What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of consciousness that you already experience every day. You enter this state when you day-dream, meditate, listen to rhythmic instrumental music, just before falling asleep, upon awakening, and when engaged in semi-automatic behavior like freeway driving.  You learn to enter this state deliberately at any time through the self-hypnosis technique.

Put simply,”Hypnosis is a natural state of greater suggestability achieved through a more direct access to the sub-conscious. ” –Duncan Tooley

The major types of hypnosis are:

• Entertainment Hypnosis
• Clinical or Therapeutic, sometimes called Medical Hypnosis
• Performance Hypnosis.

Entertainment Hypnosis

You have most likely seen entertainment hypnosis where a hypnotist has a group of volunteers do entertaining things on stage. It’s sole purpose is entertainment and the hypnotist is a trained entertainment performer.  This type of hypnosis demonstrates the reality and the power of hypnosis. That is the only similarity with therapeutic or performance hypnosis. The full explanation of how entertainment hypnosis works is myth #12 of the Worst Hypnosis Myths Busted.

Clinical or Therapeutic Hypnosis

Clinical Hypnosis is used by clinically-trained hypnotists for the therapeutic purpose of relieving some psychological or physicsl ailment. Hypnosis has long been used to help the body cure illnesses. Today, thousands of surgeries and births are performed painlessly without drugs by use of hypnosis as anesthesia. Hypnosis is an approved stand-alone alternative wellness modality that does not require a license and is self-regulated through professional certification associations. The American Medical Association has endorsed numerous studies documenting the medical benefits of hypnosis. (See links)  Many hospitals are now employing hypnotists on their staff to assist patient healing. . In hospital settings, hypnosis is often called “visualization” or “guided imagery.” Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of smokers have quit instantly using hypnosis. The list of medical conditions  therapeutic hypnosis benefits is lengthy.

“Therapeutic (clinical or medical) hypnosis is using that access to the body’s operating system, the subconscious, to implement healing changes in the body’s cellular structure or connections.” –Duncan Tooley

Performance Hypnosis

Hypnosis is used in sports because of the scientifically-established mind-body connection.  Your mind runs your body. Instructions to the mind produce changes in the body. Instructions of increased skill, precision, or focus produce those effects in the body and increase the performance of athletes. Olympic teams have hypnotists on their staff.  Hypnosis has been used by golfers for decades. Performance hypnosis is not limited to athletics. Skills of all types and academic performance can be enhanced by hypnosis. Many people use hypnosis to assist them to pass required professional examinations.

“Performance Hypnosis is enhancing the mind-body habit patterns to achieve higher automatic skill levels.”–Duncan Tooley