FAQ ON HYPNOSIS + HYPNOTHERAPY
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE HYPNOTIZED?
Hypnosis is a natural state of focus and relaxation, also known as trance. We experience this state in a variety of ways in our daily lives. A classic example of a trance state is watching television or a movie. On one level your brain is aware that you are at home, on the couch watching a story unfold in front of you. On another level, however, the critical factor of the mind is pushed aside and you begin to buy into the story, disregarding the fact that you are watching actors on a set and even begin to have emotional and physical responses to what is taking place in front of you.
The same applies to a hypnosis session, on one hand you are aware that you are in an office, sitting on a comfortable chair listening to a hypnotist yet, a part of your brain is processing what is going on in the session as if it was reality. In this way, visualization, positive suggestion, memory reconsolidating (reprocessing memories) is being rehearsed as if it was taking place in real life and can generate change.
When this state is achieved we can work with the brain on a subconscious level. This means that we have direct access to deep seated beliefs, patterns and habits and can very often begin to create change in a relatively short amount of time. This sports metaphor explains this process in a way that is easy to understand: “The conscious mind is the commentator box, while the unconscious mind is the game itself.”
For people familiar with guided meditation the process might feel very familiar at first. There is a crossover between hypnosis and meditation, yet there is a distinction between the two disciplines. When doing hypnosis there is usually a clear goal in mind. To learn more about the difference between the two, scroll down below.
New York Times: “This Is Your Brain Under Hypnosis” :
“Hypnosis, with its long and checkered history in medicine and entertainment, is receiving some new respect from neuroscientists. Recent brain studies of people who are susceptible to suggestion indicate that when they act on the suggestions their brains show profound changes in how they process information.”
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS USED FOR?
Hypnosis can be used for a wide variety of issues. It is known to treat anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, chronic pain, eating disorders fears and phobias, affect regulation, habit cessation much more. Although hypnosis has been around in some for for a few hundred years, it still somewhat in its infancy of being understood by the scientific community. As research continues, one thing is clear, hypnosis can be very effective and will continue to become more of a mainstream form of therapy.
Matt often uses hypnosis and finds it most effective for stress, anxiety, phobias, insomnia, weight loss, habit cessation (including smoking, alcohol and cigarettes), performance (public speaking, sports), depression, procrastination and creativity. Some hypnotists/hypnotherapists specialize in certain area and not others so it very important to do your research before committing to a session. Most people in the field offer complimentary consultation calls which are crucial in deciding which professional to choose. To schedule a free hypnosis consultation with Matt please follow the link here .
Hypnosis Today - “Looking Beyond The Media Potrayal”
”Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain; depression; anxiety and phobias; stress; habit disorders; gastro-intestinal disorders; skin conditions; post-surgical recovery; relief from nausea and vomiting; childbirth; treatment of hemophilia and many other conditions.”
HOW MANY HYPNOSIS SESSIONS ARE NEEDED?
It is not uncommon to see positive results with one hypnosis session, however contrary to popular belief it is not the norm. The amount of sessions needed depends on a number of factors. People react to hypnosis differently; some are able to go deeply into a state of trance easily while with others it may take more effort. According to research about 20% of the population is highly “hypnotizable,” while another 20% is not very open to therapeutic hypnosis with the rest of the population falling somewhere in the middle. This usually becomes very clear early on in the process and typically the hypnotherapist would be able to tell you what you can expect in terms of a treatment plan.
The number of sessions also depends on how deep rooted the clients’ problems are. Someone who smokes a few cigarettes a day will most likely need less sessions than someone who has been smoking a pack or more a day for 20 years. Thirdly, the number of sessions may also depend on how each clients’ brain codes the world. For example, if someone isn’t very visual and the hypnotherapist utilizes a lot of visualization, this my not be the right route for the person seeing fast results with hypnosis.
Having said that, hypnosis does work very well for most people and a skilled hypnotherapist will adapt to the needs of the client. On average, it may take from 1-6 sessions to see positive results from using hypnosis in a therapeutic setting. Clients can commit to a certain number of sessions at the recommendation of the hypnotherapist, or can go on as-needed basis.
