Thank you for visiting the website of The Hypnosis Dr.  This is Dr. Marlene Shiple, the Hypnosis Dr, and I am pleased to WELCOME you today! 

Hypnosis is a wonderfully fascinating — enthralling — topic.  It is an amazing experience that allows you to get closely in touch with your subconscious mind … and, then, to use the creative power of your subconscious mind to make desired, successful changes in your life!

So, if you would like to know more about hypnosis … come right in!  Check out our articles, browse our products, make yourself at home!  Each word endeavors to help you better understand the phenomenon that hypnosis is.  And, then, once you understand better, perhaps, you will choose to use hypnosis yourself.  Maybe you will select hypnosis as the technique to make a REALITY out of those changes that had  previously been eluding you.

What do you think?  Can you imagine it?

Well, put on your seat belt and get ready for the ride of your life!  Prepare for a ride into the simple — yet powerful — World of Hypnosis …

As human beings, we go in and out of the Hypnotic state — spontaneously — many times each day.  Are you aware of when this happens for you?

One example of this might occur when you are watching television and the programming switches to a commercial.  Let’s say that the commercial has been on for 1 1/2 minutes when you suddenly realize that you do not know what is being advertised.

You were sitting right there … and, yet, you do not know what has been happening right before your eyes!  Why is this the case?

SPONTANEOUS HYPNOSIS

What occurred was that you, temporarily, went into an experience of spontaneous Hypnosis.  Your mind left its normal awareness of what was being conveyed on the screen and you were off — daydreaming — about some other thought or idea.  You would not react with a feeling of being startled when you realized that you had “no clue” of what had been on the television.  It would seem more like something you had experienced many times before.  You would probably have  a sense of “Oh, well …”

This brings up a speculation:  When are you in Hypnosis?  When are you fully conscious?  Yes, it is quite true:  the two states ebb and flow around one another.

THERAPEUTIC HYPNOSIS

In therapeutic Hypnosis, where the Hypnotist is in charge of your induction, you are relaxed physically while your mind is acutely aware.  The “daydreaming” that you would do would be about the ideas suggested by Dr. Shiple.  Can you begin to see why Hypnosis is such a very simple, yet incredibly profound and powerful experience?

To further understand how Hypnosis works, it is important to be familiar with your mind and how it operates.  Your mind is something you rely on frequently each day.  How does your mind function?

To better understand the different parts of your mind and how they interact, read the next blog post, “How Your Mind Works”.

Have you been considering the use of hypnosis?

Perhaps, you want to change a habit … and want your life to be healthier as a result?  Or, perhaps, you want to use hypnosis as a tool to release blocks from the past?  Or, perhaps, you want to use hypnosis to make new habits more easily brought forth in your current life?

Hypnosis can do all of this … and MORE!

Hypnosis is a state of mind.  In the hypnotic state, you are physically relaxed and your mind is alert and aware.  Hypnosis is pleasant — and powerful!

In the hypnotic state, you work specifically with your subconscious mind.  The subconscious mind is the deep part of your mind.  The subconscious mind has as its task to create whatever it is commanded to create.  The way that you usually give commands to your subconscious mind is through your thoughts.

So, what you are thinking becomes the raw material that your subconscious mind uses to fashion its creation.  You have heard of “self-fulfilling prophecy”, have you not?  Well, self-fulfilling prophecy is nothing less than your subconscious mind at work creating that which you are thinking!

This being the case, it is essential that you

1. pay attention to your thoughts
2. make certain that what you are thinking is what you really want to experience
3. if your thought is NOT what you want to experience, change the thought

Hypnosis deepens this process.  Hypnosis uses positive ideas and thoughts — suggestions — more-potently directed to the subconscious mind.  Your subconscious mind then brings these suggestions about when you are back in everyday life, your normal state of awareness.

Your mind is an incredible gift containing immense capabilities and potentials.  Knowing what your mind is, how each part of your mind interacts with the other parts, and how each component of your mind can be focused to work most effectively is essential if you wish to create success in your life!

How important is the use of your mind to you?  Are you able to focus your mind on success?  Do you take the time and energy to do so?

The way you use your mind makes all the difference in the world!  If you were not already convinced of this fact, read on to understand how important this is.

YOUR MIND IS COMPLEX

There are three main components of your mind:  the conscious mind, the subconscious mind and the over-seeing higher mind.  Each of these parts of your mind operates in your life.  It does so whether or not you are aware of its activity.  By increasing your awareness of each part and its functions, you put yourself into a position to determine how best to use your mind to create your own life.

Do you spend your day aware of where you are and what is happening in your mind?  Or, do you let your mind go on “automatic pilot,” with little direction from you?  The answers to those questions are vitally important to the direction your life is taking.

We will focus in this section on the conscious and the subconscious elements of your mind.

Your Conscious Mind:

What is your conscious mind?  Your conscious mind is the part of mind of which you are aware most of the time.  It is logical, judgmental, analytical, critical.  It is the part of your mind that works so well on such tasks as the following:

a)  organizing your schedule for the day, week, etc.;

b)  seeing to the fine points required to insure that  you are on time for meetings or appointments;

c)  reminding you of the details to which you must attend;

d)  remembering telephone numbers, addresses, etc.

e)  controlling your deliberate actions;

f)  reasoning, reaching conclusions, organizing your impressions, and providing critical evaluations.

Your Subconscious Mind:

TWO VITAL FUNCTIONS OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

Your subconscious mind operates much differently than your conscious mind does.  Your subconscious mind serves two vital functions in your life.

First, your subconscious mind has memory of that which has transpired in your life.  If you need information from the past, your subconscious mind can be worked with to present it to you.

How have you been using this ability of your subconscious mind during a routine day?  Do you tell yourself, “I can remember that?”  Or, are you fearful that you will not remember?  The former gives direction to your subconscious mind to quickly, accurately remember.

Second, your subconscious mind works for you as a very obedient servant.  In other words, your subconscious mind creates EXACTLY that which it is commanded to create for you in your life.  Perhaps you wonder where these commands — the programs that are being followed by your subconscious mind and, thus, being created as your life — originate?

PROGRAMMING YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

Your subconscious mind has received programs in a number of ways.  Primarily,

a)  from the things you have been told, especially when you were a child;

b)  from things you observe;

c)  from the messages you give yourself in your own mind; that is, from what you say to yourself.

What you say to yourself and the thoughts that you think comprise the orders that your subconscious mind then creates as your life.  This is the basis of the concept of “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

So, why does the subconscious mind do this?

It creates these ideas because you told it to do so, with your thoughts.  After all, you described to your subconscious mind what you wanted.  You did this via what you were thinking.  You told it what to do … and, as the very obedient servant that it is, it just follows the lead you described!

THE CREATIVITY OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

Your subconscious mind is a quiet presence — it is just there, with you every moment of every day.  It attends to your mind, to your every thought, your every mental idea.  It then sets to creating what you have been thinking … in just the way you have been thinking it to be.  Without question.  Without contradiction.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

Well, as an example, let’s say that you are a smoker and that you are trying to stop smoking.  If, in the process of doing so, you said to yourself, “I can’t stand it — I have to have a cigarette.”  What do you think would happen?

What you would notice is that, after saying these words, your craving would increase many-fold.  Your subconscious mind is right there, diligently at work.

SO, WHAT GOOD IS THIS?

The good news about your subconscious mind is that it will create whatever you have been thinking, whatever you have thus told it to!  In other words, your subconscious mind (in the same situation described above) can as easily create, “I will relax and breathe for five minutes … and I know I will feel satisfied and comfortable!”

Can you see how you can benefit from this in your day?

HYPNOSIS:  INTENTIONAL PROGRAMMING OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS

Keeping in mind what has been said thus far, how would you purposefully direct your subconscious mind?

You can purposefully direct your subconscious mind’s creations by carefully insuring that your thoughts are consistent with what you want in your life.  It is in strengthening this response that Hypnosis proves so effective.  HYPNOSIS WORKS WITH YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND TO CREATE SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE.

Let me repeat that:  Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind to create success — incredibly dramatic success — in your life!  Does this give you an appreciation of why Hypnosis is such a powerful tool for change?

HYPNOSIS ACCESSES YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

When you are relaxed and so-directed, your mind  shifts effortlessly into an Hypnotic state.  Remember that hypnosis is a very natural state of mind, so it is easy for it to make this shift.  In Hypnosis, it is your subconscious mind — the deep part of your mind — that becomes more accessible, so as more easily to accomplish the work of psychotherapy.

HYPNOTIC SUGGESTIONS FOCUS YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS

Since it is a function of your subconscious mind to create that which it is commanded to create.  The Hypnosis serves to take these suggestions to an even deeper, more effective level.  In Hypnosis, your subconscious mind is told specific positive things.  It is directed in ways specifically designed to support what you want to experience in your life.

What directions would you benefit from receiving through your subconscious mind in Hypnosis?

Your subconscious mind is “re-programmed” through positive, focused thoughts that support you being successful.  It, then, creates what it has been told.  Can you begin to appreciate why your subconscious mind is the perfect vehicle to accomplish beneficial results in your life?!

INTENTIONAL OR NOT:  SUBCONSCIOUS PROGRAMMING BECOMES YOUR LIFE

Your subconscious mind then takes the suggestions — the positive thoughts — that you are given in Hypnosis and carries these ideas into your life.  This is what is known as “post-Hypnotic suggestion.”  Even after the Hypnosis is completed, your subconscious continues to create that which has been carefully programmed.

Can you give commands to your subconscious mind?  Certainly, you have done this your entire life.

YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN NEGATIVELY HYPNOTIZED

There is a popular theory in Hypnosis that suggests that  we have — through the many experiences earlier in our lives — become Hypnotized in negative ways.  These ways then create destructive outcomes in our lives.

According to this theory, when we engage in destructive patterns, we are operating under the effect of spontaneous Hypnotic suggestion given to us sometime in our past.  Even very simple activities can be hampered by misconceptions … that the subconscious had Hypnotized itself to accept at some earlier time in our lives.

Following this line of thought, what therapeutic Hypnosis does, then, is to REMOVE that negative Hypnosis and negative programming.  Therapeutic Hypnosis replaces the negative programming with positive suggestions and positive programs for constructive change.

TRAUMATIC EMOTIONS LINGER

Could your conscious mind forget an actual incident, while the emotion — e.g., fear, anxiety, panic and phobias, like claustrophobia — connected with that incident still remain embedded in your subconscious mind?  Certainly, this happens frequently.

In such a situation, the emotion connected with the forgotten incident can, then, be activated when you are least expecting it.  What a surprise to you!

To deal effectively with these situations requires a modality to by-pass your conscious mind — to get directly to the subconscious mind where the misconceptions and/or emotions are stored.  Such a modality would then provide positive, constructive direction to your subconscious to utilize stored emotions beneficially.

HYPNOSIS PROVIDES THIS MODALITY

How does Hypnosis work to provide just such a modality?

It works to avoid the conscious mind — and its tendency to critical evaluation, doubt and misconception.  Hypnosis presents directions straight to the subconscious mind, where these ideas are accepted in their totality.  As a result, blocks are eliminated, causes are uncovered and trauma is lifted.

So, what happens when the Hypnosis  session is over?

Once the Hypnosis is complete, the positive post-hypnotic suggestions become a part of your normal, waking, conscious state.  Can you imagine yourself beginning to think, feel and act in different ways as a result of the suggestions given to you during Hypnosis?  This is exactly what happens … simply and effectively.

HYPNOSIS UNIFIES YOUR MIND: Your WHOLE MIND Begins Working for You

Something incredibly profound occurs during Hypnosis.  Even before being Hypnotized, you  consciously wanted to act in certain ways.  After the Hypnosis, your subconscious mind has become enlisted — through Hypnotic suggestion — to join forces with your conscious desires and intentions.

Can you imagine how powerful the merging of your conscious desires with your subconscious creativity can be?

CONSCIOUS WORKING WITH SUBCONSCIOUS … FOR YOU

This partnership of your conscious mind with your subconscious mind is a powerful force toward insuring success in the changes you desire in your life!  ALL of your mind has become harnessed and focused on success in your life!

With the amazing phenomenon of Hypnosis, you begin to use Whole Mind capabilities to accomplish your dreams. Can you see the truth of how more than ever before it has become true:  I CAN DO IT!!

As a result, of the Hypnosis, your experience becomes transformed.  More, perhaps, than ever before, you have come into possession of the reality that THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

Once you have decided that hypnosis would benefit you, it is time to do research about your Hypnotist. You are looking for a “fit” a connection between you and the Hypnotist whom you select.

If you know someone who is seeing, or has seen, a Hypnotist and was pleased with the results and the assistance provided, you can ask him/her for a referral. If this is not available to you or not a direction you wish to pursue others avenues exist.

1. In the Yellow Pages (physical phone book or online), find the heading that addresses the type of treatment you desire e.g., “hypnosis” to find a practitioner skilled in creating the hypnotic state for habit change; “hypnotherapy” to find a practitioner who utilizes hypnosis as a state in which to reinforce and practice coaching strategies.

2. Look at the credentials of the Hypnotist:

• Where did s/he receive her/his schooling?
• What degree(s) has s/he earned?
• In what organizations does s/he hold membership?
• What certifications and/or licenses does s/he hold?
• How many years has s/he been in practice?

If necessary, call to get this information.

3. Consider random factors, variable among different hypnotists; e.g., location, convenience of appointments scheduling, cost.

4.  Taking into account #1 through #3 (above), make a list of 3-5 possible hypnosis professionals.

5. Talk with each Hypnotists on your list. Ask about his/her treatment style. For example, does he/she mostly listen while you talk? Does he/she offer practical suggestions for change? Is homework given?

Now, for THE MOST IMPORTANT PART of your selection process, consider the following:

a. How do these responses match what you think would work best for you?

b. Pay attention to your intuition while talking with the Hypnotist

• How does this Hypnotist sound and feel to you?  Is the Hypnotist’s voice and tone soothing to you?
• Do you sense that s/he would understand you and your circumstances?
• Do you sense that s/he would be able to help you?
• Do you feel that you would listen to and follow the guidance s/he gives?

Listen to your “gut feeling” and make an appointment with the Hypnotist whom you feel most strongly could assist you.

Surrender Control?

Myth #1: When under Hypnosis, the subject must surrender all control. This may be the easiest of the myths to refute.  It is the subject — not the Hypnotist — that is in control during Hypnosis.  The Hypnotist is a guide.  It is the subjects who, by following the directions from the Hypnotist, allow their minds to achieve the altered, Hypnotic state.  All forms of Hypnosis occur via the active, focused actions of the subjects themselves.

Forced Against Your Will?

Myth #2: Under Hypnosis, you can be forced to do something against your will; like, commit a crime. Since you are fully aware and alert during Hypnosis, you know exactly what is occurring.  Hence, you will not do anything under Hypnosis contrary to your moral principles.  As was pointed out in Myth #1, you are also fully in control during the Hypnosis.  Hence, there is no such thing as “force” or “against your will” possible during Hypnosis.

Who Can Be Hypnotized?

Myth #3: Some people cannot be Hypnotized. Numerous Hypnosis experiments have repeatedly shown that
*  normal persons
*  with moderate intelligence
*  and the ability to concentrate
*  who are motivated to do so
*  and cooperate
can be Hypnotized.  In fact, people seem to have the ability to improve and become even better subjects with practice.

Weak Willed?

Myth #4: People who can be Hypnotized are weak-willing, longing for domination. This may be the oldest myth in regard to Hypnosis.  It used to be believed that the Hypnotherapist created control over the subject by the strength of the therapist’s character.  Today it is recognized that strong-willed, determined individuals often make the best subjects.

Mentally Ill?

Myth #5: Anyone who can be Hypnotized is mentally ill. Unfortunately, this belief was actually advanced by Jean-Martin Charcot, one of eminent early Hypnotists.  It became the subject of bitter controversy.  It was later disproved by other doctors who demonstrated that intelligent, strong, healthy people made excellent subjects.

Not Exist?

Myth #6: Hypnosis does not exist. This is a long-standing idea, based on the belief that the subject is just play-acting out of a desire to please the Hypnotist.  It is easily refuted by the massive documentation of major surgery performed with only hypnosis as the anesthetic.  For people to be able to control their pain “under the knife,” Hypnosis is a state which certainly does exist.

Unconscious?

Myth #7: In Hypnosis, you are unconscious. This is contrary to the very nature of the Hypnotic state.   Hypnosis is a state of altered awareness in which you are physically relaxed, with your mind alert and aware.  Hence, you are fully conscious while Hypnotized.

Is Hypnosis Sleep?

Myth #8: Hypnosis is a form of sleep. Research studies utilizing brain-wave patterns (measured via electroencephalograph) demonstrate that the Hypnotized subject does not exhibit the brain-wave patterns of sleep.  In the relaxed state of Hypnosis, the subject may appear asleep.

Never Awaken?

Myth #9: As a subject in Hypnosis, you may be unable to be awakened. Since during the Hypnotic state, you are alert and aware, awakening from Hypnosis is as easy as opening your eyes!  Either the Hypnotist or the subject can terminate the Hypnosis session at will.

One Session Enough?

Myth #10: Hypnosis effects a “cure” in one session. In some cases, Hypnosis can enable a subject to break a habit in two or three sessions.  However, since habit has become conditioned over time, it can take repetitions of Hypnosis to fully remove the full strength of the conditioning.

Extreme Depth Required?

Myth #11: A person must be in a deep, deep state of hypnosis in order to be helped. Many excellent results are obtained by utilizing the beneficial suggestible state of light Hypnosis induction.  Hence, you need not be in a deep stage of Hypnosis to benefit from the experience.

Here are the Steps to take to Get Benefit from those Negative Thoughts:

Now, let’s look at what you can do with the thoughts you have recorded. Let’s allow these negative habitual thoughts to benefit you! Let’s allow them to serve as guides for you into the paths for having MORE of what you want in your life.

WHAT TO DO:

1. Select the first of the negative habit thoughts that you have recorded.

2. Reword it into a positive idea.

3. Holding in mind that your subconscious mind has incredible power to create what you are thinking/saying to yourself, state that positive idea firmly, with conviction!

4. Continue to repeat this statement until it begins to “feel” more true about you.

This positive statement is called an affirmation. When you use affirmations to direct your subconscious mind to create these positive ideas ABOUT YOU … you allow positives outcomes to begin manifesting in your life.

NOW FOR AN EXAMPLE …

Let’s say that you noticed that you had been telling yourself, “I will never succeed. Other people can do it — but I mess up whatever I try.”

Can you see what you had been directing yourself to create with this idea? Can you see its results in your life? OF COURSE, you can!

OK, let’s re-word the thought. Let’s take the idea contained in the thought and use it in a positive way. This might become, “I am persistent and diligent and succeed at that which I undertake. I don’t stop until I do! I am a success!!”

REPETITION … REPETITION … REPETITION:

Now you repeat and repeat and repeat this idea … with the understanding that your subconscious mind — by its very nature — creates what you are thinking/saying. You continue to do so until you begin to feel a “fit” with these ideas.

MORE REPETITION:

Now it is your turn … Take another of the habitual negative thoughts that you have recorded. Now, re-word this thought into a positive idea. Then proceed to the repetition step with this second thought. Only you can limit the incredible positive outcomes you create when you give positive thoughts to your subconscious mind!

I invite you to continue following these steps over and over in this fashion until you’ve completed your list. As you do, continue to notice your feelings, your experience, and your successful affirmative thoughts.  Hypnosis operates to activate these positive, affirmative thoughts EVEN MORE quickly and effectively!

Since Hypnosis works with your subconscious mind, it can be helpful to have a better understanding of just what your Subconscious Mind is and how it works.  Here are some of the characteristics of your Subconscious Mind:

a) your subconscious mind functions by its very nature to create what it is told, and

b) your subconscious mind does not care what it creates — it just creates what you have commanded through your thoughts.

This being the case, do you want to waste energy on it creating in directions counterproductive to your goals? Of course you DON’T! So, you might be asking, “What can I do?” …

AWARENESS OF THOUGHTS:

You can begin to be aware of the thoughts in your mind. Now, that might sound weird to you! You might be saying to yourself, “Hey, they’re my thoughts. I KNOW what I am thinking!” Do you?

HABITUAL NEGATIVE THOUGHTS:

If you are like most people, many of your thoughts pop into your mind, unbidden. Many of your thoughts are reflections of things that others have said to you about you. Many of your thoughts are based on past — possibly no-longer-relevant — habit! The problem with this is that those unbidden habits might be directing your subconscious mind in OTHER directions than you want in your life!

Here’s how to find out …

RECORD KEEPING:

Begin to notice your thoughts. As you become more and more aware of what you are thinking, start to record the negative thoughts — especially those that you notice coming to mind with some frequency … and even-more ESPECIALLY those that deplete your self-esteem and self-worth or increase your feelings of inferiority and depression.

That’s right — you don’t have to judge them: Just begin to notice and write them down. Recording habitual negative thoughts becomes the basis to understand what YOU HAVE BEEN telling your subconscious mind to create. This is IMPORTANT!

It is important because it helps you to appreciate HOW INCREDIBLY WELL your subconscious mind has already been bringing things into being … just the way you said they were to be!

TAKE CONTROL, ACHIEVE MORE!

Once you can appreciate the amazing creative power of your subconscious mind in this way, it is a much easier task to start directing that creation … in ways that serve your goals. Then, you are in the enviable position of enjoying MORE of what you’ve always wanted your life to be! Only you can limit the incredible positive outcomes you can create when you give positive thoughts to your subconscious mind!

I invite you to use these steps over and over to practice directing your subconscious mind to attract success and to better understand how hypnosis can help you to change your life.  And now I encourage you to browse our website and explore all of the hypnosis products and services that we offer!

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