What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is the temporary interruption of the flow of messages from the critical mind to the subconscious through the introduction of suggestions made by the hypnotist. These suggestions then manifest, concretely, in an individual's life, disrupting old patterns of behaviors by replacing them with new beneficial behaviors.
Our critical mind rapidly judges everything in our lives. Through its internal dialogue we are delivered millions of messages each day, which tell us what we like and dislike, what we are capable and incapable of, directing our every move and limiting the kind of person we are. The categories of judgments are endless, and these judgments create a picture of us, and our world, making everyday functioning familiar and consistent, but for the most part lacking in adventure. These judgments are repeated so frequently that our beliefs about who we are and what we are capable of become rigidly defined, blocking off access to our deeper selves and our true potential. In order to gain access to our deeper selves the controlling influence of the critical mind must be temporarily suspended.
In hypnosis, the voice of the hypnotist replaces the familiar critical mind. Clients are led to a state of deep relaxation in a safe and comfortable environment where they experience self-awareness and power in an altered state of consciousness. This altered state is commonly called trance. Suggestions, which have been previously agreed upon between hypnotist and client, are now presented to the subconscious during hypnotism, replacing the familiar limiting beliefs. While in a deep state of trance, with the critical mind at rest and the physical body in deep relaxation, the subconscious is alert, unblocked, and ready to receive these suggestions. Later, after emergence from hypnosis, those suggestions begin to materialize in real life changes.