By: Patricia V. Scott, Ph.D.
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS? If you ask a hundred hypnotists, you'll get a hundred different answers, or perhaps a "canned" response from some textbook they have read. Here is a simple way that I like to describe hypnosis.
"Hypnosis is a focused state of concentrated attention that allows you to access the inner resources you need to achieve a desired goal, while filtering out the peripheral distractions."
I tell my hypnosis students that my goal in life is to be in hypnosis 24 hours a day! That's because I believe the state of hypnosis allows me to be more focused and resourceful, more creative and open to possibilities, and in the best possible health.
Here are some more definitions of hypnosis:
Eysenk, British Behavioral Psychologist - “The ability of an individual to direct the whole force of nervous energy into a small number of nervous channels, thereby reducing the synaptic resistance and facilitating the passage of the nervous energy.”
J. Boswell, English lawyer - “An unusual state in which the mind concentrates on immediate thoughts disregarding surrounding stimuli.”
McDougall, American Psychologist - “Voluntary attention is withdrawn from the outer world and concentrated in force upon the vasomotor system, producing changes impossible in normal consciousness.”
William J. Bryan Jr., American M.D. - “Hypnosis is a normal physiological, altered state of consciousness, similar to, but not the same as being asleep, and is produced by the presence of two conditions: (1) a central focus of attention, and (2) surrounding areas of inhibition. The state of hypnosis, in turn produces three things: (1) an increased concentration of the mind, (2) an increased relaxation of the body, and, (3) and increased susceptibility to suggestions.”
S. J. Van Pelt, Australian physician working in England
“Hypnosis is a peculiar psychological state in which the mind is particularly susceptible to suggestion. This state may be brought about by various means, by either the hypnotist or the patient himself, in which case it is known as auto-hypnosis.”
Milton Erickson, American M.D. - “Hypnosis is a shrinking of the focus of attention.”
Dave Elman, American Hypnotist - “Hypnosis is the use of suggestion, whether direct or indirect, to induce a heightened state of suggestibility in which there is bypass of the critical faculty of the mind, and selective attention to suggestions given.”
Conrad Adams, Alpha University Founder - “Hypnosis is, in the very simplest of terms, focused relaxation.”
As I said, there are as many definitions as there are practitioners. The most important thing that I want my clients to understand about hypnosis is that it is a perfectly normal, natural state that we drift in and out of all day long. Using this state, on purpose, to gain access to our unconscious processes, habitual behaviors, beliefs, attitudes and responses, can allow us to make adjustments to all of these things in order to better suit our present goals and needs.
CAN YOU BE HYPNOTIZED? As reported in PSYCHOLOGY TODAY” (Jan./Feb. 2001): "Contrary to popular belief, practically everyone – about 95% of all people can be hypnotized to some degree. The only question is how far."
Have you ever driven a long distance and not remember a period of time? Have you ever been involved in a good book and been unaware that someone had been speaking to you? Have you ever become emotional while watching a movie? Have you ever learned how to do something through repetition (walking, learning your ABC's, driving a car, hitting a ball)? Have you ever been in a class or seminar and found yourself daydreaming? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you have been hypnotized! Actually, we drift in and out of the hypnotic brain wave state all throughout the day, and again as we drift off to sleep and as we awaken. Some studies estimate that we are in a light "alpha" state up to 85% of the day! So you see, you have been in hypnosis more than you realized. Isn't it nice to know that you can learn to use this state, on purpose, to achieve positive changes in your behavior and in your health.
When you understand what hypnosis is, you come to understand it is a natural state of concentrated focused awareness which only requires a willingness to follow instructions by a skilled Hypnotherapist. Unless someone is uncooperative, or has a severe mental disorder that renders them unable to understand and follow simple direction, they can learn to go into at least a light hypnotic state, and most people can be trained to enter deeper states with practice. The usual reason someone feels they “can’t be hypnotized” is because of a false impression of what hypnosis is, or an experience working with a hypnotist with limited knowledge, skills and/or experience. Most behavior modification and even pain management generally require only a light state of hypnosis.
HOW DO YOU FIND A QUALIFIED HYPNOTIST/HYPNOTHERAPIST?
Hypnosis is primarily a self-regulated industry. The Council Of Professional Hypnosis Organizations (COPHO) is comprised of most major professional hypnosis organizations in the United States, representing over 12,000 professionals. This organization sets educational minimum standards as well as standards of practice and ethics for practitioners and trainers in the industry. UPHI (UP Hypnosis Institute) far exceeds the educational standards recommended by COPHO, and is a wonderful resource for locating qualified, professional hypnotists and hypnotherapists. Patricia V. Scott, owner of UPHI, has been in practice since 1992 and has the honor of knowing many practitioners all over the United States and abroad, and she often refers people to colleagues.
