How does hypnotherapy work? / Updates | Switch-Up Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy uses the tool of hypnosis to help you change the things in your life which people usually say are "all in the mind". Switch-Up Hypnotherapy supports the wishes of your conscious mind by speaking directly to – and reprogramming – the subconscious mind. It works by helping you gain alignment between what you want to achieve with your conscious willpower, and what your subconscious emotionally feels is right for you. Once those two different parts of the mind are aligned, then you can make a conscious decision to change your thoughts and behaviours, and your subconscious will support that change - rather than pulling in the opposite direction in the attempt to maintain your subconscious choices and patterns of behaviour.

This means that you can bypass all the hard work! And then, changing unwanted thought patterns, habits, and behaviours becomes easier – it almost feels effortless. It can be a method of controlling (or breaking) a habit or a set of negative thought patterns in a quick, easy, and almost automatic way and regaining control of your life. And at Switch-Up Hypnotherapy, that's exactly what happens.

The reason hypnotherapy is so powerful in changing subconscious thought patterns, habits, and behaviours is because you don’t have to consciously try over and over again to think a certain way, or to behave in a certain way. Hypnotherapy speaks directly to the subconscious mind so the change is almost instantaneous.

It makes change easy.

And it makes it permanent.

Sometimes I think that the language that is used to describe hypnosis contributes to misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations around hypnotherapy. For example, "trance" - I very rarely use this word, because of the way Hollywood has turned this into something that is far from what you will actually experience. Also, "going under" in hypnosis - this suggests you are under the hypnotherapist's control, or maybe even unconscious.

Hypnosis is not sleep; it's not a state of unconsciousness, and it certainly isn’t mind-control. It is not something that is done ‘to you’, it is a process you are guided through – much like meditation. Hypnosis is simply a state of heightened relaxation - where you feel very relaxed, but almost hyper-focused on your previously-agreed tailored suggestions.

There are many reasons a person might not "go under" when being hypnotised. As I said, the term "going under" is a bit of a misnomer, as it suggests that you are under the control of the hypnotherapist, which is never the case. Whenever I hear someone say that, I know that they have preconceived notions of how hypnosis is "supposed" to feel. Most people have unrealistic expectations about what hypnosis is, so when what is experienced doesn't match the expectations, they think something (or someone) failed. Depth of trance is irrelevant for a person to accept suggestions. You can be wide awake and accept a suggestion, even if you think you know better. People do that all the time.

It's important to discover what exactly hypnosis feels like, to you, and to know that there are sensations you can experience which then can be strengthened. These sensations might be something like a sensation of heaviness, or a floaty head, they might be tingles, they might be a sensation of dropping in the pit of your stomach. They might be a disassociated sense that you're in one place mentally, and your body is in a separate space. And it might be something totally different than all of these. And it will probably be different every time you do it.

You'll have to discover what hypnosis is, for YOU.

It's also possible that you've accepted the suggestion to believe that you can not be hypnotised, even if you previously have been. The words may not have been that explicit, but it's possible. People who have volunteered for a stage hypnotist, only to be sent back to their seat in the audience after the first suggestibility test, often present with this preconceived notion.

Maybe something is holding you back from entering a hypnotic state: -

you may not completely trust, or have confidence in, the person doing the hypnotherapy,
you may not fully understand what hypnosis is or is not, and how to feel safe enough to relax and let go,
a part of you may be holding back because it wants to know what has happened, even though every session is likely to be different, and consciously knowing what happened often is irrelevant to what happens within the subconscious mind when change is affected.

I also think that many hypnotherapists like to maintain a sense of mystique around what we do, maybe because they like the thought of people thinking they have some sort of magical power. I have even had a trainer once tell me that "You need to maintain the prestige!" I actually think I get more clients by explaining succinctly how hypnosis works over the phone. This is because people often have pre-conceived notions of what hypnotherapy is all about, and associating hypnotherapy with magic makes people suspicious that "it's all a trick".

I am able to address all of the issues above, and/or what your actual issue is; so that we can work on enabling you to go into hypnosis easily and well, and to change whatever is holding you back in life.

How does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis is a psychological state characterised by a heightened state of suggestibility, concentration, and focus. During hypnosis, you are guided to enter this state and become more open to suggestions that can influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

Here's a breakdown of how hypnotherapy works:

Induction: Hypnosis typically begins with an induction process, during which the hypnotherapist guides the individual into a state of relaxation and focused attention. This can involve progressive relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, or guided imagery.
Suggestibility: Once in a hypnotic state, individuals become more open to suggestions. The critical conscious mind is relaxed, allowing the subconscious mind to be more receptive to positive suggestions, changes in perception, or behavioural alterations.
Focused Attention: Hypnosis encourages intense concentration and a narrowing of attention, focusing on specific thoughts, images, or experiences. This heightened focus helps individuals tune out distractions and enhances receptivity to suggestions.
Enhanced Imagination and Creativity: Hypnosis often amplifies the imagination and creativity of the individual. They may vividly imagine scenarios, visualise desired outcomes, or recall memories more vividly.
Altered State of Consciousness: Although the person is not asleep or unconscious during hypnosis, their consciousness is altered. Their awareness shifts, and they may experience a sense of detachment from their immediate surroundings while remaining deeply engaged in the hypnotic experience.
Increased Relaxation: Hypnosis induces a state of relaxation that can reduce stress, anxiety, and tension. The relaxed state allows individuals to be more open to positive suggestions for behaviour change and mindset shifts.
Access to Subconscious Mind: The primary goal of hypnosis is to access the subconscious mind, where beliefs, attitudes, and memories are stored. Suggestions provided during hypnosis aim to modify or reframe these subconscious thoughts, leading to behavioural changes.
Utilisation of the Placebo Effect: Hypnosis can even induce the placebo effect, where individuals respond positively to the belief that the suggested changes will occur. This psychological phenomenon can contribute to the effectiveness of hypnotherapy. This does not mean it is fake, by any means; it recognises the power of your mind and positive thinking to affect subconscious changes in your behavioural patterns.

The stereotypical pocket watch swinging in front of hypnotic swirls. The use of a watch or pendulum is a myth popularised in TV and movies because the actual process is not so visually interesting.

Disorders helped by hypnosis

Hypnosis can help you change attitudes, perceptions and behaviours. It can be effective in treating a range of medical and psychological issues, including:

Anxiety and panic attacks,
Compulsive gambling,
Chronic pain and migraines,
Fears and phobias,
Smoking and vaping cessation,
High blood pressure and stress,
Insomnia and sleep problems,
Alcoholism and drug abuse,
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome),
Obesity, weight loss, and eating disorders,
Thumb sucking, hair pulling, face picking,
Sexual problems, premature ejaculation, porn addiction.
Stuttering (stammering or childhood-onset fluency disorder)
Bed wetting (nighttime incontinence or nocturnal enuresis).

Hypnotherapy is the most powerful method for getting permanent results for things such as stopping smoking, vaping, gambling, releasing stress, addictions, anxiety, phobias, compulsions, panic attacks, weight-loss and much, much more.

And it’s relaxing, enjoyable, safe, natural and effective. There are no side effects and it’s about YOU really taking care of your health in a completely holistic way. It's important to note that not everyone is equally responsive to hypnosis, and individual experiences may vary. Hypnosis is a collaborative process, and the individual's willingness to participate and follow instructions plays a significant role in its effectiveness.