Hypnotherapy WHAT IS HYPNOTHERAPY? Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis, a deeply focused and trance-like mental state to increase attention, concentration and suggestibility. Although clients may appear to be sleepy during hypnosis, they are actually in a state of hyperawareness, which allows them to detach from what is happening externally so that they can fully focus on their inner experiences. Hypnotherapists have compared the subconscious mind to a computer file system. It is similar to a hard drive, where we store every experience, emotion and thought we have ever had. When we are in a relaxed, hyper-focused state of hypnosis, we can run a Google search on our subconscious and can open up repressed memories and buried emotions. Hypnosis has been used since the late 1700s for treating emotional, mental and physical health symptoms but did not gain scientific credibility until recently. There is evidence to suggest that hypnosis can have significant medical and therapeutic benefits, especially when reducing pain and anxiety. Aside from feeling extremely relaxed, Hypnotherapy clients have described dramatic and positive results, including greater awareness, inner focus, safety and relaxation. SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TOPICS CLIENTS DISCUSS DURING HYPNOTHERAPY: Addiction and Substance Use Anxiety Birthing Chronic Pain and Illnesses Compassion and Self-Love Dementia Depression Fears and Phobias Grief and Loss Insomnia and Sleep Obsessive Compulsivity Sexual Dysfunctions and Pain Stress Management Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Symptom HOW DOES HYPNOTHERAPY WORK? In your first session, you will describe to your Bliss therapist your goals in seeking therapy and the challenges you have been experiencing, or areas where you might like to see change in your life. You will then work collaboratively to create a treatment plan and come up with suggestions for your therapist to use during the hypnosis process. During hypnosis, you will fall into a deep state of relaxation. Your therapist will guide you through a visualization that will create a state of peace. You will then turn your attention completely inward so that you can find your subconscious and begin to unlock and listen to repressed memories and buried emotions. During this process you will find that you feel a sense of calm even when confronting challenging emotions or past experiences, or the objects of your fears. Once you enter into a state of deep hypnosis and inner focus, your therapist will speak to you in a very serene and soothing voice, and begin to make the gentle suggestions for behaviour changes that you agreed to for your treatment plan. Throughout these sessions you may also discuss coping skills to use when you are confronting fears and anxieties, as well as explore past experiences in order to overcome how you felt during that moment. At Bliss you can over your subconscious through hypnosis by either booking individual sessions with one of our hypnotherapists or by joining one of our upcoming group therapy workshops.