Written by: Deilen Michelle Villegas, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
In the realm of holistic healing and personal transformation, hypnotherapy has emerged as a powerful tool to tap into the depths of the subconscious mind. Far from the stage performances and pop culture portrayal, hypnotherapy offers individuals a gateway to unlock their potential, overcome challenges and facilitate profound change. Let’s dive into the world of hypnotherapy and discover its transformative benefits.
Contrary to common misconceptions, hypnotherapy is not about losing control or being manipulated. It is a therapeutical practice that induces deep relaxation and heightened focus, allowing access to the subconscious mind. In this state, individuals are more receptive to positive suggestions, exploring memories, and uncovering underlying beliefs that shape their behaviors and emotions.
Harnessing the Subconscious Mind:
Our subconscious mind is like a vast reservoir, holding a wealth of information, memories, and beliefs. Hypnotherapy provides a means to access this realm, enabling individuals to work through emotional blocks, trauma, and limiting beliefs that may hinder a person's growth. By tapping into the subconscious, hypnotherapy can promote positive change, boost confidence, and enhance overall
well-being.
Hypnotherapy has proven effective in addressing various concerns, ranging from anxiety and phobias to smoking cessation and weight management. It can help individuals break from self-destructive patterns, manage stress, improve sleep, and boost self-esteem. This all happens by rewiring the subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy facilitates lasting behavioral changes and empowers individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
The Power of Suggestion:
One of the core techniques in Hypnotherapy is the power of suggestion. During a session, a trained hypnotherapist guides individuals through positive affirmations and suggestions that align with their desired outcomes. These suggestions help reframe negative thought patterns, instill new empowering beliefs, and reinforce desired behaviors. Through repetition and reinforcement, positive suggestions become deeply embedded in the subconscious mind, supporting lasting transformation.
While hypnotherapy is often associated with the mind, its effects are not purely psychological. Research has shown that during a hypnotic state, the brain undergoes specific neurophysiological changes, such as increased theta wave activity. These brainwave patterns are associated with deep relaxation, heightened creativity, and enhanced receptivity to change. The scientific understanding of hypnotherapy continues to grow, validating its potential as a valuable therapeutic tool. It is important to note, that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Everyone can be hypnotized, and being hypnotized feels different for everyone.
When people think of hypnosis they think of deep sleep, not everyone enters a state of deep sleep, but more of a deep sense of relaxation, and they are fully aware, conscious, and in control throughout this process. Whether you feel awake or fall asleep, your subconscious mind is always listening. The reason most people look like they are asleep is because of the heightened level of relaxation they feel. As hypnotherapists, we can not force you to divulge any information that you are not subconsciously comfortable giving or make you do anything you are not already willing to do.
Even though we are more likely to be suggestible during this state, our bodies and brains still have fail-safes that prevent us from doing anything that is detrimental to our well-being.
We all experience a form of hypnosis throughout our day. It is a trance-like state, where we are calm, and kind of functioning on autopilot. This can be most noticeable or recognized in those moments when you are driving on your route to work or back home, and you remember leaving and then the next thing you arrive at your destination but do not remember the actual drive.
We also enter these trance-like states when we watch things like movies or television shows, and we look down and an extended period of time has gone by but it hasn't felt that long.
How Soon After Treatment Can You Start to See Change?
Each person is unique and responds to treatment differently. You may experience a combination of these various kinds of results. They are all extremely beneficial and what they have in common is that you think about life in a way that allows you to be more positive, productive, and powerful. They all provide a sense of satisfaction because progress can be seen.
The types of changes individuals can experience:
Immediate change – This is where you may feel a massive shift right away. An immediate change in your physiology, thoughts, and behaviors right in and immediately following the session.
Incremental change – This happens over a period of time. But you may still notice differences and changes every day.
Retroactive change – This happens when you don’t see the shifts right away, and then one day you look back and suddenly see all the things that are different and that have improved in your life.
Do These Positive Changes Last Forever?
Yes! You must do your part, too, and be ready and committed to your healing. The brain learns by repetition. Repetition builds retention. So the more you do something, the more likely it is to stick.
This is why on average it takes about 21 days for a new change to become a habit and about 66 days for it to become a permanent change.
Because hypnotherapy works with the subconscious mind to eliminate deeply rooted beliefs…once the beliefs are gone …they are gone! And new, positive beliefs will take their place.
But it is important to note, that when working with clients to overcome phobias or fears, identifying the earliest memory surrounding the first time they could have been triggered to develop the phobia is most effective. Helping individuals overcome their fears or phobias can be done best if you can help pinpoint what life experience might have caused it. While phobias and fears can be overcome, it is also important that individuals know that they could be triggered by a future event that may cause them to develop that phobia or fear again.
Finding a Qualified Hypnotherapist:
When seeking the benefits of hypnotherapy, it is essential to work with a qualified and certified hypnotherapist. Look for professionals with appropriate training, experience, and accreditation from reputable organizations. A good hypnotherapist will create a safe and supportive environment, tailor sessions to individual needs, and guide clients through the process with expertise and compassion. It is important to find someone who you feel completely comfortable becoming vulnerable with. The more comfortable you are, the more you will feel safe to open up completely to suggestions to achieve your desired goals.
Hypnotherapy opens the door to personal growth and transformation by harnessing the power of the subconscious mind. It offers individuals an opportunity to address deep-rooted issues, overcome challenges, and limiting beliefs, and create lasting positive change. As the scientific understanding and acceptance of hypnotherapy grow, more people are discovering its potential to unlock their inner resources and lead more fulfilling lives. Embrace the power of hypnotherapy and unlock the incredible potential within yourself.
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Deilen Michelle Villegas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Deilen Michelle is a Holistic Health Practitioner and Holistic Life Coach. An advocate for bringing awareness to the mental health and physical well-being of underserved communities. She specializes in Trauma Recovery, Behavioral Health, Mindset Transformation, and Somatic Healing with over 15 years in healthcare. Founder of The Shamanic Goddess, LLC, a Holistic Health and Wellness Consulting business, she has chosen to use her knowledge, experience, and platforms to address the importance and need for Holistic Health and Wellness in the Medical Industry and also the impact of trauma and adversities on the BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. She is an interdisciplinary Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioner focusing on the Mind-Body-Spirit connection, currently working on her Ph.D. in Natural Medicine and has obtained a Master of Science in Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Deilen created her own modality named The H.E.M Experience, which she uses with her clients to create effective positive change in all areas of life to achieve their full potential in Body, Mind, and Soul, guiding them to be more intentional and conscious about how they move in the world.
