Hypnosis Fact and Fiction

Working as a hypnotherapist in Plymouth, I have found that mistaken ideas about hypnosis are verycommon, even among well-educated people.  I discuss some of them here.

STAGE HYPNOTISM. Many people, seeing the bizarre behaviour displayed in stage hypnotism shows, assume that stage hypnotists must be exceptionally powerful to achieve such effects. In fact, stage hypnotists have first “tested” the entire audience, to select a few people on whom to work. These people are suggestible extroverts who enjoy being the focus of attention. The power of hypnotism is enhanced by the pressure of the audience’s expectations. Many hypnotherapists condemn stage hypnotism, yet the early hypnotherapists actually learned a lot from stage hypnotism. Nonetheless, I dislike modern stage hypnotists because their acts often include vulgar sexual “humour”. Sexual suggestion in hypnosis could be dangerous, because many people have secret “hang-ups" about sexuality that the stage hypnotist would not know about.

HYPNOTIC REGRESSION. People often ask me about regression to childhood or even past lives. As I wrote in “How Does Hypnotherapy Work?” hypnosis helps the imagination to create “stories” by which the unconscious mind makes sense of things. Imagining a different future also enhances belief in the possibility of change. However, regression to childhood runs the risk of creating false memories which will damage present day relationships. for example, even by questioning a hypnotised person about the possibility of abuse, the subconscious mind may answer by creating a false memory. In America, incompetent hypnotherapists and even police officers have broken up many families in this way.

Past Life Regression is harmless by comparison, but I don’t find it useful. For instance, women who  are irresistibly attracted to an abusive man have asked me if they might have been that man’s slavein a past life. My answer is that whatever happened in the past, in this life they are free to maketheir own choices and changes.

HYPNOSIS AND CHOICE. Some people avoid hypnosis because they fear “giving control
of their mind” to another person. Some even object on religious grounds, saying that a
hypnotist could command them to sin against God. These objections are based on
misunderstandings. Firstly, the subconscious mind can still reject suggestions. A
hypnotised person will do nothing that they don’t already want to do. Secondly, if God
exists then He must be far more powerful than any hypnotist, so it is absurd for a
religious person to fear hypnotism. In fact I’ve had many religious clients, including
clergymen.

HYPNOSIS AND WILLPOWER. Some people assert that they are “too strong-willed to be hypnotised”. In reality, strong-willed people are easier to hypnotise, because they are unafraid of hypnotism. My clients have included very strong-willed and courageous people, including many servicemen, police officers, and people working in personal protection.

HYPNOSIS AND SECRETS. Some people fear “revealing secrets” while in hypnotic trance. In fact, I don’t normally question people while they are hypnotised, and even if I did they could still lie or remain silent. In any case, whatever clients tell me is confidential unless it involves serious crime or a serious intention to commit suicide. See “How I Work” to learn more about confidentiality.

HYPNOTHERAPY VIDEO. Click here for an excellent video, supplied by the National Council for Hypnotherapy, in which a woman clearly describes her own experience of hypnotherapy.