Learn more about Clinical Hypnotherapy

What is Clinical Hypnotherapy?

Clinical Hypnotherapy is neuro-psychotherapy or psychotherapy with the subconscious mind, the source of our behaviours and beliefs. Clinical Hypnotherapy is trauma informed therapy and belief repatterning therapy, utilizing our brain’s own neuro-plasticity to re-wire and re-shape our unconscious beliefs.

Clinical Hypnotherapy supports permanent change because new brain patterns are created, supporting new beliefs and behaviours.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of relaxed heightened awareness that we pass through twice a day, once when we fall asleep at night, and once when we wake up in the morning as our brain transmits alpha brain waves, also known as Rapid Eye Movement (REM). Additionally, we experience hypnosis naturally throughout the day, typically known as daydreaming or road trance. Hypnosis is a relaxed state of heightened awareness by the subconscious mind, and reduced awareness of the conscious mind (but not an unconscious or asleep state). This means that you are aware of the hypnotherapist’s voice, you can talk and move your body, and you can exit the hypnotic state any time, or choose to remain in the hypnotic state as an active and willing participant.

What can Hypnotherapy help me with?

Hypnotherapy can be used to help with almost any issue. At Inner Mind Therapy we specialize in releasing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and excessive feelings of criticism or judgement of yourself or your loved ones.

Click here for a partial list of other concerns or issues that can be supported through hypnotherapy. Don’t see your area of interest listed? Talk with us to find out how we can help you.

I didn’t feel any different. Was I hypnotized?

Everyone is hypnotizable and being hypnotized feels different for each person. There is no such thing as a hypnotized feeling. You will be able to hear the hypnotherapist throughout the session with your subconscious mind, and your conscious mind may listen as well.

Your Clinical Hypnotherapist adjusts each session to ensure the appropriate level of hypnosis is maintained. This does not mean that they can force you into hypnosis.

Will you make me do something against my will?

All hypnosis is self hypnosis. Our extensively trained Clinical Hypnotherapists are there to be your guide, you must choose to be an active and willing participant.

The hypnotherapist does not control your mind and you cannot be made to do anything against your will or morals. Hypnosis is not magic or mind control, despite what stage hypnotists would have you believe. The truth of stage hypnosis shows is that the audience is primed well before the show starts; the posters are designed to get people thinking about whether they want to volunteer or not. That is followed up by the state hypnotist asking for volunteers, effectively ruling out anyone who wouldn’t want to be exposed or vulnerable in front of others by doing something they would not normally do. The stage hypnotist then does a series of suggestibility tests to determine who they will keep on stage, picking only the most extroverted, suggestible volunteers in order to have an entertaining show. This does not mean that only certain people can be hypnotized. Indeed the opposite is true, everyone can be hypnotized, it is only a matter of understanding your suggestibility (this is not susceptibility, but rather the type of suggestions your subconscious mind prefers).

Will my doctor/dentist/therapist support hypnotherapy and hypnosis?

The American (June 1958), Canadian and British (April 23, 1995) Medical associations accept Hypnotherapy and the therapeutic benefits it provides. Hypnosis is being used to produce drugless anaesthesia without suffering or anxiety to the patient in dental offices and by surgeons. Hypnosis is also used by surgeons to promote healing, and by dentists to relieve patient anxiety. Hypnotherapy is also used by countless psychologists and counsellors worldwide to support change and growth.

Hypnotherapy can be completed in conjunction with other support modalities you may already be receiving such as psychotherapy, reiki, or acupuncture.

How do I know my hypnotherapist is legitimate?

Our Clinical Hypnotherapists are mental health professionals with extensive training in the clinical application of hypnosis in therapy. This involves training in therapeutic modalities such as Parts Therapy and Inner Child Therapy and the application of these protocols in hypnosis to facilitate new beliefs in the subconscious mind.

Counselling and hypnotherapy are not regulated professions in most places. This is why it is crucial to seek out Clinical Hypnotherapists that have training in therapeutic interventions and modalities to ensure that you are getting support that is customized to your unique needs.

All our Clinical Hypnotherapists are registered with ARCH Canada, the accrediting organization in Canada for Clinical Hypnotherapists.