When looking for a hypnotist or hypnotherapist, it is important to be sure the person is a professional in full-time practice with adequate education and that you are comfortable with them. Most practitioners, including Patricia, will do a free consultation with you where you can ask questions and find out if you are comfortable with them and with their approach. There are many different styles of hypnosis, and each practitioner has a unique personality and approach. If you are wanting to get help with a diagnosis (anything relating to a medical or mental health issue), you would need to have a written referral from the treating physician to see a hypnotherapist in the state of Florida in accordance with Florida Statute 485. This is true in most other states, as well. That's because hypnotists are not licensed and do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. If you are seeking help with a non-clinical behavioral or life goal issue, such as weight control, smoking cessation, improving your golf game, exam stress, etc., there is no referral necessary.
Questions to ask your potential hypnotist/hypnotherapist:
1. Where and when did you get your Certification?
2. With which hypnosis organization(s) are you affiliated?
3. How many hours of continuing education do you receive each year?
4. How long have you been in full-time practice?
5. Do you have expertise, training and experience in working with _________ (your issue)?
6. Do you carry professional liability insurance?
7. What other awards or specialty training have you received, if any?
Be aware that because the industry is largely self-regulated, pretty much anyone can create a fancy website and open an office and say they are a hypnotist. You want to find a practitioner with credentials and affiliations that show you they are a professional. Also, there are some professional hypnotists who work out of their home. Although this does not mean they are less qualified, you will want to be sure to ask all of the questions above to ensure your safety and wellbeing. Patricia has always worked out of a professional office since she began her practice in 1992, as she felt this projected a professional image. For most of her career, she has also been a member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and has been associated with, and active in, many Chambers of Commerce. If you read her complete BIO, you will find that she attends and speaks at many conferences and she has always been extremely involved with civic organizations, charitable groups and professional business associations. You want to be sure you are also looking at a hypnotist's other affiliations and memberships before deciding.
Feel free to contact Patricia if you have any questions.
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS? If you ask a hundred hypnotists, you'll get a hundred different answers, or perhaps a "canned" response from some textbook they have read. Here is a simple way that I like to describe hypnosis.
"Hypnosis is a focused state of concentrated attention that allows you to access the inner resources you need to achieve a desired goal, while filtering out the peripheral distractions."
I tell my hypnosis students that my goal in life is to be in hypnosis 24 hours a day! That's because I believe the state of hypnosis allows me to be more focused and resourceful, more creative and open to possibilities, and in the best possible health.
Here are some more definitions of hypnosis:
Eysenk, British Behavioral Psychologist - “The ability of an individual to direct the whole force of nervous energy into a small number of nervous channels, thereby reducing the synaptic resistance and facilitating the passage of the nervous energy.”
J. Boswell, English lawyer - “An unusual state in which the mind concentrates on immediate thoughts disregarding surrounding stimuli.”
McDougall, American Psychologist - “Voluntary attention is withdrawn from the outer world and concentrated in force upon the vasomotor system, producing changes impossible in normal consciousness.”
William J. Bryan Jr., American M.D. - “Hypnosis is a normal physiological, altered state of consciousness, similar to, but not the same as being asleep, and is produced by the presence of two conditions: (1) a central focus of attention, and (2) surrounding areas of inhibition. The state of hypnosis, in turn produces three things: (1) an increased concentration of the mind, (2) an increased relaxation of the body, and, (3) and increased susceptibility to suggestions.”
S. J. Van Pelt, Australian physician working in England
“Hypnosis is a peculiar psychological state in which the mind is particularly susceptible to suggestion. This state may be brought about by various means, by either the hypnotist or the patient himself, in which case it is known as auto-hypnosis.”
Milton Erickson, American M.D. - “Hypnosis is a shrinking of the focus of attention.”
Dave Elman, American Hypnotist - “Hypnosis is the use of suggestion, whether direct or indirect, to induce a heightened state of suggestibility in which there is bypass of the critical faculty of the mind, and selective attention to suggestions given.”
Conrad Adams, Alpha University Founder - “Hypnosis is, in the very simplest of terms, focused relaxation.”
