Hypnosis is a state of inner concentration and focused attention. You are deeply relaxed, yet very aware of everything that is going on around you. It's like taking a magnifing glass to focus the rays of the sun and make them more powerful. Similarly, when our minds are concentrated and focused, we are able to use our minds more powerfully. Because hypnosis allows people to use more of their potential, learning self-hypnosis is the ultimate act of self-control.

Professionals who study and use hypnosis believe there are strong cognitive and interpersonal components that affect an individual's response to hypnotic environments and suggestions.

Recent research supports the view that hypnotic communication and suggestions effectively changes aspects of the persons physiological and neurological functions.

Practitioners use clinical hypnosis in three main ways. First, they encourage the use of imagination. Mental imagery is very powerful, especially in a focused state of attention. The mind seems capable of using imagery, even if it is only symbolic, to assist us in bringing about the things we are imagining. For example, a client may have a distorted view of their personal self image. They may be asked to describe what his/her personal self image looks and feels like. If they imagine it as being distorted and unhealthy, the client may be encouraged in hypnosis to imagine this image changing to a healthy powerful one.

A second basic hypnotic method is to present ideas or suggestions to the client. In a state of concentrated attention, ideas and suggestions that are compatible with what the client wants seem to have a more powerful impact on the mind.

Finally, hypnosis may be used for unconscious exploration, to better understand underlying motivations or identify whether past events or experiences are associated with causing a problem. Hypnosis avoids the critical censor of the conscious mind, which often defeats what we know to be in our best interests. The effectiveness of hypnosis appears to lie in the way in which it bypasses the interference of the critical or conscious mind, allowing the client's intentions for change to take effect.

Some individuals seem to have higher hypnotic talent and capacity that may allow them to benefit more readily from hypnosis. It is important to keep in mind that hypnosis is like any other therapeutic modality: it is of major benefit to most clients, but individual responses vary.

People often fear that being hypnotized will make them lose control, surrender their will, and result in their being dominated by the hypnotist. In truth the hypnotist will however use the power of suggestion to access your subconscious mind to help you make changes you desire in your life. Many people base their assumptions about hypnotism on stage acts they may have seen but fail to take into account that stage hypnotists screen their volunteers to select those who are cooperative, with possible exhibitionist tendencies, as well as responsive to hypnosis. Yes,the stage shows that you see at parties or in the movies are real too, but they are for entertainment purposes only. When you come into my office I will not make you cluck like a chicken or bark like a dog unless, of course you want me to.

Another myth about hypnosis is that people lose consciousness and have amnesia. A small percentage of subjects who go into very deep levels of trance will fit this stereotype and have spontaneous amnesia. The majority of people remember everything that occurs in hypnosis. This is beneficial, because the most of what we want to accomplish in hypnosis may be done in a medium depth trance, where people tend to remember everything.

In hypnosis, the client is not under the control of the hypnotist. Hypnosis is not something imposed on people, but something they do for themselves. A hypnotist simply serves as a facilitator to guide them.

I believe that hypnosis will be optimally effective when the client is highly motivated and ready to overcome a problem to make a change.

I am blessed with a powerful tool that can assist people in making transformational changes in their life. When a client goes into remision from cancer- I know my imagery techniques have assisted her healing. When someone can sleep peacefully at night because I have helped relieve their stress- I know I have done my job And when someone who has been struggling with weight is now 15 pounds lighter - I feel great!

Hypnosis works on the subsconsious level. It can quickly be used to reduce stress, lose weight, increase confidence and rid unwanted negative habits and bring on new positive ones more rapidly.