In the hypnotism part of sessions with clients, I do most of the talking.  Sometimes we have a simple conversation, but that’s rare.  Usually clients answer some questions with very short answers.  Depending on the depth of the trance, they may not say anything.

Feedback is essential.  During the trance I always test my clients’ depth by observing their responses to certain suggestions.  At the lightest level of trance they will lose control of simple motor functions.  At the deepest levels they will experience hallucinations and negative hallucinations (not seeing something that is there).  I always test.

The feedback I need is immediately after the trance.  I want to know what their experience was like for them, if they were comfortable, if there was any idea or impulse or memory they want to talk about.  I want to know whatever impressions they had that they might want to talk about.  I want to know what hypnosis was like for them.

I don’t ask these things out of curiosity; I ask because the information is essential to their success, and to the way I will conduct the next trance session.  For example, if I know what their individual idea of hypnosis is, I can suggest it to them and they will be able to slip into that state more easily and quickly.  Their answers to my questions also reveal whether I went too quickly or too slowly of if they need concrete or more accurate instructions and descriptions.  Sometimes they pick up on subtleties that I miss, because they are extremely attentive to certain details while in the trance state.

I won’t know most of this information if I don’t ask, because during hypnosis they are sitting passively in a chair, physically relaxed.  Of course, there are many signs that I can see: rapid eye movement, changes in breathing, especially in response to suggestions of physical relaxation, abreactions, fidgeting, etc.

Abreactions are physical movements in response to suggestions.  They can vary in intensity, and they are always significant and must be explored if the client is to be successful.  I always ask about physical reactions, because I need to know what was going on at that time.  It may have been their subconscious reacting in some way–or they might have been physically cold or uncomfortable.  It’s essential that I find out more, so I can help them succeed in the best possible way.

Sometimes certain words or phrases are distracting to them because they remind them of specific situations.  I like to snap my fingers as a cue, but some clients are startled by that, so I’ll do something else such as a gentle knock on my wooden desk.

Feedback closes the loop of communication with my client.  A few simple explanations and descriptions from them help me to understand what to do differently in order that they achieve what they set out to do!

First, the pitfalls.  New Year’s Resolutions are laughed at.  They are both the joke and the punch line.  A great many people just don’t believe that lasting change is possible, so they will deride your efforts to make positive changes.

Every year at the gym, right after the New Year, there is increased traffic due to people wanting to get into shape right after the holidays.  We expect this traffic.  You want to know what the joke is?  They will all be gone in about a month.  These folks even have a name: “Resolutioners.”  It is well known that most people will not sustain the changes they plan. Here’s a tip: only tell the people in your life who will be supportive, and who are also interested in making changes for the better!

A resolution means perseverance and determination.  Changes don’t have to be painful, but the effort that you put in is equal to the results you will get.  Don’t get caught up with distractions from your goal!

Here are some ways you can reinforce your decision to change for the better.

Watch your self-talk.  Whatever doubts you have are expressed in the way we talk to ourselves.  All doubt comes from the conscious mind.  The unconscious does not argue; it only does what we tell it to do.  As you are making changes in your life, change the way you talk to yourself.  Talk as if you are a great coach to yourself.  You love yourself and you want to have the best life you can get, right?  Be a positive influence upon your own mind.

Give yourself positive reinforcement.  Now that change is in the air, give yourself the best possible chance by seeking opportunities to practice the principles that you know are right for you.  You will probably be better off making new habits and changing People, Places, and Things.

Encourage yourself to change by changing the little things: routes traveled, daily rituals and routines, and personal habits.  By doing this, new opportunities for lasting change will come into your consciousness.  When this happens, give thanks!  This is your powerful subconscious mind guiding you toward the changes you want!  Give yourself the gift of change, and go for it!

Here’s how hypnosis works:

The brain is in charge of the body, and it runs all the systems. The mind learns many lessons over a lifetime, and the lessons turn into automatic behaviors such as how to walk and how we behave in relationships. The subconscious remembers everything and acts upon the lessons in order to make sure we survive.

Your subconscious wants to maintain the status quo at all times, so it’s also in charge of healing. When you catch cold, your mind begins to make all the systems of your body work together to bring your body back into balance. You can’t achieve wellness unless your mind works on it—but it’s the part of your mind that works in the background, without you having to concentrate on the issue.

Of course, hypnosis is not a panacea for wellness. With regard to medical conditions, it is not and never can be a substitute for expert medical or psychiatric care. No responsible hypnotherapist should work with an ill client without the agreement of the primary care physician. The hypnotist provides adjunct care as part of a team of wellness practitioners.

If there is a medical issue, it’s possible that the mind has forgotten how to relieve that condition over time. Hypnosis is simply a way of changing your mind so that your subconscious mind can re-learn wellness and balance, and learn to work in a different way.

