We generally have two major states of awareness - Awake (BETA wave frequency range of brain activity between 15 - 30 Hertz) and Asleep (DELTA wave frequency range of brain activity between 1-3 Hertz). Everything in between these two major states of awareness can be referred to as "TRANCE" and is something that occurs naturally as you switch between the two states. The fact is that you have been in a naturally occurring "trance" many times before without even realizing it. If you drive you may recall a time where you have had this experience when there was maybe 10km left on your journey and all of a sudden you arrive at your destination with no recollection of the drive itself. Or perhaps you caught yourself driving the wrong way simply because your thoughts were elsewhere. If you have had this experience then

YOU WERE IN A NATURALLY OCCURING TRANCE!

Natural trances occur in many different situations like while watching TV or becoming fully engrossed in a book. To be Hypnotized is simply to be guided into a state of trance. Even though you might have heard a hypnotist yell SLEEP! on stage, it is in fact NOT SLEEP.

Hypnotherapy is simply being given therapeutic suggestions while in an induced state of trance. All information that we learn must first pass through the conscious (critical faculties) for analysis or criticism before reaching the subconscious where it is stored as memories. During the relaxed state of hypnosis information can by-pass the conscious without its usual analysis or criticism feeding the subconscious information much more directly.

Think about it this way:When you eat an apple you see what it looks like, you hear the sound of the crunch as you bite into it, you taste its flavour, you smell its zesty scent and you feel its texture. All this information is judged by the conscious and stored in the subconsciousas memories, enabling you to recall the information later for comparison to the next apple you eat. During hypnotherapy, with the conscious lowered and the subconscious more open to suggestions, we are able to layer suggestions that you enjoy the experience of eating an apple, ultimately resulting in you having a greater like and desire to eat more apples.

If you don't want to bark like a dog then no person can make you do that with a simple suggestion, nor make you quack like a duck or cluck like a chicken for that matter. Now perhaps your thinking: "But I went to a hypnotist's show and he was controlling the people and making them do all sorts of things!" Allow yourself to think about it this way: If you were to imagine that you were driving a car and I (the hypnotist) is sitting beside you in the passenger seat. You are in full control of the vehicle. Now if I was to take a hold of the steering wheel and you were to let go, who is in control then? Your first initial reaction might be that I am because I am now steering. That is exactly that, the hypnotist is only steering, you still have complete control over the foot pedals. You control how fast we go or you can decide to slam on the breaks and stop all together. You are still in the drivers seat in control of the car, the hypnotist is only steering. So when you see people doing hilarious routines during a hypnosis show it is only because they have volunteered to do this, and as volunteers they are willing to be a part of the show. If the hypnotist was to try and push the volunteer outside of their moral or ethical boundaries the volunteer will simply reject the suggestion and perhaps even come out of the trance altogether. ALL HYPNOSIS IS REALLY SELF HYPNOSIS

People may experience it differently but generally it feels similar to the relaxing feelings of having a day dream. Hypnosis is completely natural and a lot of clients are often surprised that they can hear what is being said to them. I personally experience hypnosis as an extreme state of relaxation mixed with euphoria, a calming peace that surpasses all understanding. When clients awake they tend to be refreshed and relaxed feeling simply fantastic. Depending on the session and the requirements of the client afterwards they can feel nice and mellow or energized and excited.

The applications of hypnosis are far and wide but a few common reasons for people using hypnotherapy are:

Behavioural Changes: manage stress, improve relaxation, enhance motivation, increase confidence, manage anger, control addictions (smoking, alcohol, gambling, drugs etc.)

Habits: nail biting, knuckle cracking, thumbsucking, bed wetting etc.

Social Phobias: Performance Anxiety (public speaking), fear of crowds, shy bladder etc.

Specific Phobias: spiders, snakes, insects, clowns, heights, elevators, small spaces etc.

Performace: overcoming performance fears or "blocks", focus and concentration improvement, skills improvement etc

Health and medical: chronic pain management, relaxation, asthma, stress & hypertention, Warts, Post Traumatic Stress, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, injury and surgery recovery, phantom pain, dentistry, childbirth etc.