Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. There are arguments for and against it being a ‘special’ state but having hypnotized clients in one to one & group situations I know this ‘special’ state exists.

Being in an altered state of consciousness or in a hypnotic trance is actually something you will experience naturally many times daily and throughout your life.

Examples of this would be, just before you fall asleep each night and before you are fully awake in the morning you are in a trance state that everyone on the planet experiences. These morning and evening trance states are called the hypnogogic and hypnopompic states. Daydreaming is another naturally occurring trance state that is familiar to all of us and one that is similar to being in a light state of hypnosis.

Hypnosis works very simply. In a professional one to one situation hypnosis is achieved by using various techniques to guide the client in to deeper levels of relaxation. It is often a gentle progression from waking consciousness into a deep level of mental and physical relaxation.

When you are in a hypnotic state you will still be aware of your surroundings even as you drift into deeper states. It can sometimes feel as though very little is happening and that you can open your eyes at any time and be wide-awake. If you choose to, you can.Whilst under Hypnosis you can't be made to do anything you don't want to do... Clinical hypnotherapy is not to be mistaken with stage hypnosis.

This is because being under hypnosis isn't unusual. It isn't a special feeling and so people often don’t realize when they are under hypnosis. When you are in a deep level of mental and physical relaxation you become receptive to suggestions and accepting suggestions is the key to using hypnosis as a therapeutic tool.

We spend most of our time in our conscious thoughts and sporadically tap into our unconscious mind when we daydream or get creative ideas. The only other time we spend in our unconscious thoughts is when we are sleeping, when our conscious mind has switched off. Learning to connect with your deep unconscious mind through hypnosis can help you in so many different ways to achieve goals, find your creativity, build confidence & overcome difficulties.