Clinical applications of hypnosis are effective for an astonishing variety of physical problems, and the subconscious mind seems unlimited in its power to heal the body.

As we long for change and new beginnings, we also resist change at some level. People who resist change manage to hang onto the old, reject the new, and repeat their previous experiences with each new season and setting.

Most of your behaviors are automatic, or subconscious. These include bodily functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blinking—plus a range of unwanted behaviors. How do you know which behaviors are automatic? Simple: they are the ones you can’t explain. You simply don’t know why you can’t stop or replace them with behaviors you desire. Sometimes you make up reasons and excuses such as, “I was raised that way,” or “I’m just too old to change,” but deep down you know that the subconscious desire is too strong for you to change with just plain willpower.

Your subconscious is the part of your mind that has always paid attention and never sleeps. It has learned many lessons, and it likes to act on those lessons at all times. Unfortunately, the subconscious also learns lessons that might not be good for us.

Over the years many of us learn to over-eat, for example. We learn to rely on any number of quick fixes and mood-altering situations. If you can relate to this and are having a devil of a time reforming your behaviors, welcome to your Subconscious Mind! It’s where your hidden desires demand to be satisfied. It’s an amazing and wonderful place. I know, because I work there full-time.

There’s another way: Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is a way into the subconscious in order to remove unwanted behaviors, alter your Life Script, and improve general wellness.

Hypnosis is science, although it seems like magic. In the hands of a skilled, educated professional working with a motivated client, the results are fascinating. When you succeed with hypnotherapy, you understand the infinite power of your own subconscious wisdom, and you recognize that you are powerful. At the moment that your conscious desires and subconscious capacity for learning align, you become unstoppable! Right now, whatever condition you are in, I assure you that your internal resources are abundant, and they are accessible to you.

Hypnosis is commonly known to work wonders for people who want to quit smoking or lose weight. It’s also great for reducing stress and anxiety. Did you know it can help you re-write your Life Script? Yes, you can change your subconscious expectations of how much you earn annually, general health and conditioning, even the kind of people you will attract into your life. You can use hypnosis to improve your golf game, heal faster from surgery, and deal with grief. The subconscious, while in hypnosis, is ready to learn new lessons and change the course of your life.

If this sounds hard to believe, it’s because you’re thinking about this with your conscious mind. Your conscious mind is the part that reasons, analyzes, and uses willpower. Your subconscious, on the other hand, only does what you tell it to do—when it opens up for learning.

For a professionally trained hypnotist, the process is simple, short term, and highly effective. We can help you unlock your subconscious, because we have the keys to the front door.

As the seasons change in a temperate climate, one day the temperature drops considerably, suddenly getting our attention.  If we had been watching more closely, we would have seen the signs of change all along.  The first day of autumn can seem like a typical summer day.  Then a day comes that’s nothing like summer, and we become conscious that the seasons are changing all the time.

I have this theory that people are seasonal, too.

Societies condition us to changes that most people don’t question or rebel against.  In September, we go back to school.  For those who don’t attend classes, there are other effects to be considered, such as changing traffic patterns and volume, school buses and pedestrians, and changes in sporting events and cycles in television programming.

There are subtle changes that go on within us, too.  We tend to go inward during the colder seasons.  If you decide to go with the flow of our seasonal society, this is the time to choose a project and begin to plan it by visualizing the outcome, the process, and gathering resources.

Autumn and winter are the seasons when it seems more natural to spend more time with our inner thoughts—developing, planning, and producing.  Not only do we stay indoors more, but we also go inward, listening more to our inner voices of creativity.

Stresses that are commonplace during the summer months seem different these days.  There seems to be more pressure.  Why?  Because we are seasoned to begin bigger projects in September.  Society has taught us to choose, plan, stay on track.  Don’t fall behind!  Get good grades and keep up with expectations.  And when, at a certain age, attendance at school stops for most people, we are still left with seasonal expectations that we are to be productive and conventionally successful.

Fortunately for clients, consulting hypnotists are subconscious behaviorists.  We can  understand the forces that drive them.  All we have to do is learn to understand the trance that they’re already in, and help them learn to break their undesired pattern so that they can go on with their conscious desires.

Seasonal change can be used as a metaphor for creative cycles and productivity.  Anyone can understand that different seasons have different expectations and challenges—as well as rewards.  If we choose worthy goals in autumn, we can work on them throughout the winter, and in spring everything will turn green.  Our efforts blossom as the frost fades and buds appear all around.

So what’s in store for all of us this year?  Something different for each of us!  Something that we’re already building, consciously and subconsciously.  Let me ask you a question: Do you consult a hypnotist for help in achieving your goals?  If not, why not?  I wish you much success this winter, while we create our successes and embrace the changes that are inevitable.!