What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) describes the fundamental dynamics between mind (Neuro) and language (Linguistic), and how their interplay affects our body and behaviour (Programming). The neurological system regulates how our bodies function, language determines how we interact and communicate with other people, and our programming determines the kinds of models of the world we create. NLP is a multi-dimensional process. It offers tools and techniques for creating states of excellence and empowering beliefs, and is a methodology for how to achieve goals. It was developed by modeling excellent communicators and therapists who got results with their clients.



What does it mean to have a "model of the world"?

Our experience of reality is not the same as reality itself. Everything that we experience is the result of what our minds have constructed. Each of us creates a representation of the world we live in, and this is what is called our "model of the world". Our model guides our behaviour, and to a large degree, determines what our experience of the world will be, how we will perceive it, and what choices we will see available to us as we live in the world. Each of us has the power to change our model of the world, and therefore how we show up and engage in it. No two people share precisely the same experiences. The model each person creates of the world is unique to their experiences and the distinct ways in which they process and interpret them. In general, it is much more productive and easier to change the model someone has been using rather than the environment in which the person is functioning.



Does MER® change or erase my memories?

Not at all. Memories remain intact, the only thing that changes is the attachment to the negative emotion or limiting decision/belief that was created at that time and carried forward. An example would be having a terrible fear of dogs your whole life because as a child you were attacked by one; after MER® therapy, you can recall the attack, but you no longer carry forward the irrational fear of dogs as a result of it.