Hypnosis, guided visualization or guided imagery are different terms to describe a safe, natural state of relaxed, highly focused attention, in which you can more clearly visualize your goals, evoke positive emotions and mentally rehearse behavior change. In this calm, but hyper-focused state, your mind is more easily able to accept helpful suggestions given to you by a therapist. You can think of hypnosis as like that of being guided through a specific daydream. You are awake, but lost in your own world, just as if you were completely engrossed in a gripping book, film or sports match.

Hypnosis is safe. It is not magical and it doesn’t put you to sleep or render you unconscious. It’s not brain-washing, mind reprogramming or mind control. Most people are completely aware of everything that happens to them, they have full control and they only take on suggestions they are happy to accept. You can always move freely and you will never take on any suggestions or do anything you don’t agree with.

Hypnosis is not passive. You will be asked to think and imagine along with suggestions given, but in a relaxed way, paying attention and responding without too much analysis or conscious thought.

Under hypnosis, many people can often remember with perfect clarity, events that happened years, or even decades previously. The memories can feel very real as if they are happening right now and can include images, sounds, smells, sensations, tastes, pain and of course emotions. The clarity and depth of the experience differentiate it from a normal memory.

Most people find a hypnosis session deeply relaxing and refreshing. Afterwards you will probably have a great night’s sleep and for a few days afterwards probably have a much greater sense of perspective over your life and its challenges.

Hieroglyphics reveal that hypnosis was first used approx. 5,000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians. It was also used by the ancient Greeks, the Mayas of South America, the Hindu fakirs, Chinese religious teachers, the Persian magi, the Celtic druids and African witch doctors.

Since the early days of psychology research, hypnosis has been subject to analysis and experiment. Thousands of positive experimental and clinical research studies on hypnosis have been published, with Google Scholar featuring almost 400,000 research articles including the term hypnosis.

Hypnosis has been recognized by the American Psychological Association for managing obesity and by (NHS) NICE for managing IBS. In 1999 the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a clinical review of hypnosis and relaxation therapies, confirming its effectiveness in alleviating pain, anxiety and insomnia.

Hypnosis works on the underlying principle that the subconscious mind is our driving force and we always do what our subconscious believes. To replace negative or unhelpful patterns of behavior, we need to bypass the conscious mind, in order to ‘reprogram’ the subconscious. When the conscious mind is in a quiet, relaxed state, the subconscious mind becomes accessible, providing expanded possibilities for change.

Professional sportspeople and people wanting to perform at the top of their game, use guided imagery, visualization or self-hypnosis to imagine the specific movements or actions of their sport. This brain training activity can build new or stronger neural pathways in the brain, enhancing their ability to move and react automatically, without conscious effort, especially under pressure.

Not every aspect of hypnosis can currently be explained, because not every aspect of the brain can be explained. Hypnosis is a particular functionality of the brain, in the same way that playing an instrument or speaking another language is. Focused attention and the ability to imagine and respond to suggestions, are just more incredible brain abilities that we all have and can use to our own advantage.

The leading, peer-reviewed, scientific research journals in the field of hypnosis are:

• The International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis www.ijceh.com

• The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis www.asch.net

• Contemporary Hypnosis www.bsech.co.uk

Hypnotherapy can be used for many of life’s challenges, such as:

• Fears & phobias

• Stress, anxiety & panic

• Confidence & motivation

• Weight issues & body image

• Anger management

• Relationship issues

• Unwanted habits

• Childrens’ issues

• Relaxation

• Grief & loss

• Health issues

• Sexual issues

• Skin issues

• Childbirth

• Sports performance

• Business, communication skills & finance

• Exams & studying

Yes, pretty much! Entering into hypnosis is as easy as daydreaming. According to research (Golden et al, 1987), the majority of people are moderately hypnotizable. Hypnosis is essentially a matter of belief and imagination. You just need to be willing to listen to and imagine along with the suggestions given. The key to being good at hypnosis is actually to believe you will be good and to be patient, curious and open-minded, choosing to analyze the experience afterwards. The more confidently you expect it to happen, the faster and easier it will. Until in the end you can simply tell yourself.

Does this mean you are gullible if hypnotizable? No! In fact, good hypnotic subjects tend to be more intelligent and less gullible than average. Because real life self-control requires a high degree of self-suggestibility, highly self-disciplined people such as soldiers, successful business persons or athletes etc., make particularly good hypnotic subjects.

Everyone experiences hypnosis differently. Some people are visual and see clear images in their mind’s eye. For others, it’s sounds or smells. Some people experience sensations, emotions or just a sense of knowing. Many people will have a combination of these. Sometimes the sensations are strong and clear, other times more subtle.

Just like we can train our minds over time to become better at learning a language or playing an instrument, so we can become better at hypnosis through practice. The more hypnosis you have, the quicker, easier and deeper the level of hypnotic trance you will be able to achieve and the more confident you will feel to trust whatever information comes to mind. Most people find they relax deeper and quicker in subsequent sessions and the information comes to them with more clarity.

If you are new to hypnosis, listening to one of the short practice audio recordings in Resources a few times before your first session is strongly recommended. This will help you to practice the skill of relaxing and letting go, helping you to get the most out of your first session.

Talking therapies can be incredibly helpful and should always be one of the first therapies to consider when life gets tricky. Where an issue stems from an event or pattern of thinking that is so deeply embedded in the subconscious that it’s not really possible to have a conscious discussion about it however, then hypnotherapy might be worth considering. Because the subconscious is more easily accessible within the calm relaxed state of hypnosis, the origin or source event of the issue can be more easily identified and then addressed. Hypnosis and talking therapies such as counselling, can work well together.

Guided meditation or guided relaxation typically requires you to focus on a relaxing thought or object of focus, such as your breath, a sound, a silently repeated word or something physical such a pebble or flower. The experience is normally one-way; you simply listen to the words spoken.

Although similar, hypnosis requires you to deliberately imagine something specific, such as remembering an event or dealing with a challenging situation. This allows you to safely practice it within your imagination first, before dealing with it in real life.

Although hypnosis sessions may begin and end with some guided relaxation in order to calm the mind and body, during the main part of the session you will typically be required to interact verbally with the hypnotherapist.

If you have experienced guided meditation or relaxation, such as yoga nidra in the past, hypnosis will not be too unfamiliar to you.

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Legal Disclaimer

• Hypnotherapy and regression are educational and self-improvement processes that help you to access your own inner resources, assisting you to resolve problems, increase motivation or alter behaviour patterns, to create positive change. They may involve you going into deeper or buried memories that could bring emotions to the surface. The truth of any memories that may come to your conscious awareness as a result of the sessions is for you to decide.

• Your sessions are confidential. The information that you recall about past lives or between lives may be used by Debbie Jeremiah in connection with written publications or speaking engagements to enlighten others about their purpose on earth. Whilst your name and any personal identifying information will NOT be used, your age, gender and general occupation may be mentioned, if relevant.

• Debbie Jeremiah works to UK standards set through voluntary regulation in the hypnotherapy and regression profession itself and not by any country or state licensing requirements. She does not practice psychotherapy or medicine. None of the services offered are intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, psychological or mental health condition, nor be a substitute for medical treatment. Whilst Debbie will do her utmost to help you to find your own inner resources, you are responsible for your own healing and growth. For any health concerns, you should always consult your own healthcare professional.

Accessing the services available on this website implies your acceptance of this disclaimer