What’s a session like?

 

The first few minutes are spent “checking in” to assess your current circumstances or condition, and then establishing and refining your personal desires and goals for the changes you want to create in your life.  You next learn simple tools to enter into a state of mind where you can access your own personal storehouse of intelligence and creativity, and then be guided on a journey through the inner world of your imagination, discovering resources that lie within your body, mind, emotions, spirit and soul - (what I like to call your BMESS), and how these can help bring your desires to fruition.

Will I remember what happened in the session?

Sure, you’re never unconscious, always aware of what your imagery guide is saying and your responses. Some of your imagery experiences will be very vivid, and some very subtle.  Similar to dreams in your sleep, where you remember easily upon arising, the kind of focused daydreaming you do while entranced with your inner imagery can fade away over time, and so you are encouraged to journal or make notes of your experiences in your inner world to refer back to.

 

What’s the difference between hypnosis and guided imagery?

Hypnosis is a way of learning. As we move along the course of our lives, we learn many things in mainly two ways: by repetition, e.g., hearing, seeing, practicing or experiencing something many times, or, in moments of heightened focus - often accompanied by emotion, i.e., powerful moments of beauty, excitement, interest, fear, shame, humiliation, etc. In these ways we learn or get “programmed”.  Hypnosis and guided imagery help you to change programming that you no longer find beneficial, and to enkindle latent abilities.  Guided imagery gently guides you into your imagination to access and explore creative ways to gain benefit. Therapeutic hypnosis (hypnotherapy) includes guided imagery and incorporates many other mind/body tools such as NLP (neurolinguistic programming), inner child work, sub-personality/parts work, reparenting, archetypal and symbolic work in the Jungian tradition, breathwork, effective meditative practices, and more.

Can anyone do imagery?

If you have worried, planned, anticipated something with excitement or dread, you’ve done imagery.

 

What if I can’t visualize?

No worries. Visualization is just one element of imagination. However you imagine things is fine. Imagination includes visualization, yes, and also many and various other sensorial inputs, the basic five senses among them.  And even though you may have heard an authority figure minimize the value of your imagination, as in, “you’re just imagining things”, or “you’re just making that up - it’s not real”, remember Einstein’s quote: “Nothing is more important than imagination”.  Yes, he imagined and “made up” some pretty powerful stuff.  What genius lies inside you?

 

Can hypnosis or guided imagery make me do something against my will?

Never! In fact, experiments have been done to prove this. Hypnosis is neither a truth serum (yes, you can lie in hypnosis), nor is it mind control from some external source. In fact, in our work together, the goal isn’t simply to control your thoughts, habits, feelings, etc., but to gain mastery with yourself and aspects of yourself in order to accomplish your goals with ease and a sense of congruency rather than feeling caught between opposing forces in your psyche.

 

How many sessions does it take?

Everyone is different and each situation unique. Some will reach their goals very quickly, seemingly amazingly, and others require more time.  I recommend giving yourself a minimum of three to four sessions in order to acquire and practice enough tools to use effectively on your own. These can be scheduled weeks, or even months apart as meets your needs. The average number of sessions for many is between four and six, though for some more, for others less.

 

How long do the changes last?

Some changes happen instantly and permanently, others incrementally or over time as part of a larger process.  Often there is a cascading effect as change to one part affects the whole. As you learn new ways to access and express your resources to reach your goals and create your desired changes, it may require a combination of repetition or practice along with deep focus to move into your desired experience in the gentlest and most beneficial ways for you and your systems. When a new way of being, feeling, or experiencing doesn’t seem to last, it’s understood not as failure, but as feedback, letting you know something needs to be addressed for you to get what you want.

 

What’s the difference between hypnosis or guided imagery and brain washing?

Though training on brain washing protocols are not as readily accessible as guided imagery and hypnotherapy protocols, what I understand about “brain washing” is that it requires extreme deprivation in order to “break the will” so that one will readily comply with orders.  Some religious and military groups have been reported to have used these methods.  Hypnotherapy and guided imagery are concerned with honoring the individual and facilitating a sense of individual mastery through a sense of connection to mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual resources.

 

I saw a comical hypnosis show, will I make a fool of myself when I’m “under”?

First of all hypnosis is not anesthesia, you don’t “go under”.  A more accurate description might be “go into” as your attention is focused in the inner world of your own mind and body. When you’re doing this, your brain waves move to certain frequency states that are different than when you’re, say, scrubbing a toilet, to more like when you’re “zoned out” while daydreaming in your car, or sometimes to the state like when you’re about to drop off to sleep.  When hypnosis is used to entertain and amuse in stage shows, it’s very much like playing the game “Simon Says” wherein the willing participants get an opportunity to let their Inner Entertainer come out to play and get lots of positive audience attention via applause and laughter by simply focusing on and carefully following the directions of the stage hypnotist.  Secondly, the participants are willing - usually begging to be picked to participate, and nobody does anything they don’t want to do.  In fact if you watch carefully, you’ll notice some participants don’t perform as requested and the skillful hypnotist either incorporates this into the show, or masterfully glosses over it, directing the audiences’ attention elsewhere.

