Genetic Counseling

Hypnotherapy is a type of complementary alternative medicine in which hypnosis is used to create a state of focused attention and increased suggestibility during which positive suggestions (words) and guided imagery are used to help individuals deal with a variety of concerns and issues.

“Hypnosis” is natural brain state in which people experience increased attention, concentration, and suggestibility. It is a state of self-absorption where time seems distorted. While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like state, it is better expressed as a state of relaxation coupled with focused attention, heightened suggestibility, creativity, and vivid fantasies.

While there are many myths and misconceptions, hypnosis is a very real process that can be used as a therapeutic tool. Hypnosis has been shown to have medical and therapeutic benefits, most notably in the reduction of pain and anxiety. More and more evidence is being built around the benefits of using the mind’s capacity to explore its beliefs and even change perception of the senses for better health and wellbeing. In Europe and the USA, many hospitals use hypnosis before treatments and procedures to help patients reduce pain and anxiety non pharmacologically.

Anyone who is interested in making changes to their life can benefit from hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Anyone with an open mind regarding this alternative modality.

While many people think that they cannot be hypnotized, research has shown that many people are more hypnotizable than they believe. Everyone making the inner decision to experience hypnosis will experience it in some ways. Research suggests that people who can become easily absorbed in fantasies, books, movies are much more responsive to hypnosis.

Anyone with unstable mental health or neurological condition, schizophrenia, pathological personalities, psychosis (including substance induced), senility, dementia, brain trauma, cognitive deficiencies, epilepsy, narcolepsy, bi-polar, uncontrolled clinical depression, suicidal tendencies, substance abuse, and/or currently taking medications/substances that cause drowsiness. If unsure about using hypnosis and hypnotherapy, please consult your health care provider.

• While amnesia may occur in very rare cases, people generally remember everything that transpired while they were hypnotized. However, hypnosis can have a significant effect on memory. Posthypnotic amnesia can lead an individual to forget certain things that occurred before or during hypnosis. However, this effect is generally limited and temporary.

• While hypnosis can be used to enhance memory, the effects have been dramatically exaggerated in popular media. Research has found that hypnosis does not lead to significant memory enhancement or accuracy, and hypnosis can actually result in false or distorted memories.

• Despite stories about people being hypnotized without their consent, hypnosis does require ongoing voluntary participation on the part of the patient. Hypnosis should feel right at all times.

• While people often feel that their actions under hypnosis seem to occur without the influence of their will, a hypnotist cannot make you perform actions that are against your wishes.

• While hypnosis can be used to enhance performance, it cannot make people stronger or more athletic than their existing physical capabilities.