Typically it is much more effective to take a proactive approach when using hypnosis rather than a reactive approach. If, for example, a client sees a good result after one session but has been recommended to reinforce with more sessions the client should continue with more sessions rather than waiting until symptoms may resurface.
HOW MUCH DOES HYPNOSIS COST?
The cost of hypnotherapy sessions may vary based on your location. Typically, hypnosis may on average cost more than other therapeutic approaches. The reason being is that hypnosis is meant to be a short-term and fast-acting intervention. While a talk therapist may see clients for very extended period of time, a hypnotist will most likely see you only for a few sessions in order to get results on a specific issue.
That being said the average cost of hypnosis in NYC is between $200-300 per 75-90 minute session (with some NYC hypnotherapists charging up to $400 per session). In order to be more widely available, Matt offers the average price per session of $225 as well as 3 session ($575 $100 off) and 6 session ($1100, $250 off) packages that come with significant discounts. As discussed above, most people will need between 3-6 sessions to see positive results.
It is important to note that most hypnotherapist do not accept insurance and that hypnosis is not covered as an out-of-network treatment.
DOES HYPNOTHERAPY WORK VIRTUALLY?
In short, yes, doing hypnotherapy online works just as well as it does in person. Of course, being in the same room with your hypnotherapist has been the norm and is an irreplaceable experience, however, due to the pandemic working with clients virtually is common and effective. In some cases it can also be an advantage. Most people who seek hypnotherapy start their first session with a lot of preconceived and unhealthy notions about hypnosis through very skewed representation in the media. Starting the process from your home can be very comforting and provide a sense of safety while you are getting to know what hypnosis actually feels like.
As long as you can provide a comfortable, quiet place where you will be undisturbed for 75-90 minutes, hypnosis will work just as well as if you were in an office. Virtual sessions are preferably done through Zoom.
“Online Hypnosis” - A short article by City Wellness Hypnosis Founder Matt Walczak
”If hypnosis is going to work for you, it will work whether it is in-person or online.”
IS GUIDED MEDITATION THE SAME AS HYPNOSIS?
For anyone who has had experience with guided meditation, the experience of being hypnotized will most likely feel very familiar. Meditation and hypnosis are based on the same principle: when you have someone hold focus on something very specific, that person will begin to experience physical relaxation. The classic example of this in hypnosis is the hypnotist have the clients’ eyes focus on a swinging pendulum (this is a very outdated form of inducing trance and you will not find many hypnotists using this method anymore).
In meditation, the most common example is focusing on the breath. In both instances, what someone is focusing on is completely different but the desired effect is and for most feels the same. There is a lot of crossover in the relaxation methods used in hypnotic induction and meditation. Some include, focusing on bodily sensations, relaxing imagery, breathing and sound.
The key difference between guided meditation and hypnotherapy is what happens once a state of focus and physical relaxation is achieved. For most guided meditation, relaxation achieved through being present is the main goal. With hypnosis, the trance state is used to work through specific emotional and behavioral issues, unconscious beliefs and patterns.
Every hypnosis session is tailored to each individual’s specific needs and goals. The relaxed state provides a by pass of the critical factor of the mind and allows for therapeutic intervention on a deeper subconscious level. With hypnosis there is quite bit of technique that isn’t related to guided meditation that goes into helping an individual work through their issues. Some have called hypnotherapy “meditation with a goal.” Although this a simple and concise way of describing the process, it undermines the entirety and complexity of what happens in a hypnosis session.
IS IT SAFE TO BY HYPNOTIZED?
Hypnosis is a very gentle and safe method. You should always seek a trained professional when thinking about booking a hypnosis session. Side effects are extremely rare and very mild. You may feel a sense of relaxation and sometimes sleepiness after emerging from trance. In this case it might not be the best idea to jump into heavily engaging activities that require a lot of focus and physical effort.
At times, people can drift into a sleep-like state during which a person may not be consciously aware of what is happening around them. For this reason you should never listen to any hypnosis recordings while driving, operating any sort of machinery or during any activity during which requires complete focus and attention for the safety of others and yourself.
Most apprehensions regarding the safety of being engaged in a hypnotic stem from years, of bad PR in the media. In truth, almost all people who experience hypnotic trance find it to be a very natural and relaxing state.