Clinical hypnosis is very different from what you see in stage shows, there are no impersonations of quacking ducks and you remain completely in control throughout the whole process. What clinical hypnosis can enable you to do is utilise different parts of your mind to help you towards a goal and that's why it's such a useful tool in counselling and coaching.
If you've ever drifted off whilst driving to a destination you know well; found yourself daydreaming during a meeting or in a lecture or been dancing for hours in a club then you are already familiar with the hypnotic state. Zoning out in front of the TV, that moment just before your fall asleep or drifting off whilst someone is speaking are also examples of the same thing showing you that your mind can be in two states at once and that's what happens in hypnosis.
Having problems with anxiety or depression then hypnosis can give you access to that part of yourself that already knows what you need to do in order to help yourself and hypnosis can help you get past the part of yourself that is getting in the way. The key is to relax and get to a place where instead of putting up barriers to change your mind can begin to imagine what it would be like if you were for instance a bit less anxious or slightly less depressed, what would you be thinking, what would you be doing , where would you be going ? Research shows us that the same areas of the brain light up when we think about doing these things than when we actually do them so although it sounds a bit weird just thinking about things can start change.
If you would like to know more about how clinical hypnosis could help you with pain control, phobias, mental health challenges etc. it's worth having a look at the resources on the website of the British Society for Clinical and Academic Hypnosis https://bscah.co.uk/
The NHS is now taking an interest as well with clinical hypnosis now offered as part of anaesthesia, pain management, dentistry and for management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
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