The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines hypnosis as:- a special psychological state with certain physiological attributes, resembling sleep only superficially and marked by a functioning of the individual at a level of awareness other than the ordinary conscious state. This state is characterized by a degree of increased receptiveness and responsiveness in which inner experiential perceptions are given as much significance as is generally given only to external reality.

Dr. Herbert Spiegel, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Columbia states:-  ‘On the scale of human awareness, hypnosis is at the opposite end from coma, with ordinary consciousness in the middle. Trance is an intensely focused and concentrated ribbon of attention that screens out external stimuli.’

Each and every day we act consciously and unconsciously.  For example if you decide to return a book to the library you have made a conscious decision.  You were possibly at home feeling bored, thinking of something to do to pass time and you remembered the book was due to be returned.  On walking to the library you begin daydreaming and, before you realize it, you are opening the library doors.   You crossed two busy roads, crossed a bridge over the river and climbed a flight of stairs leading to the library and you cannot remember any of it because your mind was ‘elsewhere’.  How did you manage to cross two busy roads safely when you can’t remember any of the journey?  Subconsciously you made the journey.  Subconsciously (or unconsciously) you looked both ways when crossing the roads.              

Every day we do things subconsciously.  We drive subconsciously.  More often than not we subconsciously change gears or press the footbrake.  I’m sure most drivers have experienced the moment when they consciously attempt to shift the gearstick from 3rd to 4th  gear and then realize it’s already in 4th gear.

Our subconscious stores information that we are not currently using, much of it we will probably never use again. If you imagine your conscious mind as a small room and your subconscious as an adjoining large room, both separated by your ego and this, thankfully, prevents the contents invading the other’s territory.  Why thankfully?  Our conscious is sensible in terms of logically.  For instance by being told by someone to get lost, consciously we are aware that they are being unfriendly and would appreciate it if we were to go away from them.  If that same suggestion were to acted upon by our subconscious we may well blindfold ourselves and walk aimlessly for an hour or so! Anyway, our ego contains the critical sensor – imagine a two-way trapdoor- and when this is relaxed it allows material to move in and out of your conscious mind.  By achieving a state of hypnosis you have relaxed the critical sensor to allow access to the more powerful subconscious mind. It is this largely untapped source which, utilised correctly, can allow a person to reach their full potential thus enhancing their lives.

A hypnotist can use one of a variety of methods to relax a client to such a depth that the ego and thus the critical sensor relax.  When this state of relaxation is achieved, positive suggestions are given to the subconscious mind.  Should any of these suggestions be unsuitable or unwanted the trapdoor slams shut and the conscious mind resumes control.  In other words the hypnotist does not control the mind of the person being hypnotized at any time.

At the very least hypnosis is a wonderful state of relaxation.  Studies suggest fifteen minutes of a deep hypnotic state is equivalent to two hours DEEP sleep, which is equivalent to eight hours normal sleep. 

Hypnotherapy is simply the use of hypnosis in helping to improve the well-being of an individual.  Whereas a stage hypnotist will use hypnosis (in a very dramatic fashion) as a means of entertainment, a Hypnotherapist uses it for beneficial reasons only. 

Common uses of hypnotherapy by clients are for weight loss, smoking cessation and confidence boosting.  Using hypnosis can remove phobias (fear of heights, flying, spiders, lifts etc), improve sports performance, reduce stress and anxiety, remove habits such as nail biting, overcome insomnia, eliminate bed-wetting and remove exam nerves.  There are many other uses of hypnotherapy including anaesthesia.

Unlike the faster and often dramatic hypnotic induction of stage hypnosis, hypnotherapists generally use a slower, soothing method to relax clients and ease them into the very pleasant hypnotic state.  There are a large variety of methods available to the therapist and he or she will use a particular choice depending on both the situation and the client although usually they will have one particular method  that is preferred.  Likewise the therapy is dependent on both the client and the situation.

Due to the negative press received by stage hypnotists some people still have reservations about hypnosis.  Some clients may voice concern about 'waking up' with a major headache.  This may be caused by bringing someone out of the hypnotic state too quickly.  A trained hypnotist will slowly bring you from the hypnotic state to your normal conscious state, including suggestions of well-being as he/she does so.  Clients may also be afraid that a suggestion may stay with them.  For example, a volunteer at a stage hypnotism performance may react to a particular trigger weeks after his appearance on stage - hearing a particular word may induce nausea.  This is usually the result of the hypnotist not cancelling the suggestion at the end of the show. Often tests are used to gauge a persons susceptibility to hypnosis and to check the depth of the hypnotic state.  These tests may include hand or arm levitation - suggestions are given that the arm is feeling lighter and will start to rise and arm catalepsy - arm feeling stiff.  Failure to remove these suggestions may result in the client being aware of either continuing to happen for a period of time following hypnosis.  Again, the trained hypnotist or therapist will remove any suggestions not required by the client after the session or the volunteer after the stage show. 

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