What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are two different entities. Hypnosis is an alternated state of consciousness that may have certain temporary beneficial effects, such as tension reduction but is not itself designed for that purpose. Hypnotherapy is a treatment modality with specific therapeutic goals and specific techniques utilized while the patient is in a state of hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a wonderful state of deep relaxation. Hypnosis has been given a bad rap for many years and has created unnecessary fears. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do. You are not digging up old wounds or taking the skeletons out of the closet. This site is designed to heal people, to soothe people and to assist them in moving forward in their lives. Hypnosis is 100% safe and it is not mind control. Hypnosis is really only self-hypnosis. You can accept or reject the positive suggestion that are given. Healthcare professionals, Universities and hospitals across the country are learning and utilizing hypnosis and guided imagery. There is a great article from Discover Magazine stating that "Hypnosis Works". Hypnosis and guided imagery are being applied to the fields of medicine and behavior change. Everyone can be hypnotized except the following:

There are three types of people hypnosis does not work:
1. Someone with an I.Q. below 70 or sever mental problems.
2. Someone who is on a great deal of drugs like heroin,speed or intoxicated by alcohol
3. Someone that just does not want to be hypnotized. You cannot force anyone to do anything they are not willing to do. If you are willing and you want the changes, then all you really need to do is relax and allow the positive suggestions to unfold.

How will I know I have been hypnotist ed and how will I feel in a hypnotic state?

During hypnosis, your body is deeply relaxed. You may feel a lightness, a heaviness or sometimes a tingling sensation. Many individuals actually cannot tell the difference between a hypnotized state and and a waking state. Yet, you may simply feel deeply relaxed. You may have a distortion in time, where you felt the process was much longer. Just remember that you are not asleep, but your mind is highly focused and attentive. Hypnosis can assist a person achieve a focused state of mind, by encouraging the rational, critical mind to temporarily relax. Therefore, this creates a highly suggestible condition in which the positive suggestions can have a powerful effect upon the individual.

How does Empowered Within incorporate hypnosis for my Success?

In the state of hypnosis, I incorporate carefully personalized suggestions based on each specific topic. I integrate positive suggestions for change, while focusing on dissipating and dissolving any negative habits, negative beliefs and self-imposing limitations. Eventually the self-imposing limitations lose their grip, while the positive begins to drive your conscious thinking, actions and beliefs. Hypnosis will and can assist you in gaining the ability to break through your own self-imposed limitations. I have utilized hypnosis and it assisted me in breaking free of the shackles of my past, present, and future negative patterns. I assisted me in staying focused, believing in myself, healing others, and making a positive difference in people's lives.

How does Hypnosis Really Work?

We all have four levels of consciousness. During normal consciousness, we go in and out of Beta and Alpha several times a day. For example, have you ever walked into a room to get something and you forget what you were going into the room for? Another example is driving down the freeway and you are day dreaming about something else and suddenly you realize you have passed your exit. Below is a template to assist you in the four levels of consciousness.

Your Conscious Mind is your "Will Power" and your Sub-Conscious Mind is your "Imagination". During Hypnosis or in the state of Theta, is when your Conscious Mind (will power) and Sub-Conscious Mind (imagination) are working together. That is the only time when your Conscious Mind and Sub-Conscious Mind are both active. Some experts say that you are in hypnosis during Alpha because your Sub-Conscious Mind is active.

What is the purpose of the Conscious Mind?

The purpose of your Conscious Mind is to:

Look, Listen, Learn, and Reason. It also judges, analyzes and criticizes. Your Conscious Mind can also be considered your EGO. Your Conscious Mind will accept or reject any and all bits of information you have allowed to be implanted. An example of how this works is have you ever gotten into a argument with someone and asked them to repeat back what was said? At times when they repeat it back, it is nothing close to what you actually said. It was distorted or how perceived it. A great movie that displayed how this works is called "He Said, She Said" with Kevin Bacon.

What is the purpose of the Subconscious Mind?

The purpose of the Subconsicous Mind is to run your bodily functions such as your heart and lungs. It also harbors all long-term memory and is also the storehouse of creative inspiration and the repository of suppressed creativity, as well as repressed psychological material. That is why it is important to relax and trust when utilizing hypnosis. You want to relax your mind and body enough to allow yourself to get into the state of "Theta". Theta is where we hold our stuff (good and bad stuff). This is where we store the emotional material that each of us collect over the course of our lifetime. That is why it is important to sometimes dump your "emotional baggage".

Your Subconscious Mind also will act out any and all "images". That is why visualizing is important (guided imagery). It will also act out any and all "ideas". That is why hypnosis is so successful. We are giving you new ideas and removing the limited beliefs or ideas you have about your own abilities. Plus, your subconscious mind will act out any and all "concepts". Remember, your subconscious mind is a powerful tool! That is why we say it takes 21 to 39 days for a new habit, behavior or concept to be established.

What if I am too strong willed to be hypnotized?

Several people believe that only gullible or weak-minded people can be hypnotized. Nothing could be farther than the truth. In fact, the reverse is true. Intelligent and strong-willed individuals are generally very successful with utilizing hypnosis. In the Discover Magazine, it showed that the more whites of your eyes show when looking upward, the more easily you may be hypnotized. Remember, hypnosis is only self-hypnosis. You can accept or reject the positive suggestions. Your success comes from your ability to use your imagination, listening and following directions. If you find your mind wandering during hypnosis, learn to quiet your mind and simply listen. Learn to concentrate on your breathing in order to relax your body. The more you practice hypnosis, meditation, deep relaxation and/or stress reduction, the easier it will be for you to benefit from hypnosis. You can either be directly suggestible (follow directions easily) or inferred (strong willed). Since I am inferred, I just remind myself each time I utilized hypnosis that this is something I really want. Therefore, all I really need to do is relax, listen and imagine.

How can hypnosis help me?

Hypnosis can help you achieve a variety of goals such as: