Okay, now that we have explained what hypnosis is, and, again, what hypnosis is NOT, the next obvious question to answer is: What happens during a typical hypnosis session?!

There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence. So, let’s briefly explain each stage:

Induction

During this stage, you begin to relax, focus your attention and ignore distractions. Your hypnotherapist will guide you through this stage with specific techniques such as controlled breathing (breathing in over a count of seven, then breathing out over a count of 11), or progressive muscle relaxation (tensing muscles as you breathe in and relaxing muscles as you breathe out, then repeating in a certain order of muscle groups throughout your body) or focusing on a visual image.

Deepener

This stage continues the first stage, taking your relaxation and focus to a deeper level. This step often involves counting down or using similar descending imagery such as walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed. These first two stages are aimed at easing your openness to suggestions.

Suggestions

This is the stage for actual change in experience, behavior or perception. Your hypnotherapist will use imagery and carefully chosen language. The suggestions are usually symptom focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the start of symptoms). Suggested changes may be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought or behavior.

• Example: To quit smoking, you’ll learn to identify your triggers to want to smoke, learn positive ways to change, understand resources to effect change, disrupt your pattern, attach a better response, notice the difference and install the changed behavior. You may be encouraged to see your “old” self with black lungs in a mirror behind you and see your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in a mirror in front. You’ll then be guided to choose which self you like and to walk toward that self.

Emergence

During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. This process may use reverse deepeners, giving you positive suggestions related to the purpose of the session itself for you to affirmatively remember and take with you in the future and leaving you with a sense of well-being, increased vigor and the desire to continue to make continuing positive strides in your personal development.

Please remember, this is but a brief synopsis of the stages involved in your session. Depending on the purpose of your visit, sessions can last anywhere from a minimum of 90 minutes all the way up to a whopping 5-6 HOURS!