People describe hypnosis in different ways. You may feel like you’re “zoned in” or in a trance-like state — so focused that you’re able to block out surrounding distractions. Have you ever been so focused on a TV show or so entrenched in a good book that you don’t hear your family talking around you or even your dog barking? This experience is somewhat similar to how you might feel while hypnotized.
Many people say they feel calm and relaxed despite their increased concentration. Most described it as a pleasant experience. There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepener, suggestions and emergence.
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.
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.
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.
During this stage, you come out of hypnosis. Your hypnotist may use reverse deepeners, such as giving you the suggestions that you’re climbing up stairs or counting up.
Stanley Ng (Stan) 黄宝明
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) Mentor Coach
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) Accredited Coach Education Instructor
- Coach Masters Academy Certified Transformative Coach
- National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) Certified Hypnotist
- The International Medical & Dental Hypnotherapy Association (IMDHA) Certified Hypnotherapist
