What happens during a hypnotherapy session?
A typical hypnotherapy session will involve the following steps:
Initial Consultation: During the first session, the therapist will discuss the client's history, symptoms and goals for therapy. They may also perform a brief assessment to determine the client's level of hypnotisability.
Induction: The therapist will guide the client into a hypnotic state using various techniques such as verbal repetition and mental imagery. The therapist will usually start by asking the client to focus on their breathing or to relax different parts of their body. As the client becomes more relaxed and open to suggestions, the therapist will begin to make suggestions that are designed to help the client towards achieving their goals.
Deepening: The therapist will then help the client to enter a deeper level of hypnosis by providing more specific and focused suggestions. This process can be assisted by using visualisations and mental imagery.
Therapy: Once the client is in a state of deep hypnosis, the therapist will begin to make suggestions that are tailored to the specific goals and issues the client hopes to address. This includes addressing the cause of a condition, such as a traumatic memory or negative belief, or helping the client to develop new, positive habits or behaviours.
Coming out of hypnosis: The therapist will gently bring the client back to a fully alert state by providing a count-up or other similar technique.
Post-session assessment: The therapist will discuss the session with the client and explain what was done and what to expect in the next session.
The whole session will generally take between 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the therapist's practice and the specific case. Additionally, the number of sessions needed can vary; it can be as few as one or two or as many as several weeks or months.
It's important to note that hypnotherapy is not a one-time treatment, but a process that requires time and effort to achieve the best results. The therapist will work closely with the client to monitor progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.