 

What if I can’t be hypnotized?

Everyone can be.  True, some enter into the state we call hypnosis easier than others, but what is called hypnosis or imagery or imaging, or imagining, or visualizing, or daydreaming or meditation, are all forms of what is referred to as hypnosis.  It’s a natural state, common to all in varying degrees. Planning, worrying, getting scared, crying at a movie (or TV commercial), and being engrossed in literature, are all states of trance where your attention is focussed, in a particular direction, some other place or time.

 

Can I get “stuck” in hypnosis and not “wake up”?

Uh, sure, if you want to, you’re in charge of your experience, but remember, hypnosis, though named for the god of sleep, isn’t.  In the context of a therapeutic session, some people find that it feels so good to be in the relaxed state of mind in their inner world that they sometimes don’t want to be bothered with interaction with their imagery guide, or don’t want the experience to end - desireless occasionally, though never powerless.  In the case of an entertaining hypnosis show, when a participant hasn’t responded to “coming back”  to a state of social awareness, experienced hypnotists know  the participant is choosing to continue enjoying the state they're in, and so the clever hypnotist has a grab bag of anecdotes to whisper in the ear of the noncompliant, letting them know that it’s time to bring their attention back to the present, knowing they can return to this delicious state at another time, etc. 

In the context of daily living, if as a drop-dead-gorgeous super-model, you believe deep inside that you are repulsive; or as a brilliant brainiac, really feel that you’re stupid; or perhaps you have a fearful response to a person, place, or thing, because of some repeated or intense experiences in the course of your life, then yes, you are stuck in that state, and are not awake to the present.  Farfetched as these may seem, “I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I don’t deserve, I’m not safe”, are common themes running in the background or underground of our psyches, creating stress when we act in ways opposed to those beliefs. 



What’s the difference between imagery/hypnosis therapies and counseling/psychotherapy?

The difference is fairly dramatic, with both methods offering positive benefits in the hands of a skilled practitioner.  In traditional “talk” type therapies, the issues of concern are primarily addressed and processed through left brain logic, what I call “from the neck up”.   This can be an important and valuable step in your healing, as the logical mind acts as a gatekeeper and protector of the unconscious or subconscious mind and must be honored in a way that allows access to its charge, the unconscious.  In the imagery therapies, the symbolic or unconscious mind, right brain, and somatic, or body intelligence is accessed and dialogued with in order to allow one’s own wisdom within to come to light, be made conscious, and then utilized to create your desired outcome.  The approach is oriented more in terms of creating your desired outcomes rather than problem solving.  Today, more talk type therapists are incorporating tools and techniques from the imagery therapies because of their gentle yet powerful effectiveness. The imagery therapies are very effective in helping you move into your desired state and to renegotiate any unresolved traumas because trauma is stored in the right hemisphere of the brain in fragmented, unintegrated form, separate from the brain’s language center, which is why regular “talk” therapy is limited and sometimes contraindicated for resolving trauma.

Is therapy right for me?

Seeking out therapy is an individual choice. There are many reasons why people come to therapy. Sometimes it is to deal with long-standing issues, or problems. Other times it is in response to unexpected changes in one's life such as a divorce or work transition. Many seek the help of a therapist as they pursue their own personal exploration and growth. Working with a therapist can help provide insight, support, and new strategies for all types of life challenges. Hypnotherapy can help address many types of issues including depression, anxiety, conflict, grief, stress management, body-image issues, and general life transitions. Hypnotherapy is right for anyone who is interested in getting the most out of their life by taking responsibility, creating greater self-awareness, and working towards change in their lives.

What can I expect in a therapy session? 

Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. During therapy sessions it is standard to talk about the primary issues and concerns in your life. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts 90 minutes. Sometimes individuals who are going through a particularly difficult challenge may request more time per session or more than one session per week. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth. There may be times when you are asked to take certain actions outside of the therapy sessions, such as reading a relevant book or keeping records to track certain behaviors. Between sessions it is important to process what has been discussed and integrate it into your life. For therapy to be most effective you must be an active participant, both during and between the sessions.

What benefits can I expect from working with a therapist?

Therapy can provide insight and new perspectives into life's challenges and can help create solutions to difficult problems. Many people find that working with a therapist can enhance personal development, improve relationships and family dynamics, and can ease the challenges of daily life. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen is helpful. Overall, people in therapy tend to have lower levels of anxiety and stress, decreased conflict, and improved quality of life.

Some of the benefits available from therapy include:

• Developing new skills for handling stress and anxiety
• Modifying unhealthy behavior and long-standing patterns
• Attaining insight into personal patterns and behavior
• Increasing confidence, peace, vitality, and well-being
• Improving ways to manage anger, depression and moods
• Discovering new ways to solve problems
• Navigating life’s obstacles more effectively
• Improving listening and communication skills
• Enhancing the overall quality of life
• Achieving Goals

  

Is therapy confidential?

Information is not disclosed without written permission. However, there are number of exceptions to this rule. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse. The therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s. The therapist must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself. The therapist will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, further measures may be taken without their permission in order to ensure their safety.