About Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis
Hypnotherapy is a therapy technique that uses hypnosis, a natural state of mind, brought about by using a set of relaxation techniques. It enhances the individual’s concentration and relaxation and increases their responsiveness to Therapeutic Suggestions.
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Hypnosis works by guiding the individual into a state where the frequency of their brainwaves is slower, thus enabling them to access their subconscious mind, where all the work of hypnotherapy happens.
Therapeutic Suggestions
Key to hypnotherapy is accessing the subconscious mind. This is the part of our mind that is responsible for storing all of the things we have experienced and learned; freeing up our conscious mind to get on with the task at hand. Walking is a great example of this, most of us do not need to consciously think about what we need to do to walk, we just do it. When you master a task (like walking), your subconscious mind stores all there is to know, so that you no longer need to think consciously every time you do it.
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You store all of your beliefs in your subconscious mind, all the things you feel about yourself, the things others have said to you, they all go into your subconscious and have a huge effect on how you think and feel. A lot of this can be positive, however, there are sometimes things, beliefs about ourselves, or ways that we respond to certain situations that we want to address, possibly even change. The use of Therapeutic Suggestions in hypnotherapy can help you to change what you store in your subconscious, help you to re-set any negative or unwanted thoughts, and can teach you tools and techniques to achieve the outcomes you want.
The Four States of Mind
We have four main types of brainwaves, which are all-important to the work of hypnotherapy. Through the use of a range of relaxation techniques, we can slow down our brainwaves and enter the zone where there is an enhanced responsiveness to therapeutic suggestion, it is a deeply relaxing state to be in.
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Beta Waves (15 to 40 cycles per second)
These are the fastest of the brainwaves, and the state we are in for most of our waking hours. Beta waves are characteristics of an engaged, focused mind. In our modern lives, these beta waves are produced in abundance and can become tiring.
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Alpha Waves (9 to 14 cycles per second)
These waves represent creativity and a relaxed state of well-being.
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Theta Waves (4 to 8 cycles per second)
These are present during dreaming and some meditative states. They are associated with serene calmness and hypnosis. It is here that we aim to be when we are undertaking hypnotherapy. Theta Waves are associated with our subconscious mind (where we hold all our past experiences, thoughts, and behaviour patterns).
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Delta Waves (1 to 4 cycles per second)
These are produced in our subconscious mind and when we are in our slowest, deepest state of rest. No other waves are active when our Delta Waves are operating. It is a state of detached awareness and sleep.