Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy in Portland and Online

Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation and focused concentration. It's sometimes described as a trance-like state. During hypnosis, a trained hypnotist uses verbal cues, repetition, and imagery to guide you into this altered state of consciousness.

Here are some key points about hypnosis:

• Deep Relaxation: Like meditation, you'll feel calm and focused.

• Increased Suggestibility: You're more open to suggestions aimed at positive change.

• Not Mind Control: You remain in control throughout the session and can't be forced to do anything or say against your will.

• Altered Awareness: You're more aware of your inner thoughts and feelings but still aware of your surroundings.

• Awake: Hypnosis is not like sleep or being anesthetized. People often have regular conscious thoughts but they tend to be less scattered or distracting. Some people can’t even tell the difference between a hypnotic state and regular wakeful awareness.

Theories about Hypnosis: There's ongoing debate about how hypnosis works. Some believe it's an altered state of consciousness, while others see it as a form of focused attention or a collaborative effort between therapist and client. In either case, there is a wealth of long-established evidence-based research to support the efficacy of hypnosis.

Generally, hypnosis is safe when done by a qualified and trained hypnotherapist. Here's a breakdown of the safety aspects:

• Minimal Risks: When performed correctly, hypnosis has minimal risks. Possible side effects can be mild and temporary, like headache, dizziness, or drowsiness.

• Importance of Qualifications: Safety depends on the hypnotist’s expertise. A qualified hypnotherapist will have proper training and understand how to manage any potential concerns.

• Not for Everyone: Hypnosis might not be suitable for those with certain mental health conditions like psychosis or dissociative disorders. Before trying hypnosis, discussing your medical history with a doctor or therapist is suggested.

Some people expect a virtual reality-type experience, as often depicted on TV and in movies. That is not the way most people visualize. You may not “see” details in your mind’s eye but feel more of a knowing or experience of it.

For example, you may not be able to picture the details of a forest, but you know what one looks like and can build the inner experience of what it feels like to be in one. Detailed visuals are not necessary for hypnosis to work. 

The short answer is yes. We all go in and out of different states of trance or focus without realizing it. 

Examples of trance or a hypnotic state:

Flow State: Anyone who has been absorbed in a project, book, movie, video game, or the like has probably experienced this state of focus. You tend to lose track of time, feeling that less time has passed. The brain excludes sensory details outside of the project, so you’re started when someone calls your name and is standing next to you; you don’t hear them coming!

Daydreaming: If you’ve been so lost in thought or a daydream that you didn’t feel time passing or you were oblivious to sound or other stimuli around you, you’ve been in hypnosis. This can happen when we’re reimagining a past scene or daydreaming about the future. You might startle when your phone rings or someone taps you on the shoulder because you were lost in your own world of imagination. This is a kind of hypnosis. 

Guided Meditation: If you’ve followed along with a live or recorded meditation and felt yourself become relaxed or immersed in the visualizations, you have been in a state of hypnosis. 

Road Hypnosis: You may notice that on a long drive or regular commute, you tend to get lost in thought - or maybe a great podcast or audiobook. When this happens, the drive tends to seem shorter than it really was and you may not recall passing the landmarks along the way. This is because you’re focused on internal thoughts or whatever you’re listening to. That focused state is a type of trance. You are awake and responsive to your environment, yet your mind is focused internally, and some external stimuli are not getting logged into memory.