How Does Hypnotherapy Work

Hypnotherapy works in several ways, some of which are discussed here.

RELAXATION. Hypnotherapy teaches clients to relax both physically and mentally. At my Plymouth hypnotherapy practice I teach clients to calm themselves quickly without even closing their eyes. By this means they can control their own emotions, preventing anxiety and fear from overwhelming their ability to think and choose their own actions.

IMAGINATION. To make lasting changes to ourselves we must first believe that change is
possible. And to believe something we need to imagine it- for instance, to imagine
ourselves being more confident or weighing less. Hypnosis greatly enhances the power of
our imagination, enabling us to change and extend our self-belief. Images that represent
your problems and solutions communicate to the subconscious mind much more
powerfully than words. A common technique is to imagine yourself in the future, when
you have achieved your present goals, and then look back along the way from now till
then. Regression to the past is also sometimes helpful, because having a “story” of how
we came to be the way we are helps us to make sense of our lives. However, you should
read “Hypnosis Fact and Fiction” to learn more about the limitations of regression.

ALTERED PERCEPTION. Hypnotherapy is a state of selective attention. In hypnosis we can
learn to pay more or less attention to sensations like hunger or pain. This is useful in
psychosomatic problems.
DISSOCIATION. Hypnosis enables us to experience our thoughts and feelings and
sensations as separate from ourselves. This makes it easier to control our thoughts and
feelings. For example, it’s easier to control your own anger if you imagine it as being
outside you, instead of just thinking that you are “an angry person”.