What do you imagine your working day to be like, if you were a hypnotherapist? Do you think you’d be controlling someone’s mind?
A day in the life of a hypnotherapist is not what most people think.
Do you think you’d be swinging a watch to put someone in a trance? Would you be making someone cluck like a chicken?
Clinical Hypnotherapist Katherine Ferris of Sydney Wellbeing Centre
What kind of unusual issues would you need to help your clients with?
What would your clients look like… a bit weird or alternative or even gullible?
A day in the life of a clinical hypnotherapist is nothing like the above. It’s not mind control. It’s nothing like what you see on stage shows or the movies.
The people I work with are very much like you and me. People who function well and are successful, but we need assistance in some areas of our life, such as stress at work, public speaking, weight management or gambling.
People seeking hypnotherapy treatment are very intelligent and are usually not alternative or hippie or weird.
During our session of hypnotherapy you will learn why you are the way you are and why you are habitually behaving that way.
Then I will guide you into hypnosis to tap into mental resources to find more constructive ways to react to your emotional ups and downs.
Do I swing a watch to put someone in a trance?
Funnily enough, no. I don’t swing a watch to put someone in a trance or make them do weird things. Forget about what you’ve seen in the stage shows or the Hollywood movies.
The true reality about hypnosis is the immense intelligence behind it.
Hypnosis and trance are a natural phenomena we come in and out of daily, without even realising we are doing so.
A simple example is driving a car. Ever found yourself arriving at your destination and not recalling the best part of the trip? It’s like an auto-pilot takes over; steering becomes automatic. For instance, when you drive to a familiar destination its like your mind tunes in and uses an inbuilt GPS to direct the way; turning corners automatically.
Hypnosis involves, more than anything else, changes in your focus and concentration. During a session you will be aware of everything that goes on while you are in the hypnotic state, although, you could relax so much that you drift off and lose track of what is being said. But the suggestions are still retained by you subconscious mind.
Some people say they enter into hypnosis more quickly than others. With practice you can improve your ability to enter into the hypnotic state.
What happens in hypnosis?
Typically when I am working with a client the following scenario takes place…
You sit in a comfortable chair, with your eyes closed, listening to my voice guiding you.
While you steadily drift into the hypnotic state, you remain aware of everything around you, although you may lose track of time or even what is being said.
Words and sounds gradually become more distant… but the positive suggestions continue to affect you, quietly and automatically.
The suggestions are individually structured to meet your needs. Most people tend to have several problems that bother them.
For example a smoker may also be suffering with bouts of stress or anxiety. Many smokers report they tend to smoke even more while having a few drinks.
A nail biter can also have issues around being self conscious and nervous or have insecurity issues.
Appropriate suggestions in hypnosis create mental images; or deeper understandings; that tap into your inner healing resources to help you overcome lingering limitations, negativity or bad habits.
While you are in the hypnotic state you’ll be imagining yourself in your future life as if you have already reached your desired goals.
At the end of the session you re-alert, feeling refreshed and calm.
You’ve just been guided through a typical hypnotic experience…
At the time you may not be aware of all the improvements you will notice later. You will notice changes later, such as feeling more calm and you no longer have a desire to smoke now that you are anxiety and stress free.
Hypnotherapy is a brief form of therapy. It is an effective way to help you identify and shift underlying emotions that are causing your emotional turmoil, stress and anxiety.
When you are stressed and frustrated, you enter into a survival mode (fight, flight, or freeze) in which your protective system automatically uses all of your energy to keep you safe and alive.
By contrast, when you feel safe and calm hypnosis therapy not only helps you gain immediate relief, but you will also gain skills to keep the stress at bay.
Hypnotherapists training and experience
When you choose to work with a clinical hypnotherapist, do your best to find one who is certified and also trained as a competent psychotherapist trained in hypnotherapy.
It is one thing to have a skill as a stage hypnotist, and entirely another to know how to use those skills to help clients with stress or other issues affecting mental health.
Individual results will be different from one person to the next. Although, the effects of the positive suggestions remain with you, long after the session is done.
Now that you have had a sneak peek at the day in the life of a clinical hypnotherapist, feel free to get in touch.
Discuss your personal situation with me, I am Katherine Ferris a Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, call me on (02) 9568 6801 or get in touch via the contact form.
CH, Dip. PSH, GSPP
Hypnotherapist – Sydney Wellbeing Centre
Mindfulness hypnotherapy services for emotional health and wellbeing. Hypnotherapy brings quick relief from stress, anxiety, panic attacks, habits and addictions, to stop smoking and gambling.
With 20+ years experience as a Registered Clinical Hypnotherapist I own and run the practice at Sydney Wellbeing Centre in Macquarie Street, Sydney and Booth Street, Annandale, Inner West Sydney.