Hypnosis

Hypnotherapy is the therapeutic use of hypnosis or hypnotic trance and is a safe and effective way to engage in desirable behavioural changes, whether building healthy habits or breaking unwanted or harmful habits.

Hypnosis is the oldest form of psychological therapy known to mankind. It pre-dates modern psychoanalytic theories by over 3,500 years! Sigmund Freud (the originator of psychoanalysis and many relevant psychodynamic concepts) developed his groundbreaking theories about the existence of an unconscious area of the mind in the late 1800‘s, after first graduating from medical school and after a decade of serious studying and practice of hypnosis.

The use of hypnotic trance can be traced as far back as 1550 BC in the “Ebers Papyrus” a historical document believed to be the oldest known compendium of ancient Egyptian medical writings. To illustrate the rich tradition of trance, meditation, another form of trance still practiced today, was mentioned in ancient Indian scriptures dating as far back as 3000 BC. We have long known about and benefited from the natural capacity of the human mind to enter a relaxed state of focused awareness that can be utilized for enhancing just about anything that the human brain is capable of achieving.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding about what trance is and who can achieve it. Although deep states of hypnosis have been reported by numerous physicians as adequate to perform amputations when there was no access to anesthetic, (Dr James Braid, prominent scottish surgeon born in 1795 who actually coined the terms “hypnotism” and “hypnosis” in 1842, being a key example) the “Trance-State” required for successful hypnotherapy is relatively shallow and quite simple for almost everone to experience. No-one has EVER been stuck in a trance state, although some people have reported feeling so blissfully comfortable, that “breaking” the trance state to re-engage with the world, was not the most attractive proposition and needed to be given a little more time to get used to the idea of once again becoming un-relaxed!

You have more than likely already experienced an adequate level of hypnosis known as “highway hypnosis” if you have ever driven past your exit on the highway without realizing until it was too late. You’ve probably even experienced being so engaged in (or entranced by) a particular thought or feeling (whether consciously or unconsciously) that you have repeatedly looked for your keys, exactly where you left them, and exactly where you’ve eventually discovered them, having been unable to see them on the numerous times that you tried in vain to see them prior to finding them.

I have no doubts that you have been hypnotized before. If you are of reasonable intelligence, have some level of attention span and are the consumer of any advertised products (particularly if you purchased them at 2am whilst watching an infomercial of any kind) although you may not have realized it, you have been hypnotized.

If you have ever been so immersed in reading a book or studying that you were oblivious to someone calling your name, or you have been so personally involved in a movie that you cried at a fictitious tragedy, regardless of the fact that you knew on some level that it was only pretend, then you my friend, have been hypnotized.

Modern day research has conclusively proven that:

• We are each the result of both nature and nurture, part genetics, part learned experience. Our patterns of behaviour begin forming from the moment we come into being. Every aspect of your behaviour that you have developed into the you that you know, has either a self-preservational aspect, or it once served a purpose, but since becoming second nature, has ceased eliciting a positive response.
• If you need to unlearn something (like smoking for example) that has had thousands of “positive” rewards (nicotine) used to burn the “positive” emotional memory into your subconscious mind, it is going to require some commitment on your part. Needing to quit smoking is rarely enough, you are going to have to want to quit.

Your specific needs will be particular to you and various personality types respond differently to different hypnotic techniques. For this reason, I do not apply a cookie cutter format in my any of my psychotherapeutic uses of hypnosis, although I do provide you with a useful audio resource designed to teach you how to evoke deep levels of trance in your own safe environment, paced to your own time. My recorded works have benefitted many people over the years and have been utilized by York University’s Faculty of Health, School of Nursing for student anxiety reduction purposes in addition to various hospital programs and a number of corporate initiatives, most notably the TD bank executives during the early days of our recent Canadian recession / financial crisis and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.

I utilize a variety of hypnotherapeutic and psycholinguistic techniques to facilitate the profound changes you may be looking for. Not everything that I do requires the use of a formal hypnotic induction, since a trance state can occur quite naturally whilst driving, walking or listening intently. All you have to do is want to benefit, pay attention and try not to let your own mind get involved in the process, after all, it was probably your mind’s control over your current actions that caused whatever problem you are seeking help with in the first place!

Hypnotic tools that are most often used in my hypnotherapy sessions include: Self-hypnosis audio resources, NLP, guided imagery, Ericksonian hypnosis, hypnotic-psychoanalysis (hypno-analysis), regression therapy, hypnotic patterning, hypnotic re-patterning (conditioning and counterconditioning), systematic desensitization and a full compliment of induction techniques to suit everyone, including progressive muscular trance inductions, analytical inductions, hypnotic focus inductions, rapid inductions and non-inductive waking hypnotic techniques.

I am qualified to work with a great number of ailments, issues and concerns such as: depression; anxiety; communication; stress-related illnesses; pain control; fears; phobias; natural child-birthing; memory; learning; sports excellence; communication and public speaking, to name but a few.

However...

I do not entertain unscientific or unfounded mis-uses of trance work, whether hypnosis or meditation.

It is neither possible, nor ethical for me as a certified mental health professional, to take advantage of anyone’s vulnerability by offering them hypnosis for any of the following:

• Past Life Regression (unless considered as accessing a symbolic arena of the unconscious mind, similar to dreams, that can be very therapeutic to some in working through deep-seated emotional issues that may remain otherwise locked away in order to keep one safe from trauma)
• Reiki
• Hypnotize 3rd parties (or pets) for you
• Unrealistic alterations of genetically already expressed physical characteristics e.g. post maturation: height increases; penis / breast enhancement or adult hair re-growth.

I’m not here to debunk energy channellers or reiki practitioners, and I’m certainly not oblivious to the incredible power that hope and belief can have for someone fighting cancer or someone struggling to avoid a painful reality. Over and above the professional ethics surrounding the provision of “magic cures”, I do not feel comfortable charging vulnerable people with cosmetic concerns for unrealistic hope.

I am purely motivated to help people reach their full genetic, physical, cognitive, relational and emotional potential.

I apologize if you find my scientific stance objectionable. I’m certain that many people can find comfort in disengaging from reality, sometimes reality can really suck. I don’t offer miracles and I can’t do the work for you, but you will be amazed at how often a small change in perspective can free you from limiting beliefs and behaviours that previously challenged you.

I only have your best interests at heart. When you are ready to benefit from working with a therapist grounded in reality, practicing scientifically proven techniques, I will be very pleased to hear from you.