As I said, there are as many definitions as there are practitioners. The most important thing that I want my clients to understand about hypnosis is that it is a perfectly normal, natural state that we drift in and out of all day long. Using this state, on purpose, to gain access to our unconscious processes, habitual behaviors, beliefs, attitudes and responses, can allow us to make adjustments to all of these things in order to better suit our present goals and needs.
CAN YOU BE HYPNOTIZED? As reported in PSYCHOLOGY TODAY” (Jan./Feb. 2001): "Contrary to popular belief, practically everyone – about 95% of all people can be hypnotized to some degree. The only question is how far."
Have you ever driven a long distance and not remember a period of time? Have you ever been involved in a good book and been unaware that someone had been speaking to you? Have you ever become emotional while watching a movie? Have you ever learned how to do something through repetition (walking, learning your ABC's, driving a car, hitting a ball)? Have you ever been in a class or seminar and found yourself daydreaming? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you have been hypnotized! Actually, we drift in and out of the hypnotic brain wave state all throughout the day, and again as we drift off to sleep and as we awaken. Some studies estimate that we are in a light "alpha" state up to 85% of the day! So you see, you have been in hypnosis more than you realized. Isn't it nice to know that you can learn to use this state, on purpose, to achieve positive changes in your behavior and in your health.
When you understand what hypnosis is, you come to understand it is a natural state of concentrated focused awareness which only requires a willingness to follow instructions by a skilled Hypnotherapist. Unless someone is uncooperative, or has a severe mental disorder that renders them unable to understand and follow simple direction, they can learn to go into at least a light hypnotic state, and most people can be trained to enter deeper states with practice. The usual reason someone feels they “can’t be hypnotized” is because of a false impression of what hypnosis is, or an experience working with a hypnotist with limited knowledge, skills and/or experience. Most behavior modification and even pain management generally require only a light state of hypnosis.
HOW DO YOU FIND A QUALIFIED HYPNOTIST/HYPNOTHERAPIST?
Hypnosis is primarily a self-regulated industry. The Council Of Professional Hypnosis Organizations (COPHO) is comprised of most major professional hypnosis organizations in the United States, representing over 12,000 professionals. This organization sets educational minimum standards as well as standards of practice and ethics for practitioners and trainers in the industry. UPHI (UP Hypnosis Institute) far exceeds the educational standards recommended by COPHO, and is a wonderful resource for locating qualified, professional hypnotists and hypnotherapists. Patricia V. Scott, owner of UPHI, has been in practice since 1992 and has the honor of knowing many practitioners all over the United States and abroad, and she often refers people to colleagues.
When looking for a hypnotist or hypnotherapist, it is important to be sure the person is a professional in full-time practice with adequate education and that you are comfortable with them. Most practitioners, including Patricia, will do a free consultation with you where you can ask questions and find out if you are comfortable with them and with their approach. There are many different styles of hypnosis, and each practitioner has a unique personality and approach. If you are wanting to get help with a diagnosis (anything relating to a medical or mental health issue), you would need to have a written referral from the treating physician to see a hypnotherapist in the state of Florida in accordance with Florida Statute 485. This is true in most other states, as well. That's because hypnotists are not licensed and do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. If you are seeking help with a non-clinical behavioral or life goal issue, such as weight control, smoking cessation, improving your golf game, exam stress, etc., there is no referral necessary.
Questions to ask your potential hypnotist/hypnotherapist:
1. Where and when did you get your Certification?
2. With which hypnosis organization(s) are you affiliated?
3. How many hours of continuing education do you receive each year?
4. How long have you been in full-time practice?
5. Do you have expertise, training and experience in working with _________ (your issue)?
6. Do you carry professional liability insurance?
7. What other awards or specialty training have you received, if any?
Be aware that because the industry is largely self-regulated, pretty much anyone can create a fancy website and open an office and say they are a hypnotist. You want to find a practitioner with credentials and affiliations that show you they are a professional. Also, there are some professional hypnotists who work out of their home. Although this does not mean they are less qualified, you will want to be sure to ask all of the questions above to ensure your safety and wellbeing. Patricia has always worked out of a professional office since she began her practice in 1992, as she felt this projected a professional image. For most of her career, she has also been a member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating and has been associated with, and active in, many Chambers of Commerce. If you read her complete BIO, you will find that she attends and speaks at many conferences and she has always been extremely involved with civic organizations, charitable groups and professional business associations. You want to be sure you are also looking at a hypnotist's other affiliations and memberships before deciding.
Feel free to contact Patricia if you have any questions.
WATCH SHORT VIDEO HERE
Patricia V. Scott explains "Starting at Now with Hypnosis" |