Beginning the Journey
Hypnotherapy page one

To start out with, the word Hypnosis is very much the same as a car; it takes you to a destination. Hypnosis is not the destination itself, only the means to get there, and like cars, there are many models to choice from. The Destination is the subconscious mind, so as in many journeys you must start out with the explanation as to the vehicle in which you are going to take.

So just what is this vehicle called Hypnosis? Really when you break it down to the basic thought, the word only describes ways to reach a specific state of mind. Many who have a basic knowledge of Hypnosis tend think it started with Dr Mesmer, the process is far older than that, reaching back to the Greek Physicians, and you may think of it this way that Dr Mesmer came up with the Model A of cars. At the time that He became involved, the art of Hypnosis was taking place on the streets as a form of entertainment you can think of this of the time of the horse and buggy, due to Dr Mesmer’s reputation and his background as a well known scholar matched together with his charisma is what worked to bring the process to the light of many wealthy People.

Now just like the Car, Hypnosis has gone though many, many changes and ending up with many different ways to drive to the destination. But it’s still the Car none the less. So now we need to understand just how does this Car work and why. Hypnosis is the means to reach a specific state of mind, or put another way a specific Brain wave. Scientist has established there are at least 4 levels of brain waves, Beta/Alpha/Theta and Delta. We will return to these later, but for now let’s get back to the Car.

The process of Hypnosis is a method of connecting with the Nervous System, there are two main types of the Autonomic nerves: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic, the Sympathetic is the part one needs to deal with dangerous situations or you can state it’s a stage of high alert, and operates when we are under a lot of stress, the Parasympathetic system works when we are calm and in a healing situation, this is the state of relaxation. These two systems are directly related to the systolic and diastolic reading of blood pressure levels. And these are directly related to the level of Brain wave which is dominate at any one time.

A trained Hypnotist can assist you, with your consent, in accessing the Parasympathetic Nervous system. At no time are you under the control of anyone but you, you can stop the process at any time you wish. The Hypnotist can help you in many ways, but in all of these different models one thing is common, that is the ability to help in focusing on one thought at a time, by giving yourself permission to follow the suggestions that are being given to you, your blood pressure will lower, your breathing slower and your inward focus will increase, the muscle system will release and relax. These are all the elements of the Parasympathetic system.