How is Hypnosis induced?
Most Hypnotherapist use relaxation techniques and you will most likely be asked to concentrate on certain things.  During the induction the therapist will speak to you in a certain way and in a certain tone which slows down your brainwaves.  This will help you to gradually drift into the state of a hypnotic trance where you will feel completely relaxed.  During your induction you will hear words like “sleep” however this is not to send you to sleep.  It is merely a calming word which sends special messages to the brain to help you become very relaxed and tranquil.

How will I feel during Hypnosis?
The feeling of hypnosis is a very personal thing. Hypnosis is not a state of being unconscious but rather you are having your conscious altered.  Your mind remains clear and focused and you will remember all that is said to you.  Hypnosis is a gradual drifting process.  You take yourself into hypnosis at your own pace and you choose how deep you wish to go.  It is important that your expectations of hypnosis are realistic and that you understand that it is a gradual process.  This is very important to understand because if during the induction process you are mentally interfering by thinking you’re not hypnotized this in itself can disrupt the whole relaxation process. Some clients may notice they feel rather heavy while others feel light.  The eyelids can often flutter a little and there may be some slight tingling sensations in various parts of the body. 

Is the hypnotic state easy to achieve?
Everyone is different.  Some people are very easy to hypnotize while others take longer.  Some remain in a very light hypnotic trance while others go to a much deeper level.  Drifting in and out of a lighter and deeper state is common.  All of this is perfectly normal

What should I do during hypnosis?
All you need to do is relax and let yourself go.  Concentrate on your therapist’s voice that is there to help you to relax.  Once the body and mind are both sufficiently relaxed the barriers to the subconscious mind will also become relaxed resulting in becoming receptive to all positive suggestions made. Using your carefully created affirmations the therapist will help you embrace healing solutions by addressing your subconscious self.  The therapist will help to teach you to use self hypnosis so you can reinforce your affirmations.

What is a positive suggestion or affirmation?
A positive suggestion or affirmation is a positive statement or command which is given or suggested to the subconscious mind. When in the relaxed state of hypnosis the subconscious mind becomes receptive to these statements or commands and will subsequently accept and store them and then later act upon them.  It is imperative that in order for these commands and statements to be positively accepted into the subconscious mind, the client must really want to accept them and to act upon them.

Can anyone be hypnotized or do you have to be weak minded?
You need a reasonable amount of intelligence in order to be hypnotized.  The people who respond best to hypnosis are those who are able to concentrate, have imagination and mental dexterity. Most people can be hypnotized but there are exceptions.  Some of these exceptions include individuals with mental challenges, young children, or people high on drugs or alcohol.   Everyone else who wants to be hypnotized and properly co-operates with the process can be hypnotized. 

Could I be Hypnotized against my will?
No one can be hypnotized against their will.  You must want to be hypnotized and you must give permission.

Will I lose control of myself or could I be made to say or doing anything against my nature?
You are not asleep during hypnosis therefore you will know exactly what is going on and you will always retain intelligence and your self control. 

For hypnotherapy to be successful you must be comfortable with your therapist and what is going on in the session.  If anything was suggested to you that you did not agree with or went against your beliefs you could reject that suggestion.