All you need to know about hypnosis and hypnotherapy
Source: in-cyprus.com
QUESTION
Mrs. Pattichi, I read in your interview that you are a hypnotherapist. Could you tell us a few things about hypnosis and its uses?
Thank you, and I want to say that your articles help me a lot.
MI
ANSWER
Dear MI,
Thank you for your question and your kind words.
Hypnosis is one of the three natural states of consciousness; however, it is rarely identified or explained to us, so we are often unaware when we are experiencing it. It is not something metaphysical or supernatural — it is an absolutely natural state which we go in and out of many times during the day.
Let me explain our three natural states:
The waking state – This is the state we experience every day from the moment we wake up until the moment we fall asleep. Here, our conscious mind is at the forefront and takes the lead, while our subconscious mind remains in the background, ensuring all the automatic functions of our body take place.
The sleeping state – In this state, the conscious mind goes into the background and the subconscious rises to the surface. Most of the time we are unconscious during sleep, meaning we do not remember or perceive what is happening.
The hypnotic state – In this state, again the conscious mind moves to the background and the subconscious takes the lead, but unlike sleep, we remember everything and we fully participate. We are fully aware, and all our senses become heightened. It is an intermediate state between wakefulness and sleep, in which we are able to access our full inner resources to address and resolve various issues.
What is hypnosis?
The simplest description is: enhanced, focused attention that allows us to bypass critical thinking and access the subconscious to establish new functional ones. In a therapeutic environment, this access to the subconscious — where all our experiences are recorded and stored — allows us to “rewrite” these experiences in a more positive and empowering way. This is called hypnotherapy and it is performed by a trained, licensed and experienced hypnotherapist.
We have references to hypnosis dating back to ancient Sumeria and Egypt in papyrus texts. In ancient Greece, the temples of sleep dedicated to the god Asclepius used hypnosis to heal various illnesses.
It is helpful to dispel certain myths about hypnosis:
A common myth is that the hypnotist will control the person being hypnotized and make them do things against their will. This is not true. The hypnotized person has full control. At any moment they can open their eyes and return to wakefulness. As mentioned earlier, during hypnosis the person is fully conscious, participating and responding to the therapist. If they are asked to do something that goes against their moral values (which would never happen in a therapeutic session), they would either open their eyes and refuse or simply not respond. No one can be hypnotized without their consent. Hypnosis is a cooperation between therapist and client, and the hypnotist simply helps maintain this wonderful state.
Another myth is that there is a danger the person might not wake up. This fear is also unfounded. Every hypnosis session is essentially self-hypnosis, with the full participation of the individual and the guidance of the therapist. If the therapist stops speaking for a period of time, the person would simply open their eyes and return to a waking state. Remember, hypnosis is one of our natural states. Saying someone could get “stuck” in hypnosis is like saying someone might never wake up from sleep.
“Will they learn all my secrets?”
No. Again, the person being hypnotized has full control and awareness — they can even lie! They will only share what they want to share.
Many people confuse hypnosis with anesthesia. Anesthesia is a state caused by chemical substances, usually during surgical procedures. Hypnosis is one of our natural mental states.
“Only weak-minded or gullible people can be hypnotized.”
In fact, everyone can, because — as we said — it is a natural state we enter many times a day. A strong mind is actually an advantage because it allows easier and faster access to the benefits of hypnosis. Throughout the day, we naturally enter this state in many ways: while daydreaming; when we are absorbed in a film or a book; when we drive and arrive at our destination without consciously noticing the journey; when we listen to figures of authority such as politicians, doctors, or clergy; or when we experience moments of deep absorption or ecstasy. All of these and many more are natural expressions of hypnosis.
“I won’t remember anything afterward.”
Quite the opposite. The hypnotized person remembers every detail, and the experience has a positive and transformative effect.
Now let’s look at some uses of hypnosis — in other words, hypnotherapy:
- Smoking cessation – Hypnosis is statistically the most effective method, because it helps remove the underlying reasons for smoking. The person becomes a non-smoker, not an ex-smoker, which most other methods do.
- Stress management – The person learns self-hypnosis to use daily for calmness and anxiety reduction and control.
- Eliminating phobias and panic attacks – We remove the triggers that cause fear and panic.
- Emotional regulation – Such as overcoming inferiority, lack of confidence, shame, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts, anger, disappointment, grief, and many others.
- Weight management – The person releases the subconscious programming that drives uncontrollable eating.
- Pain management – Suggestions help reduce physical pain.
- Processing traumatic experiences – We locate and neutralize traumatic memories to allow peace and calm.
- Sexual concerns – Such as erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, etc.
- Improving sleep
I hope this has shed some light on what hypnosis is and how it can be used.
Life coaching is more than solving problems—it’s about unlocking your true potential. It helps you face life’s challenges with strength, while bringing out the very best in yourself, so you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and pride. The journey begins with learning, then gradually applying and practicing new ways of thinking and living. By cultivating Emotional Intelligence (EQ), you gain the ability to respond to challenges with balance and effectiveness. Step by step, you build new strategies for navigating both everyday demands and life’s bigger transitions.
Real change is possible for anyone—what it requires is the desire to change and grow and the commitment to take consistent, steady steps forward.
Annie Pattichi is a Transformational Life Coach with an MA in Clinical Psychology. She’s also a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Trainer, and an Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) master practitioner. She works both with individuals and groups to help them connect with their inner wisdom and take full ownership of their lives. Annie is a regular guest on television and radio, and writes the Life Coach column for the Phileleftheros and In-Cyprus newspapers. She also leads weekly self-awareness and personal development classes at the Open School of Strovolos Municipality.
Annie Pattichi
Annie Pattichi
Transformational Life Coach
ΜΑ Clinical Psychology
TransformNow Coaching Academy
[email protected]
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