Neurish Hypnotherapy
A Deeper Dive into hypnotherapy
Whether you are still skeptical, or just want to know more about how it works, this page should have what you are looking for.
Section Links:
How Hypnosis Works
& The Theory of Mind
This is a theoretical model of how the mind and hypnosis work.
I am going to work with the 88%…
You are going to work with the 12%… So together we will have a 100% effective rate!
Primitive Mind: The part of the mind responsible for survival. This is where the flight/fight/freeze response resides.
Subconscious Mind: Your “life script” made up of our known associations, beliefs, motivations, behaviors, traumas and memories. It is also running 88% of your mind.
+/-: Sometimes we take in positive associations and some negative but these are what we know to be true. These are what define our homeostasis or comfort zone meaning anything that we “know” is pleasure, and anything that is “unknown” in our subconscious is pain.
Conscious Mind: The part of the mind that is responsible for Reasoning, Analysis, Willpower, Logic, Decision Making and Voice. Developed around the Age of 8 years old and by this time, we have already built many associations and programming from our caregivers, society, environment, etc. This part of the mind is responsible for only 12% of our mind power.
Critical Mind: This is also developed around the age of 8 along with our Conscious Mind. It is both Conscious and Subconscious and acts as a filter between the two that serves to protect the known associations and preserving that state of homeostasis.
Putting it all together: When you want to change something in your life, That thought goes from the conscious mind all the way down to the critical area of the mind where it gets filtered, and then it checks your subconscious programming. If your subconscious mind is resistant to making the change, the critical mind will then block your thought and you will continue to have the same behavior patterns.
What Hypnosis can do: It takes that same thought and bypasses the critical mind. It opens a door to have direct access to the subconscious. What we do then is use positive hypnotic suggestions to make the changes you want in your life. Those positive suggestions then create and enforce new neuropathways within the subconscious supporting lasting change and enhances neuroplasticity (your ability to expand your homeostasis).
What does a Hypnotherapy Session look like?
Sessions are done virtually on zoom unless there are special circumstances.
Each session will include a Cognitive portion and a Hypnosis portion.
Here is what to expect from each:
Cognitive
This is the part of the session where the hypnotherapist is working to gather information about your presenting issue or the change you are trying to make.
If it is the clients first session, the hypnotherapist will test the clients suggestibility (for more information, see “Does Hypnosis work on anyone?” on the FAQ page.)
Aside from gathering the history of the client, the therapist may use therapeutic tools such as:
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
-Therapeutic Journaling -Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
-Meridian Tapping (EFT)
-Breathwork
-Meditation Coaching
-Other diagnostic Tools
To locate and understand the root cause of the issue and to teach and instill cognitive coping strategies.
Hypnosis
The Hypnotherapist will perform and induction guide the client into a trance like state. After the client is in hypnosis, the therapist will guide the client into a deeper state by using a variety of relaxation techniques and deepeners.
Once the client is at the level of relaxation needed to make impactful positive suggestions to the subconscious, the hypnotherapist will then use hypnotic tools such as:
-Suggestions
-Therapeutic Imagery
-Reframing
-Systematic Desensitization
-Circle Therapy
-Somatic Therapy
-Dream Therapy
All working as post-hypnotic suggestions to help change the associations in the subconscious that are blocking or preventing the changes desired.
How Many Sessions are recommended?
Each case is different but generally 6-8 sessions are recommended. Some clients feel noticeable relief after just one session, but to create lasting change, commitment is key. Impactful work may be done in as little as 2-4 sessions for lighter issues but some issues may extend beyond 12 sessions. The more dedicated you are to the process the faster you’ll see results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hypnotherapy Safe?
Yes, hypnotherapy is completely safe. You remain in control throughout the session and can emerge from the hypnotic state at any time. Hypnosis is simply a relaxed, focused state, and you’ll never be made to do anything against your will. The process is collaborative, ensuring your comfort and safety every step of the way.
Does Hypnotherapy Work on Anyone?
Yes, a well trained hypnotherapist will know and understand the laws of suggestibility to guarantee anyone can be hypnotized as well as how the hypnotherapist forms suggestions so that the client may effectively receive them.
Suggestibility can be defined by how we learn and how we take in information. There are 3 parts to communication: our words, our non-verbal cues, and the state of mind of both the communicator and the receiver, with the latter often being overlooked.
There are 2 types of suggestibility:
Physical – Where one learns through a direct and literal process.
Emotional – Where one learns through inferential listening – looking for the message within the words.
Suggestibility is discovered through a series of questions that the hypnotherapist will ask the client during the first session and the results are then graded using a scale to determine your percentage of either physical or emotional.
Does Virtual Hypnotherapy Work?
Virtual hypnotherapy is just as effective as in-person sessions. All you need is a quiet, comfortable space and a stable internet connection. The hypnotherapist guides you through the process via video, and you’ll experience the same level of relaxation and focus as you would in a physical oce. You remain fully in control and aware throughout the session. Many clients find virtual sessions even more convenient, as they can do them from the comfort of their own home
Is Hypnosis Mind Control?
Hypnotherapy is not mind control—it's a state of focused relaxation where you remain fully aware and in control. You can't be made to do anything against your will; instead, hypnotherapy helps you access your subconscious mind to support positive change based on your own goals and values.
Is Hypnotherapy the Same as Stage Hypnosis?
Stage hypnosis is meant for entertainment, where participants often perform funny or exaggerated actions for a crowd. These individuals are usually willing participants who go along with the suggestions because they want to entertain the audience. In contrast, hypnotherapy is a therapeutic practice designed to help you overcome challenges. During a hypnotherapy session, you are always in control and fully aware of what’s happening. The goal isn’t to entertain but to guide you toward healing and personal transformation through deep subconscious work.
How Can a Hypnotherapist Collaborate with Other Medical Professionals and Psychotherapists?
Hypnotherapists can play a valuable role within a collaborative healthcare model by working in partnership with psychotherapists, medical doctors, and other allied professionals. This integrative approach ensures that clients receive comprehensive care that addresses both the mind and body.
1. Enhancing Psychotherapy- Hypnotherapy complements traditional talk therapy by accessing the subconscious mind, where deeply rooted beliefs and emotional patterns often reside. While psychotherapists focus on conscious processing and emotional insight, hypnotherapists can help clients bypass conscious resistance and reinforce therapeutic goals through suggestion and imagery. When aligned, this dual approach can accelerate progress in areas such as trauma healing, anxiety reduction, and behavioral change.
2. Supporting Medical Treatment- In coordination with physicians, hypnotherapists can assist patients in managing conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), tension headaches, and stress-related disorders. By promoting relaxation, reducing anxiety, and teaching self-regulation techniques, hypnotherapy can improve treatment outcomes and patient well-being.
3. Shared Communication and Referral- Effective collaboration involves open communication and clearly defined roles. Hypnotherapists may receive referrals from mental health or medical providers when hypnosis is seen as a supportive or complementary tool. Similarly, a hypnotherapist may refer clients back to licensed clinicians when deeper psychological or medical assessment is required.
4. Ethical, Client-Centered Practice- A qualified hypnotherapist recognizes the boundaries of their scope of practice and works in harmony with licensed professionals, always prioritizing the client’s best interest. Through mutual respect and ongoing communication, a hypnotherapist can be a trusted member of an interdisciplinary care team.