Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic, clinical use of one of the most natural – and one of the most misunderstood – states of mind: Hypnosis.

Misunderstandings about hypnosis exist primarily because of the “mystery” that once shrouded its use. Movie script writers and science-fiction novels have taken their cue from this and have presented a form of hypnosis that simply doesn’t exist: mind control, truth serums, trances, evil-eyed magicians dangling watches, etc. Let’s talk about what hypnosis really is, how it works and what it can be used for.

This article is intended as a brief overview or introduction to hypnotherapy.

After almost three centuries of study and experimentation, various physicians and other professionals have discovered that the state of hypnosis is totally and completely natural. Hypnosis is really nothing more than a state of awareness dominated by the subconscious mind.

It is almost universally accepted by mental health professionals that the human mind operates on two levels. The conscious and the subconscious. The conscious mind reasons, analyzes, makes decisions, and “files” all incoming information in the brain’s “memory bank”. An example of conscious activity would be when you picked up this article: you made the “conscious decision” to read it, and are now consciously analyzing the information you are reading.

The subconscious mind, on the other hand, works in the background. It keeps all of your organs and bodily processes functioning without you having to consciously think about it. The subconscious also controls habits, emotions and other behavioral patterns.

In ordinary, every day activities, your conscious mind is in the dominant position. You make decisions, think, and analyze incoming information from your five senses with it. Once this information is analyzed, it is then stored in the memory bank for future use. The conscious mind “feeds” the memory bank.

The subconscious “reads” this information, and then creates physiological, emotional and behavioral reactions accordingly.

Researchers estimate that the average individual enters into a state of natural, spontaneous hypnosis a minimum of 100 times each day. As stated earlier, hypnosis is a natural state of awareness In periods of emotional stress, confusion, memory access, concentration or relaxation, the subconscious mind assumes the dominant position.

The best way to understand this process is by imagining a balancing scale. On one side, the conscious mind sits; on the other, the subconscious. When the side with the conscious mind lowers, this causes the subconscious side to automatically rise, and visa versa.

Using relaxation and concentration techniques, this state can be intentionally produced. Once the subconscious mind is in the dominant position, some incredible accomplishments can take place. By accessing the subconscious mind directly, and by using the proper suggestions, one can make an unlimited number of beneficial improvements. Behaviors, emotions, habits, and virtually every other activity controlled by the subconscious mind can be amended, modified, altered and changed.

Using carefully worded suggestions, the Hypnotherapist can help the client control addictions, phobias, anxiety, stress, attention deficit disorder (ADD), pain, depression, nervousness, habits, guilt, fears, sleep disorders, skin disorders, stuttering, suicidal tendencies, trauma, worry, weight issues, and an almost unlimited number of other symptomatic problems. Hypnotherapy is the quickest and the easiest to make improvements in the quality